Test KRAIBURG Walking surface cover for cattle, type KURA S

Requirements  of the DIN 3763:2022-08 criteria are fulfilled. 
Deformation and Elasticity corres ponds to class 2 DIN 3763 for single pens for calves.          [2]

Evaluation scale: + + / + / O / – / –– (O = standard) 

[1] supplemented by lying measurement
[2] supplemented by DIN standard

Short Description

• Black, profiled slatted floor coating out of rubber, 24 mm thick
• Surface with a grip profile
• Under side: knob structure (height of the knobs: 5 mm)
• Installation as a single mat

Description and Technical Data

Warranty
5 years

Available sizes
Customized for typical slatted floors in all sizes

Main measurements and weight*
(per individual mat)

* measured values

I. SUITABILITY

The walking surface cover type KURA S from Kraiburg is suitable as a floor cover for slatted floors in cattle stalls. 

II. TECHNICAL CRITERIA

Resistance to wear, durability, and ageing

In a standardized abrasion test, the floor was rubbed with emery cloth (grit size: 280) at a pressure of 500 N (area pressure: 8.1 N/cm²). After 10,000 double strokes, abrasion depth was 1.0 mm. This corresponds to ca. 4 % of the cover height. Of the rubbed surface (61.5 cm²), 1.8 g were abraded. Small abrasion depth and little abrasion therefore allow the conclusion to be drawn that the abrasion resistance of the floor cover is good.

After exposure to a continuous tread load on a test stand with a steel foot (contact area: 75 cm²), no noticeable wear (surface and under side) and no damage to the walking surface cover were determined after 250,000 alternating loads of 5,000 N (corresponding to ca. 500 kg). Lasting deformation was not found.

An acid test with lactic acid according to DIN 51 958 did not show any damage to the cover, such as signs of swelling, softening, or destruction.

Dimensional stability

After proper installation, noticeable length- or width-alteration did not occur in practical use during the test period.

Deformation was not observed.

Handling, installation

The instructions of installation are detailed and easily understandable thanks to the illustrations  (a CD-ROM with an installation sequence is also included.) 
The condition for problem-free use is that the walking surface cover exactly fits the slatted floor elements in the stall. This requires precise measurement of the slatted floor at the individual location.

For every slatted floor geometry (surface elements, diagonal surface floor, individual beams), the company Kraiburg can manufacture fitting covers. The necessary measurements should be taken by the supplier.

The cover can be easily installed by the stall owner. After the mats have been put on the slatted floor elements, one must make sure that the slits of the cover exactly fit the slits of the slatted floor element.

Afterwards, the fixing elements out of rubber are driven through the gaps in the cover into the slit underneath. Slight lubrication of the fixing elements (e.g. with the aid of water) makes it easier to drive the fixing elements into the slit. The fixing of the walking surface cover has proven stable and safe during the test period.

Cleaning / soiling

The cleaning of the walking surface cover does not cause any difficulties. During test stand trials with a high-pressure cleaner (approximately 145 bar, cleaning time: 1 minute), damage to the cover only occurred if a minimum distance of 30 cm during use with a coarse dirt nozzle and 10 cm during use with a flat-jet nozzle was not kept. Underneath the walking surface cover, moisture (urine and faeces) may accumulate. This cannot be avoided.

In order to clean and disinfect the cover, only agents should be used which the manufacturer has approved for the cover. 

Before and after the installation of the cover, walking surface soiling was examined. For each wal­king­area, the soiling of a slatted floor element was evaluated (at least four elements per stall) and documented by means of a photo. During this evaluation, the soiling of both the slit- and the treading areas was assessed. In addition, the ambient temperature and relative humidity were measured. The evaluations were carried out within four weeks before and after installation on three different days. Evaluation followed the criteria listed in Table 1.

The soiling of the slit- and treading areas did not increase after the installation of the walking surface cover KURA S.

Table 1: Evaluation criteria for soiling

Warranty and recycling

According to the warranty conditions, the manufacturer grants warranty for 5 years. 

If the customer assumes the costs of freight, the manufacturer takes the cover back in clean condition.

The manufacturer has obliged himself in writing to take the mat back.

III. ANIMAL-RELATED CRITERIA

Behavioural observations

The behavioural observations were carried out in a lying box loose house of the test farm, where ca. 70 dairy cows of the race German Holstein were kept.

