Peat bedding under calves

Siamsa Sessions

I’m hoping to buy some autumn calves this year so straw is very much on my agenda at the moment.

It’s scarce stuff so I’m looking at alternatives like peat for bedding calves. One website is looking for €150 for 1.5 tons. No idea if that’s good, bad, or indifferent.

Anyone ever put peat under calves?

Peat is ok if you've lots of room for them to run around in it and good drainage/slope on the floor. But if you've minimum space for the group I would advise against peat, it will turn to slop very easy.

Used it 2 years in a row coz I got a few load for nothing but would never use it again.

hopeso

But you're not supposed to be buying peat....... 🤣

J.O. Farmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121035848#Comment_121035848

It's okay he's planning to try to sequester carbon emitted from cattle in it.

jaymla627

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058311055/peat-bedding-under-calves

Be very careful with it, calves need access to straw at all times when on the peat, our they’ll start eating it, lost calves here that where eating it, was using the peat-bed stuff with lime through it so maybe was more palatable, had cubicle mats in calf pens and was bedding mats with peat and lime thinking I was doing great work but turned into a disaster

mr.stonewall

I have seen a few folks out a few inches of sand or wood chip under the straw half way through rearing. Super soakage and keeps the straw dry. When mixed in the dung heap it makes no difference. Different story with gravel.

Say my name

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121036046#Comment_121036046

A different take on that. If you were mixing in sand, if the pit was near the sea the pH would probably be alkaline so maybe a benefit too. If you wanted to further on the thought mixing in basalt dust would bring in even more benefit from a mineral point of view from the fym being spread out on land.

Reggie.

I put peat under calves every year with no issues. As said make sure there is straw available to eat and they will be fine. I bed one section of the peat as a lie area for the calves

Siamsa Sessions

Thanks for replies.

Last question: Would you want 6 inches or 12 inches under them?

endainoz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121036691#Comment_121036691

The one year I was allowed to use peat bedding, I was told to make it a foot deep. Could try mixing in some miscanthus with it or even some bio char is your feeling adventurous.

dowlerswozere

I’d advise against using peat for calves especially with sucklers as the peat holds onto infection we had a good few cases of scour with it

TinyMuffin

we use it under bulls been fattened under 16 months. They keep it churned up. Calves will compact the top inch or 2 so it would have to be turned with a loader, skid steer or mini digger. Last load delivered here was €20 a cubic meter.

Castlekeeper

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122697797#Comment_122697797

+1 on that.

If the calves get a bug, all your bedding is gone for nothing.