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Manawaru-based dairy farm, C M Farming, managed by Carl Thomas and Margaret Boyle, has found a reliable solution to challenges faced on wet days.
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This case study showcases how Warren Craig, a share milker for JC Blake Ltd. based in Tirau, significantly improved the health and productivity of their herd through the installation of Kura’s agricultural rubber matting.
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Takapoto Estate also operates a purpose-built showjumping facility in Karapiro. The estate previously had some matting in the stables but recognised a need to upgrade and add more to ensure the safety and comfort of both horses and staff.
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ANP Farms is a dairy operation in Puketaha, farming 300 cows in a split-calving system with a 20-side shed. They faced challenges with cow safety due to slippery conditions, particularly in the herringbone platform and entry/exit points, leading to injuries and equipment damage. Kriss Kung, the owner, stated, “There’s nothing worse than when a cow falls and can’t get back up.”
Recognizing the need for improved traction, ANP Farms initiated a rubber matting installation project. The farm chose Numat mats for their excellent grip and durability. As Kung put it, “We wanted something with a bit of grip… and we thought the Numat mats were the best ones.”
The project was conducted in stages, beginning with the herringbone platform and entry/exit points – areas identified as the most problematic. Kung acknowledged the cost of the Numat mats, saying, “They were a little bit dearer than the others, but you get what you pay for.”
“We're eventually going to do the whole yard... that's the whole plan.”
The positive impact of the rubber matting was immediately noticeable. Kung reported an improvement in cow stability and a decline in lameness cases, “We don’t have much lameness, but I think it has decreased even more.” The number of cows suffering from lameness fell from an average of 12-15 per year to approximately half that rate.
The mats also reduced equipment damage. When cows kicked the milking cups, the resulting fall onto the rubber mats, rather than the previous concrete floor, significantly reduced breakages. As Kung explained, “We’re not going through as many bowls as we used to because of the rubber mat.”
Encouraged by the success of the initial installation, Kung plans to expand the use of rubber matting throughout the farm, “We’re eventually going to do the whole yard… that’s the whole plan.”
The rubber matting project at ANP Farms has been a resounding success, improving cow safety and reducing equipment costs. Despite a higher upfront cost, the Numat mats proved their worth in terms of quality and longevity. As Kung concluded, “If you’re going to get some mats, go for the better good ones… I’d highly recommend it to anyone thinking about rubber matting.”
In 2022, owner James contacted NumatAGRI to have some rubber matting installed on the races in and out of the milking shed. The daily traffic to and from the shed twice a day slowly continued to wear the tracks and the maintenance costs were becoming expensive.
“Before rubber matting, it was costing $20k every 3-5 years to scrape the race off and put more stock rock down. By the end of the 3 years, it was a bit of a mess [the tracks]. Some big holes. Especially right at the exit of the yard.”
The large potholes created an uneven surface that was not very safe for the cows to walk through, resulting in a number of lameness issues.
NumatAGRI’S DairyGrip provided the perfect solution for James. The heavy-duty rubber was laid out and anchored on the races and now provides protection to the surface underneath, while also creating a more comfortable, non-slip track for the cows to walk on. Installing rubber has also helped keep the races looking a lot tidier and keep lameness down.
Prior to installing rubber matting, the farm was experiencing significant issues around lameness within the herd. Farm manager Travis Sylvester explains: “We were probably having 7-8 cows a day. It was pretty bad.” This was not only causing a loss in milk production but an increase in veterinary costs.
“We were probably having 7-8 cows a day. It was pretty bad.”
he tracks the cows were walking on were puggy and constantly full of mud, creating an uneven surface for their cows to walk on. When looking for a solution to repair the damaged tracks, Travis and his father-in-law discussed concreting the tracks, until realising they would only be pushing the affected area further along and they would still be dealing with pugging issues. Concreting the whole track into the shed would also become quite costly.
Their other option was installing rubber matting on the tracks. After calling NumatAGRI to discuss track matting options, they decided that installing a durable, high-performing rubber product would be the easiest and most cost-effective option. Within two weeks of contact, the NumatAGRI projects team were able to get on-site and install the DairyGrip rolls.
