Search

The subject of the study are the most commonly used bedding materials in freestall housing system in dairy cattle farming and the factors determining their choice. In recent years, in many countries as well as in Bulgaria there has been a tendency to change from small dairy cattle farms to larger ones by applying intensive farming systems. Many factors must be taken into account when developing appropriate interior design of dairy freestall barns. Among these factors is the providing of comfortable resting places with minimal risk of body injuries and bacterial infections. The bedding must meet many conditions: to be inexpensive, dry, not to support bacterial growth, not to contain pathogens, to be comfortable for cows to rest, and to be compatible with the manure cleaning system. Increased amounts of bedding have been shown to increase cow comfort by increasing the lying time, however controlling bacterial counts and udder health requires frequent removal of bedding material. The most widely used bedding materials in dairy cattle farming worldwide can be grouped into two main groups: organic - straw, hay (dried grass), sawdust, wood shavings, crop residues, composted manure and paper, and inorganic: sand, limestone, gypsum, rubber mats and mattresses, cement. When choosing bedding, first the comfort that it will provide to the animals must be considered, then whether the bedding will properly match the manure cleaning system and last but not least the price it will cost., Предмет на изследването са най-често използваните материали за постеля при системата за свободно боксово отглеждане в млечното говедовъдство и факторите, определящи техния избор.През последните години в редица страни, както и в България се наблюдава тенденция за промяна от малки млечни ферми към по-големи с прилагане на интензивни системи на отглеждане. Много фактори трябва да бъдат взети под внимание при разработването на подходящ вътрешен дизайн на сградите за свободно боксово отглеждане. Сред тези фактори е осигуряването на удобни места за почивка, с минимален риск за телесни увреждания и бактериални инфекции. Постелята трябва да отговаря на много условия: да е евтина, суха, да не подпомага бактериалния растеж, да не съдържа патогенни микроорганизми, да е удобна за почивка на кравите и да е съвместима със системата за почистване на сградите. Доказано е, че увеличените количества постеля увеличават комфорта на кравата чрез времето за лежане, обаче контролирането на броя на бактериите и здравето на вимето изискват чест отстраняване на материала за постеля. Най-широко използваните в света материали за постеля в млечното говедовъдство могат да се групират в две основни групи: органични: слама, сено (изсушена трева), дървени стърготини, талаш, остатъци от растителни култури, компостиран тор, хартия. Неорганични: пясък, варовик, гипс, гумени постелки и матраци, цимент. При избор на постеля, първо трябва да се има предвид комфортът, който тя ще осигури на животните, след това дали ще съответства правилно на системата за почистване на оборския тор и не на последно място цената, която ще струва.

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of alternative bedding materials on broiler production performances and litter quality in plant production. A 40-day experiment was carried out on 6885 broilers of ROSS 308 provenience. The broilers were reared on bedding material which consisted of cellulose pellets, wood chips, peat moss, and pH stabilizers. Feeding, zoohygienic and zootechnical measures met technological normative for this provenience. During the experiment, health status and mortality of broilers were observed. Litter pH, moisture, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus content in litter were determined at the end of experiment. Average live weight of broilers at the end of the trial was 2620 g. Mortality of chickens was 1.52%. The results of the study indicated that use of specified bedding material was beneficial for broilers production parameters. The results of investigation of litter quality indicate that it can provide similar benefits to inorganic fertilizers in terms of plant growth.

An attempt was made to find out the impact of the selected substrates on the yield parameters such as sporophore initiation, first flush, total yield, biological efficiency and mineral contents. Amongst the five selected substrates used, paddy straw gave the highest in yield, biological efficiency and first flush. Mineral contents show variation according to the substrate used as bedding material. It was found that maximum amount of Calcium was found in the sample cultivated on rice husk, Potassium on paddy straw, Iron on saw dust and Phosporus on mixed substrate used as bedding materials. Through mushroom cultivation, combating food shortage and protecting the environment is possible for the sustenance of the ecosystem.

Bedding material or litter is an important requirement of meat chicken production which can influence bird welfare, health, and food safety. A substantial increase in demand and cost of chicken bedding has stimulated interest in alternative bedding sources worldwide. However, risks arising from the use of alternative bedding materials for raising meat chickens are currently unknown. Organic chemicals, elemental, and biological contaminants, as well as physical and management hazards need to be managed in litter to protect the health of chickens and consequently that of human consumers. This requires access to information on the transfer of contaminants from litter to food to inform risk profiles and assessments to guide litter risk management. In this review, contaminants and hazards of known and potential concern in alternative bedding are described and compared with existing standards for feed. The contaminants considered in this review include organic chemical contaminants (e.g., pesticides), elemental contaminants (e.g., arsenic, cadmium, and lead), biological contaminants (phytotoxins, mycotoxins, and microorganisms), physical hazards, and management hazards. Reference is made to scientific literature for acceptable levels of the above contaminants in chicken feed that can be used for guidance by those involved in selecting and using bedding materials.

Objective: The objective of the present experiment was to construct self-draining beds to keep surface bedding materials clean and dry for beef cattle comfort in a temperate climate.Methods: In Experiment 1, a self-draining bed was covered with sand at depths of 10 cm (S-10a), 15 cm (S-15), and 20 cm (S-20) respectively. In Experiment 2, self-draining beds of different sizes were covered with 10 cm of sand (S-10b) and wood shavings (WS) at depths of 15 cm and 20 cm (WS-15 and WS-20). Fifteen cattle were engaged to evaluate the comfort of self-draining beds covered with different bedding materials.Results: No cattle lay in the feed alley and cattle spent more time lying on S-10a than S-15 or S-20 in Experiment 1 (p0.05). In Experiment 2, no cattle selected the feed alley as the lying area. Cattle preferred WS-15 as the lying area and time spent lying on WS-20 was slightly higher than on S-10b (p

The increasing demand of wood shavings (WS) and sawdust (SD) by other industries and growing concerns of potential chemical contaminants from wood products have amplified research interest in alternative bedding materials for commercial poultry. Several alternative materials—corn cob (CC), straws (ST) and hays (HA), sand (SA), shredded papers (SP), rice hulls (RH), peanut hulls (PH), and gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O2)—can replace conventional ones in poultry houses, depending on availability, cost, and ability to absorb and adsorb moisture and provide the birds enough room to exhibit their natural behaviors. Alternative materials hold a brighter future as bedding materials, but more studies about their physicochemical properties and litter management practices for optimum poultry welfare are recommended.

