With this in mind, Bioret, a specialist in livestock equipment, has developed the Aquastar mattress to enhance a cubicle. A 70 mm water pocket rests on a 35 mm-thick latex underlay, so that every cow can find her sleeping position, whatever her morphology, while benefiting from even pressure over her entire body.

This improves the cow's blood circulation, which in turn boosts milk production. Independent studies have shown that, compared with conventional bedding, Aquastar mattresses enable cows to lie down for longer cycles, increasing milk production by 1 to 3.5 liters per day.

For added comfort, the peach-skin finish of the mattress surface protects cattle's feet from abrasion, reducing friction.

The cooling solution for hot weather

As the water pocket creates a slope towards the rear, the natural flow of liquids is encouraged. The mattress surface is easy to clean, and a daily addition of 300 g of chopped straw is all that's needed to keep the cubicle clean.

Cows are housed in a healthy environment, avoiding injuries and heatstroke. In fact, the water pocket also ensures heat exchange, reducing heat stress for the animals in the summer months. « No more cows lying in the alley, even in hot weather »confirms David Forget, a breeder in Loire-Atlantique, whose cubicle barn has been equipped with Aquastar mattresses for several years.

It was this objective, to provide the cows in his herd with the best possible sleeping comfort, that prompted Hugo Lucas, a breeder in the Côtes d'Armor region, to install Aquastar water mattresses in the cubicles when building a new stall in 2020. « Cows seem to like it »As proof, he points to the absence of bedsores since the cubicles were fitted with Aquastar mattresses.

« If you invest in their well-being and comfort, the cows return the favor," emphasizes Hugo Lucas. Without changing their diet, we've gained 2 to 3 kilos of milk per cow by putting them in good conditions in our new building. »Healthy, productive cows are proof that the farmer has made the right choice in terms of bedding, focusing on their comfort.

L’article Aquastar : « Il n’y a plus de vaches couchées dans le couloir, même quand il fait chaud » est apparu en premier sur BIORET AGRI.

Highly resistant and easy to clean box Artémis is composed of Magellan 16 and a high-density latex underlay wrapped in a PVC film. This combination provides both a soft floor and good, earth-like grip, making it easier for even the most fragile cows to move around, and preventing them from falling. 

With this in mind, Simon Clouet, a breeder in Loire-Atlantique, decided to invest in an Artémis stall.

« I have two calving stalls in my barn," explains the breeder. The first is on concrete and accessible by tractor, if I need to raise a cow, for example. I also use it to sort animals. But with a straw-covered concrete floor, there's more risk of slipping. So I decided to equip the second stall with Artémis. It is used for the most fragile cows, in case of difficult calving, or for those who, sick or injured, need the best conditions to recover.. »

The 20 m3 cubicle also serves as an infirmary. « It's rarely occupied," admits the breeder, "and fortunately so. But I wanted to invest in it to give these cows the best possible chance. On the soft carpet, the hooves sink in well. It helps the cows stand up. »

The comfort and grip solution for calving cows

The mat prevents slipping and provides stability for animals moving on it. An undeniable asset for the safety of cows and workers alike.

Another advantage of the Artémis box is that it maintains optimal hygiene conditions. The grooves allow liquids to run off easily, and the rubber is easy to clean.

« Thanks to the mats, the stall is easier to clean than my other straw-on-concrete stall," says Simon Clouet. Sanitary conditions are better for the animals. » P

or the breeder, providing comfort for his cows is essential if the herd is to fully express its production potential.

« Comfort is all the more important at times of fragility, such as calving or health problems. But it's just as important when it comes to bedding. »He has fitted his cubicles with Aquastar water mattresses. When cows are well bedded and well cared for, they are better able to produce.

L’article Box Artémis : « Sanitairement c’est mieux pour les animaux. » est apparu en premier sur BIORET AGRI.

To ensure impeccable milk, the farmer pays particular attention to the hygiene of the animals' bedding and the quality of their feed. To preserve feed quality at feeding time, the feed trough must be clean. In this respect, concrete troughs with damaged floor surfaces can become veritable breeding grounds for microbes.  

« Our building is 10 years old. Over time, the acidity of the silage has eaten away at the concrete troughs. Damaged, they've become impossible to clean properly. »says the breeder.

