Why Do Animals Need Bedding?
Bedding's main role is to absorb moisture and odors from manure and urine, providing horses and animals in confined spaces with a cleaner, more comfortable, healthier environment where they eat, stand, and rest.
Bedding Fact
Bedding provides an important cushion between the animal and stall floors. A soft, dry, breathable surface promotes healthy feet, reduces fatigue on the limbs and encourages resting behaviors.
What is Miscanthus?
Miscanthus grass, or "silver grass," is a fast-growing, eco-friendly alternative for animal bedding. 100% Organic, highly absorbent—soaking up 4x its weight in moisture—it keeps enclosures dry, controls odors, and reduces flies. Its soft, low-dust texture enhances comfort and minimizes respiratory risks. Sustainable and biodegradable, Miscanthus requires minimal resources and can be easily composted, making it a smart, environmentally friendly choice.
Hear what the pros say about our bedding.
Factors to Consider When Selecting Bedding for Your Pet
Selecting the best bedding material for your pet depends on several key factors.
Absorbency
Absorbency is essential for horse and animal bedding as it helps keep stalls clean, dry, and comfortable. It controls moisture from urine and waste, reducing odors, bacteria growth, and the risk of infections. Dry bedding also improves air quality, prevents skin and hoof issues, and provides a softer surface for the animals. Using highly absorbent materials like Miscanthus ensures better hygiene and overall health.
Comfort
Horse bedding needs to provide cushion, joint support, and comfort to protect horses from stress and injury. A soft, supportive surface helps reduce pressure on joints, muscles, and hooves, especially for horses that spend long hours in stalls. Proper bedding minimizes the risk of sores, stiffness, and arthritis while promoting rest and overall well-being. Cushiony bedding materials when combined with specialized mats offer shock absorption, ensuring a safer and more comfortable environment
Availability
Readily available and consistent bedding material is essential for maintaining a clean, comfortable, and stable environment for animals. A consistent bedding type helps prevent sudden changes that could cause stress or allergic reactions. A reliable supply, reduces costs, and prevents shortages, allowing for regular stall maintenance. Locally sourced bedding also minimizes transportation expenses and environmental impact, making it a practical and sustainable choice for farms and stables.
Dust- Allergens
American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) - warn about the dangers of wood shavings and other bedding materials that produce fine dust.
Dust from wood shavings bedding can trigger allergic skin reactions, hives, and other issues in sensitive horses due to airborne particulates. Prolonged exposure to dust and mold spores. can lead to respiratory issues and discomfort for owners, workers and pets.
Natural Low-dust or dust-free bedding like Miscanthus is a safer choice.
Compostability
Using compostable bedding is important for sustainable waste management and environmental health. It breaks down naturally, reducing stall waste and making manure disposal easier. Compostable materials, decompose into nutrient-rich fertilizer, benefiting soil and reducing landfill waste. This eco-friendly option also minimizes environmental impact while maintaining a clean and healthy stall for animals.
Efficiency
Choosing the right bedding improves barn efficiency by reducing labor, controlling costs, and enhancing animal well-being. Highly absorbent and low-dust bedding makes stall cleaning quicker and easier, saving workers time and effort. Cost-effective, long-lasting materials minimize waste and replacement frequency, keeping expenses manageable. Comfortable, supportive bedding promotes animal health, reducing veterinary issues and improving overall barn management. The right choice ensures a cleaner, healthier, and more efficient operation
Palatability
Among the biggest concerns when selecting a bedding material is that some horses will eat straw and other alternative bedding which can lead to severe impaction colic, especially if the straw is low quality or contaminated.
Selecting a naturally unpalatable bedding for your horse and pets is your safest choice.
Cost
Cost is an important factor in choosing animal bedding because it directly affects ongoing farm or stable expenses. Bedding needs to be affordable, sustainable, and effective, as it requires frequent replacement. Higher-cost options may offer better absorbency and comfort and should be balanced against other budget considerations such as carting, disposal and waste removal. Choosing a cost-effective bedding material that meets hygiene, comfort, and disposal needs ensures both animal well-being and financial sustainability.
Health & Safety
The right bedding, being unpalatable and low in dust, contributes to the health and safety of pets, owners, and workers by reducing respiratory issues, allergies, and digestive risks. Low-dust bedding improves air quality, preventing lung irritation in both animals and humans, while unpalatable materials discourage animals from eating bedding, reducing the risk of colic or blockages. A cleaner, healthier environment ensures better well-being for everyone in the barn.