Straw from Spain: quality and bedding for horse stables

Note: This English content is pending editorial review.

In horse stables, bedding straw is no side issue: dusty or damp straw affects the airways and increases the workload. Good straw is an investment in animal health and handling.

The three decisive properties

For bedding, it is not the feed value that counts — that is low — but the physical quality:

• Dust-free: dust is one of the main triggers of respiratory problems in stabled horses. Clean, well-conserved straw is the first line of protection.
• Dry: damp straw clumps, encourages mould and odours, and has to be changed more often.
• Clean: free of soil, weeds and contaminants.

Absorbency

A good straw bed binds moisture and keeps the lying area dry. Long-stemmed, well-dried straw mucks out more cleanly and lasts longer — which lowers consumption over time.

Which straw type?

The common cereal straws are all suitable, with nuances:

• Wheat straw: the classic for bedding — a sturdy stem and good bed formation.
• Barley straw: softer, but some horses eat it.
• Oat straw: also suitable, but similarly palatable.

If a horse eats a lot of its bedding, it is worth looking at its fibre supply: it may need more forage such as oat hay.

The right format

For daily stable care, the small bale (25 kg) is the handiest. With many stalls and storage available, the fardo or large bales reduce the number of handling steps and the price per tonne. Compare volumes and prices in the volume calculator.

In brief

• For bedding, what counts is dust-free, dry and clean.
• Choose the straw type by stem sturdiness and eating behaviour.
• Match the format to the number of stalls and your storage.

Tell us how many stalls you run and how often you bed down — we’ll size your straw requirement. More on export and terms on the export page.