William Waterfield (Andover)

The rising cost of straw and the incentives for arable farmers to retain straw on the farm has led many to look for alternative bedding materials for straw yards.  For one client this has been to trial the use of wood chip instead of straw as a bedding material in a loose yard.  Initially the yard was used for bulling heifers and in the new year for dry cows. 

The yard was bedded to about 60 cm with wood chips and has been left in place for the whole winter, the bed is raked to a depth of about 30 cm every day. This keeps the bed dry and avoids the bed heating.

The main advantage of the system has been a significant reduction in work load with the yard only needing cleaning out at the end of the year rather than every 2 or 3 weeks.   There has been no change in stocking rate within the yard.  There has been no increase in somatic cell counts or mastitis with the fresh calved cows.  Next year some of the milking herd will be bedded on woodchip.

For more information on alternative livestock bedding materials, contact William at w.waterfield@fcgagric.com or your local FCG Office.