Horse owners' selection and preparation of their animals' feed has a greater influence on concentrations of dust and endotoxin in the stable than the type of bedding used, researchers recently reported.

"Dust and its constituents are important factors in the development of lung disease of horses that can reduce their well-being and athletic performance," said study coauthor Kris Hughes, BVSc, MRCVS, FACVSc, Dipl. ECEIM, of The University of Glasgow in Scotland.

Hughes and his colleagues studied how bedding and feed influenced the amount of dust and endotoxin in horse stables. They looked at different bedding/feeding combinations in an experimental setting, as well as in horse stables throughout central Scotland.

The researchers found that the choice and preparation of feed had a greater influence on results than bedding type