During a Dairyland Initiative podcast episode, Courtney Halbach and Dr. Nigel Cook discussed how to manage sand bedding in freestalls and why deep loose bedding is best for dairy cattle. Progressive Dairy Editor Kimmi Devaney visited with Cook, who is a food animal production medicine professor and the chair of the department of medical sciences in the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, to follow up on a few of the topics covered and discuss the most important points he would like dairy producers to know when bedding freestalls with sand.
Key takeaways from the episode include:
- Choose the right type of sand initially. Coarse sand can cause hoof wear, as well as hair loss over hocks and knees. Very fine sand will compact and prevent drainage.
- Monitor dry matter and organic matter levels. Optimal levels: more than 95% dry matter and less than 4% organic matter (soil testing labs are often able to run these tests).
- Add fresh sand to stalls once or twice per week. If only managing a small amount of sand over a pack mat or a concrete base, then twice-a-week filling is required.
- On average, use 20 to 80 pounds of sand per stall per day for deep bedding and potentially half of that with a pack mat system.
- Remove contaminated sand and level the beds daily.
- Monitor the compaction zone and black layer. Remove the rear third of the bed every six to 12 months.
What impact does sand bedding have on dairy herds versus other bedding options?
COOK: In surveys of Wisconsin dairy operations, sand-bedded herds show about a 7-pound-per-day difference in energy-corrected milk between herds using sand and herds using mattresses. It is also correlated with improved fresh cow health, improved milk production in early lactation, lower somatic cell counts, better udder health and lower turnover rate.
What are the best sand types to use in freestalls?
COOK: For farms with recycling systems, we recommend a washed uniform larger-particle sand like a mason or concrete sand. For farms without recycling, they can use a finer riverbed-type sand. Recycle systems do not reclaim sand with lots of fine particles, so they need to be avoided.
How can dairy producers maximize drainage in their sand bedding?
COOK: Using a larger-particle sand improves drainage, regular leveling of the bed helps loosen the top layers, and periodically removing sand at the rear of the bed to get rid of the compacted contamination-impacted sand all helps maintain drainage. Monitor the compaction zone and remove the rear third of the bed every six to 12 months.
How does sand fill impact lying behavior?
COOK: Once you add sand into the stall, the cows will push it under the loops and create holes within the bed. If you don’t level the beds daily, the holes get deeper. In fact, you lose about an hour of rest for every 3 inches of sand that is dug out. We need to optimize rest, so that means we need to level the beds regularly. You can do this manually with a rake or with an automated sand-leveling device. If you are raking stalls, it is best to grab the pile of sand from under the loop and drag it diagonally flush with the rear curb. If sand has milk, manure or other organic material in it, that should be removed.
What is the black layer and why is that important?
COOK: It is where the sand gets compacted when mixed with feces and milk and grows large numbers of SLOs – usually strep-like organisms, that can impact udder health when that latter is close to the surface of the bed.
What aspects of stall design are most important to minimize issues?
COOK: Dimensions, the type of loop, brisket locator construction, neck rail placement – all these are critically important for successful sand stall management. When cows can stand too far forward, more manure and other organic material can get into the stall and cause mastitis and other issues.
What are the three most important things you want dairy producers to know about bedding with sand?
COOK: Here are the three most critical things to know about sand bedding:
- It allows all cows to rest longer in the stalls and makes it easier for older cows and lame cows to rise and lie down.
- It improves udder health and lameness.
- It increases milk production.
