February 6, 2003

Bedding Calves Provides More Than Just Comfort

As the winter months continue and there appears to be no break in sight of the cold weather, it is critical that cattle are comfortable and not under extra stress. According to research done at the North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center, bedding not only gives comfort to cattle, but also improves performance, carcass quality and returns.

This multi-year study is evaluating bedding for finishing steers and growing heifers in North Dakota feedyards. "Clean steers in the bedded pens gained faster, while steers in pens with no bedding carried significant amounts of manure," says Vern Anderson, NDSU animal scientist at the center.

The study used straw in three methods of bedding: no bedding, modest or normal bedding and generous or extra bedding. Steers and heifers were observed separately, but in identical environments. According to Anderson the same diet was offered to all groups of animals. The steers were fed to finish weight and marketed at area markets and a major meat processor. The heifers were grown for replacements.

The research shows bedding provides significant economic return. The feed cost per pound of gain including bedding and feed ranged from $.284 for no bedding to $.268 for extra bedding. However, the economic returns made up for the cost of bedding. Anderson reports that if carcasses were sold on a grade and yield basis for Choice or better and Select they would receive only $43.42 for those animals with no bedding compared to $95.69 received for extra bedding. "The return seen on bedding calves is significant. A Colorado study showed bedding to return an extra $8 per head above the costs," Anderson says.

During the first year, daily gains were higher for those animals that received bedding. Anderson reports that steers with normal and extra bedding gained approximately one-half pound more per day than those with no bedding. "Gains during the spring, however were dramatically lower for non-bedded steers as they averaged only 1.5 pounds per day during the particularly stressful spring thaw compared to their previous gain of 3.16 pounds per day," Anderson says.

The bedding also provides cleaner more comfortable animals, as animals with extra bedding showed a minimal amount of manure attached, compared to those with normal bedding and no bedding.

According to the study bedding is also great for the environment as it limits nitrogen loss. When straw is used in animal pens it causes the nitrogen from the feces and urine to form a stable environment and cause less vaporization. "Some estimates blame livestock for up to 70 percent of atmospheric ammonia produced by animal manure. The use of bedding for feedlot cattle may reduce negative environmental effects on cattle performance and potentially reduce ammonia emissions," Anderson says.

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Source: Vern Anderson, (701) 652-2951, vanderso@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Writer: Stephanie Renner, (701) 231-8371, stephanie.renner@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu