Air Quality in Horse Stables

Elfman, Lena; Wålinder, Robert; Riihimäki, Miia; Pringle, John

doi:10.5772/18228

Cited by 14 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 52 publications

(60 reference statements)

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“…Both bedding materials were specially manufactured for use in horse stalls. The carbon dioxide values were lower than the upper acceptable limit values for horses (3000 ppm) and for humans (1000 ppm) [ 3 ]. Carbon dioxide levels were similar in both stable sections.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The pH value of wood shavings used here was not available, but according to a study the pH of wood shavings is higher (pH 5.5) than that of peat [ 28 ]. Peat tended to create a better stable environment than pelleted sawdust due to higher absorption of ammonia and lower levels volatile organic compounds [ 3 ], but no differences between the bedding materials were observed regarding the amount of dust. However, depending on its origin, peat has been shown to vary widely in dustiness and hygienic quality [ 17 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, moving the horses from pasture to indoor housing in the middle of September (two weeks before beginning of the study) appeared to expose the horses to respiratory disease because of the air quality of the stable. In a Swedish study the highest dust measurements were observed in winter when the stable doors were closed [ 3 ]. Slightly increased airborne bacteria levels were also observed in stables in September compared to other seasons in that study.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Anecdotal reports suggest that the condition is rare in climates where animals are outside all year around but is common in climates where horses are stabled indoors [ 2 ]. Clinical signs in horses with this chronic lung disease include poor athletic performance, chronic couching, purulent nasal discharge, and ultimately difficulties in breathing [ 2 , 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Causes of chronic airway disease both in horses and humans usually involve exposure to excessive concentrations of airborne dust, molds, viruses, bacteria, spores, aeroallergens, and endotoxins which mostly originate from bedding and feed [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Furthermore, the inhalation of gaseous irritants such as ammonia may initiate airway obstruction and exacerbate or prolong the clinical signs of COPD in affected horses [ 2 ] as well as humans [ 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reducing Respiratory Health Risks to Horses and Workers: A Comparison of Two Stall Bedding Materials

Saastamoinen¹,

Särkijärvi²,

Hyyppä³

2015

Animals

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Simple SummaryIn this study, the effect of wood shavings and peat was examined on stable air quality and health of horses and stable workers. The ammonia level in the boxes in which peat was used as bedding was non-existent or very low. The respiratory symptoms in horses increased regardless of the bedding material at the beginning of the study. The health status of the horses on peat bedding returned to the initial level in the end of the trial but horses in stalls bedded with wood shavings continued to be symptomatic. The hooves of the horses in stalls with peat bedding had a better moisture content. The results suggest that peat is a better bedding material for horses and people working or visiting horse stables than wood shavings.AbstractStable air quality and the choice of bedding material are an important health issue both in horses and people working or visiting horse stables. Risks of impaired respiratory health are those that can especially be avoided by improving air quality in the stable. The choice of bedding material is particularly important in cold climate conditions; where horses are kept most of the day and year indoors throughout their life. This study examined the effect of two bedding materials; wood shavings and peat; on stable air quality and health of horses. Ammonia and dust levels were also measured to assess conditions in the stable. Ammonia was not detected or was at very low levels (<0.25 ppm) in the boxes in which peat was used as bedding; but its concentration was clearly higher (1.5–7.0 ppm) in stalls with wood shavings as bedding. Personal measurements of workers revealed quite high ammonia exposure (5.9 ppm8h) in the boxes in which wood shavings were used; but no exposure was observed in stalls bedded with peat. The respiratory symptoms in horses increased regardless of the bedding material at the beginning of the study. The health status of the horses in the peat bedding group returned to the initial level in the end of the trial but horses bedded with wood shavings continued to be symptomatic. The hooves of the horses with peat bedding had a better moisture content than those of the horses bedded with wood shavings. The results suggest that peat is a better bedding material for horses than wood shavings regarding the health of both horses and stable workers.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Reducing Respiratory Health Risks to Horses and Workers: A Comparison of Two Stall Bedding Materials

Saastamoinen¹,

Särkijärvi²,

Hyyppä³

2015

Animals

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The Effects of Bedding Type in Stalls and Activity of Horses on Stall Air Quality

Nazarenko

Westendorf²,

Williams³

et al. 2018

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

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The impact of strategic ventilation adjustments on stress responses in horses housed full-time in a vector-protected barn during the African horse sickness outbreak in Thailand

et al. 2023

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The severe outbreak of African horse sickness (AHS) in Thailand has forced horses to reside full-time inside barns that are covered by a small mesh net to prevent minuscule AHS insect vectors from gaining access. However, housing in the net-covered barn induces stress in horses, which compromises their welfare. Implementing strategic airflow adjustment while retaining the vector-protection characteristics has been proposed to help alleviate this problem. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of strategic ventilation adjustment on blood cortisol levels, heart rate and behaviour in horses in a vector-protected barn. Nine horses underwent two sequential stabling conditions: vector-protected barn housing and housing in a barn in which the air ventilation was explicitly adjusted. Heart rate was higher in the afternoon in horses housed in the barn without ventilation adjustment, whereas no change was observed in the barn with ventilation adjustment. The vector-protected housing increased the horses’ behavioural scores. Blood cortisol level declined over time, and an earlier decrease was detected at 1400h in the barn with ventilation adjustment. Although airflow adjustment did not appear to statistically alter the stress response in horses during housing in the vector-protected barn, an earlier decline in cortisol level alongside an unchanged heart rate in horses during the day may indicate the positive impact of ventilation adjustment within the vector-protected barn. With limited options to reduce stress or discomfort in horses, this strategic protocol could, at least in part, be applied to managing horses’ welfare during the AHS outbreak.

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Air Quality in Horse Stables

Cited by 14 publications

References 52 publications

Reducing Respiratory Health Risks to Horses and Workers: A Comparison of Two Stall Bedding Materials

Reducing Respiratory Health Risks to Horses and Workers: A Comparison of Two Stall Bedding Materials

The Effects of Bedding Type in Stalls and Activity of Horses on Stall Air Quality

The impact of strategic ventilation adjustments on stress responses in horses housed full-time in a vector-protected barn during the African horse sickness outbreak in Thailand

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