cubicle mats/mattresses

[Maxxum-man]

What are the best cubicle mats to fit in traditional mushroom type cubicles? Been looking at some today at dairy expo but they aren't really any softer than concrete! Anybody seen any soft mats?? Would like to fit proper mattresses but because of the cubicle leg design this isn't an option, was hoping to reduce the amount of bedding used to keep cows comfy.

 

[jimmer]

do your cows fit well into the mushrooms do they get stuck often or knock themselves

 

[Maxxum-man]

Can't say that we have any issues with them, they are very strong having two fixed legs, we don't have massive cows which I think probably helps

 

[jimmer]

if you got no probs with injuries etc then a roll of rubber the width of the distance from heel edge to leg would probably suffice

 

[jimmer]

a sprinkling of sawdust to soak up wet would prob be ok on rubber mat
we got jerseys on just concrete with straw and probably because of their weight there are no swolen knees or joints so your smaller type cows may be ok without a mattress
my experience with mushrooms is when the cows get bigger so do the numbers of injuries

 

[LEAMHEAD]

We've just recently swopped mats for matresses,what a difference ! Should have done it years ago! Mats used to get sawdust under them an get misshapen resulting in us flipping the mat up to clean under it . Not now. Cow comfort greatly improved, with all the follow on benefits of that.
Think carefully before fitting mats

 

[jimmer]

will mattresses fit into mushrooms though

 

[LEAMHEAD]

Our are straight leg mushrooms

 

[jimmer]

our mattresses are foam rectangles laid touching with plastic sheet cover on top all in one no joins or seams
how did you fit into mushrooms

 

[farmerste]

i've put mats in from quattro and the cows like them better than the mayo mats i have in some other cubicles

 

[LEAMHEAD]

Matress exactly as you describe , ours are straight leg mushroom ,so matresses fit as usual from heel up to leg as usual. Regular mushrooms are diff matter ,but guys fitting matresses told us they have done it by slotting mattres around legs and using plastic fix strips to secure edges, more work but doable

 

[Tarw Coch]

I have half and half mats and mattresses, the mattresses are BioRet from Teemore and are far more comfortable than the older mats.

But if you want really comfy mats, check out Kraiburg, now they are lovelly but with a price tag to match. On the other hand, if lying comfy meant a cow gave an extra litre a day over a 200 day winter thats 200 litres which at 30ppl comes to 60 quid, not so bad if you look at it like that and thats without factoring in any extra longevity for your cows/or even losses.

 

[Chips]

Pretty sure Wilson can fit their matteresses around legs on kennels so shouldn't be a problem on mushrooms ,at least the legs is further forward on a mushroom and thus away from the dirty end . Wilson are top matteresses ,got some at 7 years old and are as good as the day fitted ,we now also have the premium pad on top ,you can do the knee drop test no problem

 

[snowhite]

mayo mats are the best i think , have had not one cow with a swooning hock since we put them in ,
we tried many fancy powers on the mats some ok some are not any good the best we found is to put nothing on the mats and clean them twice a day with a snow pusher