CHAPTER VI 



THE COST OF BEDDING 



On the farm with a small dairy, especially where located 

 some distance from the city or from markets, the problem of 

 bedding is a small factor. In localities, however, where straw 

 can be sold at a good price and where a large number of cows 

 are kept bedding is a material item of cost. A great many 

 substitutes are being used for bedding for dairy cows, sawdust 

 and shavings being the most common. These are in quite 

 general use on farms where high-quality milk is produced, 

 because of the difficulty of getting straw that is free from dust. 

 It has been thought by some that sawdust and shavings are 

 injurious to the soU, though this has not been demonstrated. 

 It is, however, certain that the manure is not so valuable as 

 when straw is used. Waste hay and stover are also used to 

 bed cows, but usually these materials contain too much dust. 



When the cows are kept tied in rows and on a platform, 

 the shavings and sawdust can be used with less work and will 

 keep the cows cleaner. Baled shavings are preferred to all 

 other kinds of bedding, for they can be handled with less 

 labor, will absorb the liquid manure well, will stay where 

 placed, making it possible to keep the cows cleaner, and are 

 relatively freer from dust than straw or stover. Where the 

 floor is tight and smooth both sawdust and shavings can easily 

 be removed. 



The amounts of the various beddings needed will depend 

 upon the management, the length of time the cows are kept 

 in the stable, and the nature and condition of the floor. 



The absorptive properties of different bedding materials are 

 given by Doane^ as follows: 



' " Tests of Material for Bedding Cows," Md. Agr. Exp. Sta., Bull. No. 104, 

 p. 9. 



