It is not just the amount of horse manure that is important. The issue of horse manure and, above all, manure disposal is of great importance in horse farms. Alternative bedding is favored not least because of the smaller amount of manure. The increasing number of horses with respiratory problems and equine asthma means that many stables have to look for an alternative to the usual straw.
Unfortunately, conventional straw is usually quite dusty and therefore less suitable for horses with equine asthma. Approximately 55-68% of stable dust is caused by the horse's bedding. Low-dust alternatives are needed.
Criteria for good bedding for horses with equine asthma
- dust pollution
- mold
- ammonia binding
For horses with lung disease, in addition to low dust levels, it is particularly important that the alternative bedding has good ammonia binding properties and is not contaminated with mold.
What alternatives do I have?
straw is usually already contaminated with mold and is rather dusty. In addition, the absorbency is usually rather poor, which can lead to a greater ammonia load.
In contrast, straw pellets are usually thermally treated, which contributes to a significantly better hygienic quality. Straw pellets are very absorbent and bind ammonia quite well. Unfortunately, over time, mold often forms, which can cause problems for horses. Since the pellets also swell considerably when they come into contact with liquids, special care must be taken if the horses eat the bedding.
linen litter or flax litter binds moisture quite well and is a low-dust alternative. The bitter substances in the bedding ensure that linen bedding is not readily eaten. Unfortunately, fresh bedding is often a bit slippery at first. In addition, the bedding is usually imported from abroad, which can lead to delivery bottlenecks.
In recent years forest floor has become very popular. The bedding is particularly convincing in terms of sustainability. It binds liquids well and the dust load is low. However, you should always pay attention to the origin of the forest floor to ensure that it does not contain any poisonous plants or wood. The principle of the forest floor is based on rotting processes, so a minimum height of bedding is required so that the microorganisms can work accordingly. Unfortunately, the rotting processes can lead to the formation of mold over time, which can cause problems for some horses.
wood chips are also a popular alternative. The ability to bind liquids is moderate and the dust load is low. However, dust-free shavings should always be used. Unfortunately, mucking out the boxes is rather time-consuming. Disposal is also sometimes difficult, as some farmers do not accept manure with shavings.
The choice of bedding depends, of course, on the local conditions. How do the horses eat? How much manure do I have? How much does each type of bedding cost? How much work is involved? What costs do I have to calculate for disposal and do I have a buyer for the manure? Therefore, it is not possible to name one ideal bedding for horses with equine asthma. There are many different factors to consider when making a selection.
In particular, stable management (care, manure technology, etc.) appears to have a decisive influence on dust and ammonia emissions. During and after mucking out, the horses should not be in the stable for at least 30 minutes. Without mucking out, significant ammonia emissions can be expected after just 3 days with all of the bedding variants tested.
Sources:
Dr. Bianca Schwarz – Respiratory diseases in horses: Not all coughs are the same – Webinar from March 7, 2023
Jana Olberding – Blog: Bedding for horses with lung disease – accessed on March 20, 2023
H. Van den Weghe et al. (2008) Alternative bedding materials to reduce gaseous and particulate emissions in horse husbandry and prevent respiratory diseases in horses. Research project: 06UM001/W1
Herholz et al. (2020) Horse health: dust and ammonia emissions from eight different bedding materials; Agrarforschung Schweiz 11: 230–237, 2020
