{"id":3511,"date":"2026-10-23T11:41:31","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T03:41:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.laminarof.com\/blog\/?p=3511"},"modified":"2026-10-23T11:41:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T03:41:31","slug":"what-are-the-bedding-options-for-a-calf-40cc-bf2a08","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.laminarof.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/23\/what-are-the-bedding-options-for-a-calf-40cc-bf2a08\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the bedding options for a calf?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you work with calves like I do\u2014whether supplying to small-scale dairy farms, livestock operators, or even specialty rescue groups\u2014you know that the bedding you use for young calves isn\u2019t just a \u201csoft layer\u201d to keep them comfortable. It\u2019s a foundational part of their health, growth, and long-term productivity. Over the 12 years I\u2019ve run my calf supply business, I\u2019ve worked with hundreds of farmers to figure out which bedding solutions stand up to the unique needs of very young calves (think bottle-fed pre-weaned calves, those just moved to group pens, or calves recovering from minor illnesses). Calves under 8 weeks old can\u2019t regulate their body temperature well, their immune systems are still developing, and they spend most of their time lying down\u2014so a bad bedding choice can lead to everything from hypothermia in winter to scours, or even extra vet bills that cut into a farm\u2019s profits. Calf<\/a><\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s start with the non-negotiables for calf bedding, because I\u2019ve seen too many suppliers cut corners here. First, absorbency is non-negotiable. Calves urinate frequently (up to 4 times an hour for young ones) and they lay directly in their waste if the bedding can\u2019t pull moisture away from their skin. Second, ease of cleaning and replacing\u2014calf pens need to be tidied at least twice a day, so if bedding is heavy or falls apart when you rake it, you\u2019re wasting time and money. Third, low dust. Calves breathe shallowly, and dusty bedding can lead to respiratory issues that linger long after the bedding is changed. Fourth, safety: no sharp edges, no toxic chemicals, and no small pieces that a curious calf might chew and choke on. Fifth, affordability\u2014farmers are always watching their budgets, so great bedding doesn\u2019t have to break the bank.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s break down the most common bedding options I recommend to my calf clients, with the pros, cons, and best-use cases I\u2019ve learned through hands-on experience, not just textbook theory.<\/p>\n

First up: Straw. This is the most traditional bedding for calves, and it\u2019s still a favorite for good reason. I supply high-quality, wheat straw that\u2019s cut into 2-3 inch pieces for young calves (longer straw can get tangled around their legs, and shorter pieces don\u2019t provide enough insulation). The biggest pro of straw is that it\u2019s a natural product\u2014no chemicals, no dust if you source it right, and it\u2019s incredibly warm. I once had a dairy farmer in northern Minnesota tell me that when he switched from sawdust to straw for his pre-weaned calves, he saw a 30% drop in cases of mild hypothermia during the harsh winter months. Straw is also highly insulative because the hollow stalks trap air, creating a buffer between the calf\u2019s body and the cold pen floor. That\u2019s a game-changer for outdoor calf hutches, which 90% of my supply clients use for pre-weaned calves.<\/p>\n

But straw has its downsides too. It\u2019s less absorbent than many newer options\u2014if a calf pees, that moisture sits on top of the straw until you turn it, so it can get moldy if it\u2019s not replaced often enough. It\u2019s also more labor-intensive: you have to \u201cfluff\u201d it every day to keep the air pockets intact, and completely replace it every 3-5 days for pre-weaned calves, which means more time spent cleaning pens. It\u2019s not ideal for group pens with 4 or more calves, because calves will pile on top of each other and trample the straw, creating wet, matted spots. That said, for individual calf hutches, where each calf has their own space, straw is hard to beat. I always tell clients to buy straw from local farms when possible\u2014straw that\u2019s been sitting in a damp barn for months will have dust and mold, so fresh, dry straw is non-negotiable.<\/p>\n

