Interest in cubicle sweepers and lime/sawdust applicators has increased in recent years, as farmers look to ways of reducing workload on farms. The importance of cubicle hygiene has been well documented, so keeping them clean and disinfected is critical.
This is because during the dry period the only way mastitis can develop is from bacteria entering the udder through the teat canal. So, keeping the surfaces area of cubicles and everything that the teat touches off clean, will help to prevent new infections from forming.
Teagasc says that the first three weeks after cows are dried off is critical from a mastitis prevention point of view, as the teat canal is still closing and the keratin plug that forms naturally after drying off is still forming.
Equally, the last two weeks before calving are also critical, as cows begin to bag up and the teat canal can open again, leading to milk drop. If milk can drop, then bacteria can enter.
Over the course of a day, faeces and urine can collect on the bed of the cubicle. When cows subsequently lie down, the teats can be in close contact with the faeces and urine.
Bacteria can multiply rapidly in such situations, as the heat from the cow creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. If any farmer puts their hand on a cubicle mat after a cow gets up from lying down, the heat will be felt for minutes after the cow leaves.
The general advice is to clean the cubicles down to remove any traces of faeces and to disinfect cubicles twice per day when cows are housed. Many farmers do switch to once-a-day cleaning and disinfecting when cows are dried off.
In terms of disinfecting, the most commonly used products contain lime, as this is alkaline and increases the pH of the bed to a level that bacteria cannot grow. Technically, the only lime that is considered a disinfectant is hydrated lime – as this has the highest pH.
Sawdust can also be used and it does provide great comfort, but Teagasc say sthat if sawdust gets wet it can help bacteria to multiply rapidly.
There are sawdust and lime mixtures available, which will provide good comfort while also reducing the pH of the surface.
Dairy Day demo
New at Dairy Day for 2025 is a demonstration of some of the main brands of mechanical cubicle cleaners and material dispensers. Farmers are investing in these machines to reduce the time spent cleaning cubicles and applying lime.
A purpose-built series of cubicles is being constructed in the University of Limerick arena to demonstrate how these products work, cleaning cubicles and applying bedding material.
The machines will be driven by representatives of the companies exhibiting at Dairy Day, with Anner Agri and Connacht Agri machines signed up at the time of going to print, with more exhibitors set to announce participation closer to the event.
Irish Farmers Journal deputy editor Adam Woods will be MC for the event, and will introduce the machines and speak to the exhibitors about operating, maintaining and the functionality of each machine. The demonstration will provide an opportunity for attendees at Dairy Day to see first-hand the machines in operation and to speak with the representatives of each company present about how the machine works, costings, etc. While not a cheap investment, a mechanical cubicle cleaner is one that can reduce time and physical labour for a job that not many people enjoy doing. While more suited to larger farms, the argument can be made that they have a role in all farms if they ensure high standards of cubicle hygiene and remove some of the workload.
Of course, there are cheaper ways of cleaning cubicles, which farmers have done for decades and will continue to do so for decades more.
