Deep Bedding for Cattle: Our Experience

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Hi everyone. One thing I forgot to mention in the video is the use of pigs to root through the bedding to turn and aerate it after the cattle have left for pasture in the spring. This is a practice popularized by Joel Salatin. Joel uses wood chips as his carbon source in the bedding pack, and sprinkles kernel corn in the pack as it is built. The corn ferments in the pack, and when pigs are released onto the pack, they root in search of the fermented, sweet corn kernels. In the early years of our farm, we tried this practice with our hay-based bedding packs. Unfortunately, the hay pack was compacted too much for the pigs to root in it too deeply and this method did not work. This gets back to the problems with having a pack that is too dense for optimal aerobic fermentation. We have found that when we remove the pack in the spring and it is piled outside for further composting, this turns, loosens, and aerates the pack enough to get aerobic composting started.

[@Notthelizard]

Actually this method was popularized by Edible Acres who does it with chicken 🍗

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

@@Notthelizard Ok, I disagree, but it's not really an important point. Joel's been doing it for much longer. Chickens are really poor at working tight material loose on a large scale. EA has a really small setup usually consisting of household waste and tree litter.

[@johncourtneidge]

Thank-you!

[@etruedus]

@@Notthelizard In his earlier videos about it, Sean actually credits Joel Salatin with the idea.

[@andrewseamans1419]

Is there a good source for woodchips nearby? Must be cheaper and more available than hay? Though if you have hay that isn't suitable for consumption, then why not. Good luck! I use deep bedding for my chickens and makes awesome compost for the garden.

[@petegraham1458]

I am 70+ years old and grew up on a mixed farm that included both dairy , registered Black Angus and terminal breed feeders . In that cold winter environment bedding pack was a key component of stock health. We grew cereal crops for both feed and barley for the malting . We bailed the straw , my Father used to say we were borrowing it from the soil as it got returned as manure. I remember morning feeding in -30 weather as the cattle got up from their spot it their sheds the beds would be steaming , we bedded by hand and you soon learn. Your feet are going to be toasty warm. Thanks for bringing this to everyone!

[@johncourtneidge]

Thank-you!

[@lorrainestafford3809]

You got to do what you got to do for your animals and 😮😊you and what's good for your farm

[@StevenMorin-r1i]

​@@lorrainestafford3809Very true you do the best Job that you can and what you can afford 😊

[@MrBudbubba]

The part about beneficial bacteria reminded me of a video I saw several years ago about a woman that was making yogurt with raw milk to sell. She was using wood buckets for the process and never had any issues with anyone getting sick. The FDA swooped in and said she had to use stainless steel containers and that they had to be sterilized before each use. She then started having issues with the yogurt spoiling early and a few of her customers started to get sick from eating it. She got a hold of some experts and a legal team and they found that the use of wooden buckets allowed an environment for good bacteria to thrive which killed off the bad bacteria. She ended up wining a legal battle and was able to go back to using wooden buckets. It just goes to show that sometimes you just need to let nature do it's thing and not intervene.

[@Watchyn_Yarwood]

Similar to a study I saw years ago about cutting boards. Man-made material boards were compared to wood cutting boards and the wood boards were found to be far more sanitary.

[@JohnWilliamsTheBeardedWelshman]

I have been watching you for a few years. The education you give is very valuable and there should be a course taught in school and college on farming and how to become a farmer and the benefit of the small farm for a community. Small farms can sustain a community economically, food source for local markets and all around just good for the surrounding communities in which the farm is operating. We would depend less on foreign food or genetically modified and process foods if we look to our local farmers the way it used to be. I for one wouldn't mind paying more for better food and support my local farmers and community. It's a win win situation if we would do it

[@JohnWilliamsTheBeardedWelshman]

Better yet. It would be nice to see your local FFA have kids volunteer to come and learn from someone like you.

[@johncourtneidge]

Yes!

[@brandywineblue]

Yes! High schools and colleges are too focused on a lot of nonsense and not enough on practical real world self sufficiency!

[@robertmannel4446]

He is creating a library right in front of us. Loving this.

