ANIMAL BEDDING AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Abstract: Bedding of animals, including chickens, on litter consisting of a layer of short strips or pieces of absorbent non-toxic paper. The paper, for example in the form of newspaper sheets, is shredded and the shreds are then cut into short strips or small "diced" pieces which are used as the bedding material and which have a size distribution such that the pieces congeal and form a surface crust or cake at an early stage of use and subsequently break up to form a readily friable material. The layer may take the form of a "top dressing" covering an existing bedding material to extend its useful life.

Description: AI.IliAL BEDDING AND ANIMAL HUSBANDFY - 1 - This invention relates to the bedding and management generally of animals. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to the bedding of poultry, including broiler chickens, pullet chickens and turkeys, and is also applicable to the husbandry of animals gen- ■ -erally, including horses, dairy cattle, and pigs. The bedding material used for poultry and other . small animals can take a number of different forms, wood shavings being a popular and cheap material. For larger animals such as horses, straw is the most commonly used bedding material. Such known bedding materials suffer from a number of practical disadvantages not least of which is the risk of infection being transmitted through such material to the animals concerned. Thus residual pesticide or bacteria left active in straw stalks can have a toxic effect on'animals bedded on straw, while pesticides or fungicides used for the spraying of felled or standing timber may be present in wood shavings and cause problems such as dieldrin poisoning in poultry bedded on such material. The present invention provides a method of bedding animals using a material which can be used universally for both large and small animals and which '.is essentially toxin-free and generally non-supportive of bacterial growth. Broadly defined, the present invention affords a method of bedding animals comprising distributing on a clean floor of a bedding enclosure a layer of separate small pieces of absorbent non-toxic paper sheet with distributed sizes and allowing the bedding material to become soiled with animal excrement before clearing the soiled bedding material from the enclosure, the size distribution of the paper pieces being such that the pieces congeal and form a surface crust or cake at an early stage of use and subsequently break up into a friable material. Newsprint is ideally suited as the paper sheet of - 2 - the bedding material as it is printed with carbon ink which is essentially non-toxic, and it is also highly absorbent. When commencing the bedding of animals by the method of the present invention the layer of bedding material- would typically be distributed uniformly on the floor of the enclosure with a density of 0.4-1 Kg per square metre- The precise spreading density used would depend on the nature of the animals being bedded, the population density in the enclosure, and the climatic conditions both inside and outside -the enclosure. The bedding material may comprise diced paper, shredded paper, or a mixture of diced and shredded paper. The systematic use of comminuted absorbent paper bedding material by the method of the present invention affords a number of practical advantages including: a) good thermal insulation properties;, b) high absorbency; c) freedom from to icity; d) the bedding material is non-supportive of bacterial growth; e) relative economy in use compared with traditional bedding materials; f) relative freedom from dust in use compared with traditional bedding materials, and g) ease of handling. The ease of handling of the bedding material stems, inter alia, from the fact that it is highly absorbent and light to handle. The fact that the soiled bedding material is friable after use facilitates its removal, either piecemeal, or in bulk, and its replacement by fresh bedding material as necessary. The friable paper pieces of the soiled bedding disintegrate readily, and there may be no need to compost the resulting manure- impregnated bedding. Consequently, the soiled bedding material can be spread directly onto the land as fertilizer, or introduced into other compostings to take advantage -. 3 - of its beneficial properties. A significantly reduced consumption of the paper bedding material can be achieved -if the animals are bedded on an existing bedding of loose, non-toxic, absorbent material such as paper fragments, shavings,- straw or sawdust * In this case, the existing bedding when soiled ' is covered by a "top dressing", consisting of fragements or separate small pieces of absorbent non-toxic paper sheet. Newsprint is an ideally suited paper for this purpose, as stated previously. By employing a top dressing layer in accordance with the present invention the working life of animal bedding can be extended significantly, with a minimum expenditure in terms of clean bedding material used, since the "top dressing" of bedding would normally be applied to a much shallower depth than the original bedding. For example, when chickens are reared in poultry houses