Cubicle Mat and Slat Mat advice needed.

cjpm

Just wondering if anyone knows much about cubicle mats. Or slat mats either. Slats are 11'6"

I'm in the market for both but i don't know what companys to choose to supply them.

Naturally i want them to last 25 years or more!!

Anyone have any opinions/experiance i'd appreciate it before parting with hard earned cash...

mayo_lad

cjpm wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone knows much about cubicle mats. Or slat mats either. Slats are 11'6"

I'm in the market for both but i don't know what companys to choose to supply them.

Naturally i want them to last 25 years or more!!

Anyone have any opinions/experiance i'd appreciate it before parting with hard earned cash...

i would'nt know which company to use for the slat mats but i would use mayo mats for the cubicle ones i have them at home for 20 years and have never had to replace one of them http://www.mayomats.com/information.htm
is there website

Tipp Man

mayo_lad wrote: »

i would'nt know which company to use for the slat mats but i would use mayo mats for the cubicle ones i have them at home for 20 years and have never had to replace one of them http://www.mayomats.com/information.htm
is there website

Those boys from the west certainly do make a good mat, we have them for years here as well and no problems whatsoever.

Have used them in our new sheds as well

To clarify i'm talking about cubicle mats, no idea on slat mats

buzsywuzsy

this company also
http://www.easyfix.ie/

based in Ballinasloe

5live

I have mayo mats and dairymaster cubicle mats and am happy with both. More importantly the cows are too:D. Cant help on slat mats though

MfMan

In the process of doing half a slatted shed with easy fix mats. If I don't forget, I will post here on how I get on. Many that have them recommend them, stating that cattle have more comfort on them and thrive better. Others to consider I think are Durapak (Cork?) and comfort mat (Kildare?).

mairtd

We have the easyfix mats and find them great. there is one in the yard for the last few years thats been drove over every day and its still in good condition. No harm in pricing them all

cjpm

I was just wondering do the Cubicle Mats expand much over time?

Do the edges ever curl up causing lime and dirt to get in under them?

Are they reversable and if so how often do they need to be turned?

dar31

cjpm wrote: »

I was just wondering do the Cubicle Mats expand much over time?

Do the edges ever curl up causing lime and dirt to get in under them?

Are they reversable and if so how often do they need to be turned?

have the easy fix mats on slats for 6/7 years now. never had to look at them since they were fitted.
dont expand
dont curl up.
tight fit to slat so no dirt gets under
never once considered turning them
expensive as hell though.
still though would do the other half of the shed, if it didnt have calf slats down

blue5000

Stay away from delaval cubicle mats. I found they are too soft, and tend to rip easily. Having said that though, cows love them. Had them bolted in and crap built up under them at the top of the cubicle. I'd say they stretched out over time too.

irishh_bob

slatted mats , easy fix or durapak

cubicle mats , id go for the interlink mat , baschically the whole row of mats fit together in one mass like a jigsaw and you never have a problem with the mat lifting , , dairymaster do a very good one , i dont know if mayo mats do an interlink mat , mayo are IMO a little over rated , the guy who owns the company more or less pioneered mats in this country and boy has he been reminding the country ever since , if you ever spoke to the man , you would think you were talking to stephen hawking about the theory of relativity , its a lump of rubber for under a cow ffs ,
not saying thier is anything wrong with mayo but from talking to the company , you would think every other make was dirt by comparison

leg wax

blue5000 wrote: »

Stay away from delaval cubicle mats. I found they are too soft, and tend to rip easily. Having said that though, cows love them. Had them bolted in and crap built up under them at the top of the cubicle. I'd say they stretched out over time too.

yes i have to agree stay away from delaval mats .

cjpm

Do the cubicle mats need to be fixed to prevent the cows from lifting them?? Do they need to be reversed or turned around every few years, or just leave them down?

mayo_lad

cjpm wrote: »

Do the cubicle mats need to be fixed to prevent the cows from lifting them?? Do they need to be reversed or turned around every few years, or just leave them down?

at a risk of being pedantic all of the information you want to find out is on the mayo mats website which i have posted above .

5live

I have 4 ft mats in 4ft cubicles and they arent bolted or fixed. I cut a small semicircle out where the mats meet the cubicle and they dont move. Well not in 8 years anyway. The only ones that do are exposed to wind fron the north/south. I dont find a problem with dirt under them except where cows back up onto cubicles. The dirt can get under them then but its only a matter of lifting them and shovel it out. The mayo mats have expanded a bit but they are down longer and the cows still lie on them but then again the cubicles are a bit big for my cows so not too worried

cjpm

5live wrote: »

I have 4 ft mats in 4ft cubicles and they arent bolted or fixed. I cut a small semicircle out where the mats meet the cubicle and they dont move. Well not in 8 years anyway. The only ones that do are exposed to wind fron the north/south. I dont find a problem with dirt under them except where cows back up onto cubicles. The dirt can get under them then but its only a matter of lifting them and shovel it out. The mayo mats have expanded a bit but they are down longer and the cows still lie on them but then again the cubicles are a bit big for my cows so not too worried

Did you leave a gap between the mats when installing them?? If so what width?

cjpm

mayo_lad wrote: »

at a risk of being pedantic all of the information you want to find out is on the mayo mats website which i have posted above .

