12/10/2013
BEDDING OPTIONS FOR DAIRY CATTLE
Why is Bedding Important?
• Cow spend 10 or more hours per day resting
– Comfortable stall encourages resting
– More than 5 resting bouts/day
• Minimizes Injury
– Reduces hock & knee abrasion
– Reduces hock & knee swelling
– Reduced lameness
Dan F. McFarland, M.S.
Extension Educator - Agricultural Engineering
Why is Bedding Important?
• Maintain cow cleanliness & udder health
– Clean, dry resting surface
– Absorbs/drains surface moisture
– Controls level of environmental bacteria
“For many years the influence of
environment & management has
been recognized as a major
contributor to udder health.”
Desirable Bedding Characteristics
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Provide cushion
Conform to resting cow
Resists compaction
Enhance traction
Prevent injury
Dry
Inhibits microbial growth
Plentiful & Cost Effective
-D. Wolfgang, 2004
Is Your Bedding Material &
Management Working?
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Low incidence of environmental infections
Excellent stall acceptance
Cows are resting 12 or more hours per day
Cows are clean
Minimal hock abrasions & swelling
Minimal lameness
Freestalls
Tie stalls
Cows rest 10 to 14 hours per day
Bedded Pen / Pack
“Compost” Bedded Pack
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Freestall Structure Position
Position for largest cows in group
Tie Stall Structure Position
Position for largest cows in group
Image courtesy of Harold House
“Restless” Posture
“Restful” Posture
Position for largest cows in group
Bedded Packs for Dairy Cows
Archived Webinars
• Provide adequate space
– Lactating Dairy Cows
• 100 ft2 per head
– Far-off Dry Cows
• 80 ft2 per head
– Close-up Dry Cows
• 120 ft2 per head
– Maternity
• 140 to 200 ft2 per head
http://extension.psu.edu/animals/dairy/courses/technology-tuesday-series/webinars
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Improving Resting Area Performance
Clean, Dry, Comfortable Environment
• Modify stall structure to allow more ‘freedom’ of use
• Improve resting surface comfort
• Increase bedding volume & frequency
Clean Cow Alleys
• More frequent stall bed grooming
• Don’t overcrowd
Clean, Dry, Comfortable Environment
Basic Bedding Categories
• Inorganic
– Drains moisture away from surface
– Inert
– May improve footing
Good Ventilation
• Organic
– Absorbs surface moisture
– Increased ability to support pathogen growth
“They all work and they all fail.”
Stall Bed Alternatives
• Generously Bedded
– organic
– inorganic
Bedding depth: 4”- 8”
Concrete Base
Earth Base
Lightly bedded
Generously bedded
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Stall Bed Alternatives
Stall Bed Alternatives
• Fabric-covered Mattress
– rubber
– foam
– water
– gel
Replaces some % of proper bedding depth
“University of British Columbia study found that
cows spent almost 2 hours per day more on
deep-bedded sand stalls than on mattresses.”
• ‘Soft’ mats
Replaces some % of proper bedding depth
Stall Bed Studies
- K. Ito & L. Collins, Hoard’s Dairyman, 25 Oct 2013
Mattress
Sand
Source: Cook, 2007
Resilient Stall Beds
• More resilient options require less bedding
• Less resilient options require more bedding
“--- cows strongly preferred and spent more time
lying on mattresses topped with 17 pounds of
sawdust compared with only 1 or 2 pounds of
sawdust.” - K. Ito & L. Collins, Hoard’s Dairyman, 25 Oct 2013
Difficult to maintain adequate bedding layer
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“--- study by UBC and Novus on farms in the
Northeastern U.S., hock lesions were found on
81 percent of the cows, with more found on
cows housed on mattresses compared to deep
bedded stalls. These lesions were also more
severe on mattress.”