Since installing rubber matting, Travis has seen the number of lame cows coming into the shed has gone down significantly.
“Lameness has been cut into a third of what it previously was the year prior. It’s done everything we wanted to get out of it.”
The new rubber surface is protecting the tracks to the shed from becoming puggy while at the same time creating a safe and comfortable surface for the cows to walk on. The matting installed is heavy-duty and designed to perform in high-traffic areas, so Travis and his team don’t have to worry about driving their trucks, bikes, and tractors over the rubber. The track is now easier to clean and scrape down, allowing Travis to minimise debris that can damage hooves.
Travis is eager to continue using rubber matting at GD Prout farm and is looking at adding rubber on the feed pad at the end of this season. He hopes that this will continue to help lower the number of lame cows and protect the existing concrete surface from the heavy traffic coming on and off the feed pad.
Because of the structure of the rotary shed at Grangelands Farm, there is a lot of 90-degree turning for the cows to make as they come on and off the platform. Paul was watching the animals grind their hooves on the concrete as they adjusted their footing, and depending on the feed that was being used, the debris on the surface was creating abrasive friction.
Having already installed NumtAGRI rubber matting in his other milking shed in Tapapa, Paul decided to install some more mats at his Putaruru farm.
The new NumatAGRI rubber matting has been a game changer for both the cows at Grangelands Farm and, Paul and his team.
“It has improved the way that we farm. Lames, cow comfort, just tidiness of the place. It looks smarter.”
Paul has seen a decrease in the number of lame cows on his farm, along with far less slipping, and overall cow comfort. It has also helped milkers spot signs of mastitis and make sure they were catching cows in need of treatment early on.
“With the rubber matting, they seem to be a lot more content. It’s actually quite hard to find lames now because they are actually comfortable. With it [the rubber mats] being black, mastitis and stripping the cow out, you see it quite clearly on the black matting and it just looks a lot more visually tidy.”
After seeing the results of the rubber matting, Paul also began installing NumatAGRI matting solutions on the entrance to the feed pad at his farm, as well as the pit of his milking shed, with hopes to continue adding rubber in high-traffic concrete areas.
Having installed rubber pit matting in his shed 5 years ago for his own benefit and comfort during milking, he saw how the softer surface had made an impact in alleviating his leg and back pain. After experiencing the relief of rubber matting during milking he decided to get in touch with Numat to install some rubber mats for his cows.
“I find if I stand on concrete for too long, I get sore and surely it’s the same for the cows. So, a couple of years later I decided that the cows should have the same level of comfort that I have.”
After dealing with cows slipping as they pushed their way into the shed, Max made the call to install some rubber mats to create a more comfortable and non-slip surface for his animals.
During his off-season in 2022, Max had NumatAGRI Kura mats installed on his 30-a-side herringbone shed platform, the entryway into the yard, and the entry into the bail area. The install team worked around Max’s schedule, making sure there were minimal interruptions to his operation. The result is a long-wearing, clean, and comfortable surface that looks smart and performs great.
“For me, Numat is rubber matting. They are the go-to. I know there are cheaper options out there, but this product is not going to go anywhere. It’s going to outlive me and that’s what I like about it. It's maintenance free, and it’s got the longevity behind it. I think it’s a worthy investment.”
Since the rubber mats have been in, Max has witnessed far less slipping in his shed and the number of lame cows on his farm has also decreased. His cows are happy and comfortable on the new surface and any slips are cushioned by the rubber mats.
The hygienic benefits of the rubber matting have also benefitted Max and his animals. Any debris is easily spotted and easily washed away to prevent injuries. Leaving behind a surface that is tidy and safe.
“For me, it’s a long-term investment that gives me peace of mind.”
“Cows walk on it really well, and we no longer have the slipping issue.”
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Lance McLaggan contacted NumatAGRI for rubber matting in his herringbone shed. After witnessing cows beginning to slip coming in and out of the shed…
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