Beef farmers using slats???

[beefandsleep]

Can someone put some pictures up of finishing cattle on slats please? Would like to see how clean they keep. Are they cleaner in summer than winter?

 

[sheepwise]

Come to the south west of Scotland and you will see plenty of slatted beef units. Almost all our cattle are wintered on slats with straw courts now only used for the last month of finishing.However, since fitting comfort mats we find we can finish them just as well without moving onto straw.With the right slats @beefandsleep and on the mats our cattle keep very clean and we now clip very few before slaughter. Choice of slat is crucial to keep cattle clean as it is important to have slats with good side angles to keep the dung clearing efficiently.This is even more important when mats are fitted. Our newest shed was originally fitted with Moore slats and it was a disaster due to the dung not clearing resulting in the floor always being dirty and cattle being filthy.Our builder took the Moore slats out after the first winter at considerable expense and we replaced them with Woolsey and the difference is unbelievable with as I say very few cattle now requiring clipping pre-slaughter.

 

[James]

Almost all cattle here on slats that have comfort slat covers fitted. No feet trouble no cut knees when nearly finished and cattle happy to virtually throw themselves down. Even caught one snoring yesterday something I'd never heard cattle doing before. Northern ireland btw

 

[newhollandcruzr]

Wait until the anti brigade get there teeth into them , could they become the new "battery cage " . not really a good look is it ?

 

[James]

Wait until the anti brigade get there teeth into them , could they become the new "battery cage " . not really a good look is it ?

I've seen cattle on straw beds in worse states than I've ever seen on slats

 

[mo55ptr]

@emmajayne Up here in Orkney (Island off the North tip of Scotland) nearly all the beef cattle on the island are housed on slats including calving cows and finishers.

 

[Massey675]

@emmajayne Up here in Orkney (Island off the North tip of Scotland) nearly all the beef cattle on the island are housed on slats including calving cows and finishers.

I know of a farmer I speak too from Longhope and he keeps his cattle on slats and they look in good condition.

 

[Thick Farmer]

@emmajayne Up here in Orkney (Island off the North tip of Scotland) nearly all the beef cattle on the island are housed on slats including calving cows and finishers.

I thought you would be using the Orkney Sloping Floor system!

 

[Massey675]

everyone I know of around here doesn't use slats but that's probably because most of the farms around here out dated and the farmers wont spend the money in putting in slats..

 

[Forever Fendt]

We have cattle on slats, mostly calves between six months old and 18 months old.
Best way to keep them- only people that dont have slats criticise them.

I have seen cattle kept in a lot worse conditions when people are sparse with bedding them straw.
Our calves keep themselves really clean, no work bedding them straw everyday etc- its literally ten mins with the feeder and they are done for the day. No feet trouble.

Not so good for cows- they are better with a cubicle and slats, and obviously very young calves are better in a bedded shed. And finishing cattle are probably better on straw for the last few months or so.

Slatted sheds quite common around here

Almost every farm around your area seam to have slats that i have been on ,a friend who builds them up at lockerbie says the cattle don't do quite as well on them but perhaps better with the rubber on them but i can appreciate the saving on straw

 

[bobajob]

Yeah I suppose if you were comparing them on weight gain per day between slats and well bedded courts the straw would be better. But as ever its a compromise and the cost benefit. Yeah have heard rubber on top of the slats can help-- so long as the muck fits through!

 

[Forever Fendt]

Yeah I suppose if you were comparing them on weight gain per day between slats and well bedded courts the straw would be better. But as ever its a compromise and the cost benefit. Yeah have heard rubber on top of the slats can help-- so long as the muck fits through!

perhaps its more to do with them picking through the straw than been on the slats , a good chance my next shed will have slats as the time saving and cost is swaying me that way and i hate straw choppers and buildings full of dust

 

[Northeastfarmer]

How much more would it cost to install slats over a tradional style straw court? Roughly

 

[Forever Fendt]

How much more would it cost to install slats over a tradional style straw court? Roughly

at least x2

 

[Northeastfarmer]

at least x2

Expensive then

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Would it not be cheaper to put cubicles in over slats then? I know you have to scrape out once/twice a day and use a little bit of straw but surely works out a lot cheaper

 

[Forever Fendt]

Would it not be cheaper to put cubicles in over slats then? I know you have to scrape out once/twice a day and use a little bit of straw but surely works out a lot cheaper

i have only yesterday thought of that ,just have slats and tank under wide dung passage and have those free standing cubicles down one side ,My guess is the bedding that got pulled out the cubicles would block the slats and again adding a bit of labour time for bedding the cubicles

 

[Northeastfarmer]

i have only yesterday thought of that ,just have slats and tank under wide dung passage and have those free standing cubicles down one side ,My guess is the bedding that got pulled out the cubicles would block the slats and again adding a bit of labour time for bedding the cubicles

Not if you bedded with sawdust...I wouldn't have the slats underneath, just a scrape passageway

 

[P.O.T]

We put a slatted shed up in the back end. Just 60 x 20 with 70 x 20 x 8 tank underneath. Cattle just on slats atm but was surprised that they we all lying down the next morning. Certainly we wouldnt have put one up had we not received a grant for it. But it is alot easier as no daily bedding, no mucking out feed passage etc. Time will tell how well they do in comparison and will look at rubber matting possibly for next winter.

 

[Half Pipe]

these are our prefered mats
http://www.comfortslatmat.com/