EnviroBed Application
EnviroBed can be used on mats or mattresses, concrete cubicles, deep bed situations and loose housing.
Cubicle Mats and Matresses
As a bench mark, 1 – 1.5 kg per cubicle per day should be applied or 2kgs for high yield cows if grouped separately. This should be applied every day after cleaning off the back of cubicles with a stiff brush.
The texture of EnviroBed means in light airy sheds the bedding stays on mats and mattresses better than other bedding products to maintain optimal cow cleanliness.
For more information on using EnviroBed with mats Click Here
Loose housed
EnviroBed can be mixed with other bedding products to heighten absorbency or used as an under lay to increase the lifespan of the bedding on top.
It can also be used on it’s own by applying 3” onto the floor surface. Once the wet areas of EnviroBed dry up, it can be raked through and used again making longer lasting bedding.
As well as being useful bedding for cattle, EnviroBed is also currently used for poultry, sheep and goats. With sheep and goats it is used as an under-layer with a top surface of straw.
Deep Bed/ Shallow Bed
A deep bed of EnviroBed offers excellent cow comfort and economical bedding usage. This system can be adapted from existing deep bed sand or straw systems cubicles as well as being easy implemented from mats or mattress systems.
To create a deep bed in existing concrete based cubicles or with mats & matresses place a retaining bar at the back of the cubicle so a deep-bed of EnviroBed can be maintained for maximum comfort, hock protection and dryness.
In the 6” deep-bed all fluids are absorbed at the bottom of the bed whilst the top stays dry. As a dairy cattle bedding when used in a 5-6 inch shallow-bed, it forms a friable base that cattle know will be comfortable and will not cause injury or discomfort when lying down and getting up.
In deep-beds EnviroBed forms a cushion for the hocks, reduces abrasion and helps prevent hock damage. Today significant numbers of UK farmers have gone back to basics, favouring deep-bed systems for improved cow comfort as it is known that 70% of rumination occurs when the cow is in the lying position.
It is a simple way to keep cows clean and healthy whilst reducing work load. The exceptional absorbency of EnviroBed means fluids are absorbed readily and the bedding stays healthy and pathogen free for longer.
If you are currently using mats and mattresses it is easy to test the system and see if your cows lie down more comfortably. Simply place a retaining batten onto the back of the cubicles so that a shallow-bed (5-6″) of EnviroBed can be retained for the cows to lie on which will keep them comfortable and dry.
Many farmers have tested one row initially, allowing the cows to tell them if it is their preferred surface.