SLAT MATS

Charliebull · 12-09-2016 2:29pm #1

Anyone any opinions on these, comfort mat or standard mats

was going to do a couple of bays for the poor dolls with bad feet

White Clover · 12-09-2016 3:17pm

Charliebull wrote: »

Anyone any opinions on these, comfort mat or standard mats

was going to do a couple of bays for the poor dolls with bad feet

I wouldn't recommend putting them under cows with bad feet. The hoof will grow out of shape as it has nothing to wear against.
Best to get these dolls' hooves looked at and then footbath them to harden the hoof.
Mats won't fix bad feet.

Charliebull · 12-09-2016 3:47pm

i aint trying to fix them with mats,
some cows just cant hack 7 months on concrete, even with hoofs trimmed before they go on slats, and sods law its usually the good ones

i just want an opinion on the different mats not a lesson in hoof care

Never wrestle with pigs · 12-09-2016 3:58pm

Going to do a few bays myself this year if funds allow. A lad I buy a few animals off has both comfort mats and easy fix.

From what he says the comfort mat stays cleaner and would be better for finishing stock. The easy fix definitely look better and thicker but are a bit more dirty. I think they are better for cows all the same.

TITANIUM. · 12-09-2016 3:59pm

Charliebull wrote: »

i aint trying to fix them with mats,
some cows just cant hack 7 months on concrete, even with hoofs trimmed before they go on slats, and sods law its usually the good ones

i just want an opinion on the different mats not a lesson in hoof care

I'm going getting the comfort slat mats myself. (When I can afford them). A buddy of mine has a few bays of both and he reckons that the comfort mat is far superior and he's changing to all comfort mats a bay at a time.

White Clover · 12-09-2016 4:07pm

Charliebull wrote: »

i aint trying to fix them with mats,
some cows just cant hack 7 months on concrete, even with hoofs trimmed before they go on slats, and sods law its usually the good ones

i just want an opinion on the different mats not a lesson in hoof care

Did u not say they have bad feet? Good ones with bad feet? I dunno but maybe the mats will make them good!

mickdw · 12-09-2016 4:12pm

Give the mayo mat people a call.
The owner who is a chemist and developed the rubber compound etc himself is as straight as can be.

Lady Haywire · 12-09-2016 4:23pm

We have the Mayo mats on two pens, the third pen is concrete so we can swap cows in and out.
The mats are great to add a bit of comfort for the cows, no sore joints and definitely good for cows with sore feet, however it allows their feet to grow with no wearing so you'll be trimming them more often.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't but it is a lot easier on older cows especially.

Charliebull · 12-09-2016 4:57pm

White Clover wrote: »

Did u not say they have bad feet? Good ones with bad feet? I dunno but maybe the mats will make them good!

yep i did, but what i asked was for was an "opinion on mats" for the record by bad feet i mean they suffer after 7 months on slats,

yes good ones they produce good quality calves every ear, in other words they do what a cow is supposed to do, they are like the rest of us not perfect I suppose

i dunno maybe your right, the mats will work wonders on them

Charliebull · 12-09-2016 4:58pm

called them both, bout 200 euro per bay in difference

Count Mondego · 12-09-2016 5:08pm

I think the comfort are the only ones to go for. Stay a mile away from the mayo mats, they stretch after a few years.

Salrub · 12-09-2016 5:24pm

Anyone have a rough estimate on cost of comfort mats for three bay single slatted shed?

Count Mondego · 12-09-2016 6:17pm

Salrub wrote: »

Anyone have a rough estimate on cost of comfort mats for three bay single slatted shed?

65 + vat per metre squared.

Genghis Cant · 12-09-2016 6:52pm

We have the Easyfix mats. We stuck them in ourselves. Handy fitted.
I can't compare them with any of the others cos we only have Easyfix. But we're very happy with them.
The ploughing might be a good place to go and take a look, you might get a good price on the day.

mickdw · 12-09-2016 9:02pm

Count Mondego wrote: »

I think the comfort are the only ones to go for. Stay a mile away from the mayo mats, they stretch after a few years.

Are you sure the mayo mats you refer to are genuine. Lots of people claiming to be selling the original mayo mats.
I believe there is a 10 year warranty with the mayo mats.

