Made from the inner woody core of Australian-grown industrial hemp. Dust-free, allergen-free — and 3 to 5 times more absorbent than wood shavings.
SouthFibre's equine hemp bedding is made from the inner woody core — called hurd — of the industrial hemp stalk. The fibre is mechanically separated, dust screened, then packaged or baled.
Grown under licence by SouthFibre contracted farmers, and 100% Australian.
Available in 70 kg bales for bulk users and 15 kg and 20 kg packs for retail — sized to be easily transported, stacked and opened for use.
SouthFibre Hemp Bedding has significant performance advantages.
Hurd absorbs 3 to 5 times its weight in liquid — 5 to 10 times as absorbent as wood shavings. Stalls stay drier and fresher for longer. Less puddling. Less slop. Far less mucking out. Hemp hurd traps ammonia before it can gas out into the air, providing a cleaner, healthier, fresher stall. Softer underfoot and gentler on hooves — horses are observed to lie down on a hemp bed far more than on other beddings.
Testing has shown hemp bedding produces no measurable respiratory dust, reducing allergies for sensitive horses and barn staff. Very low dust levels and 100% mould, mite, chemical and allergen free - a game changer for equine health. Hemp is grown without insecticides or pesticides, being naturally immune to pests and disease.
Biodegradable and composts in weeks — does not end up in landfill. After composting, your dung pile becomes a valuable biological garden fertiliser. Hemp has a superior capacity to absorb CO₂ versus trees and commercial crops — a natural replacement for forestry-based products like sawdust and woodchips. Hemp will reduce your operation's carbon footprint.
Grows to full maturity in 100–120 days. Uses minimal water and remediates the soil by leaving up to 60% of its biomass in the field after harvest. Its deep root system reduces soil erosion and replenishes vital nutrients.
Exceptional absorbency. Low dust. Better respiratory health. Rapid composting. You'll save on labour, and use significantly less material than you currently do — while delivering a better outcome for your horses.
Traditional supply of hemp materials in Australia is heavily dependent on imports. SouthFibre combats this with sustainable Australian supply — through a wholly Australian grower network. We own our biomass stock, processing, distribution warehousing and factory (decorticator) — and we are 100% Australian owned.
For a full stall replacement (a standard 12 × 12 ft or 3.6 × 3.6 m stable) you'll use approximately 120–150 kg of our compressed equine hurd bedding — equivalent to 2× our 70 kg bulk bales, or 6–8× 20 kg packs. Spread it evenly over the floor — that's all you need to do.
To transition from another bedding, gradually muck out the old and replace with the new — pushing soiled product to the centre until it's all replaced. SF Equine bedding doesn't require the same level of mucking out: you simply remove the soiled material and top up with clean material. Daily for high-management horses, otherwise every 3–5 days.
Hemp horse bedding is extensively used in the US, Canada and UK. Based on countless user reports — including peer-reviewed observations — the more you learn about hemp bedding for your horses, the more likely you'll become a committed user and never look back.