Danish farmers are increasingly adopting sand bedding within their dairy farms, which is creating challenges for biogas plants, as sand-laden manure hampers biogas production. This creates a potential problem where large amounts of animal manure will not be utilized for biogas production, and, correspondingly, will not contribute to the production of either renewable energy or valuable digestate (fertilizer). Moreover, the pressure on an imported (external) and highly exploited resource - here, sand - is increasingly calling for more sustainable and self-sustained farm systems, as far as cow bedding materials are concerned. The methodological approach in this paper is first to investigate state-of-the-art sand-separation technologies in Denmark and the USA, particularly in relation to their environmental and energy performance, then, second, to analyze how other types of bedding materials can be utilized by drawing on on-site (internal) farm resources, namely residual straw and the fiber fraction of manure. The results of the analysis suggest that, in particular, manure fibers are beneficial for animal welfare and biogas production, resulting in a more circular economic system. The paper concludes by presenting a new farm-biogas system that sustains such circularity. To support this development, we further suggest investigating in new ventilation technology to limit the amount of ammonia that is produced in dairy stables as a result of using manure fibers as bedding material.

Poultry house dust is composed of fine particles which likely originate from a diverse range of materials such as feed, litter, excreta, and feathers. Little is known about the contribution of these sources to broiler house airborne dust so the present study was designed to identify the relative contributions of these sources. Samples of feed, excreta, feather, and bedding, known mixtures of these and settled dust from 28 broiler chicken flocks were tested for the concentration of 18 chemical elements. A chemometrics approach (the application of multivariate statistical techniques to chemical analysis data) was used to identify the primary source material in broiler chicken house dust samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to analyze dust sample particulates based on examination of source materials. Excreta was found to be the main component of broiler chicken house dust, both by SEM and chemometric analysis. SEM of experimental flock dust between 7 and 35 days of age (d) revealed that the contribution of excreta to dust increased with age from 60% at 7 d to 95% at 28 d (P < 0.001). The proportion of bedding and feed in dust declined with age while the contribution of feather material remained low throughout. This study demonstrates that excreta provides the bulk of the material in poultry dust samples with bedding material, feed and feather material providing lower proportions. The relative contributions of these materials to dust varies with age of birds at dust collection. Additional research is required to determine the health and diagnostic implications of this variation.

To ascertain the agronomic value of the material resulting from the compost-bedded pack (CBP) in dairy barns, a cross-over experiment was designed with eight dry non-pregnant Holstein cows. The study was performed in two 11-week periods. Bedding materials used were: (1) CBP with sawdust (S) and (2) CBP with forest biomass (FB). Samples were taken from the raw bedding materials and from the CBP across the experiment. We conducted an additional study preparing two piles, one of each CBP material, to accomplish a composting process of 3 months, where samples were also taken. Granulometry and some chemical composition characteristics of FB made it a suitable bedding material to be used as CBP, but its high moisture content limited the ability to absorb liquid manure. Both the degree of stability of the organic matter and the temperature evolution of CBP suggest that a real composting process did not occur. Finally, the composting process of the piles did not lead to any relevant change in CBP materials. From the agronomic point of view, S and FB present potentially valuable characteristics as regards organic amendment in the soil, thanks to their high organic matter content and low nutrient content. This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Fund, reference project AGL2015-68373-C2-1-R, Madrid, Spain.

Co-composting of recycled cow manure and waste bedding material has been used to convert both agricultural wastes to biofertilizers. This study explored the succession of microbial community, metabolic function and substances conversion capacities during 60 days’ co-composting using high throughput sequencing technology. The study revealed that co-composting of cow manure and bedding material waste at a ratio of 1.32 (CM+B) had the highest efficiency among four treatments. The bacterial and fungal community diversity changed significantly during the co-composting of CM+B group, and the major phyla included Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Ascomycota. PICRUSt and FUNGuild analysis showed that carbohydrate, lipid metabolism and especially nitrogen fixation were enhanced in the thermophilic phase, while animal and plant pathogens were not detected after the co-composting. Wood saprotrophs became the dominant fungal group (89.1%) in the maturation phase. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) confirmed that temperature influenced bacterial community succession more than it influenced fungal community succession. Ruminiclostridium had a significantly positive relationship with temperature (p_value < 0.05), while pH and C/N had significant effect on the fungal (p_value < 0.05), and Penicillium and Mortierella were significantly related to moisture (p_value < 0.05). This work describes an efficient methodology to deal with co-composting systems that had been successfully applied in agricultural wastes treatment, enabling further understanding in mechanisms underlying the substance conversion and the involved microbial community succession in sophisticated composting system.

The bedding material used in barns for dairy cows has a significant effect on animal welfare and performance. Bedding influences the duration in which animals remain lying down and, consequently, the processes of rumination and milk production. It is crucial to have a complete understanding of the properties of bedding materials and the effects of alternative bedding materials on dairy cattle. This paper aims to evaluate the physical, chemical, and biological properties of various alternative and conventional bedding materials for dairy cattle for use in compost bedded pack or freestall barn systems. We analyzed 50 samples of 17 bedding materials produced in 3 European countries. We analyzed physical properties including the water holding capacity, porosity, moisture content, bulk density, dry bulk density, and particle size. Chemical analyses were performed to determine the total N, total organic C, and C:N ratio. In the biological analyses, the Escherichia coli count, total bacteria count, coliform count, and Klebsiella spp. count were assessed. The results demonstrated how the physical properties of the bedding materials may influence the chemical and biological properties. All of the materials presented adequate chemical properties to be used as bedding material. The physical properties of the bedding materials differed widely among the materials except for the dry bulk density, which presented no difference. Moreover, the contamination of each studied microorganism was observed for each bedding material to determine which material had the lowest level of contamination. Posidonia oceanica, Miscanthus grass, and spelt husks could be considered as a potential alternative material for use as bedding material for dairy cows in both systems (i.e., composted bedded pack and freestall). This experiment illustrated the importance of performing thorough physical, chemical, and biological analyses before implementing a material as bedding for dairy cattle.

