Slat Matts 2022

big big loader

Hi all,

Have a new 3 bay suckler shed just finished. i need to put slat matts down - for heavy suckler cows. Ive seen several old threads here on slat matts going back the years. Have got quotes from Comfort, Easyfix and Mayo Mats. The comfort ones by a good bit the most expensive - but from what ive researched may be the best for heavy suckler cows. Easyfix seem to cover the slat holes a bit more and may leave the stcok dirtier - which isnt ideal for suckler cows/calves/scours. Any thoughts from those in a similar situation that may have bought either??

minerleague

Have easyfix here good no of years, good grip for cows, not the softest but still look the same now as when they went in. cattle stay clean as long as you have pens fairly well stocked. Concreted toe area near feeding barrier to stop them lying there ( instead of flat mat easyfix supply ) I think easyfix now do a mat that slopes more to either side to let water away quicker. ( dont have calved cows in shed so cant comment there )

funkey_monkey

@minerleague - do the cows not kick up the edges of your mats at the concreted toe area?

minerleague

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119642027#Comment_119642027

No, the wedges on slat mats are very tight ( had to drive them with sledge ) and concrete is a small bit above the level of the mat (edit to say concrete put in after so to get good depth ended a small bit above mat ) . At the back of the pens I put the flat mat sections on the 18" of bare concrete and never put the screws supplied with them and dirt sometimes gets in at a joint alright

Fine Day

Comfort mats here for the few years. Find them a good job and I did a few more pens this year. Have no experience with other brands. There is pros and cons for every brand I'd say. All down to your preference and requirements. It's a long term investment so I would put the time and effort into researching them. A few different companies at the ploughing this week so plenty of options.

Sami23

Does anyone have the newer type Easyfix Mats with the sloped curved surface under suckler cows.

How do they compare to the older flat Easyfix Mats in terms of slippyness and cleanliness of the Cows ?

Ordering some next week but unsure which type to go with.

Tia

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119679400#Comment_119679400

Talk to one of the reps. I’m after putting in a couple of pens of the curved ones. He said they were best for finishing animals. He will advise.

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119679473#Comment_119679473

Yeah I had the rep out alright to measure up and he said people are putting in both types and it's down to personal preference.

He did say the newer ones would definitely be a bit slippery than the originals but loads of people are using them so I was hoping to get opinions of people that are actually using them.

Presume you don't have cattle on yours yet

Conversations 3

Anyone use Durapak mats?

Spoke to them at the ploughing and they seemed to be a good crowd, not sure on price yet.

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119679620#Comment_119679620

No cattle on them yet. It’s finishing bulls that’ll be going in it. The older ones are a safer bet if you are still unsure when buying them.

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119679727#Comment_119679727

Yeah I'm leaning that way alright but just think they'd be a lot cleaner on the smooth ones 🤷‍♂️

leoch

Wat price are they

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119680451#Comment_119680451

Looking like €1100 plus vat per bay for 11'6" slats

funkey_monkey

What is folks rationale for buying the mats? Is it welfare based or do you think that the increased daily gains will pay for itself?

Thinking about it - am I missing something here?

Teagasc state 0.17kg increase in ADG on slat mats (source: Rubber slat mats deliver benefit in Teagasc finishing trial 13 January 2021 Free (farmersjournal.ie) )

So, in a typical 15ft x 15ft bay that's approx 21m2 and a stocking density of 1 animal per 3.0m2 (as per the study above) that equates to 7 cattle per pen.

Over a 3-month wintering/finishing that is 0.15kg (ADG) x 90 days gives a gain of 13.5kg per animal over the period. Across 7 animals that is a total increase of 94.5kg beyond bare concrete slats.

Taking an approx DW price of €4.25/kg results in an increase income of 4.25 x (94.5/2) = €200 per pen of 7 animals. So, in theory it would take to the end of the sixth year to pay off the slat mats if finishing cattle. Is that not pretty good for return on investment? The lifespan of the mats would be well beyond that timeframe.

Is anyone else seeing improvements like this? Was interesting to note that a study on weanlings showed no significant benefit - must really only benefit when the flesh starts to pile on the animal.

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119681535#Comment_119681535

For me it's mainly down to animal welfare as its not easy looking on to see suckler cows near calving struggling to stand up due to slippy concrete slats.

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119681535#Comment_119681535

I worked it out like this.

they say It’s an increase of 11kg carcass weight over 120 days. I’d suspect with bulls this may be higher. Many lads finishing bulls run a couple of lots through the shed every year.

So 11kg by a pen of 7 two times a year is 154kg extra per pen @ €4.5 is €693. 2 years should pay for them at that rate.

Gudstock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119679676#Comment_119679676

Any reviews or experience with the Durapak mats?

funkey_monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119682721#Comment_119682721

I never get near their quoted weights, so scaled it back to 6.75kg carcass. Is a fattening period not usually 3 months as opposed to 4? It's still a decent return.

I wonder is it just a matter of time though before they are compulsory and what that will do to prices?

