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Modernizing dairy cattle farming techniques promotes a gradual shift from traditional pasture-based systems to confinement with higher investments in animal comfort and welfare, such as the compost barn system (CBS). In this method, animals generate composted waste in the barn itself, on the bedding where they are housed, which is of high fertilizing potential, and whose subsequent application to soils can affect the functionality of edaphic organisms. The study aimed to evaluate the toxicity on edaphic organisms (Folsomia candidaand Eisenia andrei) of increasing doses of CB bedding applied to two soils with different textural characteristics. Ecotoxicological tests were standardized following the recommendations of ISO 11268-1 and 11268-2 for earthworms, and ISO 11267 for springtails. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replications, with the treatments being CB bedding doses (0, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 t of waste ha-1). Data were subjected to normality (Shapiro-Wilk) and variance homogeneity (Levene) tests, followed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc comparisons using the Dunnett test (p

Abstract Background Animal bedding remains an underutilized source of raw material for bioethanol production, despite the economic and environmental benefits of its use. Further research concerning the optimization of the production process is needed, as previously tested pretreatment methods have not increased the conversion efficiency to the levels necessary for commercialization of the process. Results We propose steam pretreatment of animal bedding, consisting of a mixture of straw and cow manure, to deliver higher ethanol yields. The temperature, residence time and pH were optimized through response-surface modeling, where pretreatment was evaluated based on the ethanol yield obtained through simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of the whole pretreated slurry. The results show that the best conditions for steam pretreatment are 200 °C, for 5 min at pH 2, at which an ethanol yield of about 70% was obtained. Moreover, the model also showed that the pH had the greatest influence on the ethanol yield, followed by the temperature and then the residence time. Conclusions Based on these results, it appears that steam pretreatment could unlock the potential of animal bedding, as the same conversion efficiencies were achieved as for higher-quality feedstocks such as wheat straw.

Purpose: Animal bedding, a mixture of straw and manure, could be used as a feedstock for bioenergy production, but its heterogeneity poses new challenges in its use in biorefineries. We have investigated the origin of this heterogeneity and quantified it, and discuss its impact on bioenergy production. Methods: Samples were collected from the bedding at different points and depths and analysed by first separating the manure from the straw by means of washing with water, and then determining the chemical composition of the liquid and solid fractions. Results: The results supported our hypothesis that animal bedding behaves as a combination of several layers at different stages of degradation. Analysis revealed that the layers with higher organic content in the manure exhibited a poorer performance during the washing, since the residence time in the barn alters the washing profile of the organic fraction in the manure. It was also found that the variability in the composition of animal bedding was much greater than in other agricultural feedstocks: the manure content in animal bedding varied from 26 to 41%, and the content of fermentable carbohydrates varied by 20%. Total carbon and total nitrogen analyses showed that these changes in composition also affected the C/N ratio of the material, and thus its suitability as a feedstock for anaerobic digestion. Conclusions: This implies that the residence time in the barn affects not only the heterogeneity of the properties of animal bedding, but also the best way to process it in a biorefinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) (Adelges tsugae) is causing widespread mortality of eastern hemlock (EH) (Tsuga canadensis [L.] Carrière) across its range. Unless ecological or cultural considerations are accounted for, few forest managers would find it economical to manage the HWA. However, new markets for EH may increase incentives to manage the HWA or at least bring more value to this low-grade tree species. Our research explores the feasibility of using EH as animal bedding, by comparing water absorption, microbial growth, and wood shaving production factors with eastern white pine (EWP) (Pinus strobus L.). Results showed that when dried to 10 percent and 30 percent moisture content, EH absorbed 281 percent and 176 percent of its weight in water, which was significantly lower than EWP, which absorbed 361 percent and 243 percent respectively. However, no difference was found between tree species when comparing the growth of pathogenic bacteria in bedding samples. Furthermore, no difference in volume of produced bedding was found when using a wood shaving machine. These findings suggest that EH is suitable for animal bedding, especially if the substantially lower stumpage value of the wood resource, as compared with EWP and other species within its range, compensates for the reduced moisture absorbing capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Milk products from small dairies are increasingly in demand, as access to pasture provides benefits to the cow, consumer, and environment. The productivity and profitability of small dairy farms particularly rely on the prevention of infectious diseases. Cattle on seasonal grazing dairies live primarily outdoors until inclement weather warrants relocation indoors. While shifts in the amounts of bacteria associated with livestock may be expected from this transition, potentially increasing risks for infectious diseases, changes in bacteria levels on cows relocated to indoor facilities have not been well-studied. In addition, the optimal use of bedding materials and iodine are critical in bovine infectious diseases prevention. However, the antibacterial potential of bedding material with high polyphenol content or low concentrations of iodine, are poorly understood. Cow teats were swabbed and total bacteria and coliform counts, as well as extracellular enzyme activities (EEA) were utilized to assess shifts in bacterial levels on cows at pasture and then housed indoors. To test the antibacterial efficacy of bedding materials, as well as low concentrations of povidone-iodine, growth curves with laboratory strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, as well as S. aureus isolated from a dairy farm, were performed with three concentrations of red cedar shavings or iodine. Post hoc multiple comparisons indicated