Animat cow mattress Animattress/Animatelas III

DLG-APPROVED: "BTS Cattle (Females)"

Download print version

Test report 7427

The approval

A test mark „DLG-APPROVED for individual criteria“ is awarded for agricultural products which have success­fully fulfilled a scope-reduced usability testing conducted by DLG according to independent and recognised evaluation criteria. The test is intended to highlight particular innovations and key criteria of the test object. The test may contain criteria from the DLG test scope for overall tests, or focus on other value-determining characteristics and properties of the test subject. The minimum requirements, test conditions and procedures as well as the evaluation bases of the test results will be specified in consultation with an expert group of DLG. They corres­pond to the recognised rules of technology, as well as scientific and agricultural knowledge and requirements. The successful testing is concluded with the publication of a test report, as well as the awarding of the test mark which is valid for five years from the date of awarding. The DLG Approved “BTS Cattle1 included joint inspections and behavioural observations during standing up and lying down in three working farms, as well as measurement of defor­mability on test rigs at the DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs. Data was acquired and analysed in accordance with the “Requirements of the BTS Programme Regarding Deformable Mattresses for Bovine Livestock” (Swiss Ethics Programme Ordinance of 23th October 2013, Annex 6) and DIN 3763:2022-08 (Elastic floorings for cattle and dairy cows walking and rest surfaces – Requirements and testing).

Other criteria were not tested. 

1 Swiss support programme for especially animal-friendly housing systems (“Besonders tierfreundliche Stallhaltungssysteme”, BTS)

Animat cow mattress Animattress/Animatelas III

Assessment – brief summary

The Animattress III tested here has been tested in the DLG-Approved Single Criteria Test “BTS cattle“ tested on test rigs for comfort properties.
In three farms, joint evaluations and behavioral observations when getting up and lying down are carried out.

Requirements of the BTS Programme Regarding Deformable Mattresses for Bovine Livestock” (Swiss Ethics Programme Ordinance of 23 October 2013, Annex 6) are fulfilled.

Deformability and elasticity: Class 2 according to DIN 3763.

Table: Overview of results

DLG quality profileEvaluation*
Animal health
Deformation and elasticity**


* Evaluation range: requirements fulfilled () / requirements not fulfilled (✖) 

** Deformability and elasticity Class 4 according to DIN 3763.

The product

Description and technical data

The Animattress III cubicle mattress tested here is an elastic floor covering for use in the resting area 
of high cubicles in cubicle houses; it has a thickness of approx. 32 mm. 

  • Black rubber mat
    • upper side with pebble surface
    • under side with conical knops in two sizes:
      big knops 20 mm high and 29 mm at the bottom and 21 mm at the top,
      small knops 13 mm high and 29 mm at the bottom and 25 mm at the top
  • Shore A hardness: approx. 70
  • laid as single mat

The method

Deformability and elasticity

The deformability is measured in new condition and following permanent tread load using ball penetration tests with a calotte (r = 120 mm) and a penetration force of 2,000 N (corresponding to approx. 200 kg).

Permanent tread load 

The permanent tread load is measured on a test stand with a round steel foot in the standard test programme with 100,000 alternating loads at 10,000 N (corresponding to approx. 1,000 kg). The steel foot is adapted to the natural conditions as an “artificial cow foot”. The foot has a diameter of 105 mm and therefore a contact area of 75 cm²; the carrying edge of the hoof is simulated by a 5 mm wide ring on the periphery of the sole that projects 1 mm above the rest of the surface. 

Animal health

On at least 3 farms, the tarsi (ankle joints) of all cows2 by an independent, experienced specialist were examined and the behaviour of the animals when they get up and lay down on the flooring was observed.

In all lying boxes at least 3 months before the examination mats of the product to be tested were installed. The cows to be examined are at least 3 months before the examination kept exclusively in the barn concerned, i.e. they have no grazing.

Exceptions: Cows in the first third of lactation / considered cows / cows that were placed for less than 3 months before the examination have been kept in the barn in question (e.g. purchased ones; see also 2.4) / Cows that are lying in the walkway / Cows that are sick are or have recently been (e.g. stuck after calving) / cows that are injured due to accidents.

The test results in detail

Animal health

On 3 farms became the Tarsi (ankle joints) of 118 cows by an independent, experienced spe­cialist in this regard examined 
and the behavior of the animals when getting up and lying down on the flooring. The requirements regarding BTS compliance is met.

