Livestock

It is suitable for, but not limited to:

Keep your valuable livestock valuable!

All dairy farmers can relate to the harsh effects of dust in calving yards as well as dairy shows; effects such as sniffing, sneezing and wheezing. The bedding that is used and can cause problems in humans can also adversely affect the animals blocking the calves' airways and causing infections in wounds.

Rocco and Daniel Felice have created a solution to this problem ? cardboard chips.

This father and son team started Eco Animal Bedding to create cardboard bedding for stalls and yards that is superior to other traditionally used bedding. The idea came from their previous business of documentation destruction that resulted in piles of cardboard that they had no use for.

Research had shown that cardboard has been successfully used in Europe and the U.S. for animal bedding for over two decades. Felice says that due to Australia's drought supplies of traditional animal bedding material was in limited supply and there was an open market for an environmentally friendly alternative.

Felice said "this will be the future". He continues; "It is really hard to get the other stuff now. In two, three, four, five years, this will be the type of bedding. It will be what people use."

One thing that makes this product great is that each chip soaks up to "three times its weight" and will last longer than the traditional products on the market. The bedding has been re-used in horse stables by "picking it up with a fork and hitting it against the wall" according to Felice. He goes on to say "it breaks apart and there is no ammonia smell."

Cardboard makers and white goods manufactures' waste is where the cardboard chips come from. Large sheets are run through a machine and chopped into pieces; the dust is then extracted. Felice ensures that all cardboard used in his bedding was "food grade", and therefore safe should the animal "chomp on it while in the stall."

This East Keilor business is currently setting up distributors across the country; however, customers outside Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Western Australia can order the Eco Animal Bedding and it will be delivered straight to their door.

Technical Information

Corrugated Cardboard: Baled in 20kg bags, dimensions 305 x 460 x 770
Paper: Baled in 20kg bags, dimensions 305 x 460 x 770

Pallet Sizes

16 bales pallet height 140cm, 320kg
20 bales pallet height 172cm, 400kg
24 bales pallet height 205cm, 480kg
28 bales pallet height 240cm, 560kg

The following are sample applications utilising Eco Animal Bedding corrugated cardboard or shredded paper.

Cow Cubicle Management

Eco Animal Bedding corrugated cardboard and shredded paper is absolutely clean and safe for animals. It contains no harmful toxic material or allergenic dust and is free from fungal spores and seeds. Eco Animal Bedding has outstanding thermal qualities keeping animals warm, comfortable and contented. It keeps the udders clean and dry. There have been reports of a reduction in the incidence of mastitis by Dairy Farmers using cardboard or paper in cubicles. Cardboard and paper are light and easy to handle. It is highly degradable and integrates well with all slurry systems. It won't cause pump blockages and used product can be applied directly to the land as an excellent soil fertiliser.
  1. Completely clean out the cow cubicles.
  2. Cardboard or paper should be completely removed from the bag.
  3. Thoroughly shake out the contents and spread out evenly to make a dense bed.
  4. Remove dung from cubicles regularly and scrape channel in the normal way.
  5. Cardboard or paper should be replenished every day as required.

Pig Farming Management

Eco Animal Bedding corrugated cardboard and shredded paper is absolutely clean and safe for animals. It contains no harmful toxic material or allergenic dust and is free from fungal spores and seeds. The dust free environment significantly reduces the incidence of atrophic rhinitis. A sterile environment will not harbour bacteria and can reduce the incidence of joint ill. It will also provide the best litter for freshly washed sows. Cardboard and paper has outstanding thermal qualities, is highly absorbent providing piglets with a warm, dry and comfortable bed and will reduce chilling. Small quantities of cardboard or paper help newborn piglets find their feet and can reduce mortality caused by splayed legs.

Farrowing Pens
Use enough cardboard or paper to make a dense bed to a depth of 2.5 cm.

Weaning Pens
One bale of cardboard or paper is sufficient to litter up to 95 verandahs (7ft x 4ft). Literally only two to three handfuls are used in each.

  1. Replenishment may be necessary when used with slatted floors. Again, a handful is all that is required.
  2. Clean out pens in the normal way. Cardboard or paper should not stick to the floors and is easily washed out. Further, being highly degradable, it will not choke the slurry systems or cause any blockage in the pumps. An alternative method is to allow the bedding to dry and then lift the flat cake, leaving a clean floor.

Kennel Management

Eco Animal Bedding corrugated cardboard and shredded paper is absolutely clean and safe for animals. It contains no harmful toxic material or allergenic dust and is free from fungal spores and seeds. Cardboard and paper has outstanding thermal qualities keeping dogs warm and comfortable. It does not harbour fleas, ticks or other parasites. Eco Animal Bedding helps keep dogs clean and dry of excreta. When used for whelping, cardboard or paper can be readily disposed of by burning.

  1. Clean out the previous bedding material thoroughly, disinfect and fumigate if there has been evidence of infestation.
  2. Spread handfuls of cardboard or paper and make a bed. Use enough bedding to create a dense coverage to enhance the thermal qualities.
  3. Scrape away the surface of the bed to reveal the wet beneath. To establish a dry top, remove the bottom wet layer, then replenish with fresh Eco Animal Bedding.