A lot of farmers are going to be short on bedding this year. The use of peat as a bedding material is not a silver bullet to solve everyone’s problems, but it may be a viable alternative.

The depth of peat will vary between 4in and 7in, with lighter stock needing less peat.

Peat bedding is not a one-size-fits-all type of solution to bedding woes.

Factors

The amount you use and the length of time that it lasts will vary depending on the stocking density in the pen, the depth of peat used, what diet you are feeding cattle and if you are able to stir up the bedding after a few weeks or not.

All of these factors must be taken into account when deciding if peat bedding could work on your farm.

The ideal setup for peat bedding is to have a slatted or solid concrete feeding area and a layback which can be bedded with peat – this will help reduce excessive soiling of the peat.

More highly-stocked pens will have to be cleaned out more often than lowly-stocked pens. However, peat bedding can also work where there is no separate feeding area.

The process

Peat is harvested from bogs. It is then screened into five different constituents, depending on the size of the aggregate.

Peat to be used for animal bedding will be harvested off the bog during the summer months to ensure the peat is harvested at a moisture content between 40% and 50%. At this level of moisture, it is easier to manage. Peat is also generally highly absorbent.

For suckler farmers who operate an autumn-calving system in which calves are allowed access to a creep area, it is recommended that this creep would have approximately 4in (11cm) of peat. A similar setup could be an option for spring-calving herds where calves will be housed for their first month to six weeks, depending on weather conditions.

Recommendations

Where weanlings are being housed, it is recommended that 5in (13cm) of peat is used in pens and where heavier stock, such as finishing cattle or cows, are being housed, it is recommended to use approximately 7in (18cm) of peat.

In general, it is recommended that no more than 8in (20cm) of peat is used for bedding cattle.

Peat can be spread straight on to the land after use and does not require a period to break down. As peat has a naturally low pH, there can be slight issues if too much peat is spread on land.

To combat this, some farmers will add lime to the peat before it is spread. This will bring the peat to a more neutral pH. Alternatively, farmers can also choose to spread lime separately.

While peat bedding will generally be a higher-cost option than straw, in a year where straw prices are climbing, as in 2018, the price differential may make peat a realistic option for farmers. The need to regularly bed cattle is also reduced when using peat as opposed to straw.

Cost

The prices can also vary quite considerably, depending on where you are located in the country. The product is available in bulk or in big bags. The 2m3 bags weighing approximately 550kg cost over €140. Lorry loads of 100m3 can be delivered, while the option also exists for farmers to take a part-load, with the articulated trailer divided into three separate compartments.

The cost of transport will add considerably to the cost of peat, meaning it may be appealing to split a load between a few farmers in one area. The general costings per m3 depends on the size of the load and where in the country it is delivered to.

For a full 100m3 load, the price will vary between €2,000 and €2,400. Smaller loads will be more expensive per cubic metre.