Wood mulch as calf bedding

jmhur

Does anyone have any experience using bark mulch or sawdust as calf bedding? Thinking of using it next spring under month old calves, also what can one epect to pay for it. thanks in advance.

ellewood

get osr straw not as good as barley/wheaten but is still v good you can get it for around 5.00 for a 4x4 round bale + delevery i used it last year as straw was too dear and it worked a treat will be getting it again this year

C0N0R

I know a guy who uses some sort of wood as calf bedding, mulch might be to much of a compliment to it though. It's basically bits of pallets and waste wood put through a shredder. Swears by it and says it works out a good bit cheaper than straw. Where abouts in the country are you?

Sam Kade

The only bedding spring born month old calves should have is grass.

Dunedin

Sam Kade wrote: »

The only bedding spring born month old calves should have is grass.

+1. Weather permitting I often turn them out the day they are born never mind at a month old

bbam

Dunedin wrote: »

+1. Weather permitting I often turn them out the day they are born never mind at a month old

Do they have access to shelter ??

Dunedin

bbam wrote: »

Do they have access to shelter ??

unless it's a really bad weather i.e. continuous combination of both wind and rain, calves will be fine once they've had a few nights out.

obviously I'm not referring to the side of a mountain but if there is a reasonable bit of shelter, Calves will always find it as will a young lamb. . don't forget an animals natural habitat is outdoors.

just need to keep an eye on them

Alibear

Straw would work out much cheaper for you.

I would worry about respiratory problems with sawdust (unless you meant to say woodshavings?), as it's very dusty (obviously) in comparison to your bog standard straw or woodshavings.

For dust extracted shavings (I am a horse owner and my horse is inclined to get a cough with normal shavings), I pay about €8.50, but I buy from a local place and not in bulk. If you were to buy in bulk, you could pay as little as €5 delivered (I have seen many people and businesses advertising this online).

jmhur

I agree with Dunedin that the best place for a calf is outside, however the paddocks are quite exposed to the sea and they would, in my opinion need some shelter. They would have access to an old hay shed, what I hope is that they could retreat to this if they wanted, otherwise they would graze away outside.

Straw would be messy, I think. I seem to recall seeing a picture on the Journal earlier this year of calves indoors on some type of wood bark/much and thought that this might be an option. OSR straw would not be an option here in west cork.

Thanks for your comments so far.Although I am registered for over a year, I never realised that there is such an active farming section and intend to try to contribute as much as possible. Thanks.

C0N0R

What we have done before is left the cattle trailer out in the field open with straw and they can shelter in it if need be. This is ok if your not beside a main road i suppose!!

Alibear

Are you thinking of Liverpool wood pellets?

blue5000

If you are using sawdust they would want good hay to chew on. I don't think straw will be anymore than 12e 4x4 round bale though.

Silage is a lot better and lots of good hay got this yr so wont be as big a demand for feeding straw this time round. Only exception is ppl goin ad-lib meal need straw in the diet.

ELP

I know it's an old tread but is there anybody using wood chip for calf bedding?
I'm getting some for a lie back for a few cows in a dry house would it be suitable for the calves or would it be too rough?

Good loser

I know someone used wood chip last Spring for the first time - very satisfactory.

Capercaillie

I know lad who collects wood mulch for use under bulls. He lets it build up. When around 0.5m deep he cleans out shed. He then puts it through an adapted hopper and sells as "turf". He says it burns hotter than coal!

Keepgrowing

We bedded all our calves with wood chip last year. It was a great success. I wouldn't recommend it on a cost basis as its expensive bedding but the labour saving is where the real gain is. We also used in the calving area and topped it up weekly with a few buckets. €50/tonne collected.

€500 would get a group of 50 calves to weaning. Calves were really dry and comfortable on it. I'd recommend you put in half what you think you require and top up with a little weekly or 10 days.

ELP

Thanks for your replies on using it.
I'm getting it for the haulage which won't be much so I'll take it then.
Next question is how rough does it be? Would it be suitable for around a child's slide or would it be too rough and sharp.

Keepgrowing

ELP wrote: »

Thanks for your replies on using it.
I'm getting it for the haulage which won't be much so I'll take it then.
Next question is how rough does it be? Would it be suitable for around a child's slide or would it be too rough and sharp.

It mustn't be wood chip? Is it post peelings?

Big difference. I only ever used post peelings under cows on a pad, great there. I don't know about inside as it needed rain to clean it.

ELP

I was told its wood chip I never seen it. That is why all the questions.
So if it is would it be very rough? Would it not work as well inside?

K.G.

Have used woodchip with 10 or 12 years and wont be going back to straw.big advantages are dry bed and labour saving -calves can be sold 3to6weeks without ever rebedding.after that 6weeks it would want to be topped up or cleaned out

charolais0153

Wat do u do with the old stuff

Mooooo

Have gotten more bark mulch type stuff here. It's not as free draining as woodchip but I put straw on top of it, the straw lasts longer. Used to put hard-core in the pens under straw but this way at least it can all be cleaned out into the one heap

mahoney_j

Interesting concept this especially with straw now getting dear and scarce .one question I have tho if u are bedding apennof say 20 calves and they get scour /crypto /rota etc how hygienic is it would ye clean it out then ??

yewtree

Used woodchip under calves and calving pens.
Delighted with it. Was fairly course you would find the odd bit of a branch in it. €1000 for the big high sided lorry, massive load of stuff in it. 130 cows calved and about 40 calves reared on it, calves were out the middle of march. I still have a small bit left. Great labour saving tool and animals dry and comfortable on it

K.G.

mahoney_j wrote: »

Interesting concept this especially with straw now getting dear and scarce .one question I have tho if u are bedding apennof say 20 calves and they get scour /crypto /rota etc how hygienic is it would ye clean it out then ??