[@hyperdude54]

Its so cool how kind the cows are when you ask them to leave. So polite!

[@snarky4lyfe144]

That is because he is kind to them , he interacts with them so they are not afraid of him , unlike other famers who have way too many cows to be friendly to them all . And Pete has basically hand raised all his cows, and his bulls. They are tame compared to the huge farms.

[@Winterascent]

Probably how most cattle husbandry operations were until large corporate farms. Or before huge grasslands were met. @@snarky4lyfe144

[@xoxo2008oxox]

COME ON COWS! COME ON COWS!

[@stevehaken]

The barn extention is a real game changer. Nice upgrade. Good investment.

[@gillianbuonanno3211]

Good morning ...we used deep bedding for our dairy heifers ...and now my husband and I use this method in our chicken coop during the winter.

[@marcus3457]

Interesting. I was curious how this would work with chickens and sheep. Seems at least it works with chickens.

[@markwells5624]

Pete: I watched this episode and it validated something for me. When I was growing up on our dairy farm, the cow barn was cleaned out in the spring. This was the standard practice as cleaning the barn during the winter was infeasible. As the winter went on and more bedding was added, the level of manure grew to a depth of 3 to 4 feet some years. It was difficult to spread the bedding when the manure was this thick as one had to stoop over due to lack of clearance. It was the practice in those days and your video has validated the work. I feel good that we did the right thing! Thanks

[@TheSharilynn71]

I found your channel a few days ago and I love it! I grew up on a small dairy farm in NW washington state. The farm has been sold and my dad passed away after working the farm for 60 years. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year and had brain surgery and radiation that left me with cognitive deficits so I can't work anymore. I often have anxiety as a side effect. Watching you farm brings me so much peace. Takes me back to my childhood and to better days. Thank you!

[@markflick1641]

Great video Pete . Very informative. I’m 66 years old and I learn something every time I watch your videos . Thank you so much . God Bless .

[@brandywineblue]

Thank you so much Pete for showing us how God made the world to take care of His creatures - both us and our animals. Science is simply to study what He did so we know how to work with it to be kind to them and feed ourselves. Thanks again for all you do and your cheerful kindly presentation of information, a rarity on (anti) social media. God bless you and your family and Just a Few Acres.

[@matteolaborg]

I appreciated how you showed the layering to the bedding pack and how that affects composting success. I like all your videos, but this one was especially interesting.

[@Eric-o3m7e]

Pete, one thing we have experienced is that with the deep pack the preasure on the post increases, we have snapped a few of older post off, we have since added stub post along the outside walls…love the videos, thanks so much!

[@SeattlePioneer]

The best part of the video for me was the glimpse we had of the cattle FROLICKING in the new added hay!

[@candicespencer2021]

Your cattle are living their best life Pete!

[@andrewpaige6571]

Thank Pete for educating us I get more from your explain to us all the details as far as how to upkeep the animals how to maintain farm equipment and all of your resources that you need to have a running farm.

[@jpeel2066]

We used this method every year here in the UK. Worked really well. Great video. All the best 🇬🇧.

[@johnboutchia2349]

Just found you last month & have been watching all the videos with a thumbs up. Like them all I’m 75 & too old to start farming but I like learning I also like the rebuilding tractors which I’ll never do but I am restoring a 66 Chevy pickup, by watching you can pick up tips to use elsewhere thanks I enjoy very much all of them

[@klazyy641]

I think their bedding is more supportive than my fancy dancy mattress! Thanks for the episode, Pete!

[@davidkraft3690]

I grew up on a grain and livestock farm in central Illinois, where we fead about 70 to 80 head of beef cattle on dry lot every year . Never heard of "Deep Pack " bedding, but that is exactly the method we used, The feedlot was all concrete and we used oat straw bedding almost daily this was supplemented with corn cobs when they were available and was needed. The feedlot was cleaned out once a year ,and by then it could be up to 30 inches deep. Great fertilizer,

[@miraclefarm1927]

I love this method, what a wonderful compost that's going to be. Really saves on your labor and your equipment. Love to see your cows when you add their new fresh layer. They act like it's the best thing in the world and for them it's great for them. Blessings

[@johncourtneidge]

Yes, well composted manure is the best thing that The Creator, God makes!

