The health of the horses’ respiratory tract is a performance variable that is often overlooked in today’s intensive stabling and travelling practices. Healthy respiratory function is essential for athletic performance and endurance, and respiratory disease is currently one of the major causes of lost training days and horse wastage, both in Australia and internationally.
One of the greatest causes of respiratory disease is Ammonia, the potent respiratory tract irritant that is found at high levels in stables, horse floats and trucks. Ammonia is a small molecule with a characteristic strong and unpleasant odour, formed by urea, a nitrogen rich molecule found in urine and faeces. While urea in its pure form is odourless and non-toxic, once it has been excreted it rapidly changes into the highly potent ammonia that is extremely irritating to the mucous membranes that line the mouth, eyes and respiratory tract of the horse.
Continued exposure to high environmental ammonia levels may lead to Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD), a respiratory infection which narrows the airways and causes mucous to accumulate, significantly reducing the respiratory function and therefore the athletic ability of the horse. IAD is characterised by coughing during exercise and decreased endurance during training and competition.
While there are a number of antibiotic based treatments available for IAD, recent studies have recommended that antibiotics are over prescribed when treating coughing horses in Australia, suggesting that, when treating respiratory infections, improved stable environment management practices may reduce the need for high-cost medications.
Prevention is better than cure - reducing the level of moisture and ammonia in barns is a big step towards reducing the risk of respiratory disease!
ePro® Stable Xtra is a natural and safe alternative to traditional ammonia absorbing substances such as lime. Made from extra fine Crystalline Alumino-Silicate, an ancient mineral that is highly efficient at trapping moisture and ammonia within tiny micro-channels, ePro® Stable Xtra can absorb up to 50 times its own mass in toxic gasses and moisture.
Designed to be used with existing bedding, ePro® Stable Xtra is an innovative stable management solution with a great range of applications.
Facts about ePro® Stable Xtra:
- 100% safe – ePro® Stable Xtra is non-toxic and does not irritate the skin, mucous membranes or respiratory system.
- Does not dry or crack hooves.
- Reduces stable cleaning time and volume of bedding used.
- Cost effective – save $ on bedding and vet bills!
- Can be used to safely absorb ammonia and excess moisture in chicken pens, cat litter trays, dog kennels and high traffic areas.
- Excellent fertiliser – place used ePro® Stable Xtra on garden beds as a slow release fertiliser.
How can ePro® Stable Xtra help your horse?
Stables & Barns
Horses that are continuously stabled are at much greater risk of IAD than non-stabled horses. Studies have shown that ammonia levels in barns can be in excess of 200 parts per million (ppm), given that safe levels of exposure to ammonia gasses for humans have been set at 35ppm for a maximum of 15 mins, it is clear that the respiratory systems of stabled horses are exposed to excessive and unhealthy levels of toxic ammonia gasses.
Measurements of ammonia gas within different areas of the barn have shown ammonia levels are highest near barn and stable floors, which is where all the manure and urine accumulates. Even if solid material is removed, the liquid remaining is rich in urea ready to be converted to ammonia gas and contaminate the barn.
To reduce the risk of respiratory infection in stabled horses:
- Use 200 g - 1kg/m2 of ePro® Stable Xtra under the bedding to absorb ammonia and moisture from urine and faeces.
- Use 200 - 1kg/m2 of ePro® Stable Xtra in high traffic areas, tie-up stalls and walkways.
- Provide proper stable ventilation - open windows and doors, use fans or install rotary ventilators.
- Do not allow horses to eat directly from the floor, always use hay bags and feed bins to provide feed.
- Clean stables regularly and keep surrounding facilities clean and dry.
- Allow horses as much time out of the stable as possible. Injured horses especially are often stabled 24/7, check with your vet how much movement the horse is allowed and ensure that he is given as much fresh air as possible.
Float, Truck and Air Transport
Medium to long distance transport of horses, can result in acute respiratory tract disease (ARTD) and travel sickness, in fact, during the 2000 Sydney Olympics one of the greatest issues relating to long distance transportation of horses was respiratory tract dysfunction.
While ATRD or travel sickness is rarely fatal, suffering from either may rule horses out of competition for several weeks and may have significant consequences for future athletic performance, even after recovery. Excluding individual horses response to travel, the greatest factor contributing to the onset of ATRD or travel sickness is the environmental conditions inside the truck or trailer, which can significantly decline during travel depending on the number of animals, type and quality of bedding and forage, amount of urine produced, air filtration rate and humidity of the air inside the transport unit.
To reduce the risk of travel sickness and respiratory infection during transport:
- Use 1kg/m2 of ePro® Stable Xtra directly on the floor under the bedding to absorb ammonia and moisture from urine and faeces.
- Improve ventilation and airflow during transport by opening windows and top panels in floats and trucks and installing rotary ventilators.
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