Cow bedding – tips for making it last longer over winter

When trying to reduce costs on-farm maximising bedding use over the winter months is one area farmers can look to improve. Optimising the conditions for housed livestock can help make the most of available resources.

After the second worst harvest on record in 2024 England’s wheat haul dropped by around 10m tonnes compared to the previous year. Winter barley was also down by 26% due to poor weather conditions during the planting and growing seasons.

With ever changing weather patterns, these factors are more frequently having a knock-on effect on straw availability and cost. But there are ways to make straw last longer when housing livestock over winter months.

Weatherproof your farm buildings

Optimising your cattle sheds with effective weatherproofing can significantly reduce the amount of straw bedding needed and help save money. This can be achieved through fixed and temporary weatherproofing options.

It is important to shield cattle and sheep from adverse weather while ensuring good ventilation. Well-ventilated buildings help keep bedding dry, reducing overall use during the winter months.

Choose the right ventilation system

Incorporating solutions such as Galebreaker’s mesh screens, like Rollerscreen or Bayscreen, can offer many benefits:

• Protection from harsh weather
• Allow optimal airflow
• Remove humidity
• Keep straw bedding drier for longer

These factors are especially crucial when managing youngstock. Damp environments increase the risk of diseases like pneumonia and Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) as well as amplifying cold stress on calves.

Weatherproof protection all year round

Galebreaker’s mesh screens provide protection and ventilation throughout every season, as well as offering greater flexibility. Our Bayscreens and Rollerscreens are:

• Easily adapted for existing farm buildings
• Come in kit form for quick self-fit
• Easily retracted during mucking out or when moving machinery
• Can be adapted quickly to changing weather conditions or operational needs

Cost-effective weather protection

Comparative tests of Galebreaker’s standard screen mesh against traditional cladding options—like space boarding, Yorkshire boarding, and vented metal cladding—show that the mesh can match or outperform these in wind break efficiency, ventilation, rain penetration, light transmission, and cost-effectiveness.

Installing effective weather protection solutions can significantly reduce the frequency of straw bedding replacements, supporting livestock performance, especially over the tougher winter period.

Overcoming winter bedding shortages

With rising costs, using cost-effective weatherproofing and ventilation solutions is key to maintaining healthy, productive livestock.

Implementing these tips will not only improve animal welfare but also provide economic benefits by optimising the use of cow bedding resources and increase its longevity.

For more details on how to better prepare your livestock housing for the winter, contact our expert team.