Criteria for covering fully slatted pens in beef fattening

Lower Saxony (Germany) has enacted an animal protection guideline on fattening cattle.
Other Federal States might quickly follow with husbandry requirements.

Requirements for the lying area in fully slatted pens according to guideline on fattening cattle:

Floor with elastic rubber or bedding
Minimum floor space requirement in new constructions of one-area and two-area fully slatted pens with rubber flooring depending on the animals’ weight:

	pre-fattening	fattening	finishing
Ø live weight (kg)	250 - 449	450 - 649	≥ 650
total floor space/animal (m²)	2.5	3.0	3.5
thereof lying area/animal (m²)*	1.5	2.0	2.5

* the lying area must be equipped with rubber flooring at the least

Why rubber mats?

Scientific studies have proved animals to clearly prefer the soft rubber mats. Practical experience confirms this. Furthermore, they offer clear advantages for health and economy.

The floor design makes it possible to control the animals. They prefer lying on the mats (comfortable and heat insulating), but they also like being active on the rubber mats (sure-footedness).

› Therefore we recommend fully covered pens.

In the case of partially covered pens:

Lower rank animals are often ousted. This is particularly true for pens where the complete lying area cannot be used for the intended purpose as the animals in the feeding place stand with their hind legs on the mats of the lying area.

Important: When feeding, the animals should stand on the mat either completely or not at all!

This is also important for long-term functionality.

Planning aid for feeding place depth:

Pre-fattening: ca. 1.70 m
Fattening: ca. 1.80 m
Finishing: ca. 1.90 m

The dimensions may vary depending on the breed.

Source: Unter-AG Mastrinder Niedersachsen: Tierschutzleitlinie für die Mastrinderhaltung, 2017

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