[@miraclefarm1927]

@@johncourtneidge love it!

[@RAV21-32]

Corn stock shredding was also a method that was use to give pigs a warm place to root in during the winter months.

[@wayupnort6271]

There’s another channel called Sonne Farms on KZbin. They are farmers and beef producers in South Dakota and they still use shredded corn stalks for bedding their cattle at times. Good folks with a great family friendly channel.

[@123sensu]

The re-discovery of ancient wisdom about the unseen world of bacteria and its potential to be harnessed for human good (whether it be gut health (human or cow) or in agriculture) is one of my favorite stories of the last two decades. It's part of the story that led to the 2005 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Great video.

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Great explanation of the Bedding process. I noticed Orden and his Nemesis were the first two back inside!. Orrden was peeking in the gate/door while you were explaining things. thanks for sharing. ECF

[@richardsnyder9271]

Love how your videos are educational for everyone that doesn't understand how things work on old school farm. We clean our barn out twice a year. Spring and fall, before crops and after crops. Nice that it gives off heat in the winter to help keep the barn a little warmer. Thanks Pete

[@paulsmith4320]

It looks like Orden and Titus are getting along better.

[@MGBDCM]

Thank YOU Pete! As a person who grew up from age 15 to 21 on'The Farm' I am appreciative of what You and family do... I do miss it...GOD, bless

[@Ralphcanoeingadventures]

I love ALL you videos. The one you did 2 years ago, when you were sitting in the field trying to get Rusty to come to you. That was so relaxing to watch. I have seen tour videos so much, I know all your jokes.

[@PatriciaVincent-g2t]

Thank you for all this information, I wondered how you could stand the smell the manure and now I know that it isn't a bad smell. I learn from you every day!!

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Yes. Another thing I learned from Joel Salatin is that if a farm smells, then something is wrong with their manure management. Smell is a sign that nutrients are leaking off the farm.

[@jakefrechette3224]

Watching the cattle enjoy new hay on their deep litter pack is the greatest.

[@Eph1-4]

Growing by leaps and bounds😂😂😂 Wonderful how well the barn edition is working for you all😎

[@normawright292]

Come on Dad...can we come in now??? We're hungry and little tired and please stop stepping on our bed! Good video - very informative, have a great week and we'll see you again soon!!!

[@sunriseeyes0]

I love this show 🐄🚜 your method of explaining things in an easy to understand way is super helpful. Thanks Pete 🙏🏽💗🌱

[@danielfantino1714]

Great idea. Don´t forget Pete, it´s winter. A very mild one, but far from summer warm for decomposition. Also difference betwen your outside manure pile and in the barn is concrete slab. Outside it´s probably full of earth worm not counting bacteria that came from the soil. Next time try with few buckets of soil, preferably with a good worm population. I do some growing inside in the winter. I had plenty of bad apples and pears well rotten. Put them in the soil (anaeroby in my pot with "Brand new" bags of gardening soil with mycorhizes. Now i have a mushroom growing. In cooler solarium i can see that white stuff rootings good. Pretty cool to see my brocolis removed from the field under snow in late fall and seeing them now blossoming. I got 2 of these pesky butterflies that hatched. I won´t cultivate them outside in summer. They´ll stay in buckets for winter growth. They love that colder temperature I´m on north shore of St Lawrence river.

[@Flowing23]

Excellent informative video. Thank you Pete,.

[@PhyllisStokes]

I found this fascinating, Pete. I remember reading this in Joel's book and seeing it on his farm. There's great wisdom in the old ways, isn't there? Steve

[@jamesrobinson9304]

Thanks Pete, I love it when you use your channel to educate us.. Even those of us who don't actively farm need to keep learning.

[@boeroe45]

Awesome video Pete thank you! I love the system of deep bedding. In the older days sometime the floor was under a slope (at least in the Netherlands we did), to let the urine drain to one side and not to make the bedding pack to wet.

[@DillonPrecisionFan]

Best "dad joke" yet, delivery, timing and subject....just perfect!

