Slat Matts 2022

Have easyfix here good no of years, good grip for cows, not the softest but still look the same now as when they went in. cattle stay clean as long as you have pens fairly well stocked. Concreted toe area near feeding barrier to stop them lying there ( instead of flat mat easyfix supply ) I think easyfix now do a mat that slopes more to either side to let water away quicker. ( dont have calved cows in shed so cant comment there )

No, the wedges on slat mats are very tight ( had to drive them with sledge ) and concrete is a small bit above the level of the mat (edit to say concrete put in after so to get good depth ended a small bit above mat ) . At the back of the pens I put the flat mat sections on the 18" of bare concrete and never put the screws supplied with them and dirt sometimes gets in at a joint alright

Does anyone have the newer type Easyfix Mats with the sloped curved surface under suckler cows.

How do they compare to the older flat Easyfix Mats in terms of slippyness and cleanliness of the Cows ?

Ordering some next week but unsure which type to go with.

Tia

Yeah I had the rep out alright to measure up and he said people are putting in both types and it's down to personal preference.

He did say the newer ones would definitely be a bit slippery than the originals but loads of people are using them so I was hoping to get opinions of people that are actually using them.

Presume you don't have cattle on yours yet

No cattle on them yet. It’s finishing bulls that’ll be going in it. The older ones are a safer bet if you are still unsure when buying them.

Wat price are they

What is folks rationale for buying the mats? Is it welfare based or do you think that the increased daily gains will pay for itself?

Thinking about it - am I missing something here?

Teagasc state 0.17kg increase in ADG on slat mats (source: Rubber slat mats deliver benefit in Teagasc finishing trial 13 January 2021 Free (farmersjournal.ie) )

So, in a typical 15ft x 15ft bay that's approx 21m2 and a stocking density of 1 animal per 3.0m2 (as per the study above) that equates to 7 cattle per pen.

Over a 3-month wintering/finishing that is 0.15kg (ADG) x 90 days gives a gain of 13.5kg per animal over the period. Across 7 animals that is a total increase of 94.5kg beyond bare concrete slats.

Taking an approx DW price of €4.25/kg results in an increase income of 4.25 x (94.5/2) = €200 per pen of 7 animals. So, in theory it would take to the end of the sixth year to pay off the slat mats if finishing cattle. Is that not pretty good for return on investment? The lifespan of the mats would be well beyond that timeframe.

Is anyone else seeing improvements like this? Was interesting to note that a study on weanlings showed no significant benefit - must really only benefit when the flesh starts to pile on the animal.

I worked it out like this.

they say It’s an increase of 11kg carcass weight over 120 days. I’d suspect with bulls this may be higher. Many lads finishing bulls run a couple of lots through the shed every year.

So 11kg by a pen of 7 two times a year is 154kg extra per pen @ €4.5 is €693. 2 years should pay for them at that rate.

I never get near their quoted weights, so scaled it back to 6.75kg carcass. Is a fattening period not usually 3 months as opposed to 4? It's still a decent return.

I wonder is it just a matter of time though before they are compulsory and what that will do to prices?

If they wanted to make them compulsory we would have seen grants to encourage the install in new shed and also for retrofitting Bigger problem is to get farmers to check the condition of slats. New Tams will be interesting to see it they included. The only way I can see them allowing grant aid on mats is if you install new slats

Condon's do Kraiburg slat mats. Not sure what they are like, but totally generalising, German stuff is usually well made - although I'm not sure that the space to surface ratio is sufficient for keeping stock clean?

Tell me more please on how I can half my winter finishing period. I am cautious on finishing cattle this winter with the high input cost and what way the market will be next March.

Would they still meet spec or would there be penalties?

Bulls would be ok at 2- I’d say but they’d grade and kill out better with more flesh on them

Just seen in todays farming life that slat mats are now grant eligible in northern Ireland.

Might be soon the same in South.