Agricultural Sand Bedding for Dairy Cattle
By Agricultural Sand Suppliers
Last reviewed: December 2025
Washed sand used as freestall bedding, providing excellent cow comfort, low bacteria counts, and long-lasting surface cushion.
Sand is widely considered the gold standard for freestall dairy bedding. Its inorganic nature means it doesn't support bacterial growth like organic bedding materials, reducing mastitis risk. The cushioning properties encourage lying time, which improves cow comfort and milk production.
Washed, properly graded sand is essential for dairy use. Particle size affects drainage, cow comfort, and equipment compatibility. Most farms use sand with particles between 0.1mm and 2mm diameter. Local aggregate suppliers typically provide dairy-grade sand.
Sand bedding requires specific manure handling equipment including sand-compatible scrapers, sand lanes in manure systems, and often sand recovery systems. Initial infrastructure investment is significant but sand provides long-term benefits.
Key Features
- Inorganic Material: Doesn't support bacterial growth
- Excellent Cushion: Comfortable surface for lying
- Durable Surface: Maintains level stall beds
- Cooling Effect: Cooler than organic bedding in summer
- Drainage: Water passes through quickly
Advanced Features
- Sand Recovery: Reclaim and reuse sand from manure
- Particle Grading: Specified sizing for performance
- Washed Product: Clean material for dairy use
- Bulk Delivery: Economical large-volume purchasing
Ideal For
Farm Types: Freestall dairy farms, Operations prioritizing cow comfort
Competitive Advantages
What sets Sand Bedding for Dairy Cattle apart from alternatives:
- Lowest mastitis risk of bedding options
- Excellent cow comfort and lying time
- Long service life in stall
- Proven performance in research
- No nutrient value for bacteria
Pricing Information
Here is the pricing information for Sand Bedding for Dairy Cattle:
Bulk pricing varies by region and quality
Pricing Model: per-ton
Usage typically 50-80 lbs per stall per day. Pricing highly dependent on local supply.
Pros & Considerations
- Proven inorganic bedding reduces bacteria
- Excellent cow comfort when managed properly
- Reduces mastitis environmental pathogens
- Cows stay clean in well-maintained stalls
- Long history of successful use
- Heavy material requires handling equipment
- Sand separation needed in manure systems
- Ongoing sand replacement costs
- Improper drainage causes problems
- Not compatible with all manure handling systems
Implementation & Setup
How to implement Sand Bedding for Dairy Cattle on your dairy operation:
Implementation Timeline: Delivery as needed; infrastructure planning required
Training & Support
Training and support options available for Sand Bedding for Dairy Cattle:
Support Channels:
Evaluation Questions
Key questions to consider when evaluating Sand Bedding for Dairy Cattle:
- Is dairy-grade sand available in your area?
- What is your manure handling system?
- Are you prepared for sand-compatible equipment?
- What is your current bedding cost per cow?
- Have you calculated total conversion cost?