Hemp Bedding vs. Wood Shavings: Which Is Better for Animal Bedding?
Walk into any stable across America and you will smell pine. Wood shavings have been the bedding industry standard for as long as most owners can remember. But what happens as we learn more about equine health science? People start to wonder: Could hemp bedding actually be better than wood shavings?
We have seen many facilities make the switch at Dakota Hemp, and once they do, they don’t look back. While wood shavings will always be a traditional choice for horse owners, hemp animal bedding is an effective high-performance option created to solve wood’s problems. Below we take a closer look at how hemp and wood compare, category by category.
Criteria 1: Absorbency of Materials (“The Sponge Test”)
What does bedding do? It absorbs moisture.
- Wood Shavings: Pine and cedar are very non-porous. They act as a barrier, but they don’t actually “soak up” much liquid at all. Urine pools beneath the stall mats which creates slippery spots and “ammonia pockets.”
- Hemp Bedding: Hemp hurd is the woody interior of the plant. It contains millions of tiny capillaries that allow it to absorb 4-5x its weight in liquid.
The Winner: Hemp! Hemp keeps the stall surface dryer, longer—which means happier hoof bulbs and less thrush for your horse.
Criteria 2: Dust Levels (The “Get Out of COPD Free” Card)
Did you know horses can have serious allergies and asthma? COPD, or “heaves,” is commonly caused by fine dust inhaled from your horse’s bedding.
- Wood Shavings: Even low dust wood shavings will have microscopic bits of dust that become airborne as your horse moves around the stall—or when you muck.
- Hemp Bedding: Part of our decortication process involves triple cleaning the material. Hemp is also a heavier, denser fiber that doesn’t kick up “dust clouds” when disturbed.
The Winner: Hemp beats wood every time when it comes to horses with respiratory sensitivities.
Criteria 3: Odor Control (Battle of the Bottles)
Trust us when we say this—ammonia is no joke. Ammonia = furiously itching eyes and lung tissue.
- Wood Shavings: Wood actually “covers up” smells with its own fresh forest scent. But once saturated, those pine trees start to smell REALLY like ammonia.
- Hemp Bedding: Hemp fiber and hurd trap ammonia molecules in the fiber. Think of it as “locking” the bad smell at the source. No more rushing out to buy odor neutralizers at midnight. Hemp barns stay smelling fresh for weeks, not days.
The Winner: Hemp. Many owners notice up to 80% less barn smell after switching.
Criteria 4: Labor and Maintenance (Look at those Hands!)
How much time do YOU want to spend pitchfork in-hand?
- Wood Shavings: Due to poor clumping ability, you usually have to remove all of the bedding including dry shavings you want to keep. More bedding equals more frequent stall “strips.”
- Hemp Bedding: Hemp forms a nice, wet “cake.” Wet hemp easily separates from the dry once formed. Since there is no stickiness like that found in the wood/manure relationship, overall mucking takes less time.
The Winner: Hemp. Easy.
Criteria 5: Cost To Own and Sustainability (“Will My Wallet Hate Me?”)
This is always the part where owners get sticker-shock… But do we hate our wallets just because of the upfront cost? Let’s do some math.
- Wood Shavings: Less expensive per bag. Takes 2–3 years to compost. Will actually remove nitrogen from your soil if spread on pastures.
- Hemp Bedding: More expensive per bale. But you use half as much material over time. Composts in 6-9 months and returns nutrients to soil. Check out our mission for more on our sustainable practices.
The Winner: Tie. Wood may cost less upfront, but hemp will save you money (and help the environment) over the span of one year.
THE OVERALL WINNER: Hemp Bedding!
Alright, enough categories. The verdict is in. Hemp bedding beats wood shavings when it comes to your horses’ health and stable management. If you have a horse that suffers from allergies or hoof problems, hemp is definitely worth the investment. Even if you have healthy horses, you will still save money because you won’t spend quite as much time cleaning stalls.
FAQs
Q: Is hemp bedding more costly than pine shavings?
A: Sort of. Hemp bedding does cost more per bale than wood shavings. However, you use significantly less hemp over time (about 50% less) because Dakota Hemp bedding is more absorbent. Most people switch to hemp and find their yearly expenditures are almost the same.
Q: Can I just switch my horses to hemp?
A: Absolutely! Many horse owners choose to strip the stall and start with fresh hemp animal bedding. However, you can also mix hemp into your existing wood shavings to help transition your horse over time.
Q: Won’t hemp bedding attract flies?
A: No! Flies are attracted to the fermentation process of ammonia-rich, wet bedding. Hemp actually prevents flies by staying drier longer and locking in odors.
Q: Is hemp bedding safe for my dog to be in the stall with?
A: Yes! Hemp is completely non-toxic and safe for all farm animals AND pets. Many of our customers use hemp bedding in their dog kennels.