Dairy cows love to lounge —they spend over half their day resting and relaxing! Dairy farmers know that well-cared for cows produce the highest-quality milk, so providing clean barns and comfortable beds that cows lay on is important.
Many of Ohio and West Virginia’s dairy cows live in freestall barns. These climate-controlled barns allow cows to eat, drink, rest and move around freely at their leisure. Cows have 24/7 access to fresh feed and water, other cows to socialize with and their choice of stall to lay in.
Stalls, or individual resting spaces, are typically lined with bedding like sand, sawdust or straw that cows lay on. The stall includes dividers and neck rails to guide the cow’s position and ensures each cow has a designated place to rest, which reduces stress and supports overall herd health.
Bedding materials vary by farm and are often dependent on availability and preference.
Sand Bedding
Sand is often considered the gold standard for bedding. It conforms to the cow’s body for maximum comfort and offers non-absorbent, moisture-wicking properties. For most dairy cows, every day is like a day at the beach!
Another great benefit of having cows lay on sand is that it can be easily cleaned and reused!
Sawdust Bedding
Sawdust is soft, absorbent and easy to spread. It is often used on top of rubber mattresses, which provide a dry and cushioned surface for cows to relax on. Lime is often added to sawdust (pictured below) to help reduce pathogen growth.
Straw Bedding
Straw is a traditional bedding material that farmers can easily grow and harvest on their farms. It is also commonly used with rubber mattresses to provide a soft, absorbent bed for cows.
Waterbeds
Waterbeds are just what they sound like – specially designed rubber mattresses filled with water! Unlike your fun Uncle Steve’s waterbed from the 1980s, these waterbeds are made from thick vulcanized rubber that’s reinforced with nylon threads for ultimate durability. They contour to the cow’s body, offering consistent support and comfort with every use.
Manure Solids
Recycled manure is another bedding option for cows. By separating and drying the manure solids to use as bedding, farmers can reduce their farm’s waste. The cows can rest easy knowing that their clean and comfortable beds are also helping the environment!