Deformability and elasticity

In the ball penetration tests in new condition with a calotte (r = 120 mm), penetration depth was 25.7 mm. The resulting calculated bearing ­pressure of 10.3 N/cm² indicates a low load on the carpal joints when lying down and getting up.

Elasticity was measured following a permanent tread load exerted by a steel foot (contact area: 75 cm²) with 100,000 alternating loads at 10,000 N. Following the endurance test, the penetration depth of the calotte increased from 25.7 mm to 27.7 mm. The bearing pressure decreased from 10.3 N/cm² to 9.6 N/cm² (see Figure 3). This means that deformability and elasticity slightly increase.

The requirements regarding BTS compliance is met

Deformability and elasticity

A penetration depth of 10.1 mm was determined in ball-indentation tests in new condition with a calotte (r = 120 mm) and a penetration force of 2,000 N (corresponding to approx. 200 kg). A bearing pressure of 26.2 N/cm² was calculated from this, indicating a relatively small load on the carpal joints when lying down and standing up. 

The elasticity was measured following a permanent loading test with a steel foot (contact area 75 cm²) with 100,000 alternating loads at 10,000 N. Following the endurance test, the penetration depth of the calotte increased from 10.1 mm to 10.7 mm. The bearing pressure decreased from 26.2 N/cm² to 24.8 N/cm² (see Figure 2). 

This corresponds to a increase in deformability and elasticity. The requirements relating to BTS conformity are met.

Permanent tread load 

No noticeable wear was observed following exposure to permanent tread load on a test stand with 100,000 alternating loads at 10,000 N. No lasting deformation was observed.

Figure 2: The area shown was examined
Figure 2: The area shown was examined
Figure 3: Deformability, penetration depth of the calotte (r = 120 mm) as a function of the contact pressure
Figure 3: Deformability, penetration depth of the calotte (r = 120 mm) as a function of the contact pressure

Table 2: BTS Compliance Requirement 3 – test results – assessment

 Requirement for the
BTS Compliance 3
Test
results
Evaluation
Animal health
1. Tarsi (ankle joints) with crusts or open wounds in % of tarsi examinedmax. 25 %24.1 %request fulfilled
2. Tarsi with larger (> 2 cm) crusts or larger (> 2 cm) open wounds 
as % of Tarsi examined
max. 8 %2.5 %request fulfilled
3. Tarsi with a different, serious change (e.g. increase in circumference) in % of the Tarsi examinedmax. 1 %0 %request fulfilled
4. Further, serious physical damage on the animals that pass through the mat could be causednonenonerequest fulfilled
5. Behavioral abnormalities caused by the mat nonenonerequest fulfilled
Deformability and elasticity
6. Penetration depth into the mat in new conditionat least 10 mm10.1 mmrequest fulfilled
7. Penetration depth into the mat after permanent tread load
 
at least 8 mm10.7 mmrequest fulfilled

 3 in accordance with the requirements of the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture, Bern, of March 2004

Summary

The tested Animattress III meets the requirements of the BTS program regarding deformable mats for the animals of the cattle genus (Swiss Ethoprogram Ordinance of the 23 October 2013, Annex 6).

Applicant and test implementation

Manufacturer and Applicant

Manufacturer and Applicant
Animat Inc.
395 Rodolphe Racine
CA J1R OS7 Sherbrooke
Canada

Contact:
Phone 0060 819 821 2091 222,
Telefax 0060 819 821 2879,
psavary@animat.ca 
www.animat.com 

Test implementation

Testing agency
DLG TestService GmbH, 
Gross-Umstadt location, Germany
The tests are conducted on behalf of DLG e.V.

DLG test framework
DLG-Approved Test “BTS Rindvieh“1 –  BTS Programme “Regarding Deformable 
Mattresses for Bovine Livestock” (Swiss Ethics Programme Ordinance of 23th October 2013, 
Annex 6); DIN 3763:2022-08 (Elastic floorings for cattle and dairy cows walking and rest surfaces – Requirements and testing)

Department
Agriculture

Head of Department
Dr. Michael Eise

Test engineer(s)
Dr. Harald Reubold 2

1  Swiss support programme for especially animal-friendly housing systems
2  Author

Contact us

DLG TestService GmbH - Groß-Umstadt location • Max-Eyth-Weg 1 • 64823 Groß-Umstadt • Tel: +49 69 24 788-600 • tech@DLG.org