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Facts worth knowing about KRAIBURG rubber floorings / mats for cows, bulls and calves

Slip-resistant walking areas in the cattle house

Animal related criteria for sufficient slip resistance:

  • Animals move quickly and confidently with long steps
  • show unrestrained signs of oestrus
  • often lick themselves on three legs

licking on three legs more often on rubber flooring than on concrete floor

mounting of dairy cows more often on rubber flooring than on concrete floor

Source: Benz, “Elastische Beläge für Betonspaltenböden in Liegeboxenlaufställen”, Germany, 2002

Tips on improving slip resistance

(independent of technical specifications)

Avoid faeces drying
  • scrapers must run at least 6 - 8 times per day
  • with unevenness equip the cleaning flaps with rubber lips, brushes or something similar
  • for cleaning, where necessary, additionally sprinkle with water (e.g. with direct sunlight or high air change rates)
  • avoid understocking (e.g. dry cows)
  • with pasture grazing (temporary cow absence) clean additionally
avoid smeary faeces consistency
  • very liquid faeces result from crude fibre deficiency, feed change (grazing, green fodder) or freshly lactating cows
  • clean more often if possible
check claw status  
  • no dirty clotted claw soles (e.g. through litter & lime / non-chopped straw as a slippery layer)
  • correct claw form facilitates safe walking
  • extended hoof wall and slope of the sole are important
Consideration: stressful situations can cause slipping
  • entering or exiting the parlour/holding area
  • running (e.g. in traffic lanes)
  • adapting to a new environment /…

coefficient of sliding friction - measuring slip-resistance: rubber flooring is more slip-resistant than concrete floor after 6 years in use

Harmless slipping also occurs among active animals in nature and does not make them lose confidence.

harmless slipping of cows in nature

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