the original clean bedding material would normally last for the entire growth cycle of . a "crop" of birds from day-old chicks (typically 49-56 days) . At the end of the "crop" period the bedding material may be removed and the poultry house cleaned and sterilised before the introduct¬ ion of a new "crop" on fresh bedding. Although the complete replenishment of the bedding material after completion of each "crop" may be the preferred practice, it might sometimes be desirable to produce more than one crop without complete replenishment of the bedding material. This, it has been found, can be achieved satisfactorily if a "top dressing" layer of clean absorbent paper fragments is applied to the used bedding material after ' completion of a poultry "crop" and before the introduction of a fresh crop. The preferred material for the "top dressing" is shredded absorbent paper which has been subdivided into small pieces with randomly distributed lengths. The paper pieces forming the bedding used in the present invention preferably comprises paper strips having CMΠ - 4 - different randomly distributed lengths. The strips should have a width of the order of 5-40 mm and length between and 120 mm. \ The size distribution of the paper pieces should ideally be within the range 3 cm 2 (0.5 sq.in.) to _ 2 16 cm (2.5 sq. in.). For the best results the paper pieces should .comprise strips having a width between • 5 and 40 mm and a size distribution such that at least 5% of the strips have lengths within each of the following three ranges: (a) 0-1 mm-20 mm; (b) 20 mm-60 mm and (c) 60 mm and over. _ The smallest particles, in size range (a) , assist 'in the early degradation and breakdown of the initial crust or cake which forms on the surface of the bedding layer. The particles of the intermediate size range (b) assist in the spreading and coverage of the bedding material, promoting the formation of air pockets which create thermal insulation and impart resilience and ' ounce' to the bedding layer. The largest particles, in size range (c) , ensure stability of the bedding material in use. These particles, in the form of shreds, have a binding effect, resisting unwanted movement of the bedding material, and further assisting in the thermal* insulation afforded by the material. . The abovementioned size distribution of the paper pieces forming the bedding layer is well suited to the rearing of most poultry. For some poultry and other intensively reared animals some departure from the stated size distribution may be desirable. For example, the paper bedding may consist predominantly of strips having a length in range (a) between 0.1 mm and 20 mm, while for other uses the length range of 20 mm to 120 mm may predominate. The use of paper pieces of the distributed sizes referred to has been found to be satisfactory/ particularly in poultry houses, since the particles retain their absorption capacity throughout the cycle of use, while exhibiting the characteristics of use OMH referred to . When using comminuted paper as animal bedding material the normal distribution density of the material on the floor of an animal house would normally be between 0.4 and 1.OKg per sq.metre. When applied as a "top dressing" the same material would be spread to a density of ,0.2-0.6 Kg. per sq.metre, the actual depth of "top dressing" employed being dependent upon the local climatic conditions. The application of a "top dressing" of absorbent paper fragments can extend the effectiveness and working life of existing animal bedding and litter whether of the traditional kind (for example straw or wood shavings) or of the synthetic kind such as artificial straw or paper litter. Some of the notable advantages of using paper fragments as bedding material, are the relative dust-free and odour-free properties of the. material, and its virtual sterility, the material having been found to be effective even when it is used as athin "top dressing" in the manner described. The bedding method of the present invention is applicable to all sectors of animal management and husbandry, including horses, beef cattle, dairy cattle,- pigs, sheep, rabbits and poultry generally. Ventilation and air extraction are very important in the intensive rearing in enclosed spaces of poultry such as broiler chickens, pullet chickens and turkeys. In the traditional method of intensive rearing in poultry houses bedding materials such as wood shavings, saw-dust, chopped straw, and mixtures of these, are used. In consequence the atmosphere in poultry houses, particularly broiler chicken houses, becomes thick with dust particles and ammonia gas. In order to prevent dangerous concentrations of dust and ammonia being reached it is necessary to open side and top air vents in the poultry house through which fresh air is drawn as a result of the forced extraction of the contaminated air. The use of the conventional forced ventilation system in poultry houses proves extremely costly during winter\months or in wet seasons, and moreover increases the risk of disease in the poultry. The high cost results from the fact that the warm contaminated air is extracted from the house and is replaced by fresh cold air, which has to be heated, so that a