
Premium Paper Bedding & Cage Liners
Shepherd Specialty Papers products promote research integrity and enhance animal welfare, but they are also designed to assist customers in operating an efficient and cost-effective research program. With various options for bedding and enrichment, SSP offers everything you need for “Excellence in the Cage.”
ALPHA-dri®
ALPHA-dri® premium virgin paper pulp cellulose bedding delivering over 550% absorbency, industry-leading brightness, and contaminant-free consistency for reliable, low-maintenance rodent housing.
Features
- Absorbs over 550% of its own weight and supports extended 21-day cage change cycles
- 100% virgin paper pulp free from mycotoxins, endotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides, PFAS, and PFOS
- Naturally low dust through proprietary screening and aspiration, with no chemical additives or odor-masking agents
- Available in autoclavable, irradiated, or certified options
ALPHA-dri® PLUS™
ALPHA-dri® PLUS™ is an all-in-one bedding and enrichment solution combining ALPHA-dri® virgin cellulose with ALPHA-twist® nesting material.
Features
- Pre-mixed bedding and enrichment in a single product, streamlining cage preparation and reducing labor time
- Absorbs over 550% of its own weight with proven support for 21-day cage change intervals
- 100% virgin paper pulp free from mycotoxins, endotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides, PFAS, and PFOS
- Similar bulk density of both components enables efficient, cost-effective automatic dispensing in facility equipment
- Available in autoclavable, irradiated, or certified options
ADP Vac-Pac™
ADP Vac-Pac™ is vacuum-sealed, irradiated ALPHA-dri® PLUS™ designed for barrier facilities and germ-free colonies, delivering pre-sterilized bedding and enrichment with visual confirmation of irradiation.
Features
- Vacuum-packaged and irradiated to eliminate the need for autoclaving, saving time and reducing contamination risk
- Orange-to-red indicator strip provides immediate visual confirmation of successful sterilization
- Each 2.2 lb vac pac provides enough bedding for 8-9 cages, packaged 8 per case (15 cases per pallet)
- Natural ammonia control and dust-free performance
- Ideal for germ-free mouse colonies, biosafety-critical research, and facilities prioritizing maximum bio-security
Cellu-nest™
Cellu-nest™ soft cellulose bedding offers a clean, comfortable substrate for laboratory rodent housing with a focus on animal welfare and research quality.
Features
- Made from very soft cellulose fibers that provide a gentle, comfortable bedding environment
- Nesting materials encourage species-specific behaviors and supports enrichment
- Will not mat or clump when wet
- Not manufactured from harvested materials
- Approximately 70 liters of bedding volume per 10 lb bag, providing efficient cage coverage
ALPHA Pad®
ALPHA Pad® pre-cut cotton fiber enrichment bedding sheets appeal to rodents' natural nest-building behavior, absorbing nearly 20 times their own weight while offering compact storage and easy cage turnover.
Features
- Made from 100% bleached cotton staple fibers with long strands that encourage natural shredding and nest construction
- Absorbs nearly 20 times its own weight, keeping animals clean and dry for extended periods
- Pre-cut to fit standard shoe-box cages: mouse size (6" x 10", 400/box) and rat size (7" x 16", 250/box), with custom sizes available
- Extremely low dust even after shredding, and soiled bedding dumps out easily for fast cage changes
- Autoclavable for sterilization; compact packaging means one carton replaces four bags of traditional bedding
Poly Pad™
Poly Pad is a versatile multi-ply cellulose wadding liner backed with a sturdy polyethylene layer for zero leakage. Poly Pad is ideal for use as a cage liner, necropsy liner, post-surgical pad, or bench liner.
Features
- Superior absorbency with capillary action that distributes moisture evenly without puddling or runoff
- Poly Pads can soak up heavy discharge from large animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs
- Polyethylene backing prevents liquid penetration
- Made from 100% virgin fibers so they don’t create dust
- White tissue makes animal discharges and lab spills easily visible
- Custom cut to fit your needs
- Available in 4 to 18 plies
Techboard™
Techboard is a highly absorbent, untreated technical-grade cage board with a dimpled top layer that reduces liquid runoff.
Features
- Highly absorbent with a waffled top layer that reduces liquid runoff and movement of fecal material
- Dust-free and will not contribute to airborne particles
- Semi-rigid sheets make handling easy
- Can be changed every 3 to 4 days instead of daily
- Custom cut to fit your needs
- Available in three grades: Techboard, Techboard K52, and Techboard II
Shepsorb™
Shepsorb is an embossed, single-ply, non-laminated cage liner sheet. Shepsorb is commonly used for birds and animals with lower urinary output. (It is not recommended for animals with high urinary output or that play with water valves or sipper tubes.)
Features
- Waffled surface reduces liquid runoff and movement of fecal material
- Dust-free and will not contribute to airborne particles
- Semi-rigid sheets for easy handling and sanitation
- Economical alternative for short-term exposure applications
- Custom cut to fit your needs
- Available in 33# or 42# basis weight
Techsorb
Techsorb is a super-absorbent, non-contact cage board designed for all research programs, including GLP and toxicology studies. It soaks up liquid like a sponge and offers many advantages.
Features
- Super absorbent with capillary action that distributes moisture evenly instead of puddling or running off
- Ideal for use under larger animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, dogs and non-human primates
- Untreated, chemical-free material suitable for GLP and toxicology programs
- White textured surface makes bodily fluids easily visible
- Semi-rigid sheets for easy handling and sanitation
- Lasts approximately twice as long as competing cage liners
- Custom cut to fit your needs
Ready to order Shepherd Specialty Papers or have a question? Get in touch!
We'll ensure your animals have high-quality, comfortable bedding.
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W.F. Fisher and Son
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