Feed Storage and Stable Hygiene

Feed storage and stable hygiene are often treated as separate housekeeping tasks. In practice they are parts of one control system. Feed, bedding, manure, dust, water, rodents, insects, footwear, equipment and air movement interact continuously within a yard. A poorly designed feed room can contaminate forage and concentrate feeds; a damp or dusty stable can undermine respiratory health; and an apparently clean building can still spread infection if tools, wheelbarrows, buckets or high-touch surfaces are shared without a workable cleaning and isolation plan.

For a horse owner, the objective is not sterile accommodation. Horses live in environments containing soil organisms, environmental fungi and normal stable microflora. The objective is to prevent avoidable contamination, keep feed and bedding fit for purpose, maintain a dry and comfortable resting area, limit airborne dust and ammonia, and make cleaning sufficiently consistent that problems are identified early.

In Great Britain, the legal position depends on the nature of the establishment and the horses’ purpose. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 places a duty on the person responsible for a horse to meet its welfare needs. The Defra welfare code is guidance rather than a standalone offence, but a court may consider compliance with it when assessing an alleged welfare offence. Commercial yards, feed businesses and premises undertaking particular feed activities may have additional registration, hygiene, traceability and record-keeping duties.

What good hygiene is designed to control

A useful hygiene plan identifies hazards before choosing products or routines. The principal hazards in an equestrian yard are:

• Moisture: condensation, leaking roofs, wet floors, damp hay, sweating feed bags and urine-soaked bedding support mould, bacterial multiplication and deterioration.
• Physical contamination: stones, splinters, wire, plastic, torn packaging, faeces, bedding and fragments from damaged buildings or equipment.
• Biological contamination: bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses transferred by manure, saliva, nasal discharge, rodents, birds, insects, people and shared equipment.
• Airborne contaminants: dust from forage, bedding and feed; mould spores; and gases generated by decomposing urine and manure, particularly ammonia.
• Cross-contamination: residues from one feed, supplement, medication or animal moving into another feed or feeding utensil.
• Pests: rodents and birds consume feed, foul surfaces and may damage packaging or introduce contamination.
• Fire and occupational hazards: combustible bedding and forage, dust explosions in unusual but serious circumstances, slips, manual handling injuries, chemical exposure and falls while cleaning elevated structures.

Cleaning is therefore only one control. Building design, product selection, stock rotation, ventilation, drainage, pest exclusion and staff behaviour are equally important.

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Feed-store design and location

Keep the feed environment dry and physically separated

Feed should be stored in a dedicated, weatherproof area that is clean, dry, orderly and protected from avoidable contamination. The store should not be positioned where roof runoff, wash-down water, leaking drinkers or vehicle spray can reach bags or bins. Floors should be sound, reasonably level and easy to sweep or vacuum. Cracks, open joints and damaged wall finishes create harborage for pests and make thorough cleaning difficult.

Feed rooms should be separate from mucking-out areas, manure storage, chemical stores, fuel, machinery maintenance and animal isolation areas. The separation need not always mean a completely separate building, but there should be a clear physical and procedural boundary. Feed should never be stored directly beside disinfectants, fly sprays, detergents, medicines, lubricants or pesticides. Even closed containers can be contaminated externally, and spills are much more difficult to manage when incompatible materials share shelving.

Good storage allows stock to be inspected from all sides. Bags should be raised from the floor on sound pallets or shelving, with enough clearance to identify leaks, sweep underneath and inspect for rodent activity. They should not be pushed tightly against damp walls. Leave access for cleaning and inspection rather than maximising nominal capacity.

Containers and materials

Container choice should reflect the feed and the working environment. Rigid, lidded bins made from food-contact-suitable plastic or suitable corrosion-resistant metal are commonly used for straights, compound feeds and supplements. They should be robust enough not to crack, have lids that close securely and be shaped so that old material cannot remain trapped in corners or under false bases.

Flexible sacks can be appropriate for short-term storage if kept dry, raised off the floor and protected from rodents. They are less suitable where stock is opened repeatedly, because damaged bags are difficult to reseal and their folds can retain residues. Reusing bags or containers for a different feed is poor practice unless they have been emptied and cleaned appropriately. A container used for a medicated or highly concentrated product should not be casually reassigned to ordinary feed.

Timber shelving and pallets should be clean, dry and in good repair. Splintered timber, protruding nails and absorbent surfaces are difficult to hygienically maintain. Where feed is stored in bulk, bins, hoppers and silos should be accessible for inspection and cleaning. Particular attention is required at joints, seams, discharge points and areas where fines accumulate.