Its fine at the right stocking rate like everything.i dont put new calves into pens that calvres have left.if i did it would have to be a complete clean out rather yhan topping up.as regards scour sick calves are pulled out but provided you are stocked right its no differen to straw situation-just because you put down plenty straw dosent mean the bugs are gone.there is no comparison in terms of dry bed though-a couple of dept inspectors have been through here in the spring time and both were very happy with the bedding

Keepgrowing

mahoney_j wrote: »

Interesting concept this especially with straw now getting dear and scarce .one question I have tho if u are bedding apennof say 20 calves and they get scour /crypto /rota etc how hygienic is it would ye clean it out then ??

Same protocol as with straw MJ.

We remove offending calf to an isolation pen, clean out pen, wash disinfect, allow dry and new bedding.

Keepgrowing

Keepgrowing wrote: »

Same protocol as with straw MJ.

We remove offending calf to an isolation pen, clean out pen, wash disinfect, allow dry and new bedding.

Isolation pen is pretty rudimentary and is destroyed after use

K.G.

Have to change supplier of the wood chip and wondering what suppliers and what size load/price are they.in cork

jaymla627

K.G. wrote: »

Have to change supplier of the wood chip and wondering what suppliers and what size load/price are they.in cork

Going trying out peatbed bedding here next year, ole chap has a lorry and works out very cheap when haulage isn't factored in but to get it delivered into your yard it's astronomical cost wise

Mooooo

jaymla627 wrote: »

Going trying out peatbed bedding here next year, ole chap has a lorry and works out very cheap when haulage isn't factored in but to get it delivered into your yard it's astronomical cost wise

How much does transport cost ye with yer own lorry?

Mooooo

K.G. wrote: »

Have to change supplier of the wood chip and wondering what suppliers and what size load/price are they.in cork

Neighbour gets timber delivered and then lads arrive on later to chip it, not sure who they are but can find out. It is for outwintering pad he has. I get more bark mulch type stuff from kilnamartyra but only a silage trailer load for calf pens and the odd shed with weanlings in it, wouldn't be as good as woodchip but does me fine

jaymla627

Mooooo wrote: »

How much does transport cost ye with yer own lorry?

Works out about 5 euros a cubic metre, so 180 a load but it's essentially a back load as factory we deliver too is only 30 miles from their factory, it's 55 euro a cubic metre to get it delivered in yard in bulk bags and works out at 20 euro if collected from factory taking haulage into account on a back load per say

Hard Knocks

How long does the wood chip/mulch last & what do you do with it afterwards?

K.G.

Gets thrown on to dung heap with everything else and spread either on beet or reseeding in the spring or a grass field in autumn

Hard Knocks

K.G. wrote: »

Gets thrown on to dung heap with everything else and spread either on beet or reseeding in the spring or a grass field in autumn

Would it be as good as straw bedding for the land (P's& K's)?

K.G.

Mooooo wrote: »

Neighbour gets timber delivered and then lads arrive on later to chip it, not sure who they are but can find out. It is for outwintering pad he has. I get more bark mulch type stuff from kilnamartyra but only a silage trailer load for calf pens and the odd shed with weanlings in it, wouldn't be as good as woodchip but does me fine

Do you use that under young calves and does stay dry

K.G.

Hard Knocks wrote: »

Would it be as good as straw bedding for the land (P's& K's)?

Apparently the rotting process ties up a good bit of nitrogen but cant tell you the p and k situation.being straight the biggest problem i have is it getting inti slurry spreader and blocking chute

Gawddawggonnit

K.G. wrote: »

Do you use that under young calves and does stay dry

I've mulched a lot of trees here (long story) and if the timber isn't seasoned the mulch is wet. I wouldn't put animals on it anyhow.

yewtree

Gawddawggonnit wrote: »

I've mulched a lot of trees here (long story) and if the timber isn't seasoned the mulch is wet. I wouldn't put animals on it anyhow.

I had the same concerns. We had wood chip delivered in jan. It was tipped in yard. I put it in calf sheds in feb and it was ringing wet. But it was dry the next day , it stayed dry aswell. Calves were very comfortable on it.
Cant see myself using anything else going forward under calves.
i am not sure how long it was cut though.

Mooooo

K.G. wrote: »

Do you use that under young calves and does stay dry

Yeah under young calves, I tend to put straw on top bit the drainage works well I find straw is drier for longer on it

Base price

Gawddawggonnit wrote: »

I've mulched a lot of trees here (long story) and if the timber isn't seasoned the mulch is wet. I wouldn't put animals on it anyhow.

I would be concerned about using wood mulch due to the growth of spores and associated moulds/mildew which would be detrimental to air quality especially if used indoors.
Edit: having said above, mouldy straw is as bad and unfortunately this year (over here) there will be lots of it about.

visatorro

jaymla627 wrote: »

Going trying out peatbed bedding here next year, ole chap has a lorry and works out very cheap when haulage isn't factored in but to get it delivered into your yard it's astronomical cost wise

I used peat here before. Calves here used to eat it for some reason. Found it great on cubicles. Got it for nothing.

lazybones32

I knew a tree surgeon who had loads of wood chips left to rot - even after supplying his furnace. If there is an arborist near anyonr who is thinking of putting it under cattle, they could be worth contacting. It could even be possible for them to tip the truck/trailer if they were passing with a full load. Worth a phone call.