TheDairySite Latest News
Recycled Manure Solids for Cow Bedding Effective
US - Stall bedding materials for cows have become increasingly expensive and difficult to find. This situation has prompted many dairy producers to search for more feasible alternatives, such as sand and recycled manure solids.
Although sand can be considered the ideal bedding source for dairy cows, not all producers are willing and able to convert to sand bedding because it presents some manure-management challenges. So, what about recycled manure solids? Is anyone making it work in the Midwest?
Adam Husfeldt (University of Minnesota graduate student) and Marcia Endres, University of Minnesota Extension, conducted an observational study on 38 dairy farms in Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa that were using solids for bedding freestalls. Ms Endres states that they wanted to find out what management practices and bedding characteristics were associated with bulk tank somatic cell count (SCC) and evaluate animal welfare in these operations.
Ms Endres stated that they documented various aspects of herd management, including how solids were obtained and managed, their bedding practices, etc. Bedding, milk and feed samples were collected. Cows were scored for hygiene, hock lesions and locomotion, and milking prep procedures were recorded.
Their goal was to collect as much information as possible during the farm visits and from records throughout the year. In the end, 23 variables were used for our analysis of their association with bulk tank SCC.
They concluded that excellent cow preparation at milking time, sanitation of milking equipment, cow hygiene, adequate dry cow housing and bedding/stall management appear to be critical in maintaining a low SCC while successfully using manure solids for bedding. Type of manure solids used—digested, raw or composted—had no association with SCC.
Moisture is one of several factors necessary for bacterial growth in bedding materials. Therefore, it is important to keep stall bedding as dry as possible to minimize exposure to environmental mastitis pathogens. Additional methods to help dry stall bedding (use of a blower, good barn ventilation, adding equipment to remove moisture after separation) could help reduce bedding moisture.
They also learned that lameness prevalence was similar, hock lesion prevalence was slightly higher and cow hygiene was better than in herds using sand for bedding.
Latest Dairy Industry News
Supermoms Against Superbugs Storm Washington 
Breed, Body Condition Impact Cow Fertility- House Committee to Support Supply Management
- Get Ready for New FDA Dairy Inspections
- A$1 Million Boost for Dairy Farmers to Save on Energy
Gujarat's Dairies to Double Cattle Feed Manufacturing
NZ & Australia Join Forces at World Farmers'- Soils Self Repair to Minimise Grazing Compaction
- Milk Producers Urge Senate to Act on Farm Bill
Cutting Animal Transport Time Just the Start- Rising Global Output Squeezes Local Prices
UK Schmallenberg Update- Avoid Misuse of Religious Exemptions to Stunning
- CME: Sharp Decline in Cattle Numbers Expected
Buttercup Develops Resistance to Herbicides
