Rethinking Rubber Mats for Cattle

Rubber mats for cattle often appear  as the cheapest solution for slippery floors. They also provide additional comfort to animals, and that’s why farmers install them. They want the best for their cattle. But are rubber mats really as great as farmers think? And are they really cheaper than concrete grooving or scarification?

It’s time to discover the truth.

What are rubber floor mats?

Rubber floor mats are large, soft mats that absorb shocks and noise in cow sheds and barns. They provide additional comfort to animals and they are also used as a long-term anti-slip solution. Animal comfort is very important for farmers who want to protect their cattle at all costs. Happy cows, happy farmers!

Many farmers try this flooring option assuming it will cost them less than other professional solutions in the long term, such as concrete grooving or scarification. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case: rubber mats for cattle represent an important financial investment. Farmers usually have to request a loan from their bank if they want to install rubber mats for their cattle.

Rubber flooring vs concrete grooving

Concrete grooving in a few words

Concrete grooving is a non-slip treatment solution widely used in the agricultural sector for its numerous advantages. It prevents falls and injuries efficiently, making it a cost-effective solution.

Pros and Cons

Are you torn between rubber mats and concrete grooving for your cows? Unsure which option offers better safety, hygiene, comfort, or durability?

Here are the answers to your questions:

Animal safety

Rubber mats may absorb shocks when a cow is slipping, but are way less effective than grooved floors for preventing falls because they don’t catch the cow’s hooves. This is even truer when mats are wet, full of manure, or made from low-quality rubber. Even expensive rubber mats for cattle can’t stop animals from falling.

Cleaning and hygiene

While mats may seem convenient for cleaning purposes, they are not the best solution in terms of hygiene. In humid countries, such as England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, they can trap moisture. Moisture, as you may know, can create mould and is an ideal environment for bacterial growth. If rubber mats for cattle are not professionally installed, or if they move, even slightly, they might represent a danger to your cattle; your dairy cows will become more prone to hoof infections.

Concrete grooving, on the other end, allows easy cleaning and scraping, even in wet conditions. Cleaning is even more effective when farmers use custom-made brushes.

Animal comfort

Rubber flooring is softer and warmer for your cattle, as it creates excellent insulation. This solution protects your dairy cows against rheumatism. But it’s so comfortable that cows end up sleeping in areas where they should not – think corridors. Also, because mats are softer than concrete, cow hooves tend to wear down slower vs on concrete floors: this can create lameness and discomfort. Farmers have to frequently manually trim hooves to avoid discomfort or cracks.

Rubber mats may feel comfortable for your cattle at first, but over time they can actually lead to discomfort—an unwelcome outcome considering they can cost up to £100,000 in the UK.

If you want to use rubber mats for cattle, do it in resting areas like cubicles.

Durability

Rubber mats tend to crack or curve in high-traffic areas such as milking parlours or corridors. They then create hazardous conditions for your cattle when they walk or try to mount other cows during heat periods. To avoid this situation, you need to change cow mats regularly, which represents an additional cost and a loss of valuable time for you and your team.

Concrete grooving does not require as much maintenance as it can create a strong grip for about 10 years.

Cost

To protect your cattle from bad injuries, you must avoid low-quality cow mats at all costs and invest in long-term solutions. Most of the time, concrete grooving represents a lower cost than rubber flooring. On average, dairy farmers spend up to 11 times more per square metre for rubber mats vs  grooving solutions.

With the latter anti-slip solution lasting much longer than the first one, you now understand and know that concrete grooving is cheaper than rubber mats to protect your cattle. It’s also a quicker solution: banks tend to approve lower loans quicker.

What to do after 10+ years

Scarification

After 10+ years, grooved concrete floors start to lose grip and become slippery. To continue protecting your cattle from traumatic and life-threatening injuries, it’s recommended that you start a concrete scarification process. This is a very effective treatment after a decade of use in high-traffic areas.

The best solution for your dairy cattle

Even after long years of anti-slip protection for your cattle, you must continue to pick the best solution for them. Take into account the advantages and disadvantages of each solution before making your decision.

Note that the concrete grooving advantages mentioned earlier are similar to the ones for scarification.

Make sure to pick a solution that is hygienic, durable, safe for your cattle and ideal for their habits.

Long-term investment at a lower cost

Like grooving, concrete scarification is a long-term investment that will save your cattle from injuring themselves and that is long-lasting.

Depending on washing frequency and traffic, scarified areas can last between 3 and 7 years. Compared to non-slip rubber mats, the cost is lower and the benefits are greater.

I would avoid prices on a blog. As prices increase, the content of the blog probably will not and so could cause disputes in the future.

Contact us to request a personalised quote and to ask for details. Our team will be happy to answer your questions and help you choose the best solution for your dairy farm.

Contact us today