Advantages of Sand in Lying Boxes:

• Reduces leg problems in cows
• Longer lying time relieves the hooves
• Healthier hooves: the cleft between the hooves and the heel area remain clean and dry
• Fewer udder inflammations
• In hot weather, cows lie down longer as sand has a cooling effect
• Cows have more grip on the rubber floor

When sand is newly introduced, it usually takes about six months to a year to master handling it properly. While it sounds simple – sand bedding – not every type of sand is suitable for sand mattresses. The sand must meet specific requirements, such as being free from bacteria, not too salty, and having the correct grain size to ensure a good settling system.

Some farmers get their sand from local sand pits, while others order it from earthworks companies. On average, the bedding is replenished every three weeks and cleaned superficially twice a day. The average sand consumption is about 1.5 m³ per cow per year.

Cleaning a barn with 300 cows requires about one hour of work per day on average. However, automated solutions are also available.

1. Why should I use sand?

Cows like to rest and lie down on sand. Sand is soft and easily adapts to the contours of the cow. They lie down in a natural position – with their front legs stretched out – just like they would on the pasture (this position is further supported by our Poly Pillow – find more information here ). Due to this natural posture, cows stay down longer and recover better. As mentioned earlier, this positively impacts the hooves. Since sand is not slippery, animals can get up easily without slipping. When the right sand is used, it is also very absorbent and keeps the cows dry. In summer, the sand bedding also has a cooling effect.

2. What are the disadvantages of sand mattresses?

If too little sand is used in the boxes, moisture can’t drain properly, leading to a muddy area. This will make the cows dirty, increasing the risk of udder infections. Moreover, maintaining sand mattresses requires more work – especially with manual cleaning. Sand also causes more wear on scrapers and pumps compared to conventional manure systems.

3. Which sand is suitable?

Coarse sand is unsuitable as it can injure the cows. Additionally, no stones should be present, as they can cause lameness. Ideal sand should have a medium grain size of about 0.5 mm. Finer sand tends to clump and is hard to remove. Also, its water permeability is poorer, which could cause moisture to stay on the udders.

4. What are the costs and sand consumption?

In the USA, dairy farms typically use 20–30 kg of sand per box per day. In Canada, the consumption is 10–20 kg, also with good results and no loss of comfort. The sand should be just below the back edge of the bed. If it lies too far below, a gap forms, and the cow lies too high with its rear, which can negatively impact fertility.
If we calculate 20 kg of sand per cow per day, this equals about 7,300 kg of sand per cow per year. The total costs depend on the price of sand – with our mattresses, the consumption is significantly lower  more details on our website).

5. What can be done with used sand?

Many farmers let the sand settle and wash it with manure. After settling, the sand is retrieved from the pit, dried, and reused in the boxes. Others use mechanical manure-sand separators. These machines add manure and some water, separating up to 95% of the sand, which can then be reused. However, the sand becomes coarser over time as fine particles are removed. The advantage of a mechanical separator is the low space requirement compared to a sand pit. The cost of a device for 100 cows is around €35,000, plus electricity costs.

6. Is sand a problem for the teats?

The benefit is that sand prevents dirt from directly reaching the teats, reducing the risk of infection. However, it is important to clean the teats with a dry cloth before milking. Do not use paper, as it acts like sandpaper and can be uncomfortable for the cows.