Horse Bedding

Cardboard Animal bedding is becoming a more popular choice of bedding for horses and other Farm animals. Cardboard Animal Bedding is good for animal’s health, is clean, free from seeds and other fungal spores or toxins like ammonia. This helps in reducing the possibility of infections and other effects after surgery. Shredded Cardboard Bedding has a wide variety of benefits to animals, the owners and most importantly the environment. It is comfortable and highly absorbent, affordable and biodegradable (recycled). This type of bedding is idle for horses with COPD and other animals with allergies or respiratory problems because it provides a virtually dust, seed and spore free environment.

The environmental benefits of recycled Cardboard as animal bedding is much higher than the traditional methods used for animal bedding and poultry rearing like wood shavings, straw or rubber matting. In concern with environment, cardboard also makes excellent eco-friendly filler which is greener and a safer alternative to plastic or polystyrene chips.

There are many types of Animal Bedding available today and at variety of prices. The factor of concern when deciding is the health conditions of your horse or other animal. If the bedding is damp like the rubber matting it will soften the animal’s hooves and provide a breeding ground for bacteria and other toxins. Ammonia is released from the retained animal urine, and if proper care is not taken to provide adequate ventilation ammonia gas can cause irritant to your animal’s respiratory system. Due to the dust or spores found in some types of bedding like the wood shavings, some horses may suffer from dust allergies or other problems like Asthma. Some materials let urine pass right through and are called non-absorbent or draining.  Other beds soak up wetness and are called absorbent or non-draining.

Another factor to consider is the cost. Cost varies depending on the type you choose and the season of year. Storage space and muck disposal is also a factor of concern.

Cardboard

Recycled and Shredded Cardboard as Horse Bedding is the most popular bedding for Animals specially horses. Cardboard has better insulation and storage qualities of straw or wood shavings. Cardboard is excellent because it keeps horses cleaner than other bedding products and is recommended by the ILPH and veterinary practices. It's easy to store, light to work with and is very absorbent. It is very warm in the winter and is cheaper than other Animal Bedding.

According to recent research by the Canadian Equine Research Council, Cardboard as bedding for animals is 5 times more absorbent than wood shavings, 6 times than straw and 2 times than the hemp bedding.

Rubber Matting

Rubber Matting has many advantages but the initial buying cost is high. Rubber matting goes well with a bedding of your choice and is completely dust free. It drains well because of the rubber and is warm. Because of the soft rubber, it is very safe for the animal and reduces the risk of injury. If no extra bedding is used along with the matting the stables need to have a good drainage to absorb the urine.

Straw

Straw is common as bedding for Animals and comes in a variety of forms. It is absorbent, cheap, warm and maintenance free. It is heavily compacted and brittle, making it less durable and reducing its value as bedding. Good wheat straw makes excellent bedding but wheat Straw is not suitable for horses with dust allergies or respiratory problems. It can be very dusty and poorer quality straw can be moldy too.