Receiving, identifying and rotating feed

Hygiene starts when feed arrives. Inspect each delivery for torn packaging, water damage, pest damage, unusual odour, visible mould, caking, fermentation or contamination. Do not assume that an undamaged outer bag guarantees a sound product if the contents are damp or otherwise abnormal. Quarantine questionable stock away from usable feed and seek advice from the supplier or a suitably qualified professional; do not try to rescue suspect feed by blending it with fresh material.

Record the product name, batch or lot information where available, delivery date and quantity. This is particularly valuable for yards holding several horses with different diets and for businesses that need to trace feed if a supplier issues a withdrawal or safety notice. Keep original labels and feeding instructions. Decanting feed into an unlabelled bin removes important information about composition, batch identity, storage conditions and use-by dates.

Use a first-in, first-out system, while respecting the manufacturer’s stated shelf life. A newly delivered bag should not simply be placed in front of an older one. Mark bins with the product identity and, where practical, the opening date. Do not top up an old container with new feed. Empty and clean it first, because the older residue may be damp, oxidised, contaminated or harbour insects.

Large quantities are not automatically economical. Long storage increases exposure to seasonal humidity, temperature fluctuation, pests and loss of freshness. Purchase quantities should reflect consumption, storage capacity and the product’s stability. High-fat feeds and supplements may be especially sensitive to oxidation, although the precise shelf life depends on formulation, packaging and storage conditions.

Moisture, mould and mycotoxin risk

Moisture is one of the most important storage controls. Feed that becomes damp can support bacterial and fungal growth, lose physical quality and develop caking or heating. Hay and straw require separate assessment because they may be stored as bales, but the same principles apply: protect from rain, ground moisture and condensation, maintain air circulation where appropriate, and reject material that is visibly mouldy, heated, badly musty or contaminated.

Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by some fungi. They may enter feed through raw materials or develop when storage conditions permit fungal growth. The presence of mould is not a reliable measure of toxin risk: visibly mouldy material is clearly unacceptable, but toxin concentration cannot be inferred confidently from appearance alone. Conversely, not every mouldy-looking patch indicates the same hazard. Prevention through sourcing, moisture control, stock rotation and supplier assurance is more dependable than attempting to judge safety by smell.

Do not wet down dusty feed as a substitute for correcting poor storage, and do not use household fragrance or deodorising products to mask musty odours. If a feed has deteriorated, isolate it, prevent animal access and obtain advice from the feed supplier. Disposal should comply with the applicable waste arrangements and should prevent access by horses, livestock and wildlife.

Cleaning feed stores and feeding equipment

Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency recommend emptying and cleaning feed-storage facilities before new consignments where possible, or at least before a refill at an appropriate interval. The GOV.UK guidance prioritises dry or vacuum cleaning to remove old residues, because unnecessary water can introduce moisture and wet sweeping can spread contamination. Where wet cleaning or disinfection is needed, equipment must be dried thoroughly before dry feed is returned.

A practical sequence is:

1. Remove horses and protect all feed, supplements and clean equipment from the cleaning operation.
2. Empty the container or room completely, including corners, ledges, hopper outlets and under pallets.
3. Use a suitable vacuum or controlled dry method to remove residues and dust. Avoid creating a cloud of airborne dust.
4. Inspect for cracks, leaks, rodent damage, insects, condensation and trapped material.
5. Wash only where necessary, using a product suitable for surfaces that contact feed and following the product label.
6. Rinse where required by the product instructions and allow every surface to dry completely.
7. Return only sound, correctly identified feed and record the cleaning activity where a formal system is used.

Feed scoops, weighing buckets, bowls and hoppers need their own cleaning schedule. Remove caked residues rather than repeatedly scraping them into the next ration. Do not use the same brush for feed dust and manure. Where a yard uses medicated feeds, supplements or several highly concentrated products, dedicate utensils or clean them between uses to prevent carry-over.

Disinfection is not a replacement for cleaning. Organic material can shield microorganisms and reduce the effectiveness of a disinfectant. Select a product for the intended organisms and surface, follow the stated dilution and contact time, and never mix chemicals unless the label expressly permits it. Keep horses away until treated surfaces are safe and dry.

Stable construction and ventilation

The GB welfare code states that equine accommodation should provide adequate ventilation, minimise dust and allow good air movement without unnecessary draughts. The code also describes a clear space above the horse’s ears at the eaves and recommends that a window or top door is normally open, subject to safe operation and weather conditions. These are design and management principles rather than a guarantee that every building with an open door has good air quality.

