Yes, my colleagues and I have heard about many different types of bedding materials used in compost dairy barns. Alternative bedding materials for use in compost dairy barns is an active area of research. We know from experience that fine dry sawdust and wood shavings work very well. One research study evaluated fine dry pine shavings, finely processed soybean straw, finely processed corn cobs and soft wood chips. More information on the study is available at the Compost Dairy Barn Newsletter, volume 10 website. In another unpublished study eleven possible bedding alternatives were characterized. The materials studied included beet pulp, corn cobs, corn stover, elm chips, flax straw, pine bark, pine chips, soybean hulls, soybean straw and wheat straw. In addition compost dairy barn owners tell us about bedding mixtures they are trying based on what organic materials are locally available. Other materials either being used or considered include sunflower hulls, rice husks and cotton straw. One producer tried cedar chips and reported that the compost pack became cold and wet. We believe that the natural oils in cedar inhibit the microbial activity needed in successful compost dairy barn packs.
Author: Kevin Janni,
Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
University of Minnesota