[@richardvirchow2757]

Thank you for teaching the Farm illiterate individuals about the old practices farming I learned this from my Grandparents when they were alive we'll see the old practices go away without an illiterate Society and the increasing generations who refuse the old life. I'm am so glad that you are teaching with it because keep up the good work up thank you for going the old way I do know that it is very less stressful than the new practices of farming. Your education on old barn practices is better than present farm practices. Sincerely! R.S.V.

[@nicholasbrown7068]

I remember as a kid in the 80's, we did deep bedding for our Jersey heifers. Once spring came around and it was warm enough for the cows to be turned outside everyday (lived in Atlantic Canada). We had a John Deere 600 industrial loader tractor that they would pin on a large custom built bucket for cleaning out the heifer barn.

[@RatdogDRB]

That's good animal husbandry there, Pete. Nice work.

[@Liz-M]

Thanks for the information about your working practices Pete. 🙂👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@PlaneViewFarm]

I roll out hay bales on pasture right now. There are benefits to that, but I really would prefer to move to deep bedding in the future. I hate to start without having the bedding pack covered by a barn or shed. Unfortunately, that change would require the reappropriation of funds that are needed in other places right now. Such is life. Great video! Thanks!

[@kevintikivik]

you have explained this in passing... thank you for the focus... See you next time pete...

[@Mandren]

Looks like a great system to me! Anything that keeps you both from having to do extra labor while benefitting the cows is good in my book. And it's lots of fun to see the cattle romping around when a fresh layer is added.

[@RonnieLee-b3j]

I’ve only been watching for a little over a year, just recently I’ve find myself hooked on this channel..what an informative and great story teller we have in Pete..I’m envious and would luv to be in a similar situation as they are but I’m too old now..lots of luv to Pete and Hilary..

[@348Tobico]

Sure Pete, those are starved and unhappy cattle. We should all be so starved. And so unhappy. Your videos always make my day.

[@billyhaddock5540]

Pete, thanks for show and tell about getting the right hay for the cow's bed.. My grandpa used the same method..

[@zedgarden]

Wow, it is absolutely amazing to see how much love and passion you inject into your farm. Thank you for making those videos.

[@imyourfarmer9215]

Speaking for our 400 cow organic farm...we use deep bedding packs for all our heifers. They come off pasture oct-nov, we clean them in Jan. By then our big heifer shed is 4ft deep. That's 100 head getting 10-12 3x3 bales a week. It takes a lot of carbon to get the right ratio, also having proper draining.

[@elainematiasiewich7292]

This is like the Ritz for cattle! ❤My dad always bedded his cattle, no roof but bedded. I see places around that the cattle get hay outside & no bedding. Not a good deal😮

[@PaulJWong-yk8uw]

great informative video pete. we deep bed here in southern ontario canada. mainly because im lazy in the winter but also because it gives a good amount of heat. only drawback was when i cleaned it out about a month before lambing, some ewes got hit with foot scald. all that deep bedding was keeping the bacteria down underneath the straw and as soon as i took it out, i released all the hellions. it would have happened if i were cleaning it regularly as we had a nasty warmer than usual winter here, so just goes to show how a good deep bedding system can really keep things clean!

[@johncourtneidge]

Thank-you! I did the same with winter-housed sheep, but on straw on a concrete floor, back in the day. Another benefit is that the composting pile isn't being leached by rain.

[@blankenmom]

We started raising goats this last summer and decided this was the method we wanted to use for winter. It's worked out extremely well! I sit on the floor to milk, and it's surprisingly toasty! So we decided to try it for the bird coop and it's worked out very well in there also. We use a mix of cut grass and pine shavings for the goats, and pine shavings for the birds.

[@bobbailey4954]

Very interesting it only makes sense and how nice for the cattle’s comfort for those cold winter nights.

[@lynnsweeney4529]

Absolutely, still love how informative your videos are. As always, thank you for sharing your videos.

[@anthonyhengst2908]

We always do this in our dairy maternity pens. If a cow comes down with milk fever it's easier for her to get footing to stand up again. When we do clean it out we only do half a pen at a time. Been doing this all of my life.

