The Benefits of Wood Pellet Bedding

     There is increasing use of wood pellets over wood shavings for bedding in horse stalls at facilities that are striving to be environmentally responsible. Wood pellets are composed of wood fibers that have been sorted by size, compressed, heat treated and sterilized. This results in significantly increased absorption capability over wood shavings. Pelleted bedding can soak up urine rapidly, creating a more confined wet spot that can be easily removed.     

     One of the major benefits of the use of this material is the 40-60% reduction in the quantity of the waste material (soiled bedding) that is generated. Horse waste may be managed at the site, composted, applied to farmland, or unfortunately in some cases, disposed of in landfills. An important benefit of using pellets is enhanced compostability, which allows a higher proportion of manure to bedding from stall waste in the compost pile.

How the Bedding Is Used In Stalls

     First, clean the stall thoroughly, then spread the pellets. A typical application might be to spread approximately 6-8, 40 lb. bags for a 12’x12’ stall, then moistening the pellets by spraying (use hose with nozzle set to a fan type of spray) for a total of approximately 4 gallons for the 6-8 bags. Pellets will rapidly absorb the water and fluff up; the material will become three times more absorbent than shavings. Deep bedding traditionalists may notice less bulky material filling the stall floor. However, when the pellets are dampened they expand to several times their original volume. A manure fork can then be used to distribute the material on the stall floor to create a soft, even layer that will be comfortable and shock absorbing for the horse. When stall cleaning is done, only the manure and urine-soaked spots should be removed with the manure fork. With the super absorbency of the fluffed pellets and the efficient removal of wet spots, ammonia fumes are sharply reduced or eliminated. It is easier to pick out manure from the fluffed bedding, and less bedding is taken out from the stall compared to shavings, leading to savings in time, waste volume and money. After the initial installation described above, only one bag of bedding needs to be added to the stall every 5-7 days. During dry, windy weather the stall bedding can be given a light misting after cleaning to maintain the fluff of the bedding. Approximately 50-60, 40-lb. bags are needed per horse per year.

     Pelleted bedding typically comes in plastic bags shrink wrapped on pallets, so it can be stored outdoors. One 40-lb. bag of pellets is roughly equivalent to 2-2 1/2 bales of shavings. It is available year round, unlike shavings. Wood shavings are increasingly being utilized for composite wood building products, and less is available for livestock bedding use than in previous years. Smaller amounts of pelleted bedding material are necessary per stall for than for shavings, and it is much more absorptive. Users of this bedding report that the volume of stall waste material (stall cleanings—manure and urine-soaked bedding) is reduced by 40-60%. Stalls are easier and faster to clean, because urine soaks quickly into smaller spots. This also means less material to handle and manage on the property after it leaves the stall. Labor costs for manure handling can potentially be reduced 30-50%.