Correct bedding boosts cow health

While cow comfort may have become a topic recognised as influencing health, fertility and production, achieving it usually focuses producers’ mind on cubicle size and design rather than what actually goes on the cubicle bed.

But vets are now encouraging dairy farmers to pay greater attention to the materials used for cubicle bedding. Poor management of cubicle beds not only creates an ideal environment for the build-up of disease, but can also be the primary cause of abrasions to teats and hocks with obvious consequences.

Lancashire vet Rob Howe of Lambert, Leonard and May’s new practice near Preston says cubicle beds deserve a high priority when it comes to managing the environment of housed cows.

“The importance of cow comfort can’t be stressed enough when considering different options for cubicle bedding, he says.

“Increasing cow-lying time is the aim and bedding is the key. It impacts on the three big health issues of mastitis, lameness and fertility. Badly maintained beds or the wrong bedding will increase mastitis problems, while lameness associated with the way the cow’s use the bed is directly linked to fertility.

“So what’s on the bed is as important as the design of the cubicle itself,” says Mr Howe.

He says it’s essential to remember the healthiest and most profitable cows need to be lying and cudding for 14 hours a day. Providing the most suitable bedding to create a comfortable environment will encourage cows to do that – but to keep cows healthy, beds must provide a disease-free lying area.

Increasing costs of straw, a shortage of good quality shavings and sawdust and “crusting” problems with paper pulp, have been creating difficulties for milk producers trying to achieve comfortable and disease-free cubicle beds.

As herd numbers increase bedding costs have become a serious issue with advisers now urging farmers to forward-buy bedding in the same way they would feed, in an effort to secure the correct materials at the best price.

Consultant’s view

Striking a balance between comfort and cleanliness – that’s the challenge farmers face when evaluating various types of bedding for cow cubicles, says Lancashire dairy consultant Graeme Surtees.

“Cubicle bedding – in terms of cost, availability and its benefit to the cow – is certainly a hot topic among dairy farmers and particularly among those now looking at keeping cows inside for longer periods.

“But I’d urge caution if a change of cubicle bedding is being considered. The consequences from a mastitis point of view can be dire because about 50% of all new cases erupt from the bedding. If the beds become wet or contaminated infection will result – especially E coli.

“We’ve seen a range of innovative products appear, mostly wood based and mixed with lime to produce a bedding. But there are issues over the absorbency of these products. They must be used in generous amounts to avoid hock damage and maximise absorbency,” says Mr Surtees who is advising clients to “stockpile” their cubicle bedding supplies for next winter.

New bedding products

Shortages have pushed up the cost of cubicle bedding options which is why Lancashire farmer Phil Halhead looked at the potential of a feed by-product as an alternative. It’s met all his criteria and he’s been so pleased with it that he’s now added Norbreck Bedding to his business based at Norbreck Farm, Cockerham, Lancaster.

Winner of the Farmers Weekly Young Farmer of the Year award 2007, Mr Halhead has formulated bedding based on oatmeal waste combined with limestone flour – and it’s already proving a winner with milk producers.

Costing from £15/t, the product is dense and not as dusty as sawdust. “The key to developing it has been to use the correct percentage of limestone flour. It’s an inert product so won’t support bugs and it’s comfortable and absorbent,” says Mr Halhead.

Mistral is another bedding product being marketed as an inert “bedding conditioner” that’s similar to lime but less caustic, say the manufacturers. The award winning Mistral has been formulated to absorb moisture around a cow’s udder when she’s lying down, therefore reducing the bacterial load at the teat end and minimising the risk of bacteria entering the teat during milking.

It also contains dry oils and minerals that moisturise and condition teat ends. The manufacturers say Mistral reduces the amount of bedding needed and helps the healing of foot lesions.

OPTIONS AVAILABLE

Straw

Straw is comfortable, although costs have increased. Badly managed straw beds create a high risk disease environment and restricted use – to try and combat costs – will reduce cow comfort and welfare. Short-chop straw used sparingly on concrete beds will increase the risk of hock-lesions and abrasions. Straw can provide a warm, damp environment for bugs and so can increase mastitis problems.

• Vet’s view – Using considerably more straw – to provide maximum cow comfort and to maintain a high standard of hygiene by regularly replacing the entire bed, can be a justifiable expense compared with the higher mastitis risks that result from using inadequate amounts. Short-chop straw is easier to blow-out, but if insufficient is used it can create an abrasive environment on the bed. Quality of straw is also important. Cheap straw that may be damp should be avoided.”

Sawdust/shavings

Costs and availability have been an issue. Many suppliers have been forced to sell shavings created from waster wood, which are considerably less absorbent and can be sharp and abrasive. Teats coming into contact with these materials can become grazed and because of the reduced absorption the bed-hygiene is reduced and cow comfort is compromised.

• Vet’s view – Probably the worst in terms of being abrasive if quantities are reduced to save costs. Some shavings now being offered are abrasive and non-absorbent. And there is one environmental mastitis pathogen that thrives in the damp conditions occurring in beds covered with sawdust and shavings.”

Sand

Sand is now widely recognised as the best “deep bed” cubicle bedding providing a comfortable and inert surface – but the sand must be of the right quality and preferably washed. Advice should be sought on quality and availability before ordering, but avoid coarse sand which can be too abrasive.

Cows are inclined to spend a third more of their time lying in sand-beds compared to other cubicles and these herds record significantly fewer lame cows. Not all slurry handling systems can cope with sand and users must be aware it’s a material that clings to teats. A sand-spreader is required the approximate requirement is 3-4t of sand for every cow a year.

• Vet’s view – An excellent surface giving an inert environment where bugs can’t survive. Cows bedded on deep sand will lie for longer periods lame cows have also been found to prefer to lie for longer on sand which is obviously beneficial. When cow’s stand up from a sand bed the sand provides the perfect “cushion” for the cow’s feet enabling the animal to spread and minimise the impact of the body weight-load on the foot. Deep sand-beds are ideal, but beware of the sand layer becoming too thin if used on top of rubber matting – that creates a sandpaper effect and is too abrasive.”

Mattresses

Mattresses are an option to improve cubicle comfort, but they can be slippery and even abrasive if treated with limited amounts of lime/sawdust. It’s important to compare foam and rubber-filled mattresses. Mats are durable but not as comfortable as mattresses and can also create an abrasive environment if not bedded correctly.

• Vet’s view – There are some good mats and mattresses on the market and while they do help with cubicle comfort they inevitably get old and deteriorate and can start to “ruck-up”. Be aware not to allow opportunities for disease build-up in old mats and mattresses.”