Once the decision has been taken to renovate the feeders, the next step is to choose the system. « It's not easy to renovate a trough in a working building," warns Edouard Rémillet. Concrete needs to dry for 3 weeks before use. Resins also need a long drying time. »

How to continue feeding in the meantime? To be able to feed their 120 cows again in hygienic conditions, the breeders opted for a Sani-feed belt. « It was while talking to Bioret's sales representative that we discovered this matting system that covers the trough. The 3.5 mm thick PVC product meets our sanitary requirements and installation constraints. »  

Hygiene, practicality and durability  

At the end of March 2021, the Sani-feed carpet was installed on the 72-meter trough. « The fitters arrived at 8 am. By 2 p.m., the feeding robot could already enter the corridor to distribute the rations. Assembly time perfectly compatible with a building in operation »notes the breeder. 

The system for distributing feed to the cows was another constraint to be taken into account when considering the renovation of the cow troughs at Gaec des Baraques. Here, a robot distributes and pushes the ration.

« He passes twenty times a day in the corridor. »So you need a material that's sufficiently strong and well anchored so as not to be damaged or displaced by these comings and goings. « That's the case. Nothing has moved," says Edouard Rémillet. The Sani-feed mat is flush with the floor. There are no edges or unevenness to interfere with distribution, nor any risk of food passing underneath. »Stretched and secured by skirting boards at each end, the carpet rises to the level of the feed fence. 

The PVC material preserves the palatability of the ration for the cows and facilitates the robot's regrowth work. Smooth, it's also easy to clean. Easy maintenance guarantees constant cleanliness of the Sani-feed mat and prevents the appearance of microbial colonies, as can occur in the crevices of degraded concrete. « This is reassuring for the bacteriological quality of our milk. »appreciates the breeder.   

L’article Sani-feed : « L’alimentation est distribuée dans les meilleures conditions d’hygiène à nos vaches » est apparu en premier sur BIORET AGRI.

Cattle, especially dairy cows in full production, are highly sensitive to heat. As soon as temperatures reach 25°C, the animals find themselves in a stressful situation. The consequences of heat stress are well known. It has a proven impact on their diet, health and milk production. At a time when hot summers are becoming the norm, breeders are thinking about the well-being of their cattle by preventing this risk. Once certain basics such as unlimited water supply and efficient natural ventilation have been ensured, the addition of fans in the stalls helps the herd to combat heatstroke by lowering the temperature. 

The Cyclone fan sends out a 360° flow of pulsating air. The air from above arrives at high speed, from 0.5 to 1.5 m/s, on the animals« backs. It breaks the insulating layer of air on the cow's upper body, reactivating heat exchange through the skin and giving the animal a feeling of freshness. Air circulates down to the ground, reducing humidity in the bedding. As the flows are evenly distributed throughout the space, the benefits of the Cyclone 360 are felt across the entire surface of the barn, with no dead zones. All cows enjoy the benefits in a calm environment, with no competition between dominant and dominated cows for the »right place".

The Cyclone 360 fan is suspended from the building structure. It's economical. Its brushless motor consumes 32 % less electricity than standard fans.

Increase summer comfort

All advantages confirmed by Cyclone 360 fan users. David Forget, a livestock farmer in the Loire-Atlantique region of France, has installed a Cyclone fan alongside his milking robots, to complement the paddle-type products that have equipped part of his barn for several years now. «It's above the cows waiting to access the robot,» explains the breeder. The air flow is constant, with no gusts of wind. It's a real plus in summer. It avoids a feeling of heaviness where the animals gather. The air flow helps lower the temperature by a few degrees. The cows feel better and don't pant. As my barn is fairly enclosed, fans are essential, and the Cyclone is a real plus in terms of herd comfort.» Installing these solutions in the dairy cows' environment helps them to cope with heat peaks and maintain optimum milk production.

L’article Cyclone 360 : « Le ventilateur limite les périodes de stress thermique. Ça se voit sur la production estivale de lait. » est apparu en premier sur BIORET AGRI.

A slope guides the run-off of juices towards the central rail, for good evacuation of dejecta and easier scraping. As well as helping to maintain the barn, the cattle's feet are less in contact with moisture, and therefore less prone to foot pathologies, which can lead to lameness. Ammonia emissions are also reduced, in line with sustainable farming practices.

The anti-slip solution

Delta Diam 16 comes in rolls to suit all types of stall. It can be laid in traffic aisles, exercise areas and milking parlors, on concrete or slatted floors.

In his building, only 8 years old, Laurent Burot, a livestock breeder in Loire-Atlantique, noticed that, despite the grooving, the concrete was becoming slippery.

