WOODCHIP FOR ANIMAL BEDDING AND COMPOSTING

The use of wood waste in animal bedding is widespread. Dry softwood shavings are sold as horse bedding in bags and this is a lucrative market for a specialised product. Softwood sawdust is sometimes use in cow cubicles where pumps are used to transfer the slurry. Large chips up to 10cm diameter are used in outdoor corrals for cattle but there is growing concern that this system is causing pollution of groundwater.Bark peelings are sometimes used as bedding but they are not very absorbent.

This information sheet deals with the use of dry woodchip under sheep and cattle housed in sheds as an alternative to straw. It is based on 5 years experience by the Pontbren Farmer’s Group who own and operate a Farmi chipper. They use dry hardwood derived from hedgerow and woodland restoration work which has been seasoned for at least six months before chipping.


They also obtain some sawmill waste as slabwood which is dried in the same way. The chipper is set to produce a chip of about 3cm, postage stamp size, and a layer of 10cm depth is spread in the shed to start and this is topped up with an extra 5cm every 7-10 days for sheep on dry food or 2 to 3 days for cattle on silage. The farmers using the system have been pleased with the results compared with straw. The woodchip is less labour intensive and stock remain clean with low incidence of foot problems and the need to belly-clip lambs before dispatch to the slaughterhouse. Detailed costings have not been undertaken at Pontbren but the large fluctuations in the price of straw compared with the relatively stable waste wood price must be considered. Woodchip is generally easier to handle than straw as the stock move the material around with their feet.

The resulting manure when it is removed composts rapidly and at high temperatures. The compost has been re-used as bedding and as a growing medium for tree seedlings in the Pontbren tree nursery.

The ability to re-use the composted material is particularly attractive. Paying once for bedding which can be used two or three times with the additional cost has to be good!

Further analysis of this material has been undertaken by ADAS which suggests that it has potential as a soil improver or a (very rich) growing medium. The compost is dry, clean the free of weeds and pathogens because of its high composting temperature. It is easier to store and handle than straw based manure. At the time of the analysis (2004) it was considered suitable for crops with organic status but this should be updated. In other respects the material is composted farm yard manure.
Further trials are about to start to compare different timber types. This note will be updated when appropriate.
The only difficulty encountered to date has involved woodchip used in cubicles causing blockages in a slurry tanker.
Ongoing research at Pontbren is funded by Glasu and the WDA


For further information please contact David Jenkins at Coed Cymru, 01686 650777
(OR see Staff Page for email addresses and officers' telephone numbers).

Coed Cymru, The Old Sawmill,
Tregynon, Newtown,
Powys SY16 3PL
Tel 01686 650 777

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