First Author | Potgieter FJ | Year | 1996 |
Journal | Lab Anim | Volume | 30 |
Issue | 1 | Pages | 79-87 |
PubMed ID | 8709579 | Mgi Jnum | J:30095 |
Mgi Id | MGI:78793 | Doi | 10.1258/002367796780744893 |
Citation | Potgieter FJ, et al. (1996) The dust content, dust generation, ammonia production, and absorption properties of three different rodent bedding types. Lab Anim 30(1):79-87 |
abstractText | Vermiculite, pine shavings and unbleached eucalyptus pulp contact bedding were compared for dust content, dust production (as a result of animal activity), moisture absorption properties and ammonia production. The percentage of dust particles <300 microm found in pine shavings and vermiculite was 18 and 8 times greater respectively than was found in eucalyptus pulp. The lowest ammonia levels (<1-1 ppm), measured on day 7, were obtained using eucalyptus pulp. Although the ammonia levels obtained for vermiculite compared very well with those of pulp, high levels of dust, up to 5 times more than pulp, were experienced with vermiculite. Pine shavings were associated with the highest ammonia concentration (1-3 ppm), but produced approximately 50% less dust than vermiculite. The water absorption properties obtained for pulp were between 35% and 76% higher than those obtained for vermiculite and pine shavings respectively. |