Shepherd Information

For over 40 years, Shepherd Specialty Papers has been solely focused on one thing: creating the most consistent, high-performing lab animal bedding available—ALPHA-dri®. We’re not here to chase trends or roll out flashy new products. Why? Because we believe in doing one thing exceptionally well. ALPHA-dri is the trusted bedding for biomedical research rodents across the world, and we’ve built our reputation by standing behind it—year after year. Our team has deep expertise in not only the bedding itself but the material properties, the airflow, the absorption, the dust, the animal welfare implications and the equipment it runs through. We help facilities choose bedding based on real science and operational needs—not price points or guesswork. We're proudly setting the bedding standard—advocating for what goes into the cage to support what comes out of your research. Whether you're managing a small animal facility or overseeing operations at scale, we're here to be your bedding partner, your resource, and your expert. Because bedding matters. And for us, it always has.