Sand bedding in freestalls
Sand provides a comfortable lying surface and provides extra grip when getting up and lying down. Cows lie down longer on sand than on harder surfaces. Sand is an inorganic material that limits bacterial growth, and the prevalence of lameness and mastitis problems is low. Compared to mattresses, sand in cubicles improves cow comfort, increase lying time and support the lying down movement. Sand reduces the risk of hock injuries, and the risk of mastitis. To keep the sand in the cubicle, it should have an edge (curb) of 15-20 cm deep (no sharp edges). The cubicle should be cleaned twice a day by removing any manure, refreshed with new sand as needed to maintain at least 30 cm bedding and managed well to ensure an even depth of bedding. Because manure processing and its separation from the sand is the biggest challenge, the preference is to have barns with a solid rubber floor. Barns with a slatted floor and a manure pit underneath are deemed unsuitable for sand bedding because in these barns settled "cake" of sand and manure cannot be mixed. To remove sand and manure from the solid floor of the barn, a manure chute is recommended. It is recommended that a mechanical manure scraper pushes sand and manure toward the manure chute regularly. To separate the sand from the manure, the mixture is flushed through the manure chute to a settling tank placed adjacent to the barn. Sand settles in the wide section whilst the thin fraction flows and is removed via an overflow system. The thin fraction is then used to flush the manure chute allowing sand to further settle. The unsettled fraction is pumped to the manure silo when the settling tank is filled. The settled sand is scooped out of the settling tank by crane regularly. The sand can then be spread on the land or put into storage.
Resilience for Dairy
Completed | 2021-2024
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, Slovenia, Netherlands, Northern Ireland