The dairy industry has widely accepted sand as a leading bedding material. Nearly two-thirds of dairies utilize sand bedding in some format according to Nigel Cook, director of The Dairyland Initiative...
The compost-bedded pack barn is a housing system that may reduce building costs, allow mid- and long-term manure storage, and ensure cow comfort when properly managed
Over the course of the last few decades, huge strides have been made in the realm of udder health, and specifically, in managing somatic cell counts and contagious mastitis pathogens
The sphincter muscle and teat canal keratin are the cow's first line of defense against bacteria. If a clean and dry environment is not maintained, teat ends are then exposed to and overloaded with potential...
A breeding ground for bacteria, bedding is a significant source of mastitis pathogens in a confinement system. The climatic conditions encountered in many regions of the country necessitate cattle housing....
Comfortable cows or easily maintained manure systems. It seems like many dairy producers feel they must choose between one or the other. Sand has a strong reputation for enhancing cow comfort and lowering...
Make sure your bedding is doing its job by evaluating cow cleanliness and comfort. Cost and ease of handling are often the first considerations when it comes to bedding for dairy cattle. Ideally, bedding...
Compost barns helping udder health and cow comfort. Compost, when managed correctly, can serve as a great tool to improve milk quality. There are many ways to successfully utilize and manage a compost...