Among animal facilities, compost-bedded pack (CBP) barns have attracted a lot of attention from milk producers and the scientific community. Systematic investigation of the main thermal properties utilizing sawdust in CBP barns is of environmental and economic relevance. In this paper, the aim was to (a) develop predictive equations for the thermal conductivity (k) of compost bedding as a function of moisture content (MC), the degree of compaction (DCo), and particle size (PS), and (b) investigate the links between k and depth within bedding material. Samples of compost bedding materials were collected from 42 commercial CBP barns distributed throughout Kentucky (USA). From these predictive equations, it was possible to understand how the MC, DCo, and PS of the bedding materials may influence the behavior of k. These results are very useful for solving obstacles to simulate and predict the variable outcomes of the compost bedding materials process in CBP barns, allowing for its optimization, consequently reducing the time and energy spent on their optimization and allowing for simulation and assessment of compost bedding process modifications. The results of the current study may have important implications in the design and management of bedded pack barns.

Feedlots in southern Alberta apply composted (CM) or stockpiled (SM) manure with straw (ST) or wood-chip (WD) bedding to cropland, but few studies have examined the effect of manure type and beddin...

A function of bedding material in poultry houses is to absorb and release moisture. New bedding is commonly placed at inadequate depths in houses. Pine shavings are the industry standard for bedding material in the majority of the United States, but can be hard to obtain or costly. Alternative materials were tested for moisture absorption and retention. Peat moss and chopped wheat straw were found to absorb nearly 8× and 7× their own weight in moisture, respectively. Peat moss was then used in a broiler study and compared to fresh and used pine shavings for 6 weeks. Body weight was lower at d 7 for the used litter and peat moss treatment compared to fresh shavings with no differences at d 42. No differences in ammonia generation or litter pH were observed. Litter moisture was higher for peat moss through d 14. Paws were better in the fresh shaving and peat moss pens than used shaving pens at both d 21 and 42. Next, different depths of used and fresh shavings on footpad dermatitis (FPD) were examined. Trials 1 and 2 compared 2.5, 7.6, and 12.7 cm of fresh shavings or used litter, respectively. In Trial 1, 2.5 cm had higher litter moisture than 7.6 and 12.7 cm at d 21, 28, and 35 (P

Pine ( spp.) bedding has been shown to lower the concentration of odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and pathogenic bacteria compared with corn ( L.) stover bedding, but availability and cost limit the use of pine bedding in cattle confinement facilities. The objectives of this study were to determine if the addition of pine wood chips to laboratory-scaled bedded packs containing corn stover (i) reduced odorous VOC emissions; (ii) reduced total ; and (iii) changed the nutrient composition of the resulting manure-bedded packs. Bedding treatments included 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, and 100% pine chips, with the balance being corn stover. Four bedded packs for each mixture were maintained for 42 d ( = 4 observations per bedding material). The production of total sulfur compounds increased significantly when 100% pine chips were used (44.72 ng L) compared with bedding mixture containing corn stover (18.0-24.56 ng L). The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio exceeded the ideal ratio of 24:1 for the optimum activity of soil microorganisms when ≥60% pine chips (25.3-27.5 ng L) were included in the mixture. The use of 100% pine chips as bedding increased sulfide concentration in the facility 1.8 to 2.4 times over the use of corn stover bedding. was not influenced by the addition of pine chips to the corn stover bedding material but did decrease as the bedded pack aged. Bedding material mixtures containing 30 to 60% pine and 40 to 70% corn stover may be the ideal combination to mitigate odors from livestock facilities using deep bedded systems.

Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum may be a viable low-cost alternative bedding material for broiler production. In order to evaluate FGD gypsum’s viability, a study was conducted to determine its influence on live performance (body weight, feed consumption, feed efficiency, and footpad dermatitis), litter characteristics (caking, moisture percentage, and surface temperature) and ammonia volatilization in 3 successive flocks. FGD gypsum was compared with pine shaving (PS), pine bark (PB), PS + FGD gypsum (second material was top dressed over first), PB + FGD gypsum, PS + PB, FGD gypsum + PS, and FGD gypsum + PB. Bedding had no significant influence on feed consumption (FC), feed efficiency (FE), and mortality (M). Body weight and adjusted feed efficiency (AFE) were significantly lower with FGD gypsum compared to that of PS for flock 1, with no differences being observed among the other bedding materials. No differences were noted in live performance for flocks 2 or 3. Incidences of footpad lesions were lower with FGD gypsum than the other bedding materials, but only for flock 1. Bedding treatment had no influence on litter surface temperature. Gravimetric moisture content of gypsum treatments was lower than that of non-gypsum treatments; however, visually, the FGD gypsum was more compacted and had a surface crust. Reductions in ammonia volatilization also were observed during the initial flock with FGD gypsum; however, its effectiveness had diminished by flock 2 and 3.

Sand is the most commonly used bedding material in commercial dairies. The advantage of using sand in dairies is the health and well-being of the animals. When manure is harvested, sand is mixed with the manure, which decreases the energy content of the mixed material. Hence, when used for thermal energy conversion processes, the mixture will be difficult to convert into energy or power. The sand should be removed from the mixture for sustainable energy conversion. A method to remove the sand from sand-manure mixtures was designed and investigated in the current study. The “as-received” manure had more than 70% ash, and this was reduced to less than 40% to 50% after sieving with a 40 mesh screen. The ideal moisture content during the separation process was less than 10% (wet basis). The manure-sand mixture was ground prior to separation. The higher heating value of the sand-separated manure increased to almost twice the original value. From the pilot-scale manure handling system that was developed, a maximum of 25% of the initial dried sand-manure mixture was recovered after employing simple box-type drying and continuous sand separation, while the separated sand showed a reusable quality for bedding. Six indices of ash fusion prediction equations were applied and indicated a low potential for ash agglomeration and slagging due to high silica concentrations in the processed manure. Finally, the processed manure was successfully gasified and flared with a lower heating value of 3.3 MJ Nm-3.

Objectives: Rodents used in scientific research are typically housed in cages containing natural bedding materials. Despite extensive evidence of biological harm from inhaled particulate matter (PM), relatively little work has been performed to measure bedding-generated PM exposure in caged animals used in basic science research. Our objectives were to determine whether bedding-generated PM was present in significant concentrations in rodent cages and to identify the main factors affecting the accumulation and attenuation of bedding-generated PM inside cages. Materials and Methods: We measured PM2.5 concentrations in cages containing common bedding materials (pine, aspen, paper, and corncob) with filter top isolator absent or present on the cages. PM2.5 concentrations were monitored with rats inside cages as well as during artificial manipulation of the bedding (designed to simulate rodent activity). Results and Discussion: Upon rodent digging or mechanical/manual stirring, all four bedding materials produced significant increases in PM2.5 concentrations (as much as 100–200 µg/m3 PM2.5, 50- to 100-fold higher than during periods of no rodent activity), and concentrations in cages fitted with filter tops were an order of magnitude higher than in cages without filter tops. Elevated concentrations were sustained for longer durations in cages with filter tops (5–10 minutes) compared to cages with only bar lids (0–2 minutes). Conclusions: These results indicate that standard laboratory housing conditions can expose rodents to substantial levels of PM2.5. Bedding-generated PM has potential implications as an environmental agent in rodent studies.

