Some issues to consider when using biological bedding

In 2013, in our country, the buffalo herd numbered 2.6 million, the cow herd had 5.2 million, the pig herd had 26.3 million, and the poultry herd had 314.7 million (According to the General Statistics Office, 2013).

The average daily excretion of each buffalo is 15 kg, cow is 10 kg, pig is 2 kg and poultry is 0.2 kg of manure, so in 2013, with the total livestock herd in the country, the amount of manure discharged was about 76 million tons. In particular, in our country, household livestock farming still accounts for a high proportion, about 65% of the total livestock herd (according to FAO), at the same time, livestock and poultry barns are still near residential areas or in residential areas, causing great environmental pollution.

To treat these wastes, the livestock industry is currently applying many technologies such as composting, biogas and selective microorganisms to enhance the waste decomposition process. In particular, the application of cellulose-based bedding as a substrate for microorganisms to ferment and decompose waste in livestock farming is receiving attention. According to statistics from the Department of Livestock, at the National Conference summarizing experiences and results after 3 years of applying the biological bedding model in livestock farming (2011 - 2013) on May 22, 2014, the whole country has 691 farms and 57,755 households using biological bedding in chicken farming with a total of about 5,400,000 m2 of bedding; 28 farms and 3,658 households using biological bedding in pig farming with a total of about 70,000 m2 of bedding.

For chicken farming:Through practical implementation in many localities such as Ha Nam, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Ha Giang, Ca Mau..., most of the models applying biological bedding are successful, suitable for small and medium scale livestock farming.

Chickens have the habit of scratching the floor of the coop, so the chicken manure is destroyed, creating a clean environment, beneficial to the health of the chickens as well as the farmers. Because there is no need to change the bedding during the entire raising process, it minimizes the labor required to clean the coop, increases the resistance of the chickens, reduces the mortality and culling rate in chickens, increases growth ability, reduces feed consumption, reduces the work and cost of treating diseases and periodically spraying disinfectants. Chickens raised on the bedding do not have foot inflammation, and their feathers are smooth and clean. Therefore, the profit is higher than traditional farming methods.

However, biological bedding always generates heat due to the fermentation process of microorganisms in the bedding, so the barn is hot, suitable for winter weather conditions, but in the summer, chickens must be raised at low density and have methods to prevent heat for chickens, especially chickens raised for fattening and early-stage breeding.

For pig farmingRaising on biological bedding saves electricity, water for cleaning the barn, and reduces environmental pollution.

According to the implementation results, the application of biological bedding in pig farming is still very modest, most suitable for sows, piglets and pigs weighing less than 60 kg. Many models have not been successful because pigs have the habit of excreting feces and urine in one place, so the bedding is often damaged (when not turning or scooping up pig feces); pigs' movement causes the bedding to be compressed, limiting the microorganisms in the bedding from decomposing waste. In addition, some models also have external parasites such as mites, bedbugs, ticks, scabies, etc. High groundwater levels affect the bedding. In hot summers, pigs do not lie on the bedding, so it is still necessary to design a barn with a brick or cement floor for the pigs to lie on, with enough space for bathing the pigs, so the area of ​​the barn for one pig is higher than the traditional farming method.

Some difficulties and limitations in the development of using biological bedding in livestock farming

Raw materials for making bedding use 50 - 70% of sawdust and shavings, so mobilizing large raw materials is very difficult, limiting the widespread deployment. It is necessary to research and test other materials from agricultural by-products to replace sawdust.

The initial cost for bedding is relatively large, averaging 250,000 - 300,000 VND/pig for the first litter and an additional 120,000 - 150,000 VND/pig for subsequent litters (according to the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development).

The fermentation process of microorganisms in the litter generates heat, causing the temperature of the barn to increase, always at 30 - 40oC, possibly up to 45oC, thus affecting livestock such as chickens in the fattening stage, breeding chickens, pigs over 60 kg, especially in the summer.

Takes up a lot of livestock area, difficult to apply to industrial livestock farming because it cannot be raised at high density.

Must comply with the techniques of using and preserving bedding to promote the ability of microorganisms in the bedding to decompose waste.

Because many batches are kept on the litter without being disinfected, pathogens that exist in the litter can cause pollution, especially when an epidemic occurs in animals raised on biological litter, the entire litter must be destroyed, affecting the economy of the breeder.

There have been no in-depth, specialized studies on emissions, food safety and hygiene for pork, chicken, and eggs raised using this process, or the impact of microorganisms on the living environment...

Research and testing of handheld machines for tilling and turning bedding when applied on farm scale.

In fact, many pig farmers have overcome the hot weather in the summer by improving the pig pens, 70% of the area is the bedding floor, 30% is the concrete floor with a border separating the bedding floor so that water can be used to cool down on hot days, or planting trees and climbing plants on the roof of the pen to create shade. Places with high groundwater levels affecting the bedding floor have been improved by building floating pens.

With the aim of reducing environmental pollution in livestock farming, choosing the solution of raising chickens and pigs on litter is suitable for chickens with small body weight (under 2 kg/head), non-fat chickens; pigs weighing less than 60 kg/head. Farmers must learn about livestock waste treatment measures, family farming conditions, choose the most suitable solution to develop livestock farming, ensure no environmental pollution and achieve the highest efficiency.

According to the National Agricultural Extension Center