Provided is a water absorption treatment material and a method for manufacturing the same, according to which a clump can be formed after use without incurring a decrease in water absorptivity. A water absorption treatment material includes a granular core portion and an embedded portion. A recessed portion is formed on the surface of the granular core portion. The embedded portion is provided in the recessed portion of the granular core portion. The embedded portion contains an adhesive material.

Provided is a water absorption treatment material and a method for manufacturing the same, according to which separation of a coating layer portion is not likely to occur. A water absorption treatment material includes a granular core portion and a coating layer portion. A recessed portion is formed on the surface of the granular core portion. The recessed portion is intentionally formed on the surface of the granular core portion. The coating layer portion is provided so as to cover the surface of the granular core portion. A portion of the coating layer portion enter the recessed portion.

Provided herein are compositions useful for improving conditions in animal housing. In some embodiments, the compositions may include, in combination: a) an organic acid; b) an organic terpene; and optionally, c) a strong mineral acid. In some embodiments, the composition has a pH of from 2 to 5, or from 2.5 to 4, or from 3 to 3.5. Also provided are processes for the control of ammonia and microbes in animal housing, which may include applying a composition as taught herein to at least a portion of the house, e.g., to the bedding of the house, whereby said applying steps result in the control of ammonia and/or microbes in the animal housing.

A water absorbing material includes a granular core portion and a coating layer portion. The coating layer portion covers the granular core portion. The coating layer portion contains fluff pulp and a water-absorbent polymer. These fluff pulp and water-absorbent polymer are both derived from a sanitary article.

A multicomponent granular absorbent blend formed of at least a plurality of components with at least one of the components formed of smectite-containing, preferably bentonite-containing, absorbent granules, and at least one other of its components formed of absorbent granules comprised of an extrudate. Such an extruded-containing absorbent granule component can be a component formed of extruded pellets covered with an outer absorbent coating preferably composed of smectite, more preferably bentonite, and/or can be a component formed of extruded pellets used without any such smectite, preferably bentonite, outer coating producing uncoated absorbent granules which also are dust-adhering thereby reducing airborne dust in the multicomponent blend. Such a component composed of uncoated dust-adhering absorbent granules can be formed of extruded splayed pellets having at least one lobe and/or fibrillated tendrils enhancing both absorption and dust pickup in the multicomponent blend.

A standardized nesting material for use in laboratory environments for rodents includes a latrining substrate, and at least one bale unit formed to include a fibrous scaffolding material, and an insulating material. The bale units are of standardized size and can be packaged and sterilized to provide improved wellbeing of the animals; reduced feed and labor costs; and improved scientific quality of the studies conducted on the animals.

An excrement-treating material has a core part, and a surface layer bonded to the core part by utilizing the adhesion ability of a water-absorbable polymer in the surface layer without using an adhesive. The excrement-treating material suitably exerts the water absorbability and water transport ability inherent to the surface layer. The excrement-treating material is constituted by incorporating pulverized water-absorbable polymer particles of 20 μm to 50 μm, and adding water to the surface of the core part after granulation to noncontinuously form a highly-wet part; reacting a water content in the highly-wet part and the pulverized water-absorbable polymer to noncontinuously form an adhering part; and bonding the surface layer to the core part through the adhering part. Upon absorption of excreted urine, permeation of the urine into the core part is accelerated in a part other than the adhering part.

A method for the treatment, control, minimization, and/or prevention of bovine mastitis including the step of introducing animal bedding into a stall of a cow, wherein the animal bedding includes at least one solvent, and a lignocellulosic fiber, wherein the lignocellulosic fiber has been processed by ruminant digestion and anaerobic digestion.

A composition for animal litter derived from field peas includes dried field peas or some combination of dried field peas, an organic moisture absorbent material, and a filler material. The composition for animal litter provides an organic, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly material for absorbing animal waste and containing odor. A method for making the composition includes harvesting dried field peas, comminuting the dried field peas to a desired particle size, and optionally mixing the dried and sized field pea particles with one or more filler materials to improve various properties of the composition such as moisture absorbency and odor retention. Some filler material examples include oat hulls, grass seed screenings, wheat straw, corn straw, wheat middlings, wood pellets, wood pulp, recycled paper, sawdust, walnuts, barley, or soy pulp.

Litter compositions are provided comprising sodium bentonite and various fillers. These litter compositions have substantially the same clumpability properties as a composition consisting of only the sodium bentonite.