Ventilation needs both an inlet and an outlet. A stable with one permanently open doorway but no effective high-level outlet may have poor air exchange. Conversely, a large opening can create an uncomfortable jet of cold air at horse height. Roof form, ridge ventilation, wall openings, stable orientation, stocking density, internal partitions and the position of neighbouring buildings all influence performance.

High humidity and condensation are warning signs. They indicate that moisture is accumulating faster than the building removes it and can contribute to damp bedding, mould growth and deterioration of timber or stored materials. If windows, roof sheets or metal fittings regularly drip, investigate the building and management system rather than simply increasing deodoriser use.

Air quality is affected by activity. Mucking out, sweeping, shaking bedding, throwing hay from height and emptying feed bags can produce short-term dust peaks even when background ventilation is reasonable. Horses should be moved away from dusty operations where possible, and cleaning should be planned so that dust has settled before the horse returns.

Bedding selection and management

The appropriate bedding is not determined by price per bale alone. It should be non-toxic, free from excessive dust and mould, comfortable, sufficiently deep for the horse to lie down, and either absorbent or capable of draining urine effectively. It must also be compatible with the floor, manure-management system, available labour, fire precautions and the horse’s behaviour.

The Defra code specifically notes that rubber matting should still be accompanied by a small amount of disposable bedding to absorb urine. Any system that leaves a wet, slippery or odorous surface fails its practical purpose, regardless of its theoretical labour or cost saving.

There is no universal answer to whether daily mucking out or a deep-litter system is superior. The decision depends on bedding type, box design, horse behaviour, time spent indoors, drainage, ventilation and the skill of the person managing the bed. What matters is the outcome: faeces are removed, wet areas are controlled, the horse has a dry comfortable lying area, and airborne dust and ammonia are not allowed to build up.

Ammonia, dust and stable air

Ammonia is produced when urinary nitrogen is broken down, particularly in wet bedding and poorly ventilated areas. A strong ammonia smell is not a desirable characteristic of a well-managed stable. It indicates that the management system should be reviewed, although smell alone is not a precise measurement of exposure.

Research has demonstrated that bedding material and mucking regimen can affect airborne particulate matter and ammonia concentrations. However, results from a particular stable should not be treated as a universal ranking of bedding types. Stable volume, temperature, humidity, ventilation, stocking density, urine distribution and cleaning method all influence the result. A low-dust product can perform poorly if it is tipped aggressively or stored damp; a potentially dusty material may be manageable only with careful sourcing and handling.

Dust controls include purchasing consistent low-dust bedding, storing it under cover, avoiding unnecessary shaking, using appropriate ventilation, wetting or conditioning material only where the product instructions and welfare context support it, and keeping horses away during dusty tasks. Sweeping dry floors with a stiff broom can redistribute dust; vacuuming or controlled damp cleaning is often preferable where the surface and equipment allow it.

Stable hygiene should not be reduced to the smell test. Some contaminants are odourless, while a familiar smell may be tolerated by people before it becomes acceptable for horses. Observe visible dust, condensation, coughing or irritation patterns, bedding moisture, ventilation performance and cleanliness of feed and water equipment. If a horse develops respiratory or other health signs, seek veterinary advice rather than attempting to solve the problem solely with disinfectants or supplements.

Routine cleaning and disinfection

Routine cleaning removes manure, wet bedding, spilled feed, cobwebs, dust and contaminated material. Periodic deep cleaning addresses walls, partitions, doors, drains, mangers, drinkers, grills and surfaces that routine mucking does not reach. The frequency should reflect occupancy, disease risk, construction and use. A vacant stable can be cleaned and dried between horses, but a stable occupied continuously needs frequent spot cleaning and a planned full clean when circumstances allow.

Use a clean-to-dirty workflow. Clean equipment should be stored away from manure tools. If a horse is suspected of carrying a contagious infection, use dedicated equipment where possible, attend to healthy horses first and the affected horse last, and follow veterinary or yard biosecurity advice. BEVA’s infection-control toolkit provides veterinary-oriented resources on stable disinfection and reducing spread across equine settings.

Water troughs, buckets and automatic drinkers need regular inspection and cleaning. Slime, feed contamination, algae, manure and stagnant water are indicators that the schedule is inadequate. Automatic systems should be checked for leaks and blocked valves; a leak can create a permanently damp area that undermines the entire bedding plan.