Charliebull · 12-09-2016 10:43pm

Got quoted 1100 per bay plus 23% vat , fitted for comfort mats

tanko · 12-09-2016 10:47pm

Isn't there some talk that slat mats might be grant aided under TAMS in the near future?

Salrub · 12-09-2016 10:57pm

Genghis Cant wrote: »

We have the Easyfix mats. We stuck them in ourselves. Handy fitted.
I can't compare them with any of the others cos we only have Easyfix. But we're very happy with them.
The ploughing might be a good place to go and take a look, you might get a good price on the day.

Mind me asking how much a square meter you were charged?

Cavanjack · 12-09-2016 11:05pm

tanko wrote: »

Isn't there some talk that slat mats might be grant aided under TAMS in the near future?

Yeah it will be next year as far as I know. I wouldn't be be rushing to put them in for the sake of 6 months.
Have one shed done here with easifix. Super job for finishing heavy cattle. If it pays to put them in I don't know but we'll do another few sheds if that grant does come.

Genghis Cant · 12-09-2016 11:34pm

Salrub wrote: »

Mind me asking how much a square meter you were charged?

It's between ten and fifteen years ago since we got them, I've no idea how much. But I seem to remember they were very close to the same price as the slats per bay.

Sami23 · 13-09-2016 8:58am

Charliebull wrote: »

Anyone any opinions on these, comfort mat or standard mats

was going to do a couple of bays for the poor dolls with bad feet

What's the difference between the 2 mats as hope to get a few bays done in next few years ?
Is it thickness or type of rubber

Parishlad · 13-09-2016 10:03am

Comfort mats here too. Think they are a great job. They have a rounded shape to them as opposed to Easyfix which are flat. More of a 'cushioned' feel to them also. From what I can see they tend to stay cleaner than Easyfix, but then I'm sure that there are plenty of lads that will swear by Easyfix also.
I couldn't imagine having the cows laying straight on top of the bare slat now.

Sami23 · 13-09-2016 10:43am

Has anyone heard when the mats will be included in TAMS as it was announced the same time as the sheep fencing but only the fencing is included so far ?

Charliebull · 13-09-2016 10:56am

Salrub wrote: »

Mind me asking how much a square meter you were charged?

960 per bay plus VAT, FIT YOURSELF

Genghis Cant · 13-09-2016 11:22am

Parishlad wrote: »

Comfort mats here too. Think they are a great job. They have a rounded shape to them as opposed to Easyfix which are flat.

The Easyfix look flat but if you cut them or look 'end on' they have a convex shape ie higher in the middle!

Bass Reeves · 13-09-2016 11:50am

I got mats fitted about 5-6 years ago. There was a grant at the time. After VAT and grant it cost about 500/pen for 16' slats. There was 5 providers, Easyfx Mayo comfort, Durapac, another comfort mat made in Germany and another mat made from a grerman rubber provider taht was being laser cut.

I went with the Easyfix. I considered that there fixing method was the best and that there was thicker rubber which would wear better under heavy cattle. After grant differen in quoted price between different makes was immaterial( about 50-80/bay. Easyfix was mid range at the time, Durapac was the cheapest with Mayo comfort around the same cost as Easyfix. The laser cut mat looked good but there pegging system could be an issue longterm. The German comfort mat looked flimey, it was also a fixed width and he wanted to trim the slats to make it fit right. Not something I was in favour of.

While Durapac was chearper it mat was harder and thinner than either Mayo or Easyfix. It came down to these two but friend had the Mayo mats and he found he was trimming them as they streched over the slat gaps over time.

Sami23 · 15-09-2016 9:11am

Sami23 wrote: »

Has anyone heard when the mats will be included in TAMS as it was announced the same time as the sheep fencing but only the fencing is included so far ?

bump

Count Mondego · 15-09-2016 11:43am

Bass Reeves wrote: »

I got mats fitted about 5-6 years ago. There was a grant at the time. After VAT and grant it cost about 500/pen for 16' slats. There was 5 providers, Easyfx Mayo comfort, Durapac, another comfort mat made in Germany and another mat made from a grerman rubber provider taht was being laser cut.

I went with the Easyfix. I considered that there fixing method was the best and that there was thicker rubber which would wear better under heavy cattle. After grant differen in quoted price between different makes was immaterial( about 50-80/bay.

