Bedding is the material spread on the floor of livestock housing to absorb moisture, provide cushioning, insulate from cold floors, and manage manure. The choice of bedding material depends on availability, cost, absorbency, and the species being housed. Bedding management directly affects animal health, particularly respiratory health and hoof condition.
Wheat, barley, or oat straw is the most common bedding for ruminants. Straw is absorbent, has good insulating properties, and produces a high-quality compost when mixed with manure. Typical usage is 2 to 4 kilograms per animal per day for cattle and 0.5 to 1 kilogram for sheep and goats. Straw bales serve as both bedding and supplementary feed for ruminants.
Pine wood shavings and sawdust are preferred for horses, poultry, and small animals. Shavings are more absorbent than straw and produce less dust when properly processed. Cedar shavings are avoided for small animals due to the aromatic oils that can cause respiratory irritation.
Sand is used in dairy freestall barns as a bedding material that resists bacterial growth and provides excellent cow comfort. Sand bedding requires a different manure handling system, as it settles out of liquid manure and does not compost well.
Deep litter bedding is a management system where bedding is added over existing material rather than removed completely. The bedding and manure compost in place, generating heat that warms the building in winter. The deep litter pack is removed once or twice per year. This system is common in poultry and swine housing and works well in cold climates.
Bedding is removed entirely or topped up on a regular schedule. The moisture content of used bedding should be below 30 percent for healthy hoof conditions. Wet bedding around waterers and feeders is removed daily. The bedding material and frequency of replacement depends on stocking density and ventilation rates.
Spent bedding mixed with manure produces a carbon-rich compost material. The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of straw bedding is approximately 80:1, which balances the 10:1 ratio of fresh manure to produce a final ratio of 25 to 30:1 ideal for Composting. Wood shavings decompose more slowly and have a higher C:N ratio of 200:1 or more.