Friesian, Holstein, Jersey, Ayrshire, Guernsey… There are 2.63 million dairy cows in the UK, which represents 22% of the total UK cattle population. UK beef cattle breeds include Aberdeen Angus, British Blue, Limousin and Hereford.

Unfortunately, farmers struggle to absorb the rising cost of raising cattle and search for long-term solutions to save their cows from injuring themselves. One of the most common causes of injury: slippery concrete flooring.

An injured cow means less milk at the end of the day, weight loss or alteration of meat quality, depending on the breed. Unfortunately, an injured cow costs money.

To this day, the best solution to prevent cows from slipping on concrete is scarification (or grooving). This non-slip treatment has proved to be efficient and can last up to 7 years, which makes it very interesting cost-wise.

What is concrete scarification?

Concrete scarification stops cattle from slipping and prevents cows from feeling stressed when they walk through a corridor or towards the milking parlour. Scarifying concrete adds some grip to the floor and relevels worn concrete.

This anti-slip technique is highly recommended for previously grooved concrete, when it loses its effectiveness, or for smooth and glazed surfaces. If your cows always avoid walking in the same spots, it means that they’re stressed and that something bothers them: it may be because of a slippery floor.

They might also slow down when they are stressed because, like for humans, they don’t want to fall, which is understandable. For them, it’s like walking on a frozen lake.

Scarifying concrete involves the use of a machine called a concrete scarifier, which can create 3–5mm deep ridges. Technicians also need access to a water tap when scouring the floor and creating patterned ridges. Water is used to cool down the machine’s rotor while in action (1700rpm) and to reduce the amount of dust created during the scarification process.

Note that modern concrete scarifiers are able to reach tight spaces, like narrow corridors in cattle byres. But not all concrete scarifiers are self-propelled. Self-propelled machines, like the ones designed and used by Vermot, cover more surface in a short amount of time (80–100sqm per hour).

Difference between concrete grooving and scarification

These techniques both add some anti-slip grip on concrete floors and are used nationwide in the United Kingdom by farmers and livestock owners. Concrete scarification and grooving help cows walk around with no stress, among other advantages.

Grooving creates 10–13mm channels and is recommended for ungrooved concrete surfaces to avoid cows from slipping in byres and milking parlours.

Scarification, on the other hand, is better for smooth slippery surfaces and for previously grooved concrete floors. This surface-levelling technique creates 3–5mm deep ridges.

Unfortunately, farmers know that putting a badly injured cow down has a price (emotional and pecuniary). That’s why non-slip techniques, such as scarifying concrete, have been invented and improved over time. In 2025, concrete scarification is cheaper than buying a new cow or end-of-life care for cattle. It saves farmers money and improves animal welfare.

How to stop cows from slipping on concrete

There are several ways to prevent falls in cowsheds or byres, but not all of them are safe for the animals, or they are not efficient in the long term (which means spending more money afterwards): cattle floor mats, rubber cow matting, acid pouring, floor sanding, etc.

The best solutions to prevent injuries and increase production are floor grooving and scarification. If the concrete surface is very smooth and slippery, or if it needs to be levelled, scarifying your concrete floor is highly recommended.

Scarifying concrete prevents injuries

Concrete scarification presents many advantages:

• It prevents injuries and accidents.
• It levels surfaces.
• It adds some grip to the floor so cows are less stressed and don’t slip anymore.
• If cows feel less stressed when walking, they produce more milk, the quality of their meat is better, they don’t lose weight, etc.
• A non-slippery floor helps farmers determine when their cows go into heat: it’s much easier to notice signs of heat, such as mounting or standing to be mounted. Cows tend to display these signs less briefly when they don’t stand on slippery concrete surfaces.
• Scarifying concrete also extends the floor lifespan: no need to replace slippery concrete, as scarification doesn’t impact the floor strength. Scarification can be done on previously grooved concrete and lasts up to 7 years.
• It does not require a long site preparation: your cattle can stay inside the building during the process!
• Scarifying concrete only takes a few hours: the concrete scarifier covers 80–100sqm (861–1076sqf) per hour.

Cheaper than the price of a cow!

One of the main advantages of scarifying concrete is that it’s cheaper than buying a new cow (after you had to put one down because it felt on the ground and injured itself badly).

So, think about it: do you prefer seeing your cows stress and often slip, with the risk of life-threatening injuries, or would you rather increase your productivity and own happy cows?

At Vermot, concrete scarification and grooving cost the same price. Our concrete scarifiers can reach tight spaces and cover up to 100sqm per hour. We use the same machine for both techniques, so, when we meet, our technician can determine the best non-slip solution for you and for your cattle.

You’ll be able to explain your concerns about the safety of your cows, show us which areas are the most slippery, and finally prevent your cows from slipping on concrete. Our mission is to make farmers and cows happy.

Our concrete scarification service is available everywhere in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (Eire).

Contact us for a quote