Cattle bedding alternatives

[Beefy23]

Hi all

With the general shortage of straw last year last and in my area a shortage of arable farmers selling straw due to black grass, compaction etc. What alternatives are people using and how does in compare to straw? I am not interested in putting in slats and am interested in trialing mithcanthus straw bales but I have had no joy in finding suppliers yet. It needs to be suitable for suckler/calving/ stores and needs to be easily compostable.




Cheers

 

[The Son]

Have been using woodchip from @Forage Trader, it definitely keeps the cattle cleaner, and lasts longer than straw, but is not so convenient as it needs two of us to put it in, also the sheds need to be mucked out more regularly as they fill up quicker, this winter I may try woodchip once a fortnight and then straw on top to try and make the straw go further, just depends on the price of the woodchip!

 

[Beefy23]

have you spread the wood chips yet? if so how did it rot down? what age cattle did yo use them on?

Have been using woodchip from @Forage Trader, it definitely keeps the cattle cleaner, and lasts longer than straw, but is not so convenient as it needs two of us to put it in, also the sheds need to be mucked out more regularly as they fill up quicker, this winter I may try woodchip once a fortnight and then straw on top to try and make the straw go further, just depends on the price of the woodchip!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Hi all

With the general shortage of straw last year last and in my area a shortage of arable farmers selling straw due to black grass, compaction etc. What alternatives are people using and how does in compare to straw? I am not interested in putting in slats and am interested in trialing mithcanthus straw bales but I have had no joy in finding suppliers yet. It needs to be suitable for suckler/calving/ stores and needs to be easily compostable.




Cheers

It's £18 ton atm .Straw is still well over a Hundred .

 

[The Son]

All ages of cattle from 3 weeks to finishing.

Have not spread any of this batch yet, but have spread some before, only advise is incorporate it, do not spread it on any grass you intend to silage, I did and it drove the forager driver mad as the small amounts of metal kept setting the detector of.

Blackpole recycling are close to you, could be worth a call if you want to bo down the woodchip route

 

[unlacedgecko]

I've seen several units which use wood chip recently. They seem to work very well.

 

[Beefy23]

It's £18 ton atm .Straw is still well over a Hundred .

Do you deal in mithcanthus straw forage trader?