Newsprint is a common factor in our lives. Approximately one in three Ohioans receives a newspaper daily. Therefore, a safe assumption is that there is a lot of newsprint that can be used again.
Paper products are derived from wood pulp and are fibrous in nature. Newsprint is one of these paper products that retains the fibrous properties. One fibrous property that makes newspaper attractive as a bedding material, is absorbency. Cutting the fibers in paper allows the newsprint to draw more fluid into the fibers. Shredding and chopping are two processes to prepare newsprint for animal bedding. Shredding or chopping will cut the fibers within the newsprint and allow fluid to be absorbed. For example, paper becomes more absorbent with the finer grade of chopping or shredding.
Assuming that newsprint is to be used as a bedding material or a supplement to bedding for animals, it must be compared to other materials currently used for bedding. (See, CDFS-125) Paper, as a bedding material, must be prepared because we do not want to spread full sheets of newsprint. Preparing newsprint will aide in baling, delivery and barn maintenance. The preparation of the newsprint includes shredding to the correct size versus chopping. Separation of all clay coated papers and non-newspaper inks is assumed. The colored inks and non-newsprint paper products are not considered suitable bedding material at this time. Research and stall trials did not use these products.
Shredding is a historically more common means of processing newsprint- it is easy to identify machines that shred material. Shredding newsprint is an efficient way to cut the material and subsequently, the longer shreds bale very well. The process of shredding paper requires a single blade to cut the paper and the longer shreds intertwine and become dense, to produce a solid bale.
Shredded newsprint is easily tracked out of stalls by humans and animals. The newsprint also tends to be pushed aside by the animals and "balls up" in the corners of the stall. This causes a concern about insulating the animal from the elements. Shredded newsprint can also be very difficult to manage with hand implements as it packs tightly when wet. If the newsprint is removed promptly, disposal will be easier. The packing reduces overall absorbency and creates problems because the shreds tend to "ball up" and clog chain-drive gutter systems.
Chopped paper tends to remain in stalls better than the shreds; it tracked much less than the longer pieces. Because of the nature of the cut, chopped paper has more absorbency than shredded paper and is easier to manage with hand tools. The nature of the cut does not allow for tangling with other materials and therefore, management is easier.
It is difficult to chop a relatively uniform size of paper which 1) looks better in stalls, 2) is easier to disperse evenly, and 3) reduces complication in removal. It is difficult to bale chopped newsprint as the smaller pieces tend to drift free. This same issue is a problem in transportation of chopped paper bales. All transport over the road requires a tarp or covered bed to prevent involuntary litter.
There are positive and negative aspects to the newsprint size as well. When the size of the material is under 1 1/2 inches, newsprint looks attractive in stalls and has a high absorbency rate. The primary drawback to the small size is the concern of fibrous inhalation due to the large amount of cellulose dust that is raised. This size also requires that the newsprint be processed on site as there is no means of "baling" the material. If the piece is between 1 1/2 and 3 inches, absorbency is still very good. Again, this size must be processed on-site because it is difficult to retain in a bale. There is little concern about fibrous inhalation once the pieces are over 3 inches. Pieces of newsprint between 3 inches and 5 inches is slightly easier to handle with hand implements. On-site preparation is necessary for this size as well. This size is not as absorbent as the smaller sizes, but will still absorb liquid. Any piece under 5 inches is difficult to bale and subsequently, more difficult to transport and manage. Anything over 5 inches has the advantage of being baled and transported. Larger sizes of newsprint are not as absorbent as the smaller sizes, but are still more absorbent than other bedding materials.
This fact sheet, one in a series, reports data from a study that examined newsprint as an alternative bedding material for farm animals. The study was funded in part by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Litter Prevention and Recycling.
The study addressed newsprint with black ink and examined the supply of newsprint in Ohio, effects of the paper as a bedding, as well as the absorption and decomposition. The bedding was evaluated on management and disposal, animal behavior, and aesthetics.
The newsprint bedding was shredded into small bales. Evaluators commented on the ease of use, stall maintenance, storage and disposal of the newsprint. They also observed animal behavior such as grazing on the newsprint, grooming of the animals and insulation qualities. The general appearance of barns and fields were qualitatively assessed as to dust levels and stall and barn appearance.
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Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.
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