178 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF MILK HYGIENE 



5. Bedding. Bedding or litter assists in keeping 

 the cow clean and affords some protection against a hard, 

 cold floor; it also assists in keeping floors clean and dry, 

 especially those of wood and earth, by absorbing the 

 liquid manure. Actual test has shown that when beef 

 cattle are well-bedded they lie down more frequently 

 and for longer periods and make a greater gain in weight 

 in proportion to the feed consumed than they do under 

 less comfortable conditions, and it is reasonable to assume 

 that dairy cows are affected in a similar manner. 



The materials usually used for bedding are wheat 

 straw, shredded corn fodder, shavings, and sawdust. 

 From a hygienic standpoint, shavings and sawdust are 

 the most satisfactory. They keep the cows cleaner and 

 are less dusty than shredded corn fodder or straw, but 

 they decay more slowly and are not as satisfactory in 

 supplying humus to the soil. Shredded corn fodder and 

 straw are about equally dusty, but the cows can be kept 

 cleaner with the former. Cut straw is less satisfactory 

 than uncut. Shredded corn fodder excells all of the 

 others in absorbing liquids, with shavings next in order, 

 then straw, and finally sawdust. The low absorption 

 power of sawdust is due to the fact that it is usually 

 damp from exposure to rain. Sawdust is the cheapest 

 material for bedding in localities where it is available. 

 Where there is a convenient market for corn fodder 

 and straw, or where the fodder can be used for feed, it 

 will pay to buy shavings for bedding. 



All bedding material, except sawdust when it is 

 damp, being more or less dusty, should be put down 

 in the stable after the milking has been completed. This 

 is especially necessary when corn fodder or straw is used, 

 as the dust in these is likely to contain large numbers 