« We lost 3 cows, in one year, split up," laments the breeder. We couldn't go on like that. So we modified the flooring by installing carpets in both alleys. »Since then, there have been no losses. « No more slipping. You can even see cows running! And they express their heat better," says Laurent Burot. The mat doesn't get in the way of the scraper. Thanks to the little brushes we added underneath, it's clean even in the grooves, with no film effect.. »

The choice of a non-slip surface not only ensures safe cow traffic, but also facilitates the farmer's work.

Ensuring flexibility, hygiene and safety

It was the same problem of slippery floors that led Samuel Gicquel, a livestock farmer in Mayenne, to add carpets.

« My building went up in March 2016. I thought I'd wait a while before putting in carpets. But from the very first year, there were a lot of big slips, with half the cows irrecoverable. We were losing time and animals. We needed non-slip rubber mats. »

In terms of choice, the Magellan system will be installed on the feeding area floors to ensure safe cattle movement. Delta Diam is preferred for the robot and cubicle floors.

« Since installing the mats, I haven't lost any cows to slipping," says the farmer. The animals are also cleaner because the mat drains well. It helps at the cellular level and against dermatitis. »

These new coatings improve farm hygiene, and even contribute to milk quality and cow health by reducing the risk of lameness. 

L’article Delta Diam 16 : « Ça ne glisse plus. On voit même des vaches courir ! » est apparu en premier sur BIORET AGRI.

L’article Feeding step : « Depuis que les vaches mangent tranquillement, la production de lait augmente. » est apparu en premier sur BIORET AGRI.

In addition, Bioret, a specialist in livestock products, has developed Grat'O Gratte, a vertical or horizontal rubber scraping station that can be mounted on stall walls. Easy to install, the stations can be placed in multiple locations. Cows can rub against them without the risk of injuring themselves against the concrete. Consisting of molded rubber parts with 32 mm studs, the Grat'O Scratch are simple and efficient in design. They require neither energy nor maintenance. The vertical station consists of a 500 mm smooth bottom section and a 1,000 mm top section with studs. The horizontal station, on the other hand, is entirely covered with studs.

A simple, effective solution

Two years ago, David Forget, a breeder in Abbaretz (44), installed Grat'O Gratte in his barn. « It's a good complement to rotary brushes," says this dairy farmer. With a brush, the animal scratches its back, but with the Grat'O Gratte, it's more likely to scratch its head. It multiplies the places where the cows find to rub themselves, so I think it avoids the stress of competition. Any cow that needs to scratch can find a place to do it in peace. Plus, it protects the walls. »

David Forget has installed 5 stations for 120 cows. « With the hairs at the foot of the stations, I have proof that they're useful! »Their efficiency and ease of installation convinced the farmer to install them in the calf and heifer pens too. « The fact that my animals can scratch themselves in complete safety contributes to their well-being," confirms Hugo Lucas, a young breeder in the Côtes d'Armor region of France. In my new building, I've installed Grat'O Gratte on the bare corners to complement the brushes. There are always cows around. »

L’article Grat’O Gratte : « Avec Grat’O Gratte, toutes les vaches ont accès à un endroit où se gratter en sécurité. » est apparu en premier sur BIORET AGRI.

For every breeder, it's the worst way to start the day: to enter the barn and find a cow that has slipped and can't get up. On damp concrete, often polished by scrapers, the ground can become slippery. In the event of overlapping, cows are surprised by the scraper and slip. The time they have to wait on the ground before being rescued, and the severity of their injuries, mean that many never recover.

Cows back on their feet

The use of rubber mats significantly reduces the risk of slipping. The non-slip surface reproduces the suppleness and stability of a meadow. Visit non-slip mats make movement safer. Cows will move around more to eat and drink, which will benefit their milk production. The patterns on the rubber mats make the surface non-slip, improving animal safety. Even on wet surfaces, the risk of falling is reduced, even in the event of jostling.

A recurring problem of slips and falls prompted Christophe Favreau, a breeder in the Deux-Sèvres region of France, to install Magellan mats. «Since then, I've had no more problems with slips and fallen cows,» he says. The same approach was adopted by Gaec des 4 lieux, in Vendée. «Our old carpets were 12 years old and had become smooth. Since we replaced them with Magellan carpets on all the scraped corridors, we've got cows back on their feet. They run on them as if they were in the meadow,» says Damien Soulard, one of the partners. Recently, a cow did a splits but, thanks to the structure and the grooves, she managed to get up again without any damage".