[@marionberry6909]

This video just goes to show that, some of the old methods of animal husbandry are best and that some of the "modern" methods actually detract from what nature already does for us. Thanks Pete, for bringing this up, when I was a kid, my Dad used to mention how the bedding would keep the cows warm when it was below zero, I just never knew that there was actually science behind it. Very informative, thanks.

[@kennethbailey2616]

We leave our cattle on the range all winter and then feed them hay and cake. We need heat makers so they’ll winter through okay. They’re bred for our harsh winters which can go to 45 below and sometimes even colder. The coldest I’ve seen here was 60 below, not real common but 40+ below is common. Seems we always get a blizzard around calving time in March and April. We keep our heifers close by in case we need to get the OB chains which is rare as they’re bred for ease of calving. We used to feed calves but now we sell in October and keep some replacement heifers. We brand in June before the calves get too big. We use a calf table now but we used to heel them using horses which was faster but we don’t have horse anymore except for pleasure riding. All the best and I think you have it figured out plumb good.

[@PhilRiveraMedia]

Very educational and very interesting. Thanks, Pete!

[@KenC49]

Hi Pete! I remember when I was very young the old fellow that used to own my dad's farm used to do bedding pack with his feeder cattle. It would be 3 or 4 feet thick by pasture time. We used sawdust for the most part. Dad still uses sawdust under his draft oxen. In my opinion sawdust makes the barn smell nice. Some old barns around here had trap doors in the wood floor of the barn with a basement to where the manure would go. I was told that's where they kept their pigs in winter so they'd be warm.

[@chief7174]

I love seeing your interactions with the animals. Highlights your husbandry abilities. They would not be so kind if you and the family were not. Great showing of, you get out what you put in. One of the reasons I've been subbed for a good while. Thank you for bringing us along.

[@Timmer1957]

Yes, we raised steers and during winter we did this, and every the spring the steers went market. The boys chores was to remove this three feet of manure had to be forked out by hand. 😊

[@robertmannel4446]

Loved this one! Love when they frolic with the new bedding. Yeah!!

[@ronniemusic898]

Been there done that i think this is my back problem never got tractor till i was 14 years old 1957 love your show bring back good mems

[@GraysFarm97]

This video made my day. I love the educational videos as well as the others. Thanks for keeping the diversity

[@monkeymagoo]

Thanks for always saying the Celsius for us Canadians

[@delprice3007]

Interested also in Johnson Su aerobic composting giving a fungal rich compost innoculant. Great video Pete!

[@DPW55]

Who on earth cannot benefit buy your advice, bless you ,

[@dirtroadfarm.4024]

We would use this method too if we could get the tractor in our barn. But we have to get the bedding out with pittch fork, so we fully clean the stalls about once a month. But each day we fork out the shit piles. Love your videos Pete. Youre so knowledgeable about all of your livestock.

[@robertmacleod4058]

I find the optimal combination is hay and woodchips. I have a 6" chipper and make chips from tree tops and thinning of my woodlot. I also use slabwood. Little easier to dig out as well. I do find that to keep the cows really clean I need to renew the bedding multiple times a week - but I don't put as deep a layer as Pete does

[@julianlavergne]

Great information for those of us who are unfamiliar with this process.

[@edgravelle5247]

Peter i m glad to see your back. It must have to do with its february. Closer to haying and sunshine.

[@msw00]

I do have much composting experience, mostly with RCRA solid and hazardous waste. That was the best discussion for aerobic/anerobic composting I have listened to in a long time. Right on with all you said.

[@ralphjaneheywood2565]

We use the deep bedding pack method and in our feeding barn we lined the walls with used conveyor belting from the local quarry to protect the inner cladding of the barn. from New Zealand GREAT

[@whitby910]

Don't forget to start making plans to raise the feeding bars and maybe the gate. Easy to let it slide and find the cows have jumped it or are caught half in half out. Great video and thanks.

[@Dan-qy1rg]

Some great information with the bedding pack here Pete. I don't do bedding packs, because I don't have a barn to feed the cattle in, but if I did I would try that too. Thanks for sharing, have a great Sunday!

