Fodder for thought – January

By Siwan Howatson,

AHDB Dairy Scientist

Poor harvest conditions have created a scarcity of straw this winter, leaving many farmers to seek alternative but accessible, cost-effective and sustainable bedding as straw prices soar.

So, now is the time to work out how much extra bedding you need and consider which alternatives are the most cost-effective option for your farm.

Ultimately, cow bedding choice will be driven by its availability, cost, type of housing (cubicle or loose yard) and how it will be handled by the existing slurry system. While some materials have significant advantages over others, bedding routines are equally important as the choice of material.

On average, bedding accounts for 2% of total costs of production on a pence per litre basis and there is often a temptation to reduce expenditure. However, there are a number of hidden costs to using the wrong bedding, from cow health to machinery wear and labour. The table can be used to calculate your requirements in terms of quantities.

Bedding must be comfortable, clean and dry to limit exposure to disease-causing bugs. Deep sand is commonly used in cubicle housing but can also be used in deep litter yards instead of straw. Applying a layer of sand beneath straw bedding will aid drainage to keep the straw drier.

Don’t forget about the bedding needs of your calves. Sawdust offers a clean dry bed for calves, but doesn’t provide the opportunity for them to nestle to help preserve body heat and grow more efficiently. Calf jackets can help protect vulnerable calves up to three weeks of age.

Spring block calvers are encouraged to calculate their straw supply ahead of calving and to have prepare a backup plan. Other bedding materials are available on the market but these can present different management challenges.

Woodchip is a possible alternative for deep litter yards, but make sure you double check for nails, staples, glass and plastics. Be cautious of low-quality material and remember to calculate the total cost before investing. It may be cheap at the time, but in the long run it can be twice as expensive in terms of problems.

If you decide to use products deemed as waste, such as untreated sawdust or paper, you must register for a waste exemption with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Whichever material is chosen these top tips can help reduce the amount of bedding required:

* Store bedding in a dry place.

* Ensure buildings are well ventilated to eliminate moist air and help keep bedding dry.

* Ensure no water from gutters and water troughs gets onto bedding.

* Passageways should be scraped regularly to reduce the occurrence of muck and slurry being transferred onto cubicle beds via the cows' feet.

* Keep cubicle surfaces dry and remove any soiled or damp bedding twice-daily.

* Chopping straw for bedding.

Further details are available in the AHDB Bedding Materials Directory which can be found online.