Single headrail tie stall . Figure 4 . Low arch chain tie stall. Figure 5 . Stanchion tie stall.
Bedding is required to keep stalls dry, preventing a build up of bacteria, and for cow comfort.
No perfect bedding material has yet been discovered. However, sand is seldom practical because it is extremely difficult to handle in most manure systems. Green, hardwood sawdust has been implicated in increased incidence of mastitis caused by a coliform organism called Klebsielia, and should be avoided as bedding material. Sawdust and shavings from kiln dried lumber present less risk, if kept dry in storage, and in the stalls, but incidence of Klebsiella infection is still higher than with straw. Adding lime to sawdust has not proven to be beneficial in reducing mastitis.