Anyone use manure as bedding?

JackoTS90

Member
Livestock Farmer
I recently saw an article on Facebook that was encouraging manure recycled as bedding. This is very interesting and was wondering whether anyone actually does this? I’m guessing getting rid of the moisture would be critical to reduce the amount of bacteria growing, ideally with none at all. This isn’t really relative to me as we are outdoor based system, just interested and could it be utilised in a composting barn type situation?
 

Farmer Roy

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
NSW, Newstralya
From a publicity or PR point of view, can you imagine the ammunition that would give to the animal welfare / PETA / vegan groups ?

Animals forced to lie in their own sh!t . . .

Would you like to sleep on a mattress that is stuffed with desiccated human sh!t ?
 

JackoTS90

Member
Livestock Farmer
From a publicity or PR point of view, can you imagine the ammunition that would give to the animal welfare / PETA / vegan groups ?

Animals forced to lie in their own sh!t . . .

Would you like to sleep on a mattress that is stuffed with desiccated human sh!t ?
No! But I thought it would be a great way of recycling. Would come with its problems, and your right about the activists not wanting it. Would give them great ammo.
 

jerseycowsman

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
cornwall
From a publicity or PR point of view, can you imagine the ammunition that would give to the animal welfare / PETA / vegan groups ?

Animals forced to lie in their own sh!t . . .

Would you like to sleep on a mattress that is stuffed with desiccated human sh!t ?
Sounds the sort of thing a vegan would say. Classic anthropomorphism!
They have no idea it’s their own sh!t, otherwise, why do they have a sh!t out the field then lay in it???
Not saying I agree with manure bedding, though
 

nonemouse

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
North yorks
Milk buyers not keen on it more due to image I think, where I’ve seen it working well cows look clean and comfortable and mastitis hasn’t increased.
Cows in deep bed straw yards and compost bedding packs are fairly common place, and are in fact cows sleeping on sh!t, but dont attract the same criticism.
 

CPF

Member
Arable Farmer
I’ve got a very nice comfortable mattress and a very warm duvet

There is no way on this earth I will be swapping it for recycled manure.
 

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frederick

Member
Location
south west
Let's apply some common sense and science to it.

A cow is most comfortable in a deep bedded cubicle. So sand or green bedding.

Anything else will require a mattres. What can you put on a mattress. Straw. sawdust, paper waste and green bedding.

Straw and sawdust can be burnt as a green fuel so cost is only going up. Paper waste quite often very dusty. Green bedding dries quickly in well ventilated shed and lots can be used

So for welfare we are still at sand is the best.
For environmental sustainability and carbon footprint green bedding has to be top.

So long term in my view cows will either be lieing or recycled sand or green bedding. If we knock it we will cut our options.
Slightly drier Northern European climate and it is very common.

I will however acknowledge it's an issue in a TB herd.
 

The Son

Member
Location
Herefordshire
Last year I bedded a group of cattle on dry digestate straight out of the seperator, I bedded them once a week with a good depth, after cleaning the fronts out. It worked OK and cattle were fine, if a little dirty, but they were going out in the spring anyway so not really a problem.
I haven't done it again this year as there is more straw about, and its much easier just to blow straw over them. If pushed I would do it again.
 

Stinker

Member
Most people are dismissive of green bedding until they see it with their own eyes. Cows are comfortable and absolutely spotless and cell counts are better than other types of organic bedding. There isn't really any smell off it when it dries. The liquid off the separator stinks however. Also from an environmental point of view its a no brainer.
 

puppet

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
sw scotland
From a publicity or PR point of view, can you imagine the ammunition that would give to the animal welfare / PETA / vegan groups ?

Animals forced to lie in their own sh!t . . .

Would you like to sleep on a mattress that is stuffed with desiccated human sh!t ?
All animals housed in winter are lying in their own sh!t to some extent, you just keep the top layer covered with fresh straw.
I have seen a big system recycling bedding for cubicle houses, water gets squeezed out then dry matter gets left to heat up like compost for a while to kill bugs. No smell, no extra mastitis and a saving of hundreds of tons of straw each year.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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