[@JimFarley-g1x]

Pete really enjoy what y'all do we your channel

[@keithwest2575]

Thanks for sharing Pete! AS always, appreciate your videos and the educational material that you are so good at sharing. Thanks again, take care, & stay safe.

[@byronholmes2496]

Good day to all, peace .

[@chrismedaris4873]

This made my day had a really bad week and u help me and calmed me down thank god for u posting god bless u and your family

[@DonWelter]

Pen management practices vary by farm size and available facilities. My late Brother-In-Law had a dairy setup with a loafing shed area deep pack bedded. When Spring ground conditions permitted the manure pack was hauled out and field-spread with multiple spreaders. Another BIL used to help on occasion and said the manure was 5-6 feet deep in the back corners. Don't know if the corners always got finished in the Spring, but they used to also haul on wheat stubble. Guess we aren't the only ones still doing pen-pack. Sometimes it is directly field spread...other times pen(s) are cleaned and stockpiled for later hauling. Lots of valuable info in your video!!!

[@stevemench786]

I have done the same thing every year,mostly because of necessity ( to much snow and cold to clean)anyway I have found that yes the twmp are low during cold months but as soon as you clean and pile that pack that pack is black dirt by fall and the best time to spread on summer pastures.. Great stuff , props go to mother nature and biology.

[@billentsminger3360]

too cool for school...very interesting...the old ways often seem to be the best

[@ThomasHofacker]

Very interesting video. Thanks for making my morning coffee better.

[@StevenMorin-r1i]

Nice job Pete I like your barn also very nice I like how you represent your post nice work ☺️

[@joeanonemouse]

Love your channel Pete. Thank you. 👍

[@BLAZERSEAMS]

Fascinating (for a non-farmer), thanks Pete.

[@WVFarmer]

Very interesting Pete. Thanks for the wealth of knowledge you share with us.

[@AmandaDoll-hi4dr]

You have nice animals, pete good job with the farm

[@Al-dk4bw]

I notice you don't separate all the hay when you bed it, but lay it out like a blanket. What if you made sure all the hay is perfectly loose and not in a blanket, and then bed about half a bale, but do it twice a week? We used to make sure our straw was loose and airy, and then we bedded every evening. I enjoy watching (and listening) to you. Keep it up.

[@craigstclair4743]

First video I’ve seen you post on Saturday

[@louisepanton7344]

Never did I think I would find this topic interesting 😂 can't wait for April now.

[@davidchisham]

Enjoyable video. I was raised on a small farm in Southern Indiana and we used that method for our cattle and chickens

[@AndrewHCann]

Excellent video Pete :) also didn't know Deep Bedding was till my dad and uncle talked to me when in my childhood also did inside in barn also pole barn for adults cows and calves to did every second day on home farm plus rents ! Did from September to April each year if bad strom in November to March keep cows warm and found Deep Bedding keeps animals more healthy also clean too ! Funny part even close animals warmer like blanket on us humans wear clothes Lol! Also found even Deep Bedding put on feilds helps crops very nice too and good yields too plus much more! Another funny part my dad and uncle used say we inside barn animals outside before let in for night and outside to after! Yes my grandparents and others did for years before I did to Pete on farm days ! Also found keep barn water supply from freezing up in Winter Season months too!

[@jonsabillo1304]

Thanks Pete for this video! I asked this question when you were adding hay to the bedding last video. Great information.

[@TheBasedFarmer]

So glad to hear youre sticking with the deep litter system. The greatest benefit to myself is the ease of it, so much less work.

[@EJHarrop]

As a youngster in the 50s I often worked at a neighboring dairy farm. Spring fork cleaning of the calf pens was interesting lets say. The packs were easily 3 feet or more deep. When coming home, I had to change my cloths in a tent, 100 feet from the house, mom was not pleased lets say, oh my. 💩🤭 Very interesting video, enjoy your channel thank you very much. Take care.

[@johnodwyer1386]

Hi Pete - What a fantastic informative video you just did on animal bedding. I don't think you missed a thing!