To give dairy farmers an alternative to paying high prices for bedding straw of uncertain quality this winter, the original developer of dried paper cubicle bedding announced an increase in production capacity at the Bath & West Dairy Show.
Rather than exploiting the straw shortage by hiking prices, Envirosystems is also holding them where they were set in July, long before the current situation came about.
The company’s existing production sites will be joined next month by a new one in the north west. Locations in Devon, Gloucestershire, Lancashire, County Durham and SW Scotland make the bedding available everywhere in mainland GB at sensible transport cost, according to operations manager at Envirosystems, Henry Russell.
“The materials in question are valued by users for absorbency and cow comfort,” he says. “At 95% dry matter, they create a very dry and comfy bed space for cows.
“Along with lack of moisture, the mildly alkaline pH is also alien to mastitis bugs and fly eggs. The materials are biodegradable and compatible with all slurry systems. Unlike fine sawdusts, they stay put on cubicle beds, while a lightweight and fluffy texture means a little goes a long way.”
At the recommended rate and fixed winter price, Mr Russell pledged at the Dairy Show that EnviroBed Premium, for example, would cost less than 10p/cubicle/day including transport in any part of mainland GB.
