How clean is your feed room?

I couldn’t resist taking a photo of our feed room, the floor is cleaner than my kitchen floor! (and my kitchen is pretty clean!)

Why is it important to keep a feed room, feed buckets and mixing utensils clean?

???????? Horses are very susceptible to mould and mould toxins (mycotoxins) which can make them ill

???????? Untidy feed rooms encourage rodents, birds and insects, which are unhygienic and can spread disease

???????? Some feed ingredients naturally contain mite eggs and if they are spilt or left after their use-by date, mite infestations can result. These are unhygienic and make feed unpalatable

???????? Cross contamination with prohibited substance for competing horses is more likely in a messy feed room that isn’t kept clean (e.g. medication such as ‘bute, herbs, human snacks like chocolate)

Clean feed room tips:

???? Regularly brush floors and dust surfaces

???? Thoroughly wash feed bowls and mixing utensils after every use

???? Use different feed bowls and utensils for competing horses

???? Keep all feeds stored in airtight rodent-proof bins or containers

???? Keep supplements in airtight containers and decant any that come in bags or sachets that aren’t airtight

???? Have a good system of stock control in place

???? Keep everything tidy and avoid clutter

???? Dispose of any old out-of-date supplements or feeds