This shredded rubber is a byproduct of the rubber industry and is usually inexpensive. Advantages of mattress stall beds include low maintenance and relatively good cow comfort. Another disadvantage is that they have to be sprinkled with sawdust, lime, or other material to control moisture on the mattress. The life of the stall is still unknown, but one user observed holes in some mattresses after 3 years of use. Regardless of the bedding material used, good management and regular maintenance of free stalls are essential to ensure cow comfort and cleanliness, reduce the chances for injuries, and to prevent entrapment.
Good maintenance can override the disadvantages of some bedding materials.
It usually takes a little time but goes a long way toward stall acceptance and cow cleanliness. The bedding needs to provide cow comfort, allow a minimum bacterial growth, and allow you to meet waste management requirements. By Reuben Moore, Ph.D., Extension Dairy Specialist Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. Information Sheet 1585 Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture . Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914.