Another advantage of this stability is that, without fear of slipping, cows can better express their natural behaviours, such as heat. With more frequent overlapping, it will be easier to detect cows in heat and inseminate them at the right time. The expression of natural behaviours is one of the criteria of animal welfare. A sign that your cows feel safe is that they dare to lift a leg to lick themselves.

When animal welfare meets workplace safety

The stability provided by rubber mats is also a guarantee of safety for breeders. It's also more comfortable for us,« jokes Damien Soulard. Even with wet boots, we no longer risk slipping and injuring ourselves.

L’article Bioret Série Sol – Sécurité, bien-être grâce au sol souple antidérapant #7 est apparu en premier sur BIORET AGRI.

Customized in length, width and thickness, the V-Bot mat is made from the most resistant rubber on the market, with a textile reinforcement.

It provides a comfortable surface for cows in traffic lanes and on feeder steps, while maintaining a supple surface that respects their posture. Its embossed Delta Diam 16 design makes it particularly non-slip, ensuring safe movement for cattle. 

Non-slip, hygienic matting

In addition, the relief of the surface guides the flow of juices towards the central corridor of the barn, an evacuation facilitated by the natural slope of the belt. Once on the floor, a robot takes care of the scraping. Thanks to this system, building maintenance is made easier, but above all, the barn environment is drier and therefore healthier for the animals' feet. Their last steps before climbing onto the feed step or settling into their cubicle are taken on dry floors. This improved level of hygiene reduces the risk of lameness. What's more, the separation of urine and faeces, and their regular evacuation, reduces ammonia emissions by 30 %. 

« The juices are so well evacuated that, on the stall side, the tails do not soak. »Hugo Lucas, a livestock breeder in the Côtes d'Armor region of France. When designing his new building, which has been in operation since February 15, 2021, the young farmer was keen to improve the well-being of his cows. « When you invest in their comfort, your cows pay you back. A cow that lives in good conditions gains in production and longevity, and, for me, in working efficiency. »says the young breeder. To ensure the comfort and well-being of his animals, Aquastar water mattresses are used in cubicles.

Safe circulation, healthy feet

The farmer also pays close attention to the quality of the floor to ensure safe cow traffic and maintain healthy legs, while at the same time simplifying effluent management. He therefore opted for the V-Bot, a feeding step with a rubber mat in the circulation corridor. A robot vacuum cleaner is used to clean the movement zones. Installing a feed step reduces the surface area to be cleaned by the robot, and guarantees peace of mind for the cows when they're at the feed fence. « The cows aren't disturbed when they're eating," says Hugo Lucas. They're not stressed by the robot passing by. Their slightly elevated position reduces the risk of accidents compared to a system with a scraper. »

In terms of hygiene, Hugo Lucas is delighted with the absence of lameness among heifers entering production in the new building. « It's a good sign for their longevity," says the breeder. I don't have any more plagues either. It's a direct benefit of the quality of the soil. »

L’article Tapis V-Bot : « Comme le sol est toujours sec, je n’ai plus de problème de boiterie. » est apparu en premier sur BIORET AGRI.

To reconcile restraint and comfort in livestock buildings, Bioret has developed Aqua Board, a water kneeling pad. The Aqua Board consists of a water reservoir attached to the front of a cubicle mattress. This kneeling pad is made to measure according to the length of the cubicle bay. This water pocket absorbs shocks when the cow lies down, bringing her to a gentle halt. 

Adaptable to all formats, the made-to-measure comfort solution

Thanks to its lateral fastenings, the Aqua Board kneepad adapts to all types of cubicle. Its height can be adjusted from 12 to 22 cm to suit different herd sizes, cubicles and mattresses. By adjusting the filling, you can control the height and hardness of the kneepads. The Aqua Board ensures restraint and comfort. The proof is in the natural position adopted by cows lying on the Aqua Board, often with one leg extended forward. The device enhances the level of comfort provided by Aquastar and AquaClim mattresses.

In his new building, Hugo Lucas, a breeder in the Côtes d'Armor region, has improved cow comfort by equipping his cubicles with Aquastar mattresses and Aqua Board knee pads. « Ensuring quality bedding is important for milk production and cow longevity," stresses the young breeder. In this new building, without changing the feed, we've gained 3 to 4 kilos of milk per cow. There is much less lameness and bed sores, as the cows lie down and get up without risk of injury. »The Aqua Board kneepad's concern for cattle welfare earned it a silver medal at the Eurotier international trade show.

L’article Aqua Board : « Un élément de plus pour le confort de couchage de mes vaches » est apparu en premier sur BIORET AGRI.