Across the dairy industry, major milk buyers and farm assurance schemes – including big names like Tesco (TSDG) and First Milk – are continuously evolving their guidelines and sharpening their focus on animal welfare.
The latest shift taking centre stage? Rubber matting in standing areas of the parlour. Improving comfort during milking is becoming non-negotiable.
The Hidden Cost of Concrete: Why Rubber Standing Mats in the Parlour Matter
A cow spends a significant portion of her day on her feet, but standing on concrete during milking takes a toll. Bare concrete in parlours often leads to:
- Lameness: Concrete causes pressure points on the hooves, leading to bruising, sole ulcers, white line disease and chronic lameness.
- Slower Cow Flow: Wet and/or worn concrete is slippy. Cows become nervous and hesistant, slowing down the entrance to and exit of the parlour.
- Increased Stress & Lower Yields: Any form of discomfort for the cow causes stress. Stress triggers the release of cortisol which directly hinders milk let-down.
The Solution: Heavy Duty Rubber Mats in the Parlour
Rubber matting provides critical cushioning that evenly distributes body weight, reduces impact on joints and gives the cows confidence to walk naturally without slipping.
Beyond the Parlour: Collection Yards, Parlour Entry & Exit
While parlour standing mats are the main focus of new milk contract guidlines, cow comfort shouldn’t stop there.
Collection Yards: Long waiting times on concrete in crowded yards puts immense stress on cows’ feet and joints before milking even begins.
Entry & Exit Lanes: Bare, slippy concrete on entry and exit of the parlour causes bottlnecks and further hoof strain.
Extending non-slip rubber matting zones creates a seamless, low stress journey from housing to the parlour and back.
Complete Parlour Comfort: Don’t Forget the Pit
A smooth milking routine depends just as much on the milker as it does the herd. And this may too be refelected within milk contract guidelines in time.
As we covered in our previous article, The Need for Premium Parlour Pit Mats, long shifts on concrete pit floors are tough on farm staff. Standing on hard surfaces for hours causes serious fatigue and often physical pain. Over time this strain will inevitably lead to longer shift times and a lack of concentration, resulting in missed health issues.
Installing the Plantar Parlour Pit Mats works alongside your rubber standing mats in the parlour to ensure both operator and herd benefit from maximum comfrort, safety and productivity.
Get Ahead of Milk Contract Deadlines with Intershape
Wether you are looking to comply with upcoming milk buyer guidelines or simply protect your herds mobility and performance, we can help you tailor the right set up for your farm.
At Intershape, we provide and fit, robust, commericial grade rubber matting, specifically for high-wear dairy environments.