Housing system can affect dairy cow’s welfare and performance and the type of bedding material used can also affect comfort and hygiene level of the animals. A wide range of different materials can be used in bedding for dairy cattle, but their physical proprieties must be analyzed to evaluate their potential. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the physical properties of Miscanthus grass in comparison to wheat straw, as an affordable alternative being used as bedding material in housing systems for dairy cows. Particle size, bulk density, air-filled porosity and water holding capacity from Miscanthus and wheat straw were measured experimentally in the lab of the DAGRI of the University of Florence. The particle size was determined by applying 50 g of material on six meshes. Bulk density was determined according to the ASABE Standard S269.4 DEC 91. To determine the water holding capacity and air filled porosity of bedding materials samples the Australian Standards AS 3743-2003 were used. The analysis showed that since Miscanthus presented 88% of the particle size bigger than 50 mm, it also presented higher value of water holding capacity (0.072 kg L−1) in comparison with wheat straw (0.057 kg L−1). Miscanthus presented higher bulk density (26 kg m−3) than wheat straw (18 kg m−3). Both materials presented similar air-filled porosity, around 88%. Based on these physical properties results, it was possible to demonstrate the good potential to use Miscanthus as a viable alternative to wheat straw as a bedding material for dairy cattle.

Significant economic growth has been witnessed in Dubai during last twenty years primarily due to its business-friendly environments in the region. The management of construction and demolition (C & D) wastes in Dubai is aimed at encouraging the environmental sustainability of all projects. The volume of C & D wastes accounted for 6,638,471 tons in the year 2011. A laboratory investigation was conducted to determine the feasibility of using recycled C & D waste materials for pipeline bedding application. Samples were collected from a dump site near Umm Nahid, Dubai. Samples were processed to collect a mix of concrete waste and aggregates. Sieve analysis, Dry Density, and CBR tests were conducted to determine the suitability of this material for use as subgrade for the pipeline bedding. Concrete specimens 150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm were prepared and tested for the compressive strength at the age of 7 days. Results of laboratory tests have demonstrated that recycled aggregates from construction demolitions and waste materials can be effectively used for pipeline bedding material thereby saving valuable resources and contributing to the sustainability.

This article presents methods and results of experimental research to determine the power consumed when driving the working bodies of the straw bedding mobile spreader to cover cow stalls (boxes). Analysis of the design and mode parameters of the rotary finger working body influence on the energy consumption of the bedding material spreading process is carried out. Using the experimental data, it was established that the power consumed to drive the rotary finger working body of the mobile straw bedding spreader, at the tractor power take-off (PTO) shaft rotation speed of 540 min−1, the forward unit speed of 2 km/h, and performance of 1.5 kg/s, is equal to 7.633 kW. In this case, due to the installation of a rotary finger working body for spreading straw bedding, the power consumption increased by 9%. This increase will not have a significant impact on the overall energy consumption of the spreading bedding material working process, because this class tractor power reserve allows its use.

As part of routine husbandry, an increasing number of laboratory mice receive nesting material in addition to standard bedding material in their cages. Nesting material improves health outcomes and physiological performance in mice that receive it. Providing usable nesting material uniformly and efficiently to various strains of mice remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to determine how bedding particle size, method of nesting material delivery, and processing of the nesting material before delivery affected nest building in mice of strong (BALB/cAnNCrl) and weak (C3H/HeNCrl) gathering abilities. Our data suggest that processing nesting material through a grinder in conjunction with bedding material, although convenient for provision of bedding with nesting material ‘built-in’, negatively affects the integrity of the nesting material and subsequent nest-building outcomes. We also found that C3H mice, previously thought to be poor nest builders, built similarly scored nests to those of BALB/c mice when provided with unprocessed nesting material. This was true even when nesting material was mixed into the bedding substrate. We also observed that when nesting material was mixed into the bedding substrate, mice of both strains would sort their bedding by particle size more often than if it were not mixed in. Our findings support the utility of the practice of distributing nesting material mixed in with bedding substrate, but not that of processing the nesting material with the bedding in order to mix them.

SUMMARY Grasses, including native switchgrass (SG), can be grown on marginal land and can produce large amounts of biomass. As these grasses are perennials, they can be used as buffers to help prevent nutrients from entering watersheds, and, once established, are productive for long periods of time. Chopped SG possesses the necessary qualities needed to be a good alternative bedding: it is lightweight, highly absorbent, dries quickly, and can be used as a fertilizer. While research has demonstrated that SG is a viable alternative bedding material in pen trials, no research has reported on the long-term viability of this bedding alternative in commercial houses during multiple grow-outs. The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of using SG as an alternative bedding material in commercial production houses over consecutive flocks. Three farms were used to run comparisons of pine shaving (PS) vs. SG. No significant differences in bird wt. (PS 3.87 kg, SG 3.83 kg), feed conversion (PS 2.01, SG 1.98), livability, (PS 94.31%, SG 94.81%) or foot pad quality (PS = 0.775416, SG = 0.84658) were found. Additionally, no difference in the number of Darkling beetles (Alphitobius diaperinus [panzer]) was observed. These results suggest that in areas where SG grows well, it can be used as an alternative source of poultry bedding for commercial growers.

