Automated Dairy Specialist
June 2024
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Classic Cow Comfort Versatility
Advanced Diamond Traction and Comfort
Ultimate Grooved Rolled Rubber
Fisher and Thompson
June 2023
Fisher and Thompson
Long-Lasting Tie Stall
Comfort
Over the years we have used many different mattresses for our bedding, but realized we needed something that could withstand the unique environment of a tie stall barn.
The Flannery family has been in the dairy business since the 1930s, and their legacy continues on Roaring Creek Farms – a 307 acre property nestled in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. In 2004, the family decided to expand by constructing a new 125-cow tie-stall barn which improved cow comfort, individualized care, reduced stress, and allowed the family to observe cow health and behavior more closely.
The Flannery family initially considered sand as the bedding solution for their tie stall barn, but after researching it further they had concerns about the demanding maintenance and the potential wear and tear on their manure system. Given that the cows spend 24 hours a day in the stalls, the Flannery’s were determined to find a bedding solution that would not only provide long-lasting comfort, but also withstand the specific demands of their tie stall barn.
The Animattress I-HD increases the productivity and comfort of the cow. Most of the time, 80% of the cows are laying down… as a dairy farmer that's what I like to see.
Our cows stay on these mattresses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so it's very important to us that they are comfortable.
When partnering with Animat, the Flannery family was impressed by our sales rep promptly visiting the facility to assess their requirements. The stress-free experience of working with Animat and our focus on enhancing cow comfort while meeting the unique demands of a tie stall facility, made it an effortless choice for the Flannery family to install the Animattress I-HD.
The Animattress I-HD features a robust ¼” (6mm) heavy-duty top cover and a 1.5″ thick high-density foam pad. Unlike the Animattress I, the installation of the Animattress I-HD avoids the need to fold the cover over at the curb edge of the stall. This design modification increases the lifespan of the mattress, especially in a demanding tie stall application.
The Flannery family has seen an increase in cow comfort, productivity, and cost-efficiency with the implementation of the Animattress I-HD. They indicated that the cows were much more comfortable on the Animattress I-HD compared to the other competitor mats they used in the past.
Finding a solution that was designed specifically for tie-stall barns has improve cow comfort and overall farm profitability for Roaring Creek Farms. Animat’s commitment to product quality and innovation has helped many farms improve their overall operations and animal welfare.
These mattresses combined with other improvements have had a positive impact on milk production and overall farm profitability increasing the herd's average milk production from 27,000 pounds per cow with three daily milkings to 35,000 pounds by 2015.
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