Background

Milking 400 cows on 160 hectares, GD Prout Farm is a family-owned dairy farm in Paeroa, operational for over 15 years. Before installing rubber matting, the farm faced significant lameness issues, with farm manager Travis Sylvester noting up to 7-8 lame cows daily, impacting milk production and increasing veterinary costs.

“Lameness has been cut to a third of what it was the year prior. It’s done everything we wanted.”

The Challenge

The farm’s tracks, previously puggy and muddy, created uneven surfaces for the cows. Concreting was considered but deemed costly and ineffective, as it would only shift the problem further along.

The Solution

After consulting NumatAGRI, the farm opted for DairyGrip rubber matting, installed within two weeks, providing a durable, cost-effective solution.

Outcomes

Since installing the matting, lameness has significantly reduced. The rubber surface prevents pugging, offers a safe and comfortable walking area, and withstands heavy traffic from trucks, bikes, and tractors. Cleaning and scraping the tracks is now easier, reducing debris that could harm hooves.

Future Plans

Travis plans to expand rubber matting to the feed pad to further reduce lameness and protect the concrete surface from heavy traffic, continuing to enhance cow health and farm efficiency.