Extend the lifespan of your slatted floors

Many farmers struggle with the financial and emotional burden caused by bad injuries in their cattle over the years. Fortunately, several cost-effective and long-term non-slip solutions exist to protect your livestock. Slat grooving is one of these solutions.

But how good are slatted floors for animal welfare and cleaning? What happens when concrete slats lose their grip? How long do they last, and can you extend their lifespan?

Let’s find out.

Concrete slats are a durable and practical flooring solution for modern cattle housing.

What are concrete slats?

Concrete slats are large panels of concrete floor that prevent cows from slipping and falling. They often have a textured, brushed finish to increase abrasion and reduce the risk of slipping. They come in different sizes and are, most of the time, installed in passageways.  Each panel of concrete contains several ribs: animal waste passes between the ribs, then falls into the manure tanks installed below.

This durable and practical solution offers better hygiene conditions, which help prevent hoof infections in the shed.

Slatted floors also improve animal welfare, heat detection, cleaning, and safety.

Farmers appreciate non-slip flooring because it allows cattle to walk more confidently along passageways and reduces the risk of slipping during mounting behaviour in heat cycles.

Cost

The cost of concrete slats depends on various factors, such as length, type of concrete, and thickness. Concrete slats typically cost from £40 per square metre, and additional costs for delivery and installation should also be taken into account.

Concrete slats are a long-term investment for cattle housing and can help reduce the risk of lameness and injuries when they provide adequate grip. Most concrete slats last between 15 and 20 years, although their surface can wear much sooner.

After years of constant traffic and cleaning, the surface of the slats gradually becomes smooth and loses its grip. This increases the risk of slips and injuries. Cattle become less confident, walk more slowly, and may struggle to mount safely during heat cycles.

Do slats need to be replaced? Not necessarily.

A cost-effective alternative exists: slat grooving.

Instead of spending thousands on new slats, delivery, and installation, Vermot can restore grip to your existing slatted floor. The process improves traction for cattle and can extend the usable life of your slats for many more years.

The same concrete slats for up to 40 years!

How is this possible?

Thanks to our slat grooving technique, you could use the same concrete slats for up to 40 years.

Slat grooving consists of cutting grooves into the slats to restore grip. Unlike traditional concrete grooving, which uses carbide tips, slat grooving involves the use of diamond blades.

During the process, diamond blades saw the slats for clean grooves and sharp edges (about 4–5 mm deep). This precise technique helps avoid the creation of microcracks in the concrete; the strength of the slats stays intact. The abrasion created by the grooves lasts from 10 to 20 years.

Benefits of slat grooving

Slat grooving offers several advantages for both farmers and livestock:

• A cost-effective way to restore grip. Grooving slatted floors is often cheaper and more effective than installing rubber mats to improve traction.
• Minimal disruption for livestock. Animals usually do not need to be moved during the process. While the machine produces a constant noise, cattle generally get used to it quickly.
• Fast and efficient process. A professional slat-grooving machine can cover up to 80 square metres per hour, making the job much quicker than replacing concrete slats.
• Avoid the hassle of full slat replacement. Replacing slats requires ordering new units, arranging delivery, and installing them. Livestock often have to be moved and slurry tanks emptied, which takes time, planning, and extra labour.
• Can be done all year round. Slat grooving does not require the same preparation as full replacement, meaning the work can be carried out at almost any time of the year.
• Maintains the structural strength of the slats. Proper grooving improves grip without affecting the load-bearing capacity of the concrete.
• Extends the usable life of your slats. Restoring grip can help keep your slatted floors safe and functional for many more years.

Protect your cows from injuries for decades

If you want to reduce the risk of injuries and maintain efficient manure management, slatted concrete floors are a reliable solution for cattle housing. Installed above slurry tanks, they allow waste to fall through the slots, helping keep passageways cleaner while reducing the risk of slipping.

Concrete slats provide good traction for livestock such as cattle, pigs, sheep and horses, helping animals move more confidently and lowering the risk of falls and hoof problems. They also make barn cleaning much more efficient.

When the surface begins to wear and lose grip, slat grooving offers a practical alternative to full replacement. Instead of demolishing and replacing your slats, grooving restores traction and can extend their usable life for many more years. This approach not only saves money but also reduces waste, making it a more sustainable solution.

On average, the cost of concrete slats works out at roughly £50 per cow per year, making them a cost-effective investment in animal safety and barn management.

If your concrete floor is becoming slippery and your cows are losing confidence when walking along passageways, it may be time to act. Contact Vermot today to request a quote.

With more than 35 years of experience in concrete cutting and grooving, Vermot is a family business helping farmers keep their livestock safe across the UK, Germany and France.

Contact us today