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The upper stand-off pad is close to completion. The lower yard, complete and ready for cows while work continues on new races to the dairy shed.
The roofs feature timber poles and beams.
Each stand-off pad features two troughs set into the repurposed corrugated iron windbreak fencing. Each mat is 30mm thick, 1.8m x 1.2m covering 2sqm when laid and interlocked. Each mat weighs 53kg and has a specially designed air-cushion comfort base with a textured top for increased grip. They are constructed from a 50:50 blend of recycled and new rubber for sustainability and durability and have UV stabilisation, which provides resilience to the New Zealand environment and ensures longer life than alternative matting. Paul says the grip pattern on the mats reduces the incidence of cows slipping and the deep aircushion pattern on the underside increases cow comfort and support. “The design of the mat also addresses hoof white line damage and lameness which can result when cows are walking, standing, pushing or pivoting on concrete.
“Cows are the best judge of comfort and it’s not uncommon to see them lying down within a short time of being let onto the stand-off pads. The mats are warmer than concrete, cleaner than woodchip, and provide more cushioning on joints.” The benefits of being able to hold stock off pasture also extend to the pasture, with increased yields and persistence due to reduced pugging.
DIY job Bruce says he and Jenni tend to do everything themselves and so decided to redevelop the existing stand-off pad sites – removing all woodchip, resurfacing, pouring concrete and erecting windproof fencing and water troughs around the circumference. The location and contour of both sites enable effluent to feed
The Comfy Cow mats, left, interlock with each other and require few if any bolts as their 53kg weight holds them in place. from the dairy shed, through each pad and into the effluent pond. “Around half of each stand-off pad is covered by a roof providing the cows with shelter from rain or sun and each pad is equipped with two silage feeders and two troughs. We simply put one bale of silage into each feeder so the cows can pick at the feed. “We collect rain-water from the standoff pad roofs along with the dairy, calf and implement shed, storing the water in two tanks. We use the water for washdown of all yards in combination with green-wash from the effluent pond. We anticipate washing each pad every day to maintain cleanliness and promote animal health, such as reduced mastitis.” Bruce says the new pads are due to be completed in early July ready for calving. Each pad will comfortably house 100 cows, which
will cater to the two mobs we run the herd in – heifers and young cows in one mob, and mature cows in the other.
Cosy “We expect some cows will calve in the yards, where they will be sheltered and warm, and the cows easily transferred to the adjacent dairy shed for milking.” Bruce says the mats around the exterior of the yard had to be cut to shape but this was easily done with a jigsaw. “The mats are anchored with concrete fasteners at the entry/exit points and sides as well as every second row, which ensures a secure, more comfortable fit for the space. “They are interlocking with their weight stopping them from shifting even when under a heavy load.”
