Slats welfare discussion

[Northeastfarmer]

Yes and cattle in slats with not rubber lying on bare concrete.

I would like to see those advocating slats to spend a night sleeping on them.

I always say to anyone maintaining the cubicles if you wouldn't lie in there don't expect a cow to. Clean dry and bedded.

Concrete Slats without the comforts covers on should be banned...end of

 

[Cowgirl]

Sounds a right ball ache to clean out in the spring.

You'll need to ask my husband about that!

 

[sheepwise]

F

Concrete Slats without the comforts covers on should be banned...end of

FFS whose side are you on.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

F

FFS whose side are you on.

I’m on the cows side....I’ve said there’s absolutely nothing wrong with slats with the comfort slats on....but bare concrete slats are cruel

 

[sheepwise]

Not ideal

I’m on the cows side....I’ve said there’s absolutely nothing wrong with slats with the comfort slats on....but bare concrete slats are cruel

. Not ideal but definitely not cruel.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Not ideal
. Not ideal but definitely not cruel.

Well I ain’t gonna start arguing over wether they are or not...in my eyes laying on bare concrete all winter is....comfort slats is the only way I’d keep cattle on slats

 

[Henarar]

You'll need to ask my husband about that!

You don't send him out with a pick to clean that lot out do you

 

[Sheep]

Concrete Slats without the comforts covers on should be banned...end of

In some ways slat mats affect animal welfare as much as aid it. It would be entirely wrong to say that not having slat mats negatively affects animal welfare.

Three separate studies, similar results for each, each showed that slat mats had a negative effect on hoof health.

1. 'Effect of concrete slats, three mat types and out-wintering pads on performance and welfare of finishing beef steers'
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28558798

No evidence to suggest that animals housed on bare concrete slats were disadvantaged in respect of animal welfare compared with animals housed on other floor types. The welfare of steers was not adversely affected by slats compared with different mat types or outwintering pads.

2. 'Changes in hoof health and animal hygiene in a dairy herd after covering concrete slatted floor with slatted rubber mats'
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21524523

Covering slatted concrete flooring with slatted rubber mats partially impaired hoof health but did not influence skin lesions or the dirtiness of the cows or the floor. Absolute humidity increased in the barn when rubber mats were present.

3. 'Effect of floor type on hoof lesions, dirt scores, immune response and production of beef bulls'
http://www.livestockscience.com/article/S1871-1413(15)00364-9/abstract

- Greater average daily gain and carcass gain for bulls on rubber mats compared with concrete slats.
- Floor type had no effect on dry matter intake, slaughter weight or carcass weight.
- Bulls on rubber mats had more hoof lesions compared with those on concrete slats.
- Floor type had no effect on dirt score.
- Floor type had no effect on any of the haematology variables measured.

 

[beefandsleep]

Does anyone here who has slat mats leave a run un-matted along the feed barrier?

 

[James]

Does anyone here who has slat mats leave a run un-matted along the feed barrier?

Yes in that the slats stop about 18 inches from the feed barrier although this bit has a plain rubber sheet along it to keep everything on the same level.

 

[joe soapy]

You'll need to ask my husband about that!

No doubt you have the ability to ease his pain

 

[sheepwise]

Yes that's how ours is.17 feet of mats 5 feet at barrier not matted.

 

[MrA.G.]

Does anyone here who has slat mats leave a run un-matted along the feed barrier?

We left a row of slats uncovered

 

[joe soapy]

So what is the ideal,
thinking greenfield site, store and fattining cattle , no roof but sheltered site, low rainfall area.
How wide , how deep, feed fence?

 

[Sheeponfire]

So what is the ideal,
thinking greenfield site, store and fattining cattle , no roof but sheltered site, low rainfall area.
How wide , how deep, feed fence?

am glad you asked!!

I was thinking about the same!!

 

[joe soapy]

am glad you asked!!

I was thinking about the same!!

Dont look as if we going to get any help

 

[ridger]

Concrete Slats without the comforts covers on should be banned...end of

Why? I'd be quicker to ban out wintering cattle up to their bellys in muck and water like I seen today

 

[joe soapy]

Oh well, how about 8ft deep tank, 3ft concrete,4 meter slat, 3ft concrete strip ,then feed fence. 8ft wall for shelter

 

[ridger]

Oh well, how about 8ft deep tank, 3ft concrete,4 meter slat, 3ft concrete strip ,then feed fence. 8ft wall for shelter

Might as well roof it then

 

[MrA.G.]

Dont look as if we going to get any help

Tank 20 - 25 foot wide, 8-10ft deep. Two gang slats with 3/4 covered in slat mats. One feet face out the front if the cattle are on adlib finishing with an access passage at the rear. Feed face front and rear if you want them all to feed at one time. Each pen could be two bays (2x20ft) wide, make it as long as possible. Put 8ft wall panels around the other three sides.
Only my opinion and I would refine it further if I was building it.