TY - JOUR AU - Steele, Mike PY - 2018/10/31 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Are Sand or Composted Bedding Cubicles Suitable Alternatives to Rubber Matting for Housing Dairy Cows? JF - Veterinary Evidence JA - VE VL - 3 IS - 4 SE - Knowledge Summaries DO - 10.18849/ve.v3i4.148 UR - https://veterinaryevidence.org/index.php/ve/article/view/148 SP - AB - <p><strong>PICO question</strong></p><p>In [Dairy Cow Management] do [Sand OR composted bedding] compared with [rubber matting] result in [fewer disease incidence] consequences?</p><p><strong>Clinical bottom line</strong></p><p>Clean, deep-bedded sand appears to be associated with the best outcomes in clinical mastitis, cow cleanliness, subclinical mastitis, cow lying times, hock lesions and cow preference. Recycled sand, composted manure and other deep-bedded systems also appear to have increased cow comfort and hygiene indices versus mattress systems. Deep-bedded, composted manure systems can also have better outcomes concerning Gram positive and negative bacterial growth&nbsp;<em>versus</em>&nbsp;straw and mattress systems as long as they are kept clean and renewed frequently.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="https://www.veterinaryevidence.org/rcvskmod/icons/oa-icon.jpg" alt="Open Access"> <img src="https://www.veterinaryevidence.org/rcvskmod/icons/pr-icon.jpg" alt="Peer Reviewed"></p> ER -