- K. Ito & L. Collins, Hoard’s Dairyman, 25 Oct 2013
Stall Bed Studies
Bedding Retainers
• Establish an adequate layer of bedding between the
stall bed and cow
– Reduce hock injury
– Improve cushion
– Improve cleanliness
Pasture Mat
Pack Mat
Source: Marin et al., 2007
Bedding Retainer Options
Metal plate retainer
Pipe retainer
Flexible retainer
Farm Example ‘A’
Retainer height of 2” is adequate above mattress or mat
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Farm Example ‘A’
Farm Example ‘A’
3.5” Formed Metal Bedding Retainer
Farm Example ‘B’
Farm Example ‘C’
Cow Comfort improved----Manure transfer slowed
Farm Example ‘D’
Farm Example ‘D’
Before & After Stall Use Study
using time-lapse photography
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Farm Example ‘D’
Farm Example ‘D’
SUI = 43 - 67%
Stall Use Index = (Total Cows Resting) / (Total Cows Not Eating)
SUI > 75%
SUI = 71 - 92%
Farm Example ‘D’
Bedding Retainers
• Retain more than bedding
• Can create a lump at the rear of the stall
• May reduce available body space
Farm Example ‘E’
2 x 2 Oak Bedding Retainer
3” PVC Pipe Bedding Retainer
Farm Example ‘F’
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Bedding Objectives
General Field Observations
• Encourage stall use
• Quantity & quality of bedding decreases as costs rise
• Improve cow cleanliness
• ‘Recycled’ bedding materials are applied more
generously than ‘purchased’ materials
• Maintain good udder health
• Minimize injury
• Provide traction to recline & rise
• Freestalls with resilient stall beds typically have
inadequate bedding layer
• Stall grooming & management can be improved
• Resilient stall beds are often used well beyond their
functional life
Inorganic Bedding Materials
• Sand
• Limestone screenings
Sand is Excellent Bedding for Dairy Cows
• Conforms to the shape of resting cows
• Provides cushion
• Drains moisture away from the surface
• Gypsum
Should not support bacteria growth
Sand is Excellent Bedding for Dairy Cows
Deep-bedded: 4” – 8”
Resilient stall bed: 2” minimum
Sand is a Nuisance
• Can improve cow comfort
• Heavy to handle
• Gets into the rumen
• Can improve cow cleanliness
• Abrasive to equipment
• Sticks to teats & udder
• Can improve footing
• Wears hooves
• Plugs drains
• May reduce hock & knee injuries
• Polishes floor surfaces
• Gets into filters
• May reduce SCC & mastitis incidence
• Invades feeding areas
• Settles in milk tank
• Settles in waterers
• Damp sand freezes
Must be managed properly
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Sand Complicates Manure Handling
Sand is Excellent Bedding for Dairy Cows
“Every benefit you get from sand you earn.”
-Fred England, PA Dairyman, 1998
Desired Sand Bedding Characteristics
• Low organic matter content
Sand Materials Used as Dairy Bedding
• Very Fine Sand
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• No debris or stones
– less than 3mm
• Dry material
90% passes 0.6mm screen
Compacts more easily; poorer drainage
Hard to separate from SLDM
Can work well with mattress & mat stall beds
• Certified Mason Sand
• Appropriate texture
– Fewer fines; more homogenous; more porous
– Conforms; compacts less; better drainage
• Certified Concrete Sand
– Fewer fines; more homogeneous; more porous
– Conforms; compacts less; better drainage
– Easier to separate from SLDM
Source: Gooch & Inglis
Source: Gooch & Inglis
Gypsum
Limestone Screenings
• Typically has physical characteristics similar to sand
• Often fine and prone to ‘packing’
• Can affect soil pH
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Soft sulfate mineral
Absorbent
Non-caustic
May elevate H2S4 levels in manure slurry
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Recycled Sand as Bedding
Recycled Sand
• Certified Mason Sand & Certified Concrete Sand
– Water used to separate sand from manure
• Recycled flush water contains ‘bugs’ that like water
– Proteus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella
Non-mechanical Separation
Mechanical Separation
Source: Wolfgang, 2013
Recycled Sand as Bedding
• Allow washed reclaimed sand to drain 5 to 7 days
– minimize organic material
• Take care in scooping piles
– > organic material in lower several inches
Inorganic Bedding Management
