British Cattle Veterinary Association

Research has shown cows show a marked preference for soft walking and standing surfaces. Cow welfare and cow comfort is a growing topic of interest for the consumer, retailer and producer. There is a considerable body of published evidence suggesting rubber floor matting has benefits in terms of claw health, cow flow, increased expression of natural behaviour and hence better cow welfare. Its use has been considered for feed barriers, cubicle alleys, collecting yards, parlours and other walk ways. This paper reviews the published literature.