Rubber Surfacing Solves Slipping in Herringbone Shed

Te Awamutu, Waikato

Lucas Allcock knew what he wanted. The Te Awamutu farmer needed matting with “a thick grip that was long-lasting” for his 270-stong herd.

The reason behind this purchase was plainly evident at each feeding time. “We were having problems with the cows coming up to feed. The big Friesians were jamming up and pushing each other. As a result, we were getting a lot of lameness in the herd.”

Having dealt with Numat before for a previous installation of pit matting, Lucas found the “service to be great” and the products “high quality and at a reasonable price”.

“We were having problems with the cows coming up to feed. The big Friesians were jamming up and pushing each other. As a result we were getting a lot of lameness in the herd.”

- Lucas Allcock

In August the bails and exit area of the herringbone shed were covered with Numat’s Legend mat. The results were (almost) instantaneous. “The cows took a couple of milkings to get used to it,” said Lucas. “Now they seem to be a lot more comfortable coming in.”

The big change has been with the diminished intensity with the animal’s movement. “Where before it was a regular occurrence we’ve only had one cow go down since the matting was installed,” he said. Feedback from the vet confirmed this – “they noticed how settled the cows were.”

There was one more unexpected bonus also. “It’s recommended that farmers invest in dark sheets of plastic to lay down under the cows when stripping for mastitis,” said Lucas. “Concrete is completely unsuitable for this – you just can’t see it (signs of mastitis) on that surface. Now, however, with the dark colour of the matting, we can check quickly and efficiently,” he said.