SHOULD WE RECOMMEND RUBBER MATS FOR COW ALLEYS?

Dairymen in the U.S. wonder if rubber mats in cow dairies will be cost effective. Will they reduce foot problems? Will cows stay in the herd longer? Will they help to increase feed intake? The answers to these questions are unknown. There appears to be very little research published on this subject.

The most common rubber mat sold in the U.S. is a reconditioned rubber conveyer belt that was used in coal mining operations. This is the type of rubber mat that Hill Top Dairy purchased and installed in the cow alleys of our barns. We have 2 1/2 years experience but are still not sure if they are cost effective. Recent testimonials by consultants and dairymen state that conveyer belts are sometimes too hard and that softer rubber mats are better.

The second most common rubber mat in the U.S. may be a product called Animat. Animat is thicker than conveyer belts and it provides more cushion and shock absorption. They probably are less slippery than conveyer belts. The costs of each product is nearly the same.

Several dairymen have installed both conveyer belts and Animat. They agree that the cows like the Animat better. They are not sure but speculate that the pay back for Animat will be 3 to 5 years.

The take home message is controlled research comparing types of rubber mats and their cost effectiveness has not been done. Until this research is done we will have to rely on testimonials from dairymen.

(Parts of this article were published in Dairy Herd Management, June 2001, Pages 47-50.)