continuous energy input is necessary-to maintain a desired steady temperature in the house. Moreover, if the cold air drawn into the house is water-laden the mixture of this air with the warm air already present in the enclosure results in the conden¬ sation of water droplets which settle on the litter or bedding material. As a result even more heating is required to dry the bedding material. A further problem is that the wet bedding material increases the risk of disease in the poultry since it exposes the birds to the risk of severe breast blistering and scorching. The use in accordance with the present invention of toxin-free absorbent paper pieces as a bedding material . in poultry enclosures reduces the severity of the aforementioned problems. The paper bedding material, particularly with the size distribution described herein, has a very low dust content, and its high absorbency results in substantially reduced release of ammonia gas as the bedding material becomes soiled in use. As a result the atmosphere in a poultry house provided with the paper bedding material of the present invention has much lower working levels of dust and ammonia gas, and the ventilation and extraction of air are less critically important than is the case where traditional bedding materials are used. It has been found that in practice broiler chickens bedded on the paper bedding material of the present invention in a house having a floor area of 10,000 sq.ft. can be ventilated adequately with two or three extractor fans evenly spaced in the house, and without the need to open the air vents at all, at least during the initial critical period in the life cycle of the broiler chickens. This has immediate advantages in terms of the energy consumption of the house, particularly during winter months, and in terms of the moisture condensation in the house. I . has been found that with not more than three extractor fans operating, sufficient fresh air can enter the house through natural gaps around the air vents and doors to replenish the extracted air, without complete replacement of the atmosphere in the house. According therefore to a further aspect the present invention provides a method of rearing poultry or other animals in which young animals are bedded in an enclosure having closable air vents on a layer of small pieces of »absorbent non-toxic paper sheet of a range of different sizes which are allowed to become soiled with excrement, the size distribution of the paper pieces being such that the pieces congeal and form a surface crust or cake at an early stage of use and subsequently to break up into a friable material over at least an initial growth period, during which the air vents are closed, the vents being . opened after.the initial growth period. In the specific application of the method to the rearing of poultry, chicks are bedded on the paper bedding with the air vents closed for an initial growth period of four weeks. This period is critical for ensuring disease-free rearing of quality birds, and it has been found that much improved weight gains and feed conversion rates have been achieved. After the initial growth period the air ' ventilation of the enclosure would normally be increased progressively. The following description relates to the use of absorbent paper fragments, ideally newsprint, as bedding material for the management of different animals, regardless of whether or not the "top" dressing method is employed. When using shredded or fragmented newsprint as bedding for poultry, particularly broiler or roaster chickens, the bedding is first spread evenly on the floor of a brooding area, where heating is used to maintain a ■ ξU E_ -.-- OMH temperature of about 27°C-33°C. (80°F-92°F) and day-old chicks are then introduced. After about three to five days, or sometimes as long as seven days, a crusting or caking occurs on the surface of the bedding 5 material. This initial crusting or caking is not in ~ fact detrimental, since it has been shown that the final litter conditions and grading figures for the resulting birds are significantly improved compared with those for birds reared on traditional bedding materials. 0 After approximately 18-28 days, depending on the temperature maintained in the poultry house, the initial _. crusting or caking formed on the bedding material will begin to break up, accompanied by the generation of heat. This bacterial action or "working" will continue 5 to occur throughout the period of occupancy of the enclosure by the poultry "crop" giving rise to an efficient breakdown of the caked manure-saturated bedding material, which is more or less granular. At the end of the poultry crop growing cycle the caked, manure- 0 saturated bedding material will have been broken down into a relatively dry, granular, friable material which is highly eff ctive as fertilizer, and as an additive to compost piles. During the period of bacterial action or "working" 5 the aerobic action of the bacteria maintains the enclosure at a somewhat higher than normal temperature, typically 24°C (75°F) , as compared with the usual temperature of about 22°C (72°F) . This elevated temperature does not in fact imply an increased energy 0 usage for the heating of the enclosure, since the heat is generated by the bacterial action in the bedding material. On the contrary, the heat input to the enclosure can be reduced because of the internally generated heat resulting from the bacterial action. 