Welfare,pets Videos

Renew, reuse, recycle. That slogan doesn't just apply to paper and plastics. As Ag. Reporter Sarah Gustin explains those three environmentally friendly prinicples can even be applied to your cattle's bedding. "Why put down new bedding when you can just reuse what you already have? At Northern Lights Dairy north of St.Anthony when the cows aren't busy in the milking parlor they're spending their time on the same sand that they were laying on months ago. (Andrew Holle / Dairy Operator) "Once the cows are all out of the barn or pen, the guys will take the Bobcat and push it down the flum, which there is a water channel that carries the manure and the sand into the reception pit. In there, the reception pit. The large sand will fall out onto the augers and the augers will carry it up to the sand seperator and then the rest of it will travel in the strem over to a pump, which will pump it up to the top and seperate it, it's called the ultra system, seperates the finer sand out from the manure." (Sarah Gustin / KX News) "It takes about 30 minutes from the time that the sand leaves the barn until it is cleaned and ready to be hauled back in." Andrew Holle says using sand is spendy, but this sand seperator is helping cut costs. He says they use about 10 semi loads of sand each week. Rather than bringing in new sand all the time they only need to bring in new sand every few months. (Andrew Holle / Dairy Operator) "In our area we are buying washed sand and it is really expensive, so the payback on this mahcine penciled out only a couple years. the other benefit is it doesn't end up in our lagoon. for those other guys every couple years they got to go into their lagoons and dig it out." Sand comes with a hefty price tag, but the returns are huge. (Andrew Holle / Dairy Operator) "Sand is inorganic. meaning that bacteria and other pathogens can't grow in it like they can in straw, sawdust, some of the other beddings. We can make the stall whatever you want. Mattresses they get hard, they lose their softness, sand you and rake them up, put new sand on top and you basically start all over with a brand new bed." Holle says healthier cattle, reduced somatic cell count and better overall milk production are just a few of the pay offs. And the cows would have to agree life is just better on the beach. (Andrew Holle / Dairy Operator) "They just lay down. it is like laying on a beach really. so you get better stall usuage. when they are laying down and chewing their cud that is when they are making their milk." North of St. Anthony for KX news, I am Sarah Gustin." Holle says they scrape alley ways 3 times a day, each time for about 4 hours. That means the seperator is cleaning sand about 12 hours every day.

The Asian carp is considered to be an invasive species in much of the United States, where it poses a threat to indigenous species and other habitats. But in the Great Lakes region, they’re winning the battle to keep them out.

As experts warn, there will be a swarm of mosquitoes coming to a summer picnic near you. KSL separates fact from fiction on why mosquitoes bite one person but not the next.

The rich need not despair, they can finally enjoy ecological holidays without going downmarket. A Rome-based company labels luxury resorts all over the world. One Italian resort has just received the four-star eco-label. Among activities for the wealthy with a conscience a horse-riding trip to a candle-lit dinner in the woods.

Some people are abandoning their pets outside Animal Care and Control during off hours, which is illegal.

A couple accused of nearly starving their dog to death will face a judge this morning-- and a crowd of local animal lovers is expected to be there.

Sumatran orangutans are among the most endangered animals in the world. Hunting and loss of habitat has driven the apes to the brink of extinction.

Parvo is a disease that is extremely fatal, especially to young dogs, but it could be prevented with a series of inexpensive vaccinations.

PETA wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate the Little Rock zoo. Little Houdini, the first lemur born in captivity at the zoo, died last week after he fell in the moat in the exhibit.

No place in the dog house for crufts

Don't miss the largest off-site adoption event in the country! The Michigan Humane Society and Detroit Zoo will present Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo event on Saturday and Sunday, May 2 & 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Florida wildlife officials have tentatively approved a new rule that will impose the nation's strongest measures to protect freshwater turtles in the state. (April 16))

U.S. Coast Guard vessels and NYPD Marine Unit boats surrounded a whale in the Hudson River on Thursday morning. A safety zone was set up around the animal to protect if from shipping traffic.

U.S. Coast Guard vessels and NYPD Marine Unit boats surrounded a whale in the Hudson River on Thursday morning. A safety zone was set up around the animal to protect if from shipping traffic.

U.S. Coast Guard vessels and NYPD Marine Unit boats surrounded a whale in the Hudson River on Thursday morning. A safety zone was set up around the animal to protect if from shipping traffic.

Now here's something you don't see everyday in New York Harbor.