Ice formation in winter

In winter, the danger of ice formation in modern non-insulated cattle houses is present, especially in exterior walking areas like feeding alleys, non-roofed partial sections and open yards.

Problems caused by slurry, waterers or rain/snow freezing:

• slipping hazard

→ restricted mobility for the animals

• scraper often cannot operate or the slatted floor clogs up

→ increased soiling

Advantages of rubber mats compared to concrete:

flat, closed surface: rubber, in contrast to concrete, does not absorb any moisture

• frozen matter can be loosened easier
• ice is removed by the scraper or falls through the slatted floor
• animal movement breaks the ice layer on the elastic rubber mat

Report from practice:

Pfeiffer-Vogl operation, Haselbach, AT

• 50 dairy cows
• paved concrete walkways with profiKURA P

"In sub-zero temperatures in our cold cattle house, manure sometimes froze onto the concrete and blocked the
manure scraper. With three walking alleys, it took a lot of effort to get all the scrapers working again.

Manure
does still freeze on the mats, but it simply breaks away as soon as the cows tread on the mats.”

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