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 
