Sand bedding for the transition shed

[Bald Rick]

Right. We have been quoted £120/tonne for straw delivered this week.

So thinking about bedding the transition shed to a depth of 12” or so and rake with an einboc twice a week and top up from time to time.

Any drawbacks of this?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I would be using cheap grade wood fines

 

[Drago]

Artic load of sand doesn't go that far.
How many cows in area? Not sure if einbock would work the sand enough.
We bed our calving shed on sand pre calving for about 2 weeks(we block calve) once we start it can get messy without using straw.
We would topping up with sand every couple days, if were keen will will shivel off the dung. We probably do save money by using sand, the sand in bottom does help keep the straw bed drier, so we do use less straw. Our seasand has a high neutralising value which is a saving

 

[vantage]

Can’t you keep them on sand cubicles, they’ll stay clean and sand use will be acceptable?

 

[Bald Rick]

Can’t you keep them on sand cubicles, they’ll stay clean and sand use will be acceptable?

Prefer not to use cubicles in last three weeks of parturition

 

[vantage]

Prefer not to use cubicles in last three weeks of parturition

Do here, cannot see any problem.

 

[Mc115reed]

Sand belongs on a beach find another alternative

 

[vantage]

Sand belongs on a beach find another alternative

Eh? Mines dug out from a deposit inland, it’s the screenings that are left after the bulk is used for building.

 

[jimmer]

Prefer not to use cubicles in last three weeks of parturition

Why?

 

[stablegirl]

We bed on sand cubicles and i like sand but i have no interest in putting it in loose housing, we tried it in a odd pen and it turned to wet horrible slush it was disgusting some people di it successfully but we didnt.

 

[pappuller]

Right. We have been quoted £120/tonne for straw delivered this week.

So thinking about bedding the transition shed to a depth of 12” or so and rake with an einboc twice a week and top up from time to time.

Any drawbacks of this?

It'll turn to mush, your trying to replicate the compost barn setup in the US Ricky, but it's a totally different ball game

 

[Sandpit Farm]

Is there any scope in using rape straw or sawdust/woodchip as an underlayer and just dress it with wheat straw? I suppose the costs will be similar?

Are you planning to muck it out after a period or just bed up through the winter?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I tried green sawdust years ago when I was paid to take it - waste of time for loose housing

 

[dinderleat]

Reduce your bedded area with straw and put some sand cubicles in just pull out a week from calving should cut your usage by a third

 

[dinderleat]

Prefer not to use cubicles in last three weeks of parturition

Prefer not to spend £120tn on straw but you can’t have it all

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Prefer not to spend £120tn on straw but you can’t have it all

I've already heard £140 in Shropshire- 120 is old hat and cattle not in yet

 

[dinderleat]

I've already heard £140 in Shropshire- 120 is old hat and cattle not in yet

Sell the cattle rubbish to that

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Sell the cattle rubbish to that

Agreed

 

[Thick Farmer]

Prefer not to use cubicles in last three weeks of parturition

I’ve had some difficult calvings but nothing that went on for three weeks!

 

[Sandpit Farm]

‘Just in time’ calving. It takes some management but can work just fine. Just don’t move them to calving pens too early or they will not get on with it.