Horse manure is often a cost for horse owners, and in most cases, it is underutilized when its status as biodegradable waste means that it could potentially be used in renewable energy production and serve as a source of nutrient recycling. The selection of treatment methods requires information on possible environmental impacts; however, much readily available information on this aspect remains lacking. Therefore, in this study, the environmental impacts of horse manure management chains utilizing either saw dust or peat as bedding material are investigated using life cycle assessment, and global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), and acidification potential (AP) serve as impact categories. Selected manure management chains include different composting processes, anaerobic digestion, and combustion. The results reveal that combustion is the most favorable option for saw dust manure for all the studied impact categories, whereas anaerobic digestion is the most favorable for GWP reduction, and combustion is the best option for EP and AP reduction for peat manure. However, it should be considered that the selection of bedding material and treatment options for horse manure is restricted by the availability of bedding material and treatment options and by stable size and location. Post-print / Final draft

International audience; Bedding material is an important requirement of floor-based poultry production systems to meet the health and welfare requirements. This substrate can be an organic material like wood or plant-based material or inorganic material like clay and sand and should generally be a good absorbant, easily available, comfortable and nontoxic to birds. Wood is an organic renewable resource having good humidity regulation and antimicrobial properties and its by-products are commonly used as poultry litter in many countries. For example, in France, wood-based bedding is used in 80% of turkey production. This litter has approximately 50% lower NH3 production compared to other materials like sand and hulls, and has multiple environment-friendly disposal options. Moreover, the birds grown on such litter show better health and welfare and they prefer to practice their natural behaviours on this material which is helpful for the amelioration of physiological status and reduction of locomotion injuries. Moreover, according to some studies, the birds show improvement in different performance parameters, for example, up to 5-7% improvement in daily weight gain, live body weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and survivability. These improvements may differ depending upon the production system and type of wood material used in experiments, still it can be concluded that wood-based bedding materials do not negatively affect the production potential of poultry. In addition, the antimicrobial potential of wood may help to counter the load of certain pathogens in environment of birds. This review describes the physiochemical properties of wood-based bedding materials and their role in production and welfare of poultry.

Bedded pack barns in Netherlands can be divided into two groups. One group uses organic material, mostly compost, as a bedding material. The other group also uses organic material but with the aim to start a composting process in the bedding. In a study by Galama et al., the impact of bedded pack barns on farm economy, animal health and welfare, milk quality and environment was reported. One of the aspects of the environmental impact of bedded pack barns is the gaseous emissions of C- and N-compounds. However, gaseous emissions of bedded pack barns have not been measured extensively before. Emissions of deep litter systems for cows and pigs and other type of litter-based systems for dairy and beef cows have been researched. To gain insight into the absolute emission levels of three of the bedded pack barns, the emissions were also measured at the barn level.

During 2006 and 2011, following the implementation of dioxin contamination monitoring in poultry meat, levels higher than legally allowed in meat from poultry slaughtered for human consumption, were found. The wood shavings used as bedding material in the poultry farm showed considerable high contaminations, indicating that these materials were the likely source of contamination of the animals. Wood shavings samples (n = 23), used as poultry litters in intensive farms of broilers, were analysed. In both episodes, contamination profiles of higher and lower concentrations, seem to be very similar, being OCDD, OCDF, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF responsible for 97.4 % of the total contamination. The present work describes the analytical adapted, used methodology and the specific clean-up procedures, which revealed that recoveries of 13C12-Labelled compounds added to the wood shavings samples ranged from 71.3% to 86.3%.

Despite dairy farmers' awareness of the importance of correct bedding for the health and comfort of their cows, they are often frugal with respect to these bedding materials in order to reduce costs. In addition, farmers are currently dependent on the availability and price fluctuations of traditional bedding materials. For these reasons, the scientific literature as well as the trade press point to an intensifying search for affordable alternative bedding materials. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Miscanthus, a woody grass that requires low input but generates high yield, could replace straw in deep little dairy cow cubicles. The cows' cubicles were lined for two consecutive 14-day periods with straw/chalk/water bedding, followed by two consecutive 14-day periods with ground- Miscanthus/chalk bedding. No significant differences were found in the following parameters: loss/ waste of bedding material, bacterial growth in cubicles, cow skin lesions (except for carpus lesions), cow cleanli - ness or cow comfort. Dust concentrations measured as PM 10 were higher when cubicles were filled with straw- based bedding, but never exceeded workspace quality safety limits. Based on these results, one can conclude that Miscanthus has potential as a viable alternative to straw when used as a bedding material. On-farm cultivation of Miscanthus may increase dairy farmer self-sufficiency and could reduce bedding costs.

This study was conducted to determine the amount of manure production from Holstein dairy cattle raised in bedded pack barn and the appropriate bedding material removal time. Total six heads of dairy cows (about 715 kg weight) were raised in three pens (two heads per pen) for 62 days. Average daily production of manure containing sawdust bedding was 21.2 kg per head and that of manure excluding bedding was 18.7 kg. Moisture content of bedding materials were significantly increased up to 86% of water holding capacity (WHC) of sawdust during the first 30 days. It kept very stable level after 30 to 50 days. Theoretically, 30 days after adding fresh bedding seems to be proper removal time only based on WHC. On the other hand, from a practical perspective, maximum 50 days after adding new bedding would be fine by comprehensively considering various factors such as bedding material purchasing cost, feeding environment and manure treatment.

The purpose of cubicle (freestall) bedding is to provide a clean, dry, and comfortable resting surface for the cow. A clean surface reduces the possibility of bacterial infections, mainly from mastitis. Bedding should be clean and dry, thereby making it an inhospitable environment for bacterial growth. Providing a soft surface increases cow lying time and reduces the possibility of injury. Sand as a bedding material in cubicle housing has gained worldwide acceptance due to its favorable attributes related to cow health and comfort. Dairy producers using sand bedding report higher milk production, less lameness, fewer cases of mastitis, and increased reproduction rates. Dairy facilities are commonly designed with sand in mind and reflect the proper cubicle design. Additionally, many dairies have successfully converted non-sand facilities to accommodate sand. Manure handling is a perceived detractor of sand bedding. Some producers are willing to forgo the positive attributes of sand in favor of perceived simplicity of manure handling. Having evolved over the past thirty years as sand has gained prominence, a host of systems exist for effectively handling, storing, and treating sand-laden manure with some systems capable of recycling sand bedding from manure. The purpose of this paper is to describe the current practice of using sand bedding in cubicle housing. The specific, quantifiable benefits of sand will be discussed along with stall design and management. The paper also discusses the methods for converting non-sand bedded cubicles to sand. In addition, proven systems for handling sand-laden manure are discussed.

