A new bacterial bedding conditioner which can help improve the cubicle environment, cow comfort and welfare, has been launched by Lallemand Animal Nutrition at TotalDairy.
Speaking at the launch, Lientjie Colahan, animal environment products manager at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, explained that the new biological bedding conditioner – EazyBed PRO – can help maintain air quality inside the shed and reduce the risk of environmental mastitis in a more natural way.
“EazyBed PRO utilises a blend of bacteria and enzymes to encourage the growth of positive microorganisms in the bedding area which can then outcompete the bad bacteria,” Mrs Colahan explained.
“The resulting improvement in the cubicle environment can help reduce somatic cell counts and cases of environmental origin mastitis.”
She added that there is also a positive knock-on effect on air quality. “The bacteria in EazyBed PRO also work against the bacteria that create ammonia (NH3). A recent trial indicated that the product reduced NH3 emissions by up to 50%*, maintaining the housing’s air quality as a result,” she said.
Compared to traditional lime-based disinfectants, this new biological alternative is soft to touch and non-abrasive.
“It’s anti-caking and non-irritating to the cow’s skin, hocks and teats. This also proves advantageous when handling the product, with users finding it much less harsh to apply.”
Mrs Colahan added that a further benefit of the new product is that it also keeps bedding drier.
"The absorption properties of the bedding are improved when using EazyBed PRO, with dryness typically increasing by up to 20-30%. This extends the lifespan of the bedding, reducing the labour and other costs associated with maintaining and cleaning indoor housing,” she said.
EazyBed PRO has a powder like consistency and can be applied to any type of bedding or litter. The recommended application rate is 200g per cubicle per week for dairy cows in a cubicle environment.
“For producers wanting to positively influence bedding quality and enhance cow comfort, introducing a non-hazardous bedding conditioner is a good option,” Mrs Colahan concluded.
*Commercial trial, Wisconsin USA 2016. Trial summary available on request, click here.