Next: Sawdust and Wood Shavings. These are the most commonly requested bedding by the dairy farmers I work with, especially for group calf pens. The key here is not any old sawdust\u2014avoid pressure-treated wood (it has toxic chemicals) and sawdust from treated lumber, which can leave fine particles that calves breathe in. I supply kiln-dried softwood shavings (pine or spruce) because they have a natural scent that repels flies, and they\u2019re far more absorbent than straw. Kiln drying also kills mold spores, bacteria, and any pests, which is a huge win for young calves\u2019 immune systems. When I first started my business, I made the mistake of selling \u201cbarn-dried\u201d shavings once\u2014 a client came back a week later with 8 calves that had mild respiratory issues, because the shavings had fine dust and mold from being stored in a damp shed. I\u2019ve never done that again, and now I only source kiln-dried shavings from trusted lumber mills that specialize in agricultural bedding.<\/p>\n

Pros of shavings: They\u2019re extremely absorbent\u2014they can hold up to 3x their weight in urine, so the pen stays drier longer. They\u2019re softer than straw, so less risk of leg abrasions, which is important for calves that are learning to stand and walk. They don\u2019t get matted as easily as straw, so you can just \u201ctop-dress\u201d them (add new shavings on top of the old ones) every 2 days instead of full replacement, cutting down on labor. The downsides: They\u2019re less insulative than straw, so they\u2019re not the best for outdoor hutches in temperatures below 20\u00b0F, unless you add a thick layer. Also, some calves will eat fine sawdust, which can cause impaction if it\u2019s ingested in large amounts\u2014for that reason, I don\u2019t recommend fine sawdust for pre-weaned calves under 2 weeks old. I always advise clients to use medium-grade shavings, which have larger chunks that are less likely to be chewed.<\/p>\n

Third bedding option: Rubber Mats. Wait, I know what you\u2019re thinking\u2014rubber mats aren\u2019t \u201cbedding\u201d in the traditional sense, but they\u2019re a complementary layer that 70% of my clients pair with other bedding for group pens. If you put a thick layer of shavings or straw directly on a concrete pen floor, the moisture from urine will seep through and make the floor cold, which makes the bedding less effective. Rubber mats (I supply \u00be inch thick, textured mats that grip the floor and don\u2019t slip) create a barrier between the bedding and the cold concrete, so the insulation of your straw or shavings works twice as well. They\u2019re also way easier to clean\u2014you can spray them down with a pressure washer once a week, which cuts down on manure buildup and reduces the risk of scours from bacteria. I had a client with a 20-head group pen of weaned calves switch from concrete + straw to rubber mats + shavings, and he told me his calf vet bills dropped by almost 40% in a year. The only downside of rubber mats is that they\u2019re an upfront cost\u2014they\u2019re more expensive than buying bedding every month. But when you calculate the savings in bedding (you use 30% less straw\/shavings because they don\u2019t get wet as fast) and vet bills, they pay for themselves in 6-8 months. I always recommend starting with a few mats if a farm is on a budget, rather than investing in a whole pen at once.<\/p>\n

