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Dry bedding helps calves stay warm, improves comfort and reduces the conditions that allow pathogens to thrive. However, moisture control is only part of the equation.
What happens after urine, manure and moisture combine in the bedding? As bacteria break down urea in urine, ammonia gas is released. The amount of ammonia produced depends heavily on the chemistry of the bedding environment, particularly its pH. As pH rises and conditions become more alkaline, ammonia is released more readily into the air.
That matters because calves spend much of their time lying down, with their noses only centimetres above the bedding surface where ammonia concentrations are highest. Even relatively low levels of ammonia can irritate the respiratory tract, increasing susceptibility to respiratory disease and placing unnecessary pressure on the immune system. Your calves are no longer utilising energy to grow – instead, it is being diverted into defence and repair.
Most drying agents only doing half the job
Many bedding conditioners available in New Zealand focus primarily on moisture absorption. Drying the bedding is certainly beneficial, as less moisture means slower bacterial growth and fewer favourable conditions for flies and pathogens.
However, a product that only absorbs moisture does little to address the underlying chemistry driving ammonia production. If the bedding remains neutral or alkaline, ammonia can continue to volatilise, limiting the benefits of a drier surface.
The problem with hydrated lime
Hydrated lime has long been used as a low-cost bedding treatment because it has some moisture binding capacity.
The problem is that hydrated lime is strongly alkaline. Rather than reducing ammonia release, it raises bedding pH, creating conditions where ammonia forms and escapes more readily. In effect, while lime dries the bedding, high ammonia levels can undermine its overall effectiveness by creating a harsher shed environment.
There are other drawbacks, too. Hydrated lime is caustic and can irritate or burn sensitive tissues including eyes, nostrils and skin. For young calves, whose skin and respiratory systems are still developing, this is an unnecessary risk. And for the team working in the calf shed, these conditions are a health risk.
Why acidity makes the difference
An acidic bedding conditioner works differently. Instead of simply removing moisture, it changes the chemistry of the environment.
Lowering bedding pH slows ammonia release at its source while also creating less favourable conditions for many bacteria, fungi and fly larvae. Rather than addressing one part of the hygiene challenge (simply absorbing moisture), it helps manage several risks simultaneously, resulting in a cleaner, more stable calf environment.
A complete approach to calf shed hygiene
There is one bedding conditioner available in New Zealand that combines these benefits. Stalosan F not only acidifies and stabilises the bedding environment, it also binds ammonia and absorbs up to 400% of its own weight in moisture in the presence of ammonia, making it even more effective under the conditions where it is needed most.
Rather than simply drying the bedding, it helps create an environment that supports calf health by reducing ammonia exposure, suppressing pathogen pressure and maintaining a more balanced pH.
For dairy farmers and calf rearers, choosing a bedding conditioner should be about more than keeping pens dry. It should be about providing calves, staff and the wider shed environment with the best possible protection from ammonia, pathogens and the challenges associated with highly alkaline conditions.
Article provided by Stock IQ
