is there a grant available under TAMS for the purchase of rubber mats for slats, looking to get 3 bays covered, quoted 1350 plus vat for comfort slats
Almost certain that there isn’t unfortunately.
very expensive - are they worth it?
I dont have any here but assuming you get the VAT back and 6 cows/pen and the mats do 20 years, it works out at about €11/cow/year which doesn’t seem like a lot.
There are rumours that they may be included in the next TAMS which I think is in 2023.
would you make 11 euro per year per cow if you bought the mats does anyone know?
So that means they’ll probably double in price 😕😕
There's been rumours for the last 5 years about this, I have been watching it, bit the bullet & just got them
i put in comfort mats in a open shed this year and i think they really for a closed shed. i've a 3m overhang. if there's any little fog/mist/drizzle the mats become an ice rink. i wouldnt fancy cows in calf on them
Have them here. There is good give in them. Cattle hoofs grip into them. I find they can be Slippy when I walk on them. But I think cattle are ok. I don't think I would be too worried. I would have more conserns without them on animal welfare.
have you them in open shed or closed shed? I've young stock of them they slipping every way Same when i was finishing cattle but i suppose they have a soft fall
Little or no rain gets in to my shed but yet maintaining good air flow. Is it possible to prevent rain/mist getting into shed. I may be wrong but based on my experience a shed needs to prevent rain getting in and have sufficient air to maintain good animal health and this improved with the rubber mats. Hope to put a few more mats down this year if beef prices allows.
Just on the Easyfix Mats which would people recommend for sucklers and a stock bull - the original 'flat' type or the newer softer 'curved' type ?
I had ment to have them in for this winter but will definitely get a few pens done this year for next winter so would like to put in the best I can.
I know alot of people like the green comfort slat mats but I've heard they are very slippy.
TIA
Have the original type here a good few years, still look as good as when they were put in, quite hard though. Haven't seen newer but if price wasn't much dearer I might try them for heavy cows
Both type of Easyfix are the same price.
Like that I'm leaning towards the newer type at the moment
Been quoted €1445 + vat for comfort mats per bay. Seems savage dear. Are they worth it? Have a few go lame most winters so reckon they’ll help on that front. Any other makes working for ye that I could price?
Have Easyfix here in a few pens they are dead on but have nothing to compare them against.
Anyone have any experience of Kraiburg mats that condons do? Seem cheaper than the rest of them.
They are all savage dear. I have priced Durapak also. Any views on these or the Mayo mats too?
They say that the ideal is to have an uncovered concrete toe space between the feed barrier and the slats so that the hooves wear here. A lot of foot issues with continentals are a combo of genetic disposition to it particularly if fed high amounts of ration.
Is their tams aid for mats, I always thought their was not, but according to today journal their is?
No tams for mats yet but I haven’t seen the journal yet so maybe it’s on the cards. There was a grant back some time ago, over 10 years ago I’d say. Before tams anyway
Yeah it says at the end “not taking into account tams aid”