Motion behaviour

After the installation of the walking surface cover, the motional activity of the cows increased significantly. The motions were smooth and relaxed. During the direct obser­vation of ten randomly chosen animals, strides of 65 to 90 cm were measured while the gait of the animals was smooth and even. 

As compared with the reference farm, the average stride was slightly longer. Due to increased motion activity, the animals slip without their behaviour being visibly impaired.

The position of the head during walking was observed in 30 animals. In these observations, a distinction was made between a high position of the head (i.e. the angle between the neck-withers line and the extended back line is smaller than 20°) and a low position of the head (angle larger than 20°). 

70 % of the animals observed showed a high position and 30 % a low position of the head. A high position of the head speaks in favour of secure, relaxed motions.

Comfort- and oestrous behaviour

Over a period of one hour, a total of 15 active animals were observed (dairy cows which neither rested in a lying box nor ate at the feeding table). During this time, licking in the rear part of the body was ob­served 8 times. In all cases, the animals stood securely on three legs. 

In the form of frequent covering, oestrous behaviour was quite pronounced. Both the covering and the covered dairy cows stood securely on the wal­king­area cover without slipping.

After the installation of the walking surface cover, some animals on the test farm were observed lying in the wal­king­area. If the lying boxes are not equipped optimally, there is a growing risk of animals lying in the wal­king­area more often.

Table 2: Evaluation criteria for claws

* 1-3 describes the percentage of the wall affected in thirds of total length

Claw diagnoses

Figure 3 shows the number of mechanical-traumatic results among the 27 animals examined on the individual evaluation dates. Before the installation of the walking surface cover, 259 mechanical-traumatic results per 100 cows were registered. In principle, all diagnostic criteria were applied to every claw. Therefore, it was possible that more than one diagnosis per claw was made.

After the installation of the walking surface cover KURA S, just 92 me­cha­ni­cal-traumatic results were found after nine months. Thus, a clearly positive influence on the reduction of mechanical-traumatic results was recorded.

The number of infections (rot and Mortellaro) per 100 animals is shown in Figure 4.

Before the installation of the walking surface cover, 178 infections per 100 cows were found on the test farm. It was possible that more than one diagnosis per claw was made.
After the installation of the walking surface cover KURA S, just 17 in­fec­tions were found after nine months.

The chart shows that other factors in addition to the walking surface cover have an influence on the number of infections found.

Slip resistance

Sliding-pulling tests with a round plastic foot (contact area: 75 cm²) at a speed of 20 mm/s showed good slip resistance on a dry and a wet new cover. After 3 months of practical use, the sliding-pulling tests were repeated at a minimum of 12 points in the stall (at least three points per wal­king­area).

The measured friction coefficients (µ) were all above the minimum of µ = 0.45, which indicates secure footing. During the production of the walking surface cover, a silicone release agent is used. For this reason, secure footing is impaired at the beginning. This silicone film disappears after a few days.

Walking measurement 

During ball impression tests in new condition with a steel foot (contact area: 75 cm²) at a penetration force of 2,000 N (corresponding to 200 kg), penetration depth was 3.85 mm. Elasticity was measured after ex­posure to a continuous tread load exerted by a steel foot (contact area: 75 cm²) in the form of 250,000 alternating loads of 5,000 N. 

After the long-term trial, the penetration depth of the steel foot diminished from 3.85 mm to 3.8 mm (average values of three measurements each). This means that deformability decreases very slowly.

Toxicological safety

The manufacturer confirmed the toxicological safety of the floor cover.

IV. SURVEY RESULT

A survey among 12 farms which have used the walking surface cover for up to one year confirmed the test results.

On the farms, a total of 2,670 m² of the walking surface cover were installed. On 83 % of the farms, the cover was installed by the stall owner. 83 % of those questioned stated that installation was easy and practical.

After the installation of the walking surface cover, 91 % of those surveyed did not see any change in the soiling of the slatted floor.

On more than 90 % of the farms, a considerable change in animal behaviour (altered head position and more active oestrous behaviour) was determined. On four farms, some cows lie in the wal­king­areas after the walking surface cover has been installed.

On 83 % of the farms, signs of mechanical-traumatic claw injuries decreased. Claw alterations (bearing surface, claw length) occurred in 100 % of the cases.

All those questioned give the ­walking surface cover KURA-S a good to very good overall assessment and would buy it again if necessary.