5 The invention will be further described, by way of example, with particular reference to three different regimes of animal husbandry. - 9 - Chicken Farming Beginning with a dry clean chicken house a litter formed of shredded or diced newspaper or other non-toxic absorbent paper sheet is spread evenly on the floor of 5 the house. The spreading density will be dependent ' upon the population density of the chicken house and the climatic conditions, but in a typical case would be about 0.8 kg per square metre. In some cases as little as 0.4 kg per square metre may be used with 0 adequate results, while in other cases a litter distribution of 1.2 kg per square metre may be advisable. The litter, in the form of evenly mixed shreds of ' ■ absorbent paper of different lengths, should be shaken out thoroughly and spread evenly on the floor of the 5 enclosure. For a spreading density of 0.8 kg per square metre the average depth of the resulting litter would typically be 4-5 cm (1.5-2 inches). Once the litter has been distributed in the chicken house a "crop" of day-old chicks is introduced to the 0 brooding area, as described previously. The "crusting" or caking of the distributed litter, which may occur between 3 -and 7 days after commencement of the crop, will have the effect of promoting the bio-degradation of the manure-saturated litter, as previously described, promoted 5 by the continuous addition to the litter of excrement from the chickens, until the caked manure-saturated bedding has, at the end of the chicken growing cycle, been broken down by bacterial action into a relatively dry granular friable material. 0 In some cases " a poultry house is "re-cropped" without removing the used litter from a previous crop. In this case a top dressing of new litter is applied on top of the old litter, using the same technique as described above. The optimum amount of paper litter for 5 use in this way would be between 0.4 Kg per square meter and 0.9 Kg per square metre. One of the reasons for the use of diced or shredded newsprint or other absorbent paper as animal litter in the manner described above, is the improvement thereby obtained in the thermal insulation of the poultry house. Another reason is the enhancement of the chicken growth environment by reducing the dust level normally produced by other litter materials, thus promoting good feed conversion. The use of a non-toxic diced or shredded paper material avoids the introduction of any toxic elements into the bedding, substantially reducing the risk of mortality or contamination of the chicken stock. Moreover, because of the particle size and shape of the bedding material the birds do not in practice attempt to eat the bedding material, as can happen when ' •the usual wood shavings or sawdust are used as bedding, and there is less risk, in consequence, of the birds eating such bedding rather than the feed provided. A part of the technique of the invention that can ensure successful results by the use of the shredded or diced paper bedding material for rearing poultry is through maintaining correct ventilation and constant temperature. The optimum environmental temperature should be between 22 and 24°C (72-75°F) after the birds are three weeks old, since this promotes efficient bacterial breakdown of the litter. The recommended spreading density of the shredded paper bedding material is important in practice in establishing the correct conditions for the aerobic breakdown of the material during use. If the litter is spread too densely the moisture contained in and deposited on the litter becomes absorbed too deeply for efficient atmospheric action and the litter fails to dry out satisfactorily. Moreover, the bacterial action does not begin effectively if the litter stays too damp. During the initial part of the bacterial action, after the birds are approximately three weeks old, the temperature of the enclosure should be maintained between 22 and 24°C (72-75°F) to ensure that the bacterial action OMPI continues efficiently so that, towards the end of the chicken "crop" occupancy time the litter has dried out efficiently, without the need to supply additional external heat energy. 5 Dairy, Cattle Management Dairy cattle, when housed in cubicles, tend to suffer from mastitis when bedded on traditional bedding material such as straw. Furthermore, where slurry systems are used in conjunction with the cattle housings such systems , 10 are prone to blockage where traditional bedding materials are used. The use of shredded or diced absorbent paper as i* a bedding material in accordance with the invention has been found to add considerably to the convenience 15 of use of the bedding material, while also reducing the incidence of mastitis. Furthermore, the paper bedding material is readily acceptable for use by the pumps in associated slurry, systems. Dairy cattle cubicles normally have a floor with a.' 20 slight gradient for the drainage of urine and excreta towards a drainage channel. When