Utilization Technology of Cow Dung as Bedding Material

There are many ways to utilize manure as a resource, and using it as bedding material is one of the methods of utilizing cow dung. The manure and wastewater from dairy farms undergo solid-liquid separation, and the solid cow dung is then subjected to heap fermentation or windrow fermentation for harmless treatment before being used as bedding material. This not only solves the problem of the source of cow bedding material but also opens up a channel for the utilization of cow dung, achieving multiple benefits at once. Compared with other commonly used bedding materials, cow dung as cow bedding material has obvious comparative advantages.

1. Compared with bedding materials such as rice husks, wood shavings, sawdust, and straw, cow dung does not need to be purchased from the market and is not subject to market control.

2. Compared with rubber bedding, it is not only lower in cost but also better in comfort and safety.

3. Compared with sand, it will not cause serious wear to manure cleaning equipment, solid-liquid separation machinery, pumps, and screens, is not prone to clogging pipes during transport, will not deposit at the bottom of liquid storage tanks, and does not require frequent cleaning.

4. Compared with sandy soil, cow dung is soft and does not clump, is less likely to cause injury to the knees and legs of dairy cows, and is conducive to subsequent manure treatment. As cow bedding material, cow dung is both hygienic and safe, and has the characteristics of safeguarding dairy cow health, improving the comfort of dairy cow stalls, reducing limb and hoof diseases, and being easy to treat as manure, with significant economic, ecological, and social benefits. It is very commonly used in the United States and Canada.