• Remove manure piles & soiled areas
– 3 times per day minimum
– Fill holes with dry material
• Handled properly quality similar to fresh sand
Sand Bedding Management
Sand Bedding Management
• Typically requires 25 – 50 lbs/stall-day
– Reducing volume reduces effectiveness
Too much material changes cow’s relationship to stall structure
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Sand Bedding Management
• Typically requires 25 – 50 lbs/stall-day
– Reducing volume reduces effectiveness
• Bedding addition – 1 x per week minimum
– More consistent stall bed elevation
– Reduced sand waste
– Improved stall use
– Easier manure handling
Organic Bedding Materials
Inorganic Bedding Management
• Stall bed grooming
– Levels & fluffs stall bed
– May bring contaminated material to top
Organic Bedding Materials
• Advantages
– Absorbs moisture
– Compatible with manure handling systems
– Typically readily available
• Disadvantages
– Supports rapid growth of environmental mastitis
pathogens when mixed with manure, urine & milk
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Sawdust
Shavings
Waste wood
Paper
Straw
Peanut hulls
Crop residue
Dried manure solids
Organic Bedding Materials
• Pathogen numbers increase with decreasing
particle size
• Damp particles stick to teat skin
– Increasing opportunity for infection
• High populations in 24 hours
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Bedding Study
Indicates potential for organism growth
Bedding Bacteria Levels
• Minimal risk:
Less than 300,000 cfu/g
• Moderate risk: 300,000 to 1,000,000 cfu/g
• High Risk:
Greater than 1,000,000 cfu/g
Ground Peanut Shells
Organic Bedding Management
• Remove bedding from rear half of the stall
daily and replace with fresh bedding
Source: Reneau, 2001
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Organic Bedding Management
• Groom stalls at least 3 times per day
– Remove manure & soiled bedding
– Cover wet & bare areas with bedding
Studies show “low” SCC herds cleaned
stalls and average of 2.2 times/day
Bedding Additives & Conditioners
• Absorb moisture and alter pH
– Hydrated lime
– Gypsum
– Acidifying materials
• Applied directly to stall bed
• Pre-blended with bedding material
Typically effective for 24 – 36 hours
Studies show “high” SCC herds cleaned
stalls and average of 1.6 times/day
Dried Manure Solids As Bedding?
Manure Solids
• Bacterial composition similar to manure
– E-coli, enterococcus
– May have some klebsiella
Populations can ‘explode’ in right conditions
Source: Wolfgang, 2013
Dried Manure Solids
• 50 – 60% moisture
Making Dried Manure Solids
• Screen separator / press / pile
– Falls apart after being squeezed
• Screw separator / compost drum / pile
• Damp particles stick
– Udder & teats
– Hair coat
• Digester / screw separator / pile
• Digester / screw separator / aerated pile
Source: Wolfgang, 2013
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Screw Separator/ Compost Drum /Pile
Pile
Screw Separator/ Compost Drum /Pile
Freestalls
‘Dried’ Manure Solids
• Generously bedded
Deep-bedded DMS
– Bedding depth 4” or more
– Groom stalls 3 times/day
– Add bedding every 1 to 2 days
DMS on mattress
Hot, humid conditions can cause concern
Source: Wolfgang, 2013
‘Dried’ Manure Solids
• With resilient stall bed
– Bedding depth 1” or more
– Remove ‘old’ & add ‘new’ daily
Source: Wolfgang, 2013
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Organic Bedding Management
• Bedding storage
Uncovered outside storage makes it
difficult to keep organic bedding dry
Organic Bedding Management
• Bedding storage
Organic Bedding Management
• Bedding storage
Avoid storage near animal area
Covered area away from animal area is best
Dry, Comfortable Resting Area Benefits
• Reduced stress on feet
• Less injuries
• Cleaner cows
• Increased longevity
• Improved milk production
• Better udder health
Creating a Quality Resting Area
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Resting area access & size
Stall design
Bedding type & management
Resting area grooming & management
Manure management
Ventilation system management
Population
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Questions?
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