Manure constitutes a nutrient resource that should be efficiently recycled in agriculture. We assessed the nutrient cycling properties of three bedding materials (peat, wood shavings and pelleted straw) in horse manure by comparing their compostability, ability to retain nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) under rainfall and capacity to release N when mixed with soil. Manure with pelleted straw bedding had superior composting characteristics as it lost half of its dry mass, reached temperatures >60 °C and ended up having a carbon (C) to N (C:N) ratio of

Miller, J. J., Beasley, B. W., Drury, C. F., Hao, X. and Larney, F. J. 2014. Soil properties following long-term application of stockpiled feedlot manure containing straw or wood-chip bedding under barley silage production. Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: 389–402. The influence of long-term land application of stockpiled feedlot manure (SM) containing either wood-chip (SM-WD) or straw (SM-ST) bedding on soil properties during the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) silage growing season is unknown. The main objective of our study was determine the effect of bedding material in stockpiled manure (i.e., SM-WD vs. SM-ST) on certain soil properties. A secondary objective was to determine if organic amendments affected certain soil properties compared with unamended soil. Stockpiled feedlot manure with SM-WD or SM-ST bedding at 77 Mg (dry wt) ha−1 yr−1 was annually applied for 13 to 14 yr to a clay loam soil in a replicated field experiment in southern Alberta. There was also an unamended control. Soil properties were measured every 2 wk during the 2011 and 2012 growing season. Properties included water-filled pore space (WFPS), total organic C and total N, NH4-N and NO3-N, water-soluble non-purgeable organic C (NPOC), water-soluble total N (WSTN), denitrification (acetylene inhibition method), and CO2 flux. The most consistent and significant (P≤0.05) bedding effects on soil properties in both years occurred for total organic C, C:N ratio, and WSTN. Total organic C and C:N ratio were generally greater for SM-WD than SM-ST, and the reverse trend occurred for WSTN. Bedding effects on other soil properties (WFPS, NH4-N, NO3-N, NPOC) occurred in 2012, but not in 2011. Total N, daily denitrification, and daily CO2 flux were generally unaffected by bedding material. Mean daily denitrification fluxes ranged from 0.9 to 1078 g N2O-N ha−1 d−1 for SM-ST, 0.8 to 326 g N2O-N ha−1 d−1 for SM-WD, and 0.6 to 250 g N2O-N ha−1 d−1 for the CON. Mean daily CO2 fluxes ranged from 5.3 to 43.4 kg CO2-C ha−1 d−1 for SM-WD, 5.5 to 26.0 kg CO2-C ha−1 d−1 for SM-ST, and from 0.5 to 6.8 kg CO2-C ha−1 d−1 for the CON. The findings from our study suggest that bedding material in feedlot manure may be a possible method to manage certain soil properties.

1195 The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of three types of wood-based bedding materials (kiln-dried pine wood chips, dry cedar chips, and green cedar chips) and corn stover on the concentration of odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and total Escherichia coli in bedded pack material. Four bedded packs of each bedding material were maintained for two 42-d periods (n = 32; eight replicates/bedding material). Straightand branched-chained fatty acids, aromatic compounds, and sulfide compounds were measured from the headspace above each bedded pack. Green cedar bedding had the highest concentration of odorous VOCs, and pine chip bedding had the lowest (P < 0.01). Calculated odor activity values were highest for green cedar bedding, followed by dry cedar, corn stover, and pine chip bedding. As the bedded packs aged, the concentration of odorous VOCs increased, particularly in the bedded packs containing green cedar chips and dry cedar chips. Total E. coli concentrations increased from Days 0 to 21 and then began to decline and were similar among all bedding materials (P < 0.10). Results of this study indicate that producers using a long-term bedded pack management in their facility may benefit from using pine chips because they do not appear to increase odor over time. Cedar-based bedding materials may be better suited for a scrape-and-haul system, where the bedded pack is removed after 1 or 2 wk. Total E. coli concentrations did not differ between any of the four bedding materials over time.

Land application of composted feedlot manure (CM) instead of stockpiled manure (SM) at increasing application rates to cropland, or use of wood-chip (WD) instead of straw (ST) bedding, may influence the nitrogen (N) balance and cause N surpluses. This could result in environmental losses of N to the atmosphere, surface, or ground waters. We determined the influence of manure type, bedding material, and application rate (13, 39, 77 Mg ha−1 dry wt.) on cumulative N inputs, outputs, and N balance (aboveground system) for a long-term (since 1998) field experiment where manure had been repeatedly applied for 2, 7, and 12 yr. The annual N inputs considered were N in organic amendments or inorganic fertilizer (IN), and N in irrigation water. The annual N outputs considered were N in crop uptake, NH3 volatilization, and N2O gaseous loss. After 12 applications, cumulative N deficits occurred for the unamended control (−1140 kg N ha−1) and IN treatment (−678 kg N ha−1), and cumulative N surpluses were found...

The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of bedding material (corn stover, soybean stover, wheat straw, switchgrass, wood chips, wood shavings, corn cobs, and shredded paper) on concentration of odorous volatile organic compounds (VOC) in bedded pack material and to determine the effect of bedding material on the levels of total in laboratory-scaled bedded manure packs. Four bedded packs of each bedding material were maintained for two 6-wk periods ( = 64). Straight- and branched-chained fatty acids and aromatic compounds were measured. Corn cob bedding had the highest concentration of odorous VOC, and wood shavings had the lowest ( < 0.01). Calculated odor activity values were highest for corn cob bedding and shredded paper and lowest for wood shavings ( < 0.01). concentrations decreased from week to week for all treatments from Week 2 to Week 6. At Week 6, levels in bedded packs with shredded paper were higher ( < 0.05) than bedded packs containing wood shavings, wood chips, or switchgrass ( < 0.05). At Weeks 4, 5, and 6, concentrations in bedded packs with wood shavings were lower ( < 0.05) than bedded packs of all treatments except wood chips. Results of this study indicate that ground corn cobs or shredded paper may increase odor production and shredded paper may increase when used in deep-bedded livestock facilities, whereas wood shavings may have the least impact on air quality and .

The effect of wood addition on supercritical water gasification (SCWG) of poultry manure is investigated for broiler-derived wastes consisting of manure and the bedding material such as wood sawdus...

