As a bedding suggestion, sawdust is soft, comfortable, and very clean, but must be properly maintained and managed. It is highly absorbent and will soak up urine, reducing the risk of puddling.
When it becomes damp, sawdust can become a perfect environment for the growth of bacteria and mould. Your sawdust bedding must be regularly cleaned out and replaced with fresh sawdust to maintain high hygiene conditions for your cattle.
Sawdust must come from virgin wood – wood from tree surgeons, sawmills, and other outlets where the wood has not been manufactured or contaminated. Non-virgin wood – treated timber products, MDF or chipboard – can be dangerous to livestock due to chemical treatments, adhesives, and other foreign objects, such as screws, staples, or nails.
Sawdust once used; can be a carbon-rich product to spread onto your land but only if the sawdust has come from virgin wood.
A tonne of sawdust provides a similar coverage to crushed husks.