Six days of data were collected for manure removed from stall. Mares and geldings produced different amounts of manure. Mares produced less manure with sawdust bedding than geldings and geldings produced less manure with pelleted bedding than mares. But both mares and geldings produced less manure with pelleted bedding than sawdust bedding.

Table 1 shows that mares produced an average of 55.4 pounds of manure per day when bedded on sawdust and 46.6 pounds of manure per day on pellets. Geldings produced 61 pounds and 40 pounds of manure respectively. On a volume basis mares produced 1.04 cu.ft. of manure per day on sawdust and 0.78 cu.ft of manure per day on pellets. Geldings produced 1.19 cu.ft and 0.65 cu.ft of manure respectively. Combined all horses produced an average of 58 pounds or 1.12 cu/ft of manure on sawdust, compared to 43 pounds and 0.72 cu.ft. of manure on pellets.

The weight of manure removed per day from pellet bedded stalls was 15 pounds less and 0.4 cubic feet less than the manure from sawdust bedded stalls. If this was extrapolated over a year it would result in 2.7 tons or 5.4 cu.yd. less manure that would need to be disposed of by the horse keeper.

Results: Changes in Nutrients

Results: Cost Comparison of Bedding Materials

Conclusion

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