using shredded or diced absorbent paper as bedding material in accordance with the invention the bedding should be distributed evenly. in the cubicles, with a graded distribution so 25 that a greater depth of the bedding material lies at the upper end of the sloping floor of each cubicle. The thinner layer of bedding material will then lie at the end of the cubicle where the rear quarters of the animal normally stand. As the bedding material becomes 30 soiled it is a simple matter to draw more unsoiled material from the upper end of the cubicle towards the rear end, and in this way an initial application of the paper bedding material should last up to 10 days before requiring replenishment. In a typical dairy 35 cattle shed a 25 kg bale of diced or shredded paper would furnish bedding for 10 to 18 cubicles. In cold weather, or where the cattle are housed in __ i£r_ - 12 - damp houses, the amount of bedding material- used may have to be increased by 100 or 200%, and may require more frequent replenishment. The use of the absorbent shredded or diced paper 5 as bedding material for dairy cattle results in cleaner healthier and drier conditions. Furthermore, since ~ the bedding material is essentially sterile, the use of this bedding material is more hygenic than the use of traditional bedding materials such as straw. Furthermore, 10 the management of dairy cattle using the paper bedding material is greatly simplified and rendered more economical by virtue of the greater control over wastage and the »-,-reduced risk of clogging in associated slurry systems. Bedding, . for, hpr.ses 15 The use of the shredded/diced absorbent paper bedding material in accordance with the present invention is beneficial for the bedding and stalling of horses, ponies and equine animals generally. Horses are prone to respiratory problems, believed 20 to be caused by an allergen dust inhaled from the conventional bedding material (straw and wood shavings) . It has been,found that horses afflicted with respiratory problems usually show signs of improvement when bedded on the relatively dust free and non-toxic bedding formed " '* 25 by shredded or diced newspaper as described below. The method of application of the bedding material according to the invention for use with equine animals should ideally be as'follows. The bedding area, stall or box, should first be cleared completely of- previous 30 litter and cleaned. Ideally but not necessarily, the entire area should be sluiced with water and allowed to dry. A bedding layer is formed by distributing evenly on the floor of the stall or box a bedding material consisting of mixed lengths of shredded or diced newspaper 35 or other absorbent non-toxic paper, the paper shreds being separated, either by hand or with a pitchfork to break up any compressed wads of paper shreds. For a typical horse-box or stall an adequate, bedding layer would be formed by about 75 Kg of paper bedding material. To reduce the possibility of the horse "walking" the bedding out of the box. or stall a small board may be placed at the entrance of the box or stall so that- * the horse has to lift its feet on entering and leaving the box or stall. When initially distributing the paper bedding material the bedding layer may be banked slightly (as with traditional bedding materials) up the sides of the box or stall to act as a--"barrier for preventing the horse rolling onto its back against the walls of the box or stall, if a horse has a tendency to "cast", that is, if it has difficulty in regaining its upright position unaided. After laying the bedding material in the horse box or stall daily attention would consist in removing droppings and any completely sodden or wet bedding material, and replenishing with fresh bedding material as necessary. Soiled or damp bedding material need not be removed, since this effectively dries out during use. In addition to cleaning out the bedding material each day, the bedding should be turned over daily to avoid any build-up- of ammonia below the surface of the bedding layer, and to promote drying and aeration of the bedding material. During the day, when the horse is off the bedd- -ing material or the. . box or stall is unoccupied, the bedding material may be swept to one side of thebox or stall, effectively turning and aerating the material in the process. For a typical horse the daily replenishment of soiled paper bedding material would probably account for 12-25 kg of fresh bedding material per week. The use of shredded or diced absorbent paper bedding material for the bedding of horses i accordance with the invention has been found to be effective as regards dietary control, since the absorbent shredded and diced newspaper used, for the bedding is not appetizing to horses - $ UREX OMPI - 14 - they will not tend to eat their bed, as some do, thus their appetite for their proper feed will be undiminished. Further, because the bedding material is non-toxic and virtually sterile, any slight abrasions that may 5 occur in the hoof or hook of a horse will not be _ transmitted through the bedding material so that the material is', therefore, particularly effective for use with sick or convalescent horses. The soiled bedding material after use by horses, 10 being rich in horse manure, is ideally suited as a general fertilizer. The paper material mixed with the excreta is readily broken down in the soil, compared with traditional wood fibre based bedding materials such as straw or shavings, since the lingnin fibres in paper 15 are effectively separated during the paper making process. Pig Farming The shredded/diced absorbent paper bedding material as herein described has proved beneficial for use in 20 rearing pigs. Pigs reared on the bedding material tend to play with the paper pieces and are less prone to fight each other. Moreover, the good thermal insulation afforded by the bedding material means that the energy consumption for the heating of -the bedding area can be 25 reduced significantly.