'We have never had such a low cell count'

A stable litter that ensures a lower cell count, prevents mastitis, is good for the stable climate and produces rich manure? Dairy farmer Richard Groenestege was interested in that. He switched to special flax bedding: a mixture of flax, chopped straw and clay minerals. Within a year his geometric cell count had almost halved.

On the advice of product specialist Evert Rozendaal from Berg Fourage, dairy farmer Richard Groenestege from Kuinre switched from sawdust with lime to a new stable bedding: flax bedding special, a fifty-fifty mixture of flax and chopped straw, with a 'magic' ingredient: clay minerals. Groenestege saw his geometric cell count drop from 150 to 80 within a year. "The other day it was even 51. We have never had it that low before."

Low cell count, less worries
Thanks to that low cell count, Groenestege, who milks his 120 cows with a robot, runs no risk of his milk not meeting the requirements. "If a cow has an increased cell count or an udder infection, I do not use antibiotics, but garlic pills. The milk can then simply go into the tank; the low average cell count cancels out the higher cell count of the milk from the cow with udder problems. From the dairy company we supply the milk to, we get a bonus for a low somatic cell count. I now always take that extra with me."

Clay minerals gentle on teats and claws
But why is it that the clay minerals in the stable litter have such an effect on the cell count? Product specialist Rozendaal: "We often see that hygienic, dry and comfortable bedding causes a decrease in the cell count. The clay minerals, which we also call FX minerals, absorb an exceptional amount of moisture and help to inhibit bacterial growth. In addition, the litter with clay minerals are super soft and caring for the claws and teats and they have a high pH value." 

Sturdy and soft bedding for the cows
Dairy farmer Groenestege also considers the fact that the flax bedding stays in place well to be a major advantage. "Every fourteen days we fill the boxes again. The next day you immediately notice that the product has become a lot darker. The clay minerals draw moisture from the air and that creates a sticky effect with the chopped straw and flax particles. This ensures a firm, soft layer without holes quickly appearing."

Rich fertilizer due to clay minerals
Another reason to continue using the bedding with clay minerals is the rich fertilizer it produces. Groenestege: "I use an electric mixer to mix the cow manure with the stable litter, which I then spread over the land. That mixture is very good for soil fertility. The clay minerals bind 20% extra nitrogen in the manure pit. So that nitrogen does not evaporate, but ends up in the soil. The flax and straw are good for the organic matter in the soil. We have found an arable farmer who also sees the benefits of flax special bedding through the manure. He would like our manure on his land. Certainly Now that derogation is being abolished, it is becoming increasingly important that you as a livestock farmer can dispose of your manure. If you have manure with a lot of organic matter and clay minerals, this is a lot easier."

Good value for money
When choosing stable bedding, price plays an important role. The special flax bedding is slightly more expensive than other bedding, but Groenestege does not let that stop it. "I think it's worth the price. The cows lie comfortably, have fewer udder problems and the cell count has dropped drastically. Add to that the binding of the nitrogen and the rich manure and in my opinion you have very good value for money."

Experience it yourself?
Berg Fourage has the exclusive right to supply clay minerals. Do you want to experience the benefits yourself? The foraging specialists are happy to help you.

T: 0341-768222
M: sales@bergfourage.nl
W: www.bergfourage.nl