Shallow-Bed System
The shallow-bed system has been developed in the Netherlands to improve cow comfort, reduce hock damage and control bedding usage.
- 6'' deep cubicles and top up with 1.5kg per cow per day
- Cheaper in the long run than buying mats and matresses
- Comfortable and can help prevent hock damage
The shallow-bed system can be adapted from existing deep bed sand or straw systems. Another approach is to place a retaining bar at the back of the cubicles with mats and matresses so that a shallow-bed of EnviroBed animal bedding can be retained for the cattles to lie on and keep comfortable and dry. It is a simple way to keep cattles clean and healthy with less work. In the 6'' shallow-bed all fluids are absorbed at the bottom while the top stays dry.
Comparison Tests
The jars show the levels of absorbency in different bedding materials and how much better EnviroBed is using less material.
Left: Sawdust
Right: EnviroBed absorbs fluids at the bottom leaving the top dry.
Left: Straw
Right: EnviroBed can be used economically as a bottom layer absorbs fluid leaving straw dry on top. It is 10 times more absorbent than straw.
Left: Sawdust with EnviroBed as bottom layer absorbs fluids better than with just sawdust. 5 times more absorbent than shavings
Right: Sawdust
