Bedded pack is a strategy for providing for animal health and comfort and managing manure, during the winter months. It refers to accumulated bedding materials and manure under covered housing. The pack is then composted after winter ends and the animals are back on pasture, and helps build soil fertility
Happy, healthy, profitable animals are the central goal of livestock farmers. Bedded pack housing can be a path to that goal.
Bedded Pack Resources
Animal Health Fact Sheet (PDF)- Introduction to Bedded Packs presentation (PDF)
- Composting 101 presentation (PDF)
NRCS_DeepBedPack_SS_Planner_v1_3.xlsxNRCS_DeepBedPack_SS_Planner_v1_3.xlsxNRCS_DeepBedPack_SS_Planner_v1_3.xlsxNRCS_DeepBedPack_SS_Planner_v1_3.xlsxNRCS_DeepBedPack_SS_Planner_v1_3.xlsxNRCS_DeepBedPack_SS_Planner_v1_3.xlsxBlank Deep Bed Pack spreadsheet (XLSX) to complete on your own. Includes feed alley and no-alley versions. Contact us for a macro-enabled version if you would like one that will assist with calculations.- 100 cows--no alley example spreadsheet (XLSX)
- 70 sheep--no alley example spreadsheet (XLSX)
- Choiniere Farm bedded pack video (Across the Fence, 6 minutes)
- Russell Farm bedded pack video (Across the Fence, 7 minutes)
Research: Bedded Pack Systems on Organic Dairy Farms
A team of researchers* from UVM Extension Animal Sciences, Plant & Soil Sciences and the Center for Sustainable Agriculture is continuing work on a multi-year project to:
- Assess current bedding management practices, mastitis management, animal health, and milk quality on Vermont dairies;
- Understand mastitis epidemiology, bedding microbiology and characteristics, and bedding management practices, and
- Explore microbial community function of the intra-mammary gland and how it impacts susceptibility to mastitis infection.
Trade-offs in economics and environmental impacts of the back and manure management will be assessed and the results compiled in a management guide of best practices to reduce mastitis risk on organic dairy farms. A project summary can be found on Dr. Barlow's webpages, and a research update with preliminary findings was shared in 2015. In 2019, the team began outreach to organic dairy farmers in order to enlist farmers in the next phase of bedded pack research.
* The research team is made up of John Barlow (Principal Investigator); Deborah Neher; Tucker Andrews; Tom Weicht; and Juan Alvez.
Bedded Pack in Vermont: Five Stories Publication
This 16-page publication details the experiences, approaches, challenges and successes of five Vermont dairy farms who have installed bedded pack barns; Swallowdale Farm in Orwell, Rock Bottom Farm in Strafford, Fournier Farm in Swanton, Choiniere Family Farm in Highgate and Dancing Cow Farm in Bridport.
Download a PDF file of Bedded Pack in Vermont: Five Stories to learn the most important questions to ask yourself if you're considering installing a bedded pack barn, and to access information about the economics of different approaches, the effectiveness of different bedding materials, labor implications, and more.
Bedded Pack Workshops (Required for NRCS Practice Support)
Vermont NRCS requires that farmers receiving support for the installation of bedded pack attend a workshop.
