Recent weeks have seen soaring temperatures across the UK, bringing challenges for both dairy and poultry producers.
While much of the focus during a heatwave is understandably on ventilation, shade and ensuring animals have constant access to fresh water, bedding also has an important role to play in maintaining a healthy environment.
For many dairy farmers, cows will have been turned out during the summer months. However, some herds are housed all year round, while others will spend time indoors for milking, feeding or during periods of poor weather.
Poultry, meanwhile, can remain housed throughout the year. In both dairy and poultry farming, keeping housing clean, dry and comfortable remains essential.
Warm weather brings new challenges
Higher temperatures can accelerate bacterial growth, increase humidity inside buildings and contribute to poor air quality if housing is not well managed.
Moisture in bedding, combined with warm conditions, can very quickly escalate to create an environment where hygiene standards become more difficult to maintain. Therefore regular cleaning and topping up bedding is essential to help maintain a drier surface for livestock.
Providing clean, comfortable bedding helps ensure housing remains an inviting place whenever animals are indoors, whether that’s for resting, feeding or routine management.
Don’t overlook ventilation
Even the highest quality bedding works best as part of a wider housing management strategy.
Good ventilation helps remove heat, moisture and ammonia from livestock buildings, creating a healthier environment for both animals and those working in the sheds.
Regular checks of fans, vents and airflow are particularly worthwhile during prolonged periods of hot weather.
Planning ahead
Summer is also a good opportunity to review bedding supplies before the busier autumn and winter months. Having a reliable supply in place means one less thing to think about as housing demands increase later in the year.
At NW Resources, we supply premium wood fibre and sawdust bedding to dairy and poultry producers across the UK, helping farmers maintain clean, dry and comfortable housing throughout the seasons.
Whether your livestock are housed year-round or only for part of the year, good bedding remains an important part of effective livestock management.
If you’d like to know more about our bedding options please email hello@nwresources.co.uk or call 01978 851238