HORSE HAIR COAT CLEANLINESS IS AFFECTED BY BEDDING MATERIAL - A COMPARISON OF CLEAN AND USED WHEAT-STRAW, WOOD SHAVINGS AND PELLETED NEWSPAPER

Wheat straw, wood shavings and pelleted recycled newspaper were used a s bedding materials and compared in maintaining horse hair coat cleanl iness, Each material was sampled prior to use and after use having bee n wetted with urine in a bedding study conducted with 4 adult horses i n box stalls, Because feces were removed daily during stall maintenanc e, freshly voided feces were also collected so that all components in a used bedding (clean portion, wetted portion, feces) were represented , Hair coat cleanliness was measured in vitro by exposing a tanned pon y hide with hair to clean and wet beddings as well as feces, Cleanline ss was evaluated in terms of the amounts of moisture, volatile-N and s olid matter transferred from each component and type of bedding materi al to the haired hide. Transfers to wool flannel were also measured as a comparison to the haired hide. Woolen products are used in the horse industry and also come into contact with components of used bedding, Freshly voided feces and used beddings transferred more (P < .05) mois ture (85 and 54%, respectively) than clean beddings. Wheat straw trans ferred less (P < .05) solid matter (86 and 64%, respectively) than woo d shavings or pelleted newspaper, Wood shavings transferred more (P < .05) solid matter than wheat straw or pelleted newspaper to wool flann el resulting in a statistically significant used bedding X surface int eraction, These data indicate that type as well as components of used beddings affect hair coat cleanliness. The ability of a bedding materi al to maintain hair coat cleanliness should also be a factor (e.g., co st, availability, moisture holding capacity, nontoxicity) in its consi deration for use as a bedding for animals.