sawdust far cubicles

whelan1

how much do you pay , where do you get it? i have been using the same guy for a few years but he is gone very expensive , i get an artic load to do me for the winter

snowman707

was reading about the pros and cons on another site, seem it can provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, especially those associated with mastisis

have never used it mainly because it isn't locally available, am presently looking at getting some cubicle lime in bulk, and that ain't cheap either.

LostCovey

+1 for lime.

Sawdust is mastitis waiting to happen (but teat seals really help)

LC

bogman_bass

sawdust is getting hard to get at the moment

whelan1

snowman707 wrote: »

was reading about the pros and cons on another site, seem it can provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, especially those associated with mastisis

have never used it mainly because it isn't locally available, am presently looking at getting some cubicle lime in bulk, and that ain't cheap either.

we have used the good white sawdust for years now along with the cubicle lime, tried peat moss for a while but that does heat and does cause mastitis if the sawdust is done properly it is fantastic, clean cows , no mastitis... we have a transport box on a ferguson 20 we put it out twice a week .... brush the mats twice a day

whelan1

LostCovey wrote: »

+1 for lime.

Sawdust is mastitis waiting to happen (but teat seals really help)

LC

not if done properly

irishh_bob

i believe in using both lime and sawdust , lime around once a month for the purpose of killing of bugs and bacteria and sawdust the majority of the time , i disagree that sawdust causes mastitis , IMO , sawdust is far superior to lime for soaking up dung on cubicles , it also leaves cows much cleaner than lime and is less severe on thier teats

snowman707

whelan1 wrote: »

we have used the good white sawdust for years now along with the cubicle lime, tried peat moss for a while but that does heat and does cause mastitis if the sawdust is done properly it is fantastic, clean cows , no mastitis... we have a transport box on a ferguson 20 we put it out twice a week .... brush the mats twice a day

do you store the sawdust under cover ? the article I was reading referred to the heating harbouring the bugs

Might look in sourcing some in the spring when the cows start calving and use Irish bobs method of saw dust and lime

whelan1

we put the artic load in to our grain store - that doesnt have grain in it anymore . we dont cover it... we use the prosanex lime stuff twice a week and put the sawdust over it... i did the 5 sheds yesterday for the first time this year in 40 minutes that included refilling the transport box

dar31

no problems with saw dust once used properly, very important that sawdust is clean and dry at all times. we would sweep clean every second day, clean any wet sawdust or sh1t every milking. lime them once a week with hydrated lime. think some people used to mix sawdust and lime in the feeder at the start of the year, no idea how it worked though.
as far as i can remember sawdust was e300 - 350 for a 18ft silage trailer full to the gills, enough to do us the year.
we usually bag the sawdust and leave in a dead corner very close to the cubicles. if it is any way damp or heating in the bags we just dump that bag

Alibear

I would be concerned with sawdust causing respiratory problems; it is also hard to get at the moment due to the lack of wood being used in certain industries like construction.

Dust-extracted wood shavings would be a good option; you'd be looking at >€6 a bale I'd say (size of a square bale of hay). Shop around and see who can give you the best discount if you buy in bulk.

Dar31's method would be the most economical way of using it; get rid of the poo and wet woodshavings regularly, and replace the wet shavings with clean stuff.

aristo

Limestone Flour, €0.60 for 25kg bag, sand is meant to be very good for inhibiting bacteria but a disaster in slurry tanks.

Lofty0990

Combination of limestone flour and chopped news paper put on while cows are in parlour

Muckit

Is the lime that ye milkers use on the cubicles the same as ordinary building lime?? Or is there a specific name on it?

Thanks

John_F

we dont use saw dust / shavings or paper for cow bedding. only asking for trouble unless you tend to it night and day. bedding can be organic and inorganic, organic bedding being the breeding ground for bacteria. We use limestone flour little and often and stalosan f once a week on mats. Milk + organic material + Muck + wet = trouble

http://nyschap.vet.cornell.edu/module/mastitis/section1/BeddingMaterialsUdderHealth.pdf

whelan1

everyones set up is different the sawdust and prosanex(lime) work best for us ... different folks different strokes... we have no problems with the sawdust at all

Lofty0990

Muckit wrote: »

Is the lime that ye milkers use on the cubicles the same as ordinary building lime?? Or is there a specific name on it?

Thanks

Limestone flour(calcium carbonate) is not "hydrated lime" as used in building trade . It can also be used in prevention of milk fever (google it!) but you go there by yourself.

snowman707

Muckit wrote: »

Is the lime that ye milkers use on the cubicles the same as ordinary building lime?? Or is there a specific name on it?

Thanks

Builder's lime would be severe on the teats, there are a number of different cubicle limes on the market, each company claiming their product is superior

http://www.nutribio.ie/Superchoice/Agrical.pdf