I purchased some bags of corn cob pellet bedding from Tractor Supply after it caught my eye and a quick google search gave great reviews.
I LOVE this stuff! Where has it been all my life?!
Does anyone know if I can buy it in a larger quantity than the bags that are sold in Tractor Supply? The bags are $10 each, which is more expensive than the sawdust pellets. With winter coming, I go through a lot more bedding now and would rather load up for the winter if I can.
Just one Caveat:
I used corn cob bedding for about 6mos & loved it.
TSC here sells Best brand - which is what I used, although not purchased from TSC.
Then my TWH developed heave-like symptoms: labored breathing, lung sounds I could hear w/o a stethoscope.
This horse was not stall-kept, he had free access to pasture from his stall 24/7.
Treated him for months, soaking hay, tried OTC herbal remedies & finally dosing with Clenbuterol(Ventipulmin) for 3mos.
Then I read online that dairy cattle bedded on cobs sometimes developed respiratory issues from mold.
I switched back to shavings & within a month or so his symptoms disappeared.
To the point where my vet said his lungs sounded so clear he could hardly believe it had been as bad as it started.
YMMV
My former boarding barn used it and I loved it. I know they must have gotten a deal on it bulk or they wouldn’t have used it, so obviously it’s possible.
[QUOTE=2DogsFarm;8415011]
Just one Caveat:
I used corn cob bedding for about 6mos & loved it.
TSC here sells Best brand - which is what I used, although not purchased from TSC.
Then my TWH developed heave-like symptoms: labored breathing, lung sounds I could hear w/o a stethoscope.
This horse was not stall-kept, he had free access to pasture from his stall 24/7.
Treated him for months, soaking hay, tried OTC herbal remedies & finally dosing with Clenbuterol(Ventipulmin) for 3mos.
Then I read online that dairy cattle bedded on cobs sometimes developed respiratory issues from mold.
I switched back to shavings & within a month or so his symptoms disappeared.
To the point where my vet said his lungs sounded so clear he could hardly believe it had been as bad as it started.
YMMV[/QUOTE]
I’m using the Best Brand from TLC. The pellets can mold? That’s disturbing!
Dust was the reason for the switch. I hate shavings and I was worried about the dust from the pelleted bedding!
Some horses eat it because they are gluttons. Keep an eye out for that.
Some horses eat it because they are gluttons. Keep an eye out for that.
That was my very first thought. :yes:
[QUOTE=DancingArabian;8415785]
I’m using the Best Brand from TLC. The pellets can mold? That’s disturbing![/QUOTE]
The short answer is that sure, anything can mold, but corn can come with some pretty disturbing toxins already present in it. Those are the dangerous ones. I would not be in a big hurry to use it in my horse’s stall. I’ve seen what mycotoxins can do to a dairy herd and it’s not pleasant nor profitable.
Close friend tried it, but her horses did eat it, including the otherwise picky eater. She had to return the unused bedding and go back to pellets.
Sani-care bedding is not dusty and much more absorbent than corn cob, pellets or shavings. It’s also essentially hypoallergenic bc it’s only untreated beech, birch and maple(no leaves). Doesn’t have the aromatics or oils that pine, cedar, etc does which can cause allergies. My copd/allergy prone old girl lives in the stuff without any complaints .
Rice hulls are pretty nice if you can find them.
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