Straw, wood shavings and miscanthus are different bedding materials. Before comparing bale prices, check the material, dust-extraction information, current bale specification and how it fits your stable routine. You can compare the current options in our Bedding range.
Compare the bedding, not just the name on the bale
| Option | What it is | What to check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Straw bale | Unbranded straw for animal bedding and general farm use. | Current straw type, bale size and condition; these can vary between deliveries. |
| Standard wood shavings or mixed shavings | Unbranded baled wood shavings. | Current material, flake size, bale specification and dust information. Do not assume a branded product's specification applies. |
| Snowflake Standard | A blend of virgin wood shavings and softwood Softchip. | The current bale specification. Snowflake describes Standard as a dust-extracted blend, rather than a pure-shavings product. |
| Nanhoron Farms chopped miscanthus | Chopped miscanthus grown and processed in North Wales. | The current bale details and maker's usage instructions. This product is miscanthus, not chopped cereal straw. |
Straw: check the type and quality
The British Horse Society's bedding guide describes straw as a traditional, relatively inexpensive option, but notes that quality and dust levels vary and some horses eat their bedding. Those differences matter when comparing one bale with another.
Our straw listing does not promise a fixed wheat, barley or oat straw type. Confirm the current supply if the type matters to your yard. Hay and straw are also separate products: use our Hay & Straw range to find the item you need.
Shavings: a generic bale and a named blend are not identical
The material description is more useful than the word “shavings” alone. Our standard and mixed shavings are unbranded products, while Snowflake Standard's manufacturer specification identifies its woodshavings-and-Softchip blend and dust-extraction process.
For a horse with respiratory concerns, discuss the choice with your vet and use the BHS guidance alongside the specific product information. A general product name is not a clinical suitability assessment.
Miscanthus: a different plant-based bedding
Nanhoron Farms identifies its bedding as miscanthus and describes dust extraction during processing. Our Nanhoron bedding listing is that material. It is a separate material from chopped cereal straw; check the current product name and specification.
Compare the cost of your routine
A bale price alone does not show what a bed will cost to maintain. If you are comparing alternatives, record the initial quantity, top-up bales, material removed and time spent mucking out over the same period. Keep initial setup costs separate from routine top-ups, and compare like-for-like bale weights or volumes where supplied.
Before ordering, check storage space, current bale details and the quantity required with your yard manager. Contact Wern-Wood for current product details and availability, or browse the bedding options.
Product and source information checked 31 October 2026. General buying information; individual horse-health questions belong with your vet.