If Mayo mats have a problem of curling up and ****e getting under them then i doubt they'd be highlighting this on their web-site;)

I rang Mayo and they told me that fixing down may not be necessary if the mats are held by the cubicles. Obviously i wanted to know if this was a reality. A neighbour of mine had a softer mat which the cows liked to lift up with their heads and throw over!!

irishh_bob

cjpm wrote: »

If Mayo mats have a problem of curling up and ****e getting under them then i doubt they'd be highlighting this on their web-site;)

I rang Mayo and they told me that fixing down may not be necessary if the mats are held by the cubicles. Obviously i wanted to know if this was a reality. A neighbour of mine had a softer mat which the cows liked to lift up with their heads and throw over!!

if mats coming loose is a concern of yours then go for the interlink mat , 20 euro each more expensive but well worth it

mayo_lad

cjpm wrote: »

If Mayo mats have a problem of curling up and ****e getting under them then i doubt they'd be highlighting this on their web-site;)

I rang Mayo and they told me that fixing down may not be necessary if the mats are held by the cubicles. Obviously i wanted to know if this was a reality. A neighbour of mine had a softer mat which the cows liked to lift up with their heads and throw over!!

sorry but from my personal experience they do not require fixing down in 3/2 legged cubicles but do require fixing down when cubicles are hung off the wall .

the cows will not lift any mat if it is trimed to the proper length ie just on the edge of the cubical and not hanging over the edge at all if the can can get her head under any mat she will lift it and turn it over easily

also mayo mats will expand over time so they will require to be trimmed after a year

5live

cjpm wrote: »

Did you leave a gap between the mats when installing them?? If so what width?

No gap. One just fits right against the next with 1 inch semi circle cut out to fit the cubicle on each mat

hurling_lad

When I was having a casual look around the stands at the ploughing, I was impressed with the TL Comfort Slat Mat (website here) although they did seem a bit dear.

Would like to see them installed or hear from anyone who has them.

k mac

how much do ya think it would cost for the slat mat for a 3 bay shed.Have heard they are very good but expensive.

Conor556

we were told to keep well aware of the mayo slat mat, all they are basically is a cubicle mat cut to suit the slats they rip and after a while they pull to the side and the hole in the mat doesnt suit the slat and the **** doesnt go into the tank.

AHanley

Conor556 wrote: »

we were told to keep well aware of the mayo slat mat, all they are basically is a cubicle mat cut to suit the slats they rip and after a while they pull to the side and the hole in the mat doesnt suit the slat and the **** doesnt go into the tank.

we have both the mayo cubicle and slat mats, totally different mats, weigh them if you doubt it. and you are told by the fitters when they are going in how to maintain them and to do so after the first year. your friend probably didn't bother.
Best way of sussing out which is the best company is to go and look at sheds that have mats in for 5+ years

Farmer Pudsey

I have easyfix got them while the grant was available. Looked at all the types the durapak seem to be thiner and rubber was harder. Did not think that the comfort mats that go single on the slats were very heavy could not see them withstanding years of cattle on them. Also was not gone on the idea of him triming side of slats to fit them. There were a few other's who had mats that were cut to size such as mayo but did not want to be triming them myself and another fella down in cork which were held in by rubber pegs was afraid that they would break or loosen over time.

reilig

AHanley wrote: »

we have both the mayo cubicle and slat mats, totally different mats, weigh them if you doubt it. and you are told by the fitters when they are going in how to maintain them and to do so after the first year. your friend probably didn't bother.
Best way of sussing out which is the best company is to go and look at sheds that have mats in for 5+ years

I have a neighbour with Mayo slat Mats about 8 years. Installed by Mayo mats themselves or someone recommended by them. Dire crap is the best description of them. They don't let slyrry down through them properly. They have moved over thegaps in the slats. Cattle on them come out dirty. They are definitely not near as good as the easy fix slats and they cost the same at the time. Have mayo mats since the 1980's on cubicles - they were removed from a cubicle house and put on the cublices in the slatted shed in 1997 and they are still in great shape. But from what I have seen, the Mayo slat mat is one to stay away from.

[mod note]

If you represent mayo mats, please do not use this forum to promote them.

Reilig

South wind

Easi fix slat mat is brilliant have it installed 12years still holding shape , only thing is not to power hose too hard it will remove the dimples. Seriously thinking of putting in the double foam mattress from easi fix. Anyone care to comment!?