Ground kenaf was evaluated as a bedding material in a free stall situation with a flush system and a solids settling basin. It was compared to two other commonly used bedding materials used in Mississippi, which was sand and sawdust. Data collected included: cow usage of free stalls bedded with the three different bedding materials; microbiological observations on each type of bedding material; observations on management of bedding materials; and problems associated with each material in a flush system with a solids settling basin.

The table below shows usage of the stalls bedded with the three types of bedding materials during two different observation times.

TABLE 1. Percent of cows lying in free stalls

Differences in the first observation periods can be possibly attributed to heat stress. During the second period, the temperature was much cooler and cows did not choose the cooler sand as readily as in the first period. Microbial counts in the sand were less than the kenaf or sawdust in all observations. Kenaf microbial counts were lower than sawdust and none of these samples of kenaf showed any klebsiella, which causes serious mastitis problems. Klebsiella was shown in 67% of the sawdust samples.

Kenaf was shown to cause a problem with flush cleaning systems. This material tends to build up in lanes behind free stalls and is not picked up by flush water and carried to pipe drains. There is some indication that too much kenaf is drainpipes may tend to cause clogging because of its floating characteristics. It also tends to cause clogging in solids sediment basin drains.

Sand and Sawdust did show an advantage in ease of handling. The longer fibers in Kenaf caused some matting when placing it in free stalls. A different length of cut could reduce this problem with kenaf and may cause it to flow more readily in flush systems.

The evaluation of bedding materials reinforces the advantages of sand as a free stall bedding material. Its organic nature prevents growth of microorganisms and it makes a very comfortable bedding material. Observations of kenaf indicate that it would be very useful as bedding in loose housing systems, portable calf pens, replacement barns and portable shade structures. Having organic bedding is advantageous in most portable structures. Kenaf also tends to stay dryer than most organic bedding sources.