Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
for Domestic Animals
Pierre Bouloc
La Chanvriere de
L' Aube (LCDA), France
18.1 Horse Bedding
watered with a vinegar solution (8-10%) in
order to dampen the bedding and render it
unappetizing to the horse.
Horse dung should be removed with a fork
2-3 times/day. Any 'urine cakes' should be
identified and removed to a depth of 4-5 cm.
The bedding will then need to be evened out to
a consistent depth by filling in gaps.
The deeper layers of the litter should not
be disturbed. The straw should only be moved
around on the surface. In this way, the mainte-
nance of a horse's bed remains economical.
Details of the cost of a hemp straw bed are
given in Table 18.1. The daily work involved in
maintaining the litter does not exceed 10-15
min/day. Over the course of a month, 3-4
bales will be required. The base of the bed can
be kept for 20-25 weeks. Over the course of a
year, the amount of hemp straw used will be
approximately 45-60 bales (approximately
900-1200 kg) (Fig. 18.1).
When hemp workers started working on indus-
trial hemp again after World War II, one of
their first priorities was to find a use for hurds.
It is hard to forget that fibre processing yields a
significant quantity of hurds, corresponding to
some 60% of the weight of the plant (from a
plant yield of 110-180 kg/m
3
).
In view of its hydrophilic properties, it was
suggested that the hurds be used as bedding for
horses. This use caught on and remains popu-
lar today, for it is now the primary end use of
this product. In addition to its ability to absorb
water, hemp straw, once on the ground, pro-
vides a stable surface that does not tend to
move or slip. It is also very comfortable, for it
is made up of small particles. Also, hurds are
relatively dust free and are recommended as
bedding for horses suffering from chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. One unfortu-
nate inconvenience, where horses are con-
cerned, is that the bedding is likely to be
ingested where horses are left hungry with
nothing else to eat. This can prove dangerous,
leading to bloating when the animal drinks.
18.1.2 Costs of using
hurds as horse litter
Study of the figures in Table 18.1, derived
from an economic study undertaken at a
number of horse breeding yards and other
establishments (studs and riding schools), show
that the use of hemp straw is both economi-
cally viable and interesting.
18.1.1
Recommendations for use
A clean box of some 9-10 m
2
will need some
five bales (of 20 kg) hemp straw. These can be