A 16' slat bay with comfort mats costs nearly 1800 now. Some robbery.

degetme · 15-10-2016 11:08am

Got easyfix mats fitted and after seeing them in a place before hand I said they would be fine if the got a few screws in corners to stop them lifting. I'm just thinking now did i do more harm than good by putting in stainless steel screws(inch) and washers into mats and into concrete slats. would the hole made where plug and screws are start to corrode and affect the steel in slats and concrete. It's looks a tidy job. But just thinking now should ive left it alone. Pic attached below

rushvalley · 15-10-2016 11:50am

degetme wrote: »

Got easyfix mats fitted and after seeing them in a place before hand I said they would be fine if the got a few screws in corners to stop them lifting. I'm just thinking now did i do more harm than good by putting in stainless steel screws(inch) and washers into mats and into concrete slats. would the hole made where plug and screws are start to corrode and affect the steel in slats and concrete. It's looks a tidy job. But just thinking now should ive left it alone. Pic attached below

I'd say they'd have been grand without the screws, we have easy fix mats in a pen and there's no sign of them lifting.
Would the bolts cause problems with cattle's hooves when they stand down on them when they are used to the softness of the mats?

degetme · 15-10-2016 12:18pm

rushvalley wrote: »

I'd say they'd have been grand without the screws, we have easy fix mats in a pen and there's no sign of them lifting.
Would the bolts cause problems with cattle's hooves when they stand down on them when they are used to the softness of the mats?

There not bolts. No I'm not worried about the Screwhead and washer.they are below the level of slat mat and they will be covered in **** in after a few days of use

I said · 15-10-2016 5:39pm

degetme wrote: »

Got easyfix mats fitted and after seeing them in a place before hand I said they would be fine if the got a few screws in corners to stop them lifting. I'm just thinking now did i do more harm than good by putting in stainless steel screws(inch) and washers into mats and into concrete slats. would the hole made where plug and screws are start to corrode and affect the steel in slats and concrete. It's looks a tidy job. But just thinking now should ive left it alone. Pic attached below

Have easifix here as well didn't bother with screws in the corners no bother with them lifting at all yet 3 yrs in now

Justjens · 15-10-2016 7:27pm

Fitted both Easyfix and Durapak mats last year, Easy for the Autumn calvers and Dura for the 1 1/2 year olds.

Cost much the same as I fitted them myself, Dura comes in rows of three and Easy in two.

Both a breeze to put down with a decent heavy lump hammer, and no need for fixings.

Which would I prefer to kneel/walk/work on all day?.....Durapack hands down.

The Easy are just too hard IMO, not that much different to concrete, Durapack on the other hand are much softer and the cattle were happy out on them.

I do have a straw bed lie back for both bunches of cattle, tended to lock the 1 1/2 year olds onto the slats when I was feeling lazy (without feeling cruel!) but never would for the cows and calves.

MikeSoys · 29-10-2017 11:02pm

Charliebull wrote: »

Got quoted 1100 per bay plus 23% vat , fitted for comfort mats

1100 per bay plus 23% vat!!!!:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

what size are you slats?

cacs · 30-10-2017 12:04am

MikeSoys wrote: »

1100 per bay plus 23% vat!!!!:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

what size are you slats?

Got mayo Mats in yesterday. Nothing on them yet. Was at a mans shed a few weeks ago and there was mats in looked like the easy fix but it wasn’t them. They were shredded. He said he had the mayo mats in only job. I spoke to someone who works with plastics and he said mayo mats are made of pva or eva which is more resistant to urine. Other brands are rubber and break down over time.

annubis · 30-10-2017 6:49am

have easifix and durapak and comfort mats all in different sheds, for me the easifix are the best, only have a small area of durapak in a shed for weanlings, some of their mats have broke at the joints which is very poor. the comforts mats are fine but are definitely slippy, I also found that cows with bad feet didnt seem too happy on the comforts mats but worked better in the bays with easifix mats..anyway that just my experience, id say any of them are a big relief to cattle rather than bare slat

Dozer1 · 06-11-2017 1:37pm

quoted 1150 +VAT per 14' 6 bay there lately for Easyfix flipping heck they are gone dear

Parishlad · 06-11-2017 2:57pm

Dozer1 wrote: »

quoted 1150 +VAT per 14' 6 bay there lately for Easyfix flipping heck they are gone dear

That is dear. I wonder what the Comfort mats are going for these days?

