Mass generation rates of ammonia, moisture, and heat production were measured for mice that were housed in standard shoebox cages at a density of five mice per cage and maintained in either a 35% or 75% room relative humidity. Two mouse strains kept on two different types of bedding materials were compared when bedding material had been in the cages for two, six, and ten days. Gas exchanges dir...

Black rhino numbers have decreased greatly since the early 1970s, primarily as a result of poaching. A recent strategy to protect rhinos in Kenya has been to establish fenced sanctuaries. This has increased the rhino population and that of other species, but problems have emerged because of limited dispersal and rising animal densities. Unfortunately, how rhino utilize habitat, especially areas...

Vermiculite, pine shavings and unbleached eucalyptus pulp contact-bedding were compared using the number of litters and individuals born and weaned, mortality rates at different stages of the lactation period, and the weight increase of pups as evaluation indices for bedding quality. These bedding materials exerted different effects on the reproductive performance of the same mouse strain. The ...

Many concentrated poultry-producing areas of the USA including the Delmarva Peninsula have shortages of quality pine-base bedding materials. Yet, there are often ample supplies of cost-effective hardwood sawdust (HW) that could supplement this deficit. However, the poultry industry has been reluctant to use HW due to periodic mold-induced respiratory health concerns. A demonstration was impleme...

The effect of bedding levels and trailer compartment on internal trailer temperature and relative humidity (RH) during loading and transport of finishing pigs was evaluated in cold and mild weather. Three levels of bedding were used in each experiment: 0.6 m³, 1.2 m³, and 2.4 m³. In mild weather, internal temperatures were lower when 1.2 m³ or 2.4 m³ of bedding were used during loading and tran...

BACKGROUND The house dust mite is the most important environmental allergen implicated in the aetiology of childhood asthma in the UK. Dust mite barrier bedding is relatively inexpensive, convenient to use, and of proven effectiveness in reducing mattress house dust mite load, but no studies have evaluated its clinical effectiveness in the control of childhood asthma when dispensed in primary c...

Negative impacts on the environment, bird well-being, and farm worker health indicate the need for abatement strategies for poultry litter NH(3) generation. Type of bedding affects many parameters related to poultry production including NH(3) losses. In a randomized complete block design, 3 trials compared the cumulative NH(3) volatilization for laboratory-prepared litter (4 bedding types mixed...

Moisture absorbency is one of the most important characteristics of rodent beddings for controlling bacterial growth and ammonia production. However, bedding manufacturers rarely provide information on the absorbencies of available materials, and even when they do, absorption values are usually expressed per unit mass of bedding. Since beddings are usually placed into cages to reach a required ...

Soluble salts, nutrients, and pathogenic bacteria in feedlot-pen runoff have the potential to cause pollution of the environment. A 2-yr study (1998-1999) was conducted at a beef cattle (Bos taurus) feedlot in southern Alberta, Canada, to determine the effect of bedding material [barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw versus wood chips] and within-pen location on the chemical and bacterial propertie...