A NEW bedding material for dairy cow cubicles – claimed to have "ultra-hygienic, blotting paper aborbency" – has been launched to dairy farmers in the North of England.

According to Sally Russell from Envirosystems, Envirobed Premium is made from a blend of dried paper pulp and kiln dried sawdust, using a farm-based source of renewable heat near Darlington.

Speaking at AgriScot, where it was a finalist in the Product Innovation Award, she said: "Blending sawdust into dried paper pulp makes it more bulky, which enables it to go further than paper-only material. The new bedding is 95 per cent dry matter and many times higher absorbency than wood shavings or sawdust, chopped straw or sand.

"Like blotting paper, it soaks up urine and leaked milk, helping to keep udders clean and hygienic. It also stays where it's put on cubicle beds rather than being dragged into slurry passages."

Envirobed Premium is said to be biodegradable and compatible with all types of slurry and manure systems. It is suitable for all dairy cow cubicles and as an absorbent base layer for straw-bedded loose housing for sheep, goats or youngstock as well as adult cattle.

The new bedding is available in bulk on eight-wheeler and articulated trucks with walking floors or tipper bodies. Recommended daily use is two litres per cubicle, costing 8-9p/day.

The original 100 per cent paper pulp Envirobed product won a Queen's Award for Enterprise, in the Innovation category.