Joebobs · 06-11-2017 3:59pm

Parishlad wrote: »

That is dear. I wonder what the Comfort mats are going for these days?

Sure the comfort mats are the most expensive of the lot...the boom is back!!!

Dozer1 · 06-11-2017 4:14pm

1340 per span but that's supplied and fitted....and that only covers the mat on the slats, extra to cover the toe spacing....

Parishlad · 06-11-2017 4:29pm

Dozer1 wrote: »

1340 per span but that's supplied and fitted....and that only covers the mat on the slats, extra to cover the toe spacing....

Why would you cover the toe spacing?

Muckit · 06-11-2017 7:42pm

Parishlad wrote: »

Why would you cover the toe spacing?

I see in Mountbellew ag College that is the only bit of the pen done. Might as well have them comfortable when they are eating at barrier

Joebobs · 06-11-2017 8:04pm

Dozer1 wrote: »

1340 per span but that's supplied and fitted....and that only covers the mat on the slats, extra to cover the toe spacing....

Is it really worth it that much though..can u claim vat back on mats?

annubis · 06-11-2017 8:29pm

Joebobs wrote: »

Is it really worth it that much though..can u claim vat back on mats?

ya

visatorro · 06-11-2017 10:11pm

One bay of an old shed I have is 20 x 20. Bought eight easy fix mats and put them in one corner. A few sit on it and the rest of them stand around waiting for one to get up. These are dry cows. I think they are a good job anyway.

Cattlepen · 07-11-2017 2:35am

A friend of mine got a quote posted out from one of the slat mat companies and his wife opened it. There was war. She said " the trouble I had to get you to spend €700 on a bed for us to lie on and your thinking of spending €7000 on mats for cows?".
Needless to say he didn't get slat mats !!

Joebobs · 07-11-2017 8:17am

Cattlepen wrote: »

A friend of mine got a quote posted out from one of the slat mat companies and his wife opened it. There was war. She said " the trouble I had to get you to spend €700 on a bed for us to lie on and your thinking of spending €7000 on mats for cows?".
Needless to say he didn't get slat mats !!

Haha ...women they just dont understand!....

Never wrestle with pigs · 18-11-2017 12:39am

I have a shed with about 30 cubicles in it. I'm noticing less cows lieing in them this year. They are the old two legged steel ones. My guess is they are to small now that some of the cows are maturing.

I'm thinking of ripping them out, step and all and putting in a full level rubber floor in the whole shed. This will give way more space for cows to lie down and comfortably. If one calves out in it it's not the end of the world. Much less labour and cost in the long term than bedding.

I would scrap it into a tank in front of it like I do now with the cubicles.

Question is anyone here with something similar? Is it slippery without the usual spaces on the slat mats? Could a bull work away on one with a bulling cow without turning upside down?

The space is about 30ft by 35ft. Sorry for the long post.

flowerific · 18-11-2017 1:12am

We dust cubicle peat on the mats and no hoof problems now

Joebobs · 16-01-2018 10:29pm

With easyfix mats at the front feed barrier how many screws per mat is recommended 4,6,8,...? for beef cattle?

Who2 · 16-01-2018 11:01pm

Never wrestle with pigs wrote: »

I have a shed with about 30 cubicles in it. I'm noticing less cows lieing in them this year. They are the old two legged steel ones. My guess is they are to small now that some of the cows are maturing.

I'm thinking of ripping them out, step and all and putting in a full level rubber floor in the whole shed. This will give way more space for cows to lie down and comfortably. If one calves out in it it's not the end of the world. Much less labour and cost in the long term than bedding.

I would scrap it into a tank in front of it like I do now with the cubicles.

Question is anyone here with something similar? Is it slippery without the usual spaces on the slat mats? Could a bull work away on one with a bulling cow without turning upside down?

The space is about 30ft by 35ft. Sorry for the long post.

ive one similar and i try to avoid putting cattle in it. pure torture scraping them out

SLAT MATS

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