Installing New Stall Mats at DDI

• After some minor concerns over the original stall mats at the DDI facility, it was decided to install a new type of stall mattress on a trial basis.
• Although cow comfort was excellent, the old stall mats were slightly lumpy, causing a hygiene concern as urine could pool on them.
• The new stall mats feature a solid foam core which retains a flat surface, eliminating the pooling issue.

Technical Info:

Thickness:	40mm
Sizes:	Mats come in a variety of sizes, with a matching top cover.
Material:	Top Cover: Coated polyester fabric, waterproofed, resistant to manure, urine and micro-organisms Core: Polyurethane foam.
Installation:	Roll out the top cover on the stalls. Place the mattress cores. Fasten both with galvanized strips over a concrete base. Flip the top cover over the mattress and secure it along the front and sides, making sure that it is firmly stretched and not wrinkled.

Advantages:

• Long term shock absorbency, with a soft, elastic surface
• Smooth, non deforming surface is comfortable yet resilient
• Seamless top surface with fully sealed mattress core underneath
• Waterproof
• Coated to be resistant against manure, urine, milk acids, UV rays and micro-organisms
• Non slippery, so claws sink into the surface
• Easy to clean for improved stall hygiene
•  Easy to install and maintain

Installation:

Lining up the materials

The labor force utilizes their intense strength to remove the recycled rubber base.

Preparing the base. Concrete has been poured into the stall base. Notice the cover material already laid out on the floor.

Attaching the mats and cover using galvanized strips.

Placing the top cover over the mats.

A Comparison:

The old mats: note the lumpy, uneven surface. However, cows are laying comfortably.

After installing the new mats, DDI staff noted that the cows were initially somewhat apprehensive about utilizing the new mats, but were soon actively using them. There does not appear to be a clear preference for one type of stall mat over the other at this point. What staff have noticed, though, is a cleanliness factor that is consistent with the proposed advantages of the new mats. The new mats retain their smooth surface, preventing the pooling of urine and making them easier to keep clean.