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of bedding animals comprising distributing on a clean floor of a bedding enclosure a layer of separate small pieces of absorbent non-toxic paper sheet with distributed sizes and allowing the bedding material to become soiled with animal excrement before clearing the soiled bedding material from the enclosure, the size distribution of the paper pieces being such that the pieces congeal and form a surface crust or cake at an early stage of use and subsequently break up into a friable material. *' I- 2. A method according to Claim 1, in which the layer of bedding material is distributed uniformly on the floor of the enclosure with a density of 0.4-1.0 Kg per square metre. 3. A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the bedding material is left in situ, before clearing,, for a period of approximately 28 days, to allow crusting or caking to occur initially, followed by a breaking-up of the crusted or caked material through the generation of heat by bacterial action. 4. A method according to Claim.3 for bedding poultry, in which the temperature of the enclosure is maintained between 27° and 33°C upon introduction of the chickens and is subsequently 'reduced in stages to substantially 22°C - 24°C, consistent with maintaining adequate drying of the litter in use. 5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least some of the paper pieces comprise strips having a length substantially equal to their width . - 1 6 - 6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the paper pieces include strips having different lengths randomly distributed. 7. A method according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, in which, the paper strips have a width of the order of 5-40 mm and lengths between 5 mm and 120 mm. 8. A method according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, in which . substantially 1% of the cut paper strips have lengths between 100 mm and 120 mm. . 9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, ' » • in which the pieces of paper have a size distribution in the range 3 cm 2 (0.59 sq.in) to 16 cm2 (2.5 sq.in) . 10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the absorbent paper pieces are admixed with a proportion of relatively non-absorbent non-toxic paper and/or cardboard. 11. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the layer of absorbent paper pieces is applied as a top dressing layer covering an existing soiled bedding of a loose, non-toxic absorbent material. 12. A method according to Claim 11, in which the top dressing layer is spread over the existing soiled bedding to a density of 0.2-D.6 Kg per square metre. 13- A method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the paper pieces are made from sheets of newsprint. 14. A method of rearing poultry or other animals in which young animals are bedded in an enclosure having closable air vents on a layer of small pieces of absorbent non-toxic paper sheet of a range of different sizes which are allowed to become soiled with excrement, the OMPI - 17 - size distribution of the paper pieces being such that the pieces congeal ahd form a surface crust or cake at an early stage of use and subsequently break up into a friable material over at least an initial growth period, during which the air vents are closed, the vents being opened after the initial growth period. 15. A method according to Claim 14, specifically for rearing poultry, in which chicks are bedded on the paper bedding with the air vents closed for an initial growth period of 3-5 weeks. 16. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the paper pieces comprise strips having a width of the order of 5-40 mm and at least 5% of the strips have lengths within each of the following three ranges: 0.1 mm - 20 mm; 20 mm- 60 mm and 60 mm and over. 17. A method according, to any one of the preceding claims, in which, the paper pieces- consist predominantly of strips having a width between 5 and 40 mm and a length between 0.1 mm and 20 m . 18. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 16, in which the paper pieces consist predominantly of strips having a width between 5 and 40 mm and a length between 20 mm and 120 mm. OMH

Inventors: GARDNER THOMAS HENRY, WHITEHEAD GARETH DIETLOF JOHN
Applicants: GARDNER THOMAS HENRY, WHITEHEAD G D J, WHITEHEAD GARETH DIETLOF JOHN
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A01K1
IPC codes: A01K1, A01K31