Interest in using recycled manure solids (RMS) as a bedding material for dairy cows has grown in the US Midwest. Cost of common bedding materials has increased in recent years and availability has decreased. Information regarding the composition of RMS and its use as a bedding material for dairy cows in the Midwest is very limited. The objectives of this study were to characterize RMS as a bedding material, observe bedding management practices, document methods of obtaining RMS, and describe housing facilities. We visited 38 Midwest dairy operations bedding freestalls with RMS to collect data. Methods of obtaining RMS for bedding included separation of anaerobic digested manure, separation of raw manure, and separation of raw manure followed by mechanical drum-composting for 18 to 24 h. Average bedding moisture of unused RMS was 72.4% with a pH of 9.16. Unused samples contained (on a dry basis) 1.4% N, 44.9% C, 32.7C:N ratio, 0.44% P, 0.70% K, 76.5% neutral detergent fiber, 9.4% ash, 4.4% nonfiber carbohydrates, and 1.1% fat. Moisture was lowest for drum-composted solids before and after use as freestall bedding. After use in the stalls, digested solids had lower neutral detergent fiber content (70.5%) than drum-composted (75.0%) and separated raw (73.1%) solids. Total N content was greater in digested solids (2.0%) than in separated raw (1.7%) solids. Total bacterial populations in unused bedding were greatest in separated raw manure solids but were similar between digested and drum-composted manure solids. Drum-composted manure solids had no coliform bacteria before use as freestall bedding. After use as bedding, digested manure solids had lower total bacteria counts compared with drum-composted and separated raw manure solids, which had similar counts. Used bedding samples of digested solids contained fewer environmental streptococci than drum-composted and separated raw solids and had reduced Bacillus counts compared with separated raw solids. Coliform counts were similar for all 3 bedding sources. Addition of a mechanical blower post-separation and use of a shelter for storage were associated with reduced fresh-bedding moisture but not associated with bacterial counts. This was the first survey of herds using RMS for bedding in the Midwest. We learned that RMS was being used successfully as a source of bedding for dairy cows. For most farms in the study, somatic cell count was comparable to the average in the region and not excessively high.

Dairy farm operations rely on a continuous supply of bedding material for cow comfort and hygiene. The re-use of liquid manure for this purpose has become possible after solid/liquid separation of the manure stream and 24 h processing of the separated solids through a tumbling drum composter. The finished bedding solids are reported to produce superior bedding to regular straw and the separated liquid stream can be retained as crop fertilizer. Off-farm export as bedding is only possible if the material is stable to prevent re-heating if bagged or piled. The nutrient value of the retained liquid and the quality of solids for export were investigated on a Canadian dairy farm by examining nitrogen and phosphorus distribution, as well as the self-heating potential of the composted solids. The effect of curing the solids for an additional 4 weeks during both summer and winter operations was evaluated. Results showed that the solids separation and 24 h drum composting process did not result in a compost that could be classified as mature and stable. However, further curing the solid product in ambient temperature piles for 4 weeks reduced compost re-heating from 26.2°C above ambient to 7.7°C (winter curing) and 3.8°C (summer curing). Nitrogen and phosphorus analysis revealed little difference between the liquid stream (post solid separation) and the incoming raw manure on a wet weight basis. The use of either of these products as plant fertilizer is similar and solid separation does not impact the agronomic value of the liquid manure.

SUMMARY Bedding availability issues are arising rapidly in the broiler industry that may alter the type and quality of bedding available to growers to rear broiler chickens. Because birds are in direct contact with the litter, the potential impact of bedding materials on footpad health is of concern. In 3 successive trials, 8 different bedding sources (pine shavings, pine bark, chipped pine, mortar sand, ground hardwood pallets, chopped straw, ground door filler, and cotton-gin trash) were compared in side-by-side experimental pens by rearing mixed-sex birds. In addition to broiler growth performance and litter characteristics (moisture, caking, and ammonia volatilization), the incidence and severity of footpad dermatitis (FPD) was assessed at 6 wk of age. Bedding materials had little influence on the live performance of broilers in 3 successive trials. Prevalence of FPD varied significantly (P < 0.05) among the bedding materials. The incidence of FPD paralleled high litter moisture and caking scores, with chipped pine, chopped straw, cotton-gin trash, and pine shavings showing the highest severity scores and mortar sand and ground door filler showing the lowest. From an FPD etiology standpoint, the ability of the bedding to absorb (i.e., ground door filler) and quickly release (i.e., mortar sand) moisture may be the most important characteristics.

Kenaf is grown these days as a minor fibre crop in some Asian countries, but also in the US and recently in Southern European countries such as Italy. The yield of extracted bast fibres is below 1/3 of that of the kenaf stem weight. In the US and Europe a profitable outlet for the remaining woody core is important for economical production of the crop. The use of kenaf core as animal bedding material is considered here as potential market outlet. An important aspect for this application is the moisture absorption capacity of the material. This paper describes evaluation of the water absorption capacity of different kenaf core fractions in comparison with other commercial animal bedding materials like straw and wood shavings. The water absorption of kenaf core particles is shown to be in the range of the other tested materials and especially the soft pith material showed very high absorbency.

Among other factors (eg, feed), bedding material has an important effect on stable air quality with respect to airborne particle formation. This study was designed to establish which material is suited to create an improved stableenvironmentforhorses.First,thefollowingmaterials were analyzed under standardized conditions in a laboratory experiment: wheat straw, dry wood shavings, hemp shives, linen shives, wheat straw pellets, paper cuttings (unprinted newspaper). The second investigation was carried out under in situ conditions in which three of these bedding materials (wheat straw, wood shavings, and straw pellets) were analyzed under practical conditions. In both experiments, airborne particle concentrations were detected online with the gravimetrically measuring analyzer TEOM 1400a (Rupprecht & Patashnick Co., Franklin, MA). In the laboratoryexperiment,theTEOMwasequippedsuccessively with different inlets to measure the particle fractions PM1 ,P M2.5 ,P M10, and PM20. During the in situ experiment, only the fraction PM10 was detected. In thelaboratoryexperiment,hempandlinenhadthehighest generation of airborne particles in all fractions. The lowest particle generation was detected with straw pellets. Results of the in situ investigation supported results of the laboratory experiment with respect to mean particle generation of straw pellets. With an average of 111.2 � 149.2mg/m 3 ,itwas significantlylowerthan the mean particle generation of wheat straw with 227.5 � 280.8 mg/m 3 . The particle generation of wood shavings had an average of 140.9 � 141.9 mg/m 3 and also was significantly lower than the generation by wheat straw. An activity-correlated variation of particle concentrations was found. In conclusion, taking both experiments into consideration, straw pellets seemed to be suitable for horse stables, to promote an improvement in the stable climate in relation to airborne particle formation.

Background: Bambusa balcooa Roxb. is a species with multipurpose utility and economic value. Natural forests are being depleted due to human activities so it is necessary to grow important bamboo species in plantations. Effective propagation methods are required to generate large quantities of material for planting and culm cutting has been found to be very promising modified vegetative method. However, suitable low-cost bedding materials are required to ensure the process is efficient and cost effective. Methods: Five different bedding materials (coarse sand, 50: 50 mixture of coarse sand and soil, soil, vermicompost, vermiculite) were assessed for macro-propagation of B. balcooa Roxb. using a two-nodal culm cutting method during the summer seasons of 2013 and 2014. Results: Coarse sand was shown to be the most economic and easily accessible bedding material for macropropagation of bamboo followed by the mixture of coarse sand: soil. The saplings were withstood in the natural conditions. Conclusions: Coarse sand could be used as bedding material for the successful regeneration of bamboo through macro propagation using Culm with two nodes.