that total bacteria, coliform, and β-galactosidase activities were significantly greater among cows housed indoors compared to bacterial samples from cows at pasture. Laboratory strains of S. aureus, but not K. pneumoniae, were significantly inhibited by moderate and high treatments of red cedar shavings, while S. aureus isolated from a dairy were inhibited by the high treatment only. All low iodine concentrations significantly inhibited each bacterial strain investigated. These results may help optimize strategies for the prevention of infectious diseases of bovine udders critical to the productivity and profitability of small dairies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Seashore mallow (Kosteletzkya pentacarpos (L.) Ledebour) is a perennial halophyte producing multiple, harvestable stems per year which were examined for several bioabsorbent applications. Larger, debarked stems were milled and separated into three fractions by sieving. The largest fraction absorbed water readily and appeared to be an excellent bedding material for birds and small animals. The mid-sized fraction made an excellent base for biodegradable cat litter. The finest fraction efficiently absorbed diesel fuel which could be subsequently burned as a fuel. Smaller stems with bark (bast fibers) intact were milled to produce a material which performed excellently as hydraulically-applied mulch (hydromulch), with comparable properties to a commercial hydromulch. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Currently, traditional ethnoveterinary practices are rare in Europe and the plants used previously have been replaced by the modern drugs used by national veterinary services. However, in some rural areas of the Mediterranean basin these traditional practices persist. Here we analyze the plant resources still used, or that have been used up until recently, for the treatment of the health and comfort of animals in a region in the central-western part of the Iberian Peninsula, the Arribes del Duero. We document the use of 84 species, belonging to 39 families (with a total of 2243 use-reports), and 62 herbal remedies based on the use of a single plant species (43) and cited by at least three independent informants. The veterinary use of the Ranunculaceae Clematis campaniflora is reported for the first time. We also identify several plants used as bedding or fodder for livestock and discuss the relevance of some toxic plants and some 'magical-curative' aspects reported in the territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Kenaf is grown these days as a minor fibre crop in some Asian countries, but also in the US and recently in Southern European countries such as Italy. The yield of extracted bast fibres is below 1/3 of that of the kenaf stem weight. In the US and Europe a profitable outlet for the remaining woody core is important for economical production of the crop. The use of kenaf core as animal bedding material is considered here as potential market outlet. An important aspect for this application is the moisture absorption capacity of the material. This paper describes evaluation of the water absorption capacity of different kenaf core fractions in comparison with other commercial animal bedding materials like straw and wood shavings. The water absorption of kenaf core particles is shown to be in the range of the other tested materials and especially the soft pith material showed very high absorbency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Miscanthus is a promising bioeconomy crop with several biomass utilisation pathways. However, its current cultivation area in Europe is relatively low. This is most likely due to a lack of knowledge about the implementation of miscanthus into farming systems. This study reviews current best practices and suitable land areas for miscanthus cultivation. Biomass production costs and labour requirements were evaluated over the whole 20-year cultivation cycle of four utilisation pathways: combustion, animal bedding, and both conventional and organic biogas production. The assessment was performed for two field sizes (1 and 10 ha), two average annual yield levels (15 and 25 t dry matter ha−1), and both green and brown harvest regimes. The maximum attainable annual gross margins are 1657 € ha−1 for combustion, 13,920 € ha−1 for animal bedding, 2066 € ha−1 for conventional and 2088 € ha−1 for organic biogas production. The combustion pathway has the lowest labour demand (141.5 h ha−1), and animal bedding the highest (317.6 h ha−1) due to additional baling during harvest. Suitable cultivation areas include depleted soils, erosion-prone slopes, heavy clay soils and ecological focus areas such as riparian buffer zones and groundwater protection areas. On such sites, miscanthus would (i) improve soil and water quality, and (ii) enable viable agricultural land utilisation even on scattered patches and strips. Due to its low demands and perennial nature, miscanthus is suitable for sustainable intensification of industrial crop cultivation in a growing bioeconomy, benefiting soil and water quality, while providing large amounts of biomass for several utilisation pathways. • Assessment of gross margins and labour requirements of four miscanthus biomass utilisation pathways. • Miscanthus production can generate additional farm income of up to 13,920 € ha−1. • Order of gross margins is: combustion < biogas < organic biogas < animal bedding. • Miscanthus promotes additional farm income, flexibility and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofuels are still too costly to compete in the energy market and it has been suggested that low-value feedstocks could provide an opportunity for the production of low-cost biofuels; however, the lower quality of these feedstocks requires the introduction of a conditioning step in the biorefinery process. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether feedstock savings cover the cost of conditioning in the case of animal bedding. The BioSTEAM software was used to simulate a wheat straw biorefinery and an animal bedding biorefinery, whose economic performance was compared. The wheat straw biorefinery could deliver ethanol at a minimum selling price of USD 0.61 per liter, which is similar to prices in the literature. The cost of producing ethanol in the animal bedding biorefinery without water recycling was almost 40% higher, increasing the minimum selling price to USD 1.1 per liter of ethanol. After introducing water recycling in the conditioning step, the animal bedding biorefinery could deliver ethanol at a minimum selling price of USD 0.38 per liter, which is 40% lower than in the case of the wheat straw biorefinery. This demonstrates that low-value feedstocks can be used to reduce the biofuel price, as feedstock savings easily cover the additional conditioning cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]