Any owner of a horse will probably have clean and well kept equine bedding which enables their horse to lie down and get a sufficient night sleep. Therefore, many owners will probably populate the flooring with our industry leading sawdust or shavings as this is one of the comfiest bedding options. While this form of bedding has many benefits; one potential problem is the fact that your horse might want to eat their bedding. This might at first just seem like a mild annoyance as you will have to keep replacing the previously eaten sawdust or shavings. However, letting your horse snack out on their bedding can actually have dire consequences. Especially if this is not kept in check over time. One such issue is the fact that your horse can develop intestinal obstruction and colic if they consume large amounts of their own bedding. Accompanying this is the fact that naturally, sawdust and shavings can become dusty overtime, the dust attracts unwanted bacteria which means that when your horse eats a of their bedding; they are putting themselves at danger of developing a nasty cough or becoming ill. At P.H.Winterton, we provide high quality horse shavings from Staffordshire and, in our time, we have learnt a thing or two about good bedding practices. Therefore, allow us to detail ways to stop your horse from eating their bedding. Quick and Easy Techniques An old fashioned way of thinking is to believe that because a technique is quick and easy, the technique is subsequently less effective. There are many quick and easy ways you can use to stop your horse from eating their bedding. Some of them include: Keep Your Horse Busy A great way to take your mind off of something is to keep busy. This also rings true for horses. On average, it is estimated horses spend 16 hours a day eating. Much of this statistic is attributed to the fact the horse could be eating due to boredom. If you keep them busy, such as getting them to go out on rides, they will feel less of a need to pig out on their bedding. Mix In The Old, With The New When putting new shavings or...
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Cubicle bedding in Staffordshire and all around the country will have recently been littered with cows gearing up for the inevitable freedom spring will bring. Temperatures are on rise and as such, grass will seem all the more appealing. In order for your cows to maximise their spring experience, you will want to control and monitor their weight. Many animals wish to control their weight in the spring and during the build up to summer. Whilst many people believe this is due to pure aesthetic, being in better physical condition actually offers a vast range of benefits. During the hotter months, if your cows are overweight they will not only find mobility significantly harder but they might struggle with heat exhaustion. There are many ways to help your cows control their weight, so let’s take a look at some of the most effective ways we can do this. Monitor Their Protein Intake Feeding your cow’s protein provides many advantages. Proteins are essential to your cow’s energy and productivity levels. Without vital proteins, your cows will not be able to carry out simple exercises and furthermore; they will not be able to roam fields freely to collect their all important food. However, you will be sure not to overfeed your cows too much protein. It is recommended that most cows require 1.5 pounds of protein a day. During periods of gestation, your cow might require up to 2 pounds. This can vary even more when your cow is lactating; during this period your cow usually requires much more. Whilst you might evaluate that feeding your cow too much protein will cause them to gain weight (this can sometimes be the case), overfeeding them protein can actually cause your cow to lose weight. But this is not normally the healthiest option. If they over consume protein, your cows can end up burning off ammonia which can be a detriment to your cow’s health. Exercise Just like humans, the more exercise cows get can help them lose weight. If cows are provided with comfy cubicle bedding, they might not want to stand up from their suitable slumber. However, you should motivate your cows to get up and get some much needed exercise....
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