Manure, waste and pest control

Manure and used bedding should be removed promptly from the stable area and managed so that it does not contaminate feed, water, clean equipment or traffic routes. Keep waste receptacles suitable, stable and covered where practical. Designated mucking-out routes reduce the movement of contaminated material through feed stores and communal areas.

Waste regulation depends on what is stored, treated, transported or spread and where the premises are located. Horse manure is not automatically available for unrestricted disposal or spreading. Environmental rules may apply near watercourses, and treating waste bedding to make fuel briquettes or pellets can require an environmental permit. Commercial operators should obtain site-specific advice from the relevant environmental regulator.

Pest control is primarily a design and housekeeping issue. Remove spilled feed immediately, keep doors closed where practical, repair holes, use rodent-resistant containers and avoid leaving feed in open buckets overnight. Rodent bait must never be positioned where horses, dogs, wildlife or feed can contact it. Bird access is reduced by keeping feed rooms enclosed and not leaving exposed feed residues.

Management systems for yards and businesses

A professional yard should convert good intentions into written procedures. The system need not be bureaucratic, but it should identify:

• who receives and checks feed deliveries;
• where each feed, supplement and bedding type is stored;
• how stock identity and opening dates are maintained;
• which utensils are dedicated to particular products;
• the frequency and method of cleaning bins, troughs, drinkers and stores;
• how suspect or recalled feed is isolated;
• how a sick or newly arrived horse is managed;
• where manure and used bedding are taken;
• how pest activity, leaks, condensation and structural defects are reported;
• how staff are trained in chemical handling, dust reduction and safe cleaning.

Records are useful because they expose drift. Defra guidance for animal feed storage recommends recording the date and time, location, areas or equipment cleaned and cleaning products used, with records retained for at least seven years in the context covered by that guidance. A private non-feed-business yard may not have the same legal record requirement, but a simplified log can still be valuable for proving that tasks are performed and for identifying repeated failures.

Common misconceptions

“If it smells fresh, it is safe.”

Smell is only one observation. Feed can be contaminated without a dramatic odour, and bedding can smell acceptable while remaining wet or dusty. Use inspection, moisture control, stock rotation and supplier information rather than relying on scent.

“Disinfectant makes a dirty surface safe.”

Disinfectant works within the limits of its label and contact time. Organic debris can protect microorganisms and reduce effectiveness. Cleaning comes first.

“Rubber mats eliminate the need for bedding.”

They may reduce bedding consumption but do not absorb urine, provide the same comfort as a properly managed bed, or remove the need to clean beneath and around them.

“A closed stable is healthier because it is warmer.”

Warmth is not the only environmental variable. Closing doors and vents can increase humidity, dust and ammonia. The welfare code emphasises adequate ventilation and minimising dust while avoiding unnecessary draughts.

“More feed stored on site is always better value.”

Bulk purchasing can reduce unit cost but increases storage duration and the consequences of moisture, pests, stock rotation errors and product ageing. Buy according to consumption and reliable storage capacity.

Practical inspection checklist

• Are all feed containers closed, labelled and raised from the floor?
• Are old residues removed before a container is refilled?
• Are bags protected from roof leaks, condensation and damp walls?
• Are feed, bedding, manure, chemicals and medicines physically separated?
• Are there signs of rodents, birds, insects or damaged packaging?
• Can the feed room be cleaned without creating excessive dust?
• Are scoops, buckets and feed bowls clean and allocated appropriately?
• Is the stable bed dry, comfortable, sufficiently deep and free from mould?
• Is faeces removed daily and are wet areas controlled?
• Is there visible condensation, persistent ammonia odour or poor air movement?
• Are drinkers functioning, clean and free from leaks?
• Are manure and used bedding moved away from feed and clean traffic routes?
• Are cleaning products labelled, correctly diluted and stored safely?
• Are there written arrangements for sick horses, new arrivals and suspect feed?

Sources and further reading

• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency: Reduce disease risk from animal feed storage units
• GOV.UK: Code of practice for the control of Salmonella in animal feed in Great Britain
• GOV.UK: Animal feed legislation
• Defra: Code of practice for the welfare of horses, ponies, donkeys and their hybrids
• GOV.UK: Hiring out horses licensing statutory guidance for local authorities
• British Equine Veterinary Association: Infection control toolkit
• Janssen et al., Journal of Animal Science: Gas and particle concentrations in horse stables with individual boxes as a function of bedding material and mucking regimen
• Clements and Pirie, BMC Veterinary Research: Reducing respiratory health risks to horses and workers: a comparison of two stall bedding materials
• GOV.UK: Keeping horses—dealing with waste

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