Top tips on how to reduce your usage of expensive bedding

Reports suggest a large variation in straw availability across the UK, and with higher straw prices, some farmers have opted to bale straw over chopping, increasing supplies in some areas. This, coupled with unfavourable spring weather and little straw leftover on farms, has contributed to significant regional price differences and it is likely that straw prices will be the highest seen for several years.

Now is the time to look at options to reduce or make the best use of purchased straw this autumn. With thoughts turning to winter housing, it is important to ensure shed repairs have been carried out. Often shed repairs are overlooked during the summer months, however, it is important to check water troughs, repair and clean gutterings and ensure that rainwater doesn’t get into buildings to minimise straw wastage.

Sarah Balfour

Reduce wastage

The absorbency of wet straw is severely reduced, being approximately only 10% as effective as dry straw in bedding stock. Weathered bales from being stored outside and open to the elements will likely have semi rotted, also reducing in physical strength. It is therefore important to store straw well to reduce wastage. Some 15-20% of a soft centred bale can be in the last 4 inches, which accounts for a significant proportion of the bale. The following table highlights the percentage of straw in round bales which becomes wet depending on the depth of rain penetrating the bale.

If these wet bales are used for bedding, then additional straw is needed to ‘dry out’ the wet outside layers, effectively doubling the amount of straw wasted. Look at options such as tube lining or covering stacks for storing straw.

Looking at adapting current systems can potentially reduce the amount of straw required this winter. For those who typically overwinter weaned calves and/or store cattle to sell as forward stores in the spring, consider selling earlier and take advantage of the current window of opportunity with store cattle prices strong due to tightening supplies.

However, farmers considering selling differently this year to reduce the amount of straw needed, should sit down and budget for this to ensure it is economical and beneficial for cash flow throughout the winter.

Other key ways to manage straw supplies include:

• Scrape feed stance – dung and urine are mostly produced while cattle are feeding. Simply having a step that minimises straw being dragged onto the feed stance and scraping this section, (and not bedding it) can reduce straw usage by 30%.

• Buy straw now – if you have not already done so, contact straw suppliers to enquire about availability and discuss requirements. Straw price tends to ease during the main harvest period, meaning even if it is still expensive, buying early will soften the blow.

• Review rations – where practical, straw can be formulated into livestock rations to help stiffen muck and reduce bedding requirements. Care must be taken to ensure that nutritional requirements are still met.

Straw alternatives

It is also worth considering a ‘Plan B’ to reduce winter bedding costs by exploring alternative bedding material. There are several wood-based bedding alternatives available to farmers; however, these alternatives can present different management challenges.

Key things to consider include availability, storage, and nutrient value when applied to land. When looking at alternatives ensure that animal health and welfare is not compromised with the new bedding material, making sure that stock are provided with a clean dry, comfortable and safe bed.

Woodchips from untreated wood (generally the size of a 50p coin) create a good free draining bed, allowing urine to pass through. The bottom layer absorbs moisture leaving the top layer relatively dry. For best results the moisture content of the woodchip should be less than 30% (preferable 20%) to maximise its absorbency. For bedding purposes, it is the coverage over the floor which is important. An initial depth of 10cm is recommended, however in some systems farmers have opted for a 30cm depth.

Woodfines or woodfibre bedding (product is often sold under different brand names) is made from recycling waste timber, which is finely chopped, with particle sizes approximately 8-20mm. The product is readily available throughout Scotland with several processors producing the material for livestock bedding.

The material works well as a bedding or as base layer with straw on top to help make straw stocks go further. The wood material absorbs the moisture, leaving the straw drier for longer. The material tends to be sold on a grade basis, with the price increasing for higher, better-quality grades. Price is also dependent on location. Contact local sawmills, wood processing and composting plants to find out what they can offer.

Farmers should consider how much bedding is needed now, and plan accordingly.