Best Value for Cow Bedding

Prices Drive many decisions in farming.

The world sees us as a commodity, meaning one ton of straw is the same as the next.  Farmers usually don't agree with this, working year-round to produce the best product available.  This doesn't change the fact that most farm inputs and outputs are market priced, including organic bedding material.

Organic bedding material price differs throughout the year just like any other commodity where the market determines the price at any given moment.  This is based on consumer demand and available supply.  During the winter months, these products are not grown and farmers need the material so prices are higher.  Prices are lower in the summer months when bales are easily found and there is not as much demand.

Average Price of the most commonly used material.

Wheat Straw: $112

 

Corn Stalks: $63

 

Oat Straw: $54

As you can see, price varies greatly between material types.  They range from over $100 to just over $50 per ton of material.  The largest discrepancy in price comes from transportation costs.  Wheat is primarily found out west and shipped to the Midwest, whereas cornstalks are found locally.

Wheat straw is a much softer material to use for calf pens, but is more expensive and doesn't absorb material as well.  Corn stalks are tougher, but they are much cheaper and more absorbent than wheat straw.

It basically comes down to your priorities.  If soft bedding for your calves is necessary, paying 40 more dollars per ton may be worth it.  If you need absorbency and an economical option, corn stalks are for you.

Both are easily processed in a Top-Spread bale spreader.  There are models for round or square bales to meet your needs.  Choose your bedding and your Top-Spread model to start making the best choices for your livestock.

 

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5 Reasons to Use Organic Bedding

Why We Choose Organic Bedding for our Livestock Comfort.

 

What is Organic Bedding?

Organic Material is made from a living organism such as a plant.  This differs from other options that are processed such as sand or the use of rubber mats.

 

There are many types of organic bedding.  The most common are:

• Wheat Straw
• Oat Straw
• Corn Stalks 

5 Reasons to Use Organic Bedding

1. Absorbs moisture and prevents runoff.

Different types of organic material absorb at varying levels.  Corn stalks are the most absorbent of the three we have listed as the most common.  The benefit of using the more absorbent material is that you use less material because it lasts longer.  This will in turn save you time bedding and removing waste less frequently as well as saving money on bedding.

 

Using organic material prevents runoff.  The material absorbs liquid waste preventing it from running into your soil causing contamination and soil erosion.

2. Reuse materials for fertilizing crop ground.

Collecting waste with organic material provides a head start for fertilizing your crop ground.  Spreading your livestock waste with organic material provides nutrients and needed organic matter for your soil composition.  Organic matter provides a reservoir to store the nutrients from your livestock waste.

 

Using organic bedding ensures you don't have to find a way to dispose of your livestock waste and used up material.  You are able to reuse the material and waste for additional use on your farm.  This completes the cycle for growing the food for your livestock.

3. Less joint impact on livestock.

Providing a soft bedding for your livestock encourages more rest time for your livestock.  In general, 10 hours of rest leisure time is recommended.  When livestock stand in sand, they not only have harsh impact on their joints when they walk, the sand also deteriorates their hooves.  This makes it uncomfortable and difficult for them to walk around.  Using a more forgiving bedding option provides ease of lifestyle for livestock.

4. Protects equipment from clogging.

Using material such as corn stalks or straw are long enough they will not get trapped in drains and other equipment.  When using sand, it easily runs off and clogs drains, motors, chains, etc.  This can cost hours of time spent unclogging and hundreds of dollars replacing worn or broken parts.

5. Renewable Resource that is readily available.

As a whole, farmers are moving to choose options that are sustainable and benefit the environment.  In the Midwest, sand is found from byproducts of fracking.  This releases toxins into the air and has many negative impacts.  Most livestock farmers are also crop farmers or have neighbors that crop farm.  This makes finding the right type of organic material for you a breeze.  These crops are replanted every year.  This prevents soil erosion, provides adequate bedding for your livestock, and puts nutrients back in the soil to sustain the next crop.

 

These are just some of the benefits of using organic material for your bedding. 

 

 

Compare the specific types of organic bedding by downloading our FREE ebook Today!

 

Save Money with Cattle Bedding



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