What are the main end-uses for wood shavings and the softwood industry's by-products?

The main by-product of the softwood lumber industries finishing of wood is "sawdust" mixed with 'shavings'. This sawdust and shavings mix is bagged and used mainly by the ruminant and porcine markets. However, the finer, fluffier, and coarser shavings pieces need to be separated. They can be used by numerous sectors of animal husbandry, such as,

• Small animal pet market (gerbils, hamsters, rodents, amphibians, reptiles and spiders)
• Equine market
• Chinchilla markets
• Food fowl market (poultry)

Should equine shavings be kiln-dried?

It is a matter of choice. Clearly, one of the advantages of kiln-drying shavings is that the resulting chips are not only very dry, and therefore highly absorbent, but they also eliminate all fungus and bacteria from the product which prevent allergies.  However, kiln-drying lumber takes more time and is little more expansive. 

Are blown-in or dumped shavings a quality product like bagged shavings?

We believe that the very process of using a bagging line goes a great distance in removing extraneous and harmful dust particles. If you choose to use un-bagged shavings, you must be prepared to accept high level of dust, lost of time and material by removal the load with a tractor and lost of time to borrow it to the stalls. Further more, it will become frozen during the winter season.

Which is better: paper or plastic bags

Plastic holds any residual moisture contained in the shavings that have been bagged. In certain climates trapped moisture attracts ants, which can be major irritants to horses. The advantage of plastic is that the bag is weatherproof, water-resistant, and cannot be affected by rain or snow. However, paper bags are better for aerating and drying the chips once bagged. Residual bagged moisture can continually escape the bag, keeping the contents dry but will produce dust.
It is always our recommendation that you use Plastic Bags when the shavings is kiln-dried.

Why is absorbency an important issue?

In any equine, swine or poultry facilities, it is important to accomplish several goals at once, when using shavings as a bedding product:

1. One needs to control vectors of disease and discomfort for horses and humans. We are referring to both rats and flies. Flies are attracted to urinary ammonia, which can be eliminated by using pine or cedar shavings. This is even more critical if the stall base is concrete or asphalt. The formation of a "cake" when mucking out is dictated partially by the absorbency and ready compact ability of the shavings.
2. According to IARC, wood dust is a carcinogen, for both humans and horses. The IARC has classified wood dust as a nasal carcinogen for humans. Wood dust may cause lung, upper respiratory tract, eye and skin irritations. Some wood species may cause dermatitis and or allergic respiratory effects also.

Clearly, dust elimination and extraction is the direction to take for all bagged materials.

How do I get absorbency from shavings?

Shavings dryness is one critical factor for absorbency; therefore, a kiln-dried (high heat dried) product is better. Secondly, thickness helps, such that a thicker chip is capable of absorbing more urine and faster. Thirdly, some crunch or chunks form a base onto which the horse urinates and which allows the formation of a cake.

Why are some shavings bags heavier than others?

It is purely a matter of amounts of sawdust plus small pieces, as well as large pieces as well the thickness, the size and the dryness of the actual shavings pieces. One bag may contain more dust. It will be heavier than one which has no dust. One bag may be fluffier and have thinner pieces. It will be lighter than the one that has smaller and thicker pieces. Also, the humidity content in the shavings is very critical, more humidity contained in the product, more the bag will be heavier.

Why are there different sized saw dust bags?

The standard bagging machines are designed to bag one size. They bring about a compression ratio of somewhere between 2:1 to 3:1, depending on the condition and age of the machine. This means, for example, that a bag with 3.25 cubic feet compressed started with between 4.5 and 7.5 cubic feet uncompressed. Similarly, a 2.8 cubic foot bag starts with between 3.0 and 5.0 cubic feet, and so on. New technologies afford to compress the shavings (flakes) from 4.5 to 1 (12 cubic feet to 2.26 cubic feet)

How do residual moisture levels in the bag affect dust levels?

It is important to note that dust, even if dust was screened at the time of bagging, is constantly produced while the bag is in storage and in transit due to the forces of friction and abrasion. So, even the best produced bag can continue to 'self-produce' dust. If, however, the contents are kiln-dried then dust levels are held to a minimum.
If green shavings (uncured) are bagged, then, dust is automatically held in check due to the elevated moisture content. However, the residual chemicals contained in the green shavings will cause skin reactions in horses.

What's the difference between volume and weight?

Do not be confused between the two measures- weight is the force exerted by an object pulled by gravity while volume is a space measurement. In this sense, more volume of shavings seems to weigh more than the actual weight. One can never guess the actual weight of a bag by looking at the volume.  Fluffy shavings with no sawdust will be extremely light compared to a bag of pure sawdust. It has to do with the density of the contents. However, weight is also affected by moisture.
So, one can have a 12 cubic feet (compressed to 2.26 CF) bag of pure, dry, dustless shavings equal or lighter to the weight of a 4.25 cubic foot (compressed to 2.8 CF) bag of pure, not kiln dried, sawdust. Particle size and moisture - they are the great tricksters in the shavings business. Don't be fooled. Ask for the best: extremely dry, dustless, fluffy shavings packed in a sealed plastic bag!

Which shavings manufacturing procedures affect the final price of the bag?

There are several factors which affect price:

• Green versus kiln-dried wood - kiln-drying costs the other does not.
• Air-dry versus kiln-drying - kiln-drying costs while air-drying does not.
• Size of bag - the larger the bag, the more it costs to produce and ship.
• Plastic versus paper - plastic is better for storage but costs more.
• Dust extraction - the dust is always present. It has to be removed and costs.
• Pine versus spruce - pine is more cost effective than spruce.
• Palletizing versus loose-loaded - pallets and shrink-wrapping add costs
• Distance to deliver - more distance equals more time, fuel and labor.

What should I always ask to get in a quality shaving?

• Equine, poultry-quality shavings only:
• Kiln-dried pure pine
• dust-extracted,
• dry below 10% moisture,
• plastic bag,
• light, coarse and fluffy pieces,