Traditionally horses are bedded on straw. However, other bedding materials may perform better than straw with respect to hygiene and labour requirements. The objective of this study is to compare various alternative bedding materials, in particular miscanthus, with straw and to elaborate recommendations for their optimal use. For this purpose a field trial was performed in a horse stable with four different bedding materials, namely wood chips, miscanthus chips, miscanthus pellets and straw. Operation time and costs were recorded. The water-holding and ammonium absorption capacity of the bedding material was measured in a laboratory analysis.

Stable air quality and the choice of bedding material are an important health issue both in horses and people working or visiting horse stables. Risks of impaired respiratory health are those that can especially be avoided by improving air quality in the stable. The choice of bedding material is particularly important in cold climate conditions, where horses are kept most of the day and year indoors throughout their life. This study examined the effect of two bedding materials, wood shavings and peat, on stable air quality and health of horses. Ammonia and dust levels were also measured to assess conditions in the stable. Ammonia was not detected or was at very low levels (&lt, 0.25 ppm) in the boxes in which peat was used as bedding, but its concentration was clearly higher (1.5–7.0 ppm) in stalls with wood shavings as bedding. Personal measurements of workers revealed quite high ammonia exposure (5.9 ppm8h) in the boxes in which wood shavings were used, but no exposure was Animals 2015, 5 966 observed in stalls bedded with peat. The respiratory symptoms in horses increased regardless of the bedding material at the beginning of the study. The health status of the horses in the peat bedding group returned to the initial level in the end of the trial but horses bedded with wood shavings continued to be symptomatic. The hooves of the horses with peat bedding had a better moisture content than those of the horses bedded with wood shavings. The results suggest that peat is a better bedding material for horses than wood shavings regarding the health of both horses and stable workers.

This two-year study examined the effects of two types of bedding materials (straw and wood chips) and two within-pen locations (bedding pack and pen floor) on various feedlot runoff parameters in southern Alberta, Canada, using a rainfall simulator. Bedding type affected antecedent factors and hydrological parameters differently by year. Bedding pack locations absorbed 23.5% to 32.9% more moisture, had about 8 cm greater manure depths, slopes between 2.1% and 5.1% steeper, and surfaces that were 2.6% to 5.7% rougher than pen floor locations. Pen floor locations had clod bulk densities that were 0.83 Mg m-3 greater than bedding pack locations in 1998. However, the effect of bedding packs on these properties depended on the amount of bedding added, which depended on feedlot conditions. Runoff began sooner from pen floor than from bedding pack locations. Once runoff started, the amount and type of bedding material, length of time since fresh bedding was added, and within-pen location affected the time for specific runoff volumes. For example, in 1998, 6 L of runoff were collected about 3 min faster from wood chips than from straw bedding and about 7 min faster from the pen floor than from the bedding pack. Runoff coefficients increased during the simulation events and occasionally exceeded rainfall application rate depending on whether or not water in depression storage was released. Treatment effects were dependent on year of study, and were inconsistent. Thus, further study is warranted regarding the effects of bedding type on feedlot runoff.

In work environments with laboratory animals, the bedding of animals binds the excreta as well as other compounds originating from the animals and their environment. These may be generated into the ambient air when the personnel handle bedding in different procedures. This study compares the dustiness of different types of six clean and four soiled beddings from rat or mouse cages. The dust generation of clean bedding varied from 3. When used in the cages of rats or mice for 4 days, the dust concentration of the beddings decreased, increased or stayed the same, depending on the type of bedding and animal species. A decrease in dustiness was, however, more common. The levels in the soiled beddings varied from 3. In the case of the aspen chip bedding, the contents of bedding used in mouse, rat or rabbit cages were analysed for mesophilic bacteria and fungi, mycobacteria and endotoxins. All of these contaminants were variably found in the bedding samples, the maximal concentrations for bacteria were >6 500 000 colony-forming units (cfu)/g, for fungi 212 000 cfu/g, and for endotoxins 6500 ng/g (81 000 EU/g). The results showed that the bedding of laboratory animals may contain biologically effective compounds, and that these may be distributed into the ambient air depending on the characteristics of the bedding material. The dustiness of different bedding types is an important factor affecting the amount and quality of the occupational exposure of the personnel to airborne contaminants.

Introduction Weather-related stressors are a well-recognized opponent to animal welfare and can have important ramifications for animal performance. Sound animal husbandry practices historically have attempted to diminish the effects of deleterious environmental factors. Providing aid to animals when temperatures are above or below their thermal neutral zone (TNZ) can improve animal welfare and/or performance. Because most breeds of cattle are not well equipped to deal with heat, the temperatures at which heat stress can begin to affect cattle can be surprisingly low. The onset of mild heat stress can occur at a temperature humidity index (THI1) value of 75, which can correspond to an ambient temperature as low as 78°F.

facilities are increasing in popu-larity among cattle producers in the quad-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. In these facilities, cattle are raised in complete confinement, sometimes on concrete floors, with bedding added once or twice weekly. Producers may maintain a bedded pack of manure and bedding through one or more groups of cattle, or they may remove the bedded pack on a weekly basis. Most producers use locally avail-able by-products of cereal grain production for bedding, such as corn stover, soybean stover, wheat straw, or corn cobs (Doran et al., 2010). Corn stover is the most common bedding material used in beef confinement facilities (Doran et al., 2010). As the number of local confinement facilities increases, the demand for corn stover may surpass local availability. Selection of an alterna-tive bedding material will likely be based on availability and price of the material and on animal comfort, with little consideration for the effects of bedding material on air quality of the confine-ment facility.Previous research has shown that bedding material can greatly influence the air quality of livestock facilities (Jeppsson, 2000; van Vliet et al., 2004; Misselbrook and Powell, 2005; Powell et al., 2008; Garlipp et al., 2011). The chemical and physical properties of chopped wheat straw, sand, kiln-dried pine wood shavings, chopped newspaper, chopped corn stover, and recycled manure solids were evaluated as bedding materials in dairy barns (Misselbrook and Powell, 2005). Ammonia (NH