Conversations 3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119683507#Comment_119683507

I can only find the info on their own website, I'll contact them and get a quote anyway.

http://www.durapakagri.ie/products/durapak-slatted-rubber

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119683806#Comment_119683806

If they wanted to make them compulsory we would have seen grants to encourage the install in new shed and also for retrofitting Bigger problem is to get farmers to check the condition of slats. New Tams will be interesting to see it they included. The only way I can see them allowing grant aid on mats is if you install new slats

minerleague

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119683507#Comment_119683507

No experience but they cover 3 slats compared to easyfix 2. every second gap in slats is free of any wedges then with easyfix

funkey_monkey

Condon's do Kraiburg slat mats. Not sure what they are like, but totally generalising, German stuff is usually well made - although I'm not sure that the space to surface ratio is sufficient for keeping stock clean?

https://condonengineering.ie/product/kraiburg-slat-mat/

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119683806#Comment_119683806

Their trial was bullocks over 120 days. This winter the finishing period could be halved to 60 days in a lot of places.

Fine Day

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119684867#Comment_119684867

Tell me more please on how I can half my winter finishing period. I am cautious on finishing cattle this winter with the high input cost and what way the market will be next March.

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119685056#Comment_119685056

You’ll halve it by only feeding them for half the time. They’ll not be properly finished obviously.

I’ve heard of a few lads that are letting bulls off as soon as they’ve any sort of cover on them at all (after 40-50 days).

As for bullocks it’d probably be time to get rid of as soon as they hit 2+ if feeding inside.

funkey_monkey

Would they still meet spec or would there be penalties?

Fine Day

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119685243#Comment_119685243

I don't know if I would go that route. I'd carry less and finish them well before I'd considered that. Maybe I am just old school but I feel it's a sin killing cattle that are not fit. I know we are in different time but that's half doing a job in my opinion.

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119685369#Comment_119685369

Bulls would be ok at 2- I’d say but they’d grade and kill out better with more flesh on them

funkey_monkey

This thread has go me looking at the comfort mats again and I just noticed something in the Installation Instructions. There doesn't seem to be a mat which covers the 350kg - 750kg range - which most of us running weanlings and finishing would require. I'm guessing that the dairy mat would be the one to opt for though with a talk to them.

Another thing is that we have central mixing points (no ability to move outside) and these mats have a 1tonne limit. So a non-runner - disappointing as I think they are the best system in regards to space to surface ratio. Not sure if the others can handle a tractor on them.

funkey_monkey

Just seen in todays farming life that slat mats are now grant eligible in northern Ireland.

Might be soon the same in South.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119679473#Comment_119679473

Hi Cavan, just wondering how you found these mats after a year with them? I rang Easyfix today for pricing and a rep is to ring me back later. I’d be interested to get your opinion on them. Thanks.

tellmeabit

Did you get a quote after?

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121346383#Comment_121346383

Yeah happy enough with them. Done another 8 pens this year. Thought cattle done well on them and were clean enough. Only issue is when moving cattle on them they can be slippy but happy out with them.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121346845#Comment_121346845

Thanks Cavan, would you prefer them over the standard Easyfix or is there any difference?

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121346599#Comment_121346599

Just got a call from the rep in the last few mins.

€7,000 plus vat to do a 3 bay 16’6 slat with a 4 foot toe area both sides of the slat being matted as well.

tellmeabit

Easy fix quoted approx 1300 per Bay for 11'6 and 1 foot toe area

mr.stonewall

Comfort mats at the ploughing were €1300+vat a bay for 11ft 6 slats no toe area. A pro for no mat in the toe area is to keep the hoofs harden up a bit

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121346871#Comment_121346871

I’d say they are a bit cleaner and there might be more lasting in them. There is plenty of meat in them where as the standard ones that are in 10 years are in good condition but the grips are starting to wear.

Ive half the sheds done at this stage and hope to do another 3/4 pens a year until they are all done. I have in in my head m for some reason that for finishing sheds I’ll keep using the curved ones but maybe for sheds that I’d usually have store cattle in I’d put in the standard ones.

funkey_monkey

Do you find them slippy for the cattle or just yourself?

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121348170#Comment_121348170

Slippy for the cattle but only when moving them and maybe no more slippy than concrete. They are softer than the green comfort mats so less slippy than them I’d imagine

funkey_monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121351001#Comment_121351001

So yours are the SDR slat mats - the one with the sloped profile? Any discernable difference between them and thy flat profile ones?

I'm leaving towards the green ones myself purely for the reason of them not covering the gap at any point - whether it makes any real world difference I don't know.

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121351845#Comment_121351845

Yes the sdr. Probably cleaner than the flat ones and I’d say they might last longer than the flat ones. There is plenty of meat in them.

I’ve seen the green ones and thought them very hard and slippy but that was only from looking at cattle on them for a few minutes. The cattle’s hooves go into the Easyfix sdr mats giving them a grip. As I said in an earlier post I will be putting more of them in.

older by the day

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121351845#Comment_121351845

I have the flat mat and as you said there are a good bit of the holes covered and cattle are dirtier. My neighbor has the green sloped ones and are away cleaner.

They were more expensive but if I was going again I would go green