Fourth: Alternative Beddings for Specialized Needs. I\u2019ve had clients ask about hay, peat moss, even recycled bedding like sand, and I\u2019ve worked with all of these too, so let\u2019s cover the ones that actually make sense for calves. First, sand. Sand is great for group pens, especially for calves that are weaned and over 4 weeks old. It\u2019s extremely durable, drains well (so it never gets soggy), and you can rake it and replace only the soiled spots, so it lasts for months. The downside is that it\u2019s heavy\u2014you can\u2019t just haul a bag of sand in a pickup, it needs to be delivered in bulk, and it\u2019s hard on calves\u2019 hooves if it\u2019s not level. I only recommend sand for larger group pens (10+ calves) where the farm has a way to move bulk material. Second, peat moss. Peat is super absorbent, insulative, and low dust, but it\u2019s expensive and not sustainable. I only suggest it for sick calves that need extra isolation, since it\u2019s more sterile than other options. Third, hemp bedding. It\u2019s a newer option, made from hemp fiber, and it\u2019s highly absorbent, dust-free, and natural. It\u2019s great for calves with respiratory issues, but it\u2019s 2-3x more expensive than shavings, so I only recommend it for small-scale operations or specialty calves.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about the biggest mistakes I see farmers make with calf bedding, because even if you pick the right type, poor management can ruin it. First, not replacing bedding often enough. Pre-weaned calves (under 8 weeks) need full bedding replacement every 3-5 days in individual hutches, and every 2 days in group pens. If you leave old, soiled bedding, it\u2019s full of E. coli, Salmonella, and other bacteria that cause scours, the number one health issue for young calves. Second, using dirty or moldy bedding. I once had a client bring in a calf with a fungal infection on its skin, and traced it back to moldy straw he bought from a local farm that stored it outside in the rain. Always check bedding for musty smells, clumps, or green\/black spots before using it. Third, not adjusting bedding for weather. In the summer, you can use a thinner layer of shavings, and top it more often instead of replacing it. In the winter, add a 6-inch layer of straw or shavings, and fluff it daily to keep air pockets intact. Fourth, mixing bedding types. I\u2019ve seen clients mix straw and shavings to \u201csave money,\u201d but that creates a matted, unabsorbable layer that\u2019s worse than using either alone.<\/p>\n

As a calf supplier, my number one goal isn\u2019t just to deliver healthy, well-raised calves to farms\u2014it\u2019s to help those farms keep their calves healthy from day one, and bedding is the foundation of that. If you\u2019re raising calves, whether you\u2019re a small family farm with 5 head or a commercial operation with hundreds, getting your bedding right will save you time, money, and heartache down the line. I\u2019ve worked with so many clients who thought bedding was an afterthought, until they had a breakout of scours or a case of hypothermia that cost them multiple calves. That\u2019s why I take the time to walk each client through their specific needs: how many calves they have, their climate, if they\u2019re using individual hutches or group pens, and their budget, to recommend the right bedding solution for them.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re in the market for high-quality calf bedding that\u2019s tested, safe, and tailored to your operation, I\u2019d love to chat. I can provide bulk pricing, delivery options, and even guidance on the best bedding management practices for your specific setup. Whether you\u2019re switching from a cheaper bedding option that\u2019s not working, or you\u2019re starting a new calf operation and need help setting up your pens from scratch, my team and I have the hands-on experience to help you make the right choice for your calves and your farm.<\/p>\n

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Cattle<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

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  1. National Agricultural Library. (2021). Calf Housing and Bedding Best Practices. U.S. Department of Agriculture.<\/li>\n
  2. Animal Welfare Institute. (2020). Guidelines for Calf Bedding and Environment for Dairy and Beef Operations.<\/li>\n
  3. Journal of Dairy Science. (2019). Effects of Bedding Type on Pre-Weaned Calf Health and Growth Rates. Vol. 102, No. 11.<\/li>\n
  4. Penn State Extension. (2022). Managing Calf Bedding for Optimal Health and Labor Efficiency.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Hebei Honde Industrial Trade Imp & Exp Co., Ltd.<\/a><\/p>\n

    Address: Room 1904, Yintai International Building, No.36 Guang’an Street, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
    E-mail: Helen@hbhonde.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.hondelivestocksupply.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    If you work with calves like I do\u2014whether supplying to small-scale dairy farms, livestock operators, or … What are the bedding options for a calf?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":3511,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3474],"class_list":["post-3511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-calf-4706-c020e3"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.laminarof.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3511","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.laminarof.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.laminarof.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.laminarof.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.laminarof.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3511"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.laminarof.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3511\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.laminarof.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.laminarof.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3511"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.laminarof.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3511"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.laminarof.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3511"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}