THE DUST CONTENT, DUST GENERATION, AMMONIA PRODUCTION, AND ABSORPTIONPROPERTIES OF 3 DIFFERENT RODENT BEDDING TYPES

Vermiculite, pine shavings and unbleached eucalyptus pulp contact bedd ing were compared for dust content, dust production las a result of an imal activity), moisture absorption properties and ammonia production. The percentage of dust particles <300 mu m found in pine shavings and vermiculite was 18 and 8 times greater respectively than was found in eucalyptus pulp. The lowest ammonia levels (<1-1ppm), measured on day 7, were obtained using eucalyptus pulp. Although the ammonia levels o btained for vermiculite compared very well with those of pulp, high le vels of dust, up to 5 times more than pulp, were experienced with verm iculite. Pine shavings were associated with the highest ammonia concen tration (1-3 ppm), but produced approximately 50% less dust than vermi culite. The water absorption properties obtained for pulp were between 35% and 76% higher than those obtained for vermiculite and pine shavi ngs respectively.