Participating dairymen may forward price in any contract month 50,000 to 200,000 lb. of milk, with a maximum of 600,000 lb. of milk over a six month period of time. The timing for this program could not be better in light of the recent fall in the BFP and the predictions of low to moderate milk prices in the months to come. Participation in the previous round of DOPP's was less than desirable in some counties, largely due to record milk prices. You can expect to see more information in the months to come, with informational and training meetings starting some time in July or August. The use of sand as a bedding material enhances cow comfort and increases the use of free stalls.
Sand provides greater cushion and surface drainage than other bedding materials.
Perhaps most important, it is inorganic and does not easily support bacterial growth. This is a big plus when trying to control environmental mastitis. The best sand for bedding is washed sand, free of pebbles. A bedding retainer is a must and at that one can figure 25 to 50 lb. of sand per stall per day for maintenance. Because sand settles quickly and is difficult to agitate, it requires both liquid and solid manure handling equipment if stored in a lagoon.