Speaking in terms of other animals -- I've never used shredded paper as bedding for cattle, but have for several other species.
Paper is quite absorbent and will work quite well up to a point -- BUT, it will have to be changed out much more frequently than would any other type of bedding. Shredded paper lasts 2 days in a cat or rabbit litter box with 1 animal using it. It will last 3 days before odor knocks you over when used under a rabbit cage. For poultry it seemed to cause more incidence of disease -- could just be my imagination, but we did lose a lot more birds when using shredded paper.
One thing about shredded paper, you'll need to use a lot more than what you would think. 6 inches settles to 3 in just a short while, even without animals on it.
Ann B
> I have access to a good amount of
> shredded paper on a regular basis.
> Would this make sense as a source
> of clean bedding (inside the
> barn)? It could be replaced
> regularly. I'm thinking
> specifically inside my calving
> barn.
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