Using a new, deep type of concrete grooving has helped two British dairy herds safeguard cows from falling on slippery concrete and avoid all the ensuing problems.
Case study 1 – Geoff Spence of Northallerton
Falling cows on slippery concrete had been a persistent problem for Geoff Spence, of Lower Fields Farm, Northallerton.
The North Yorkshire farmer, who was Farmers Weekly Dairy Farmer of the Year in 2007, had concreted his yards and the floors of farm buildings about ten years ago. Over the course of time, and because of the constant daily scraping from cleaning, the concrete had become more slippery, and more dangerous for the cows.
Geoff for whom losing one of his best cows last year was the catalyst for change.
"That was what really started me looking for something to prevent them slipping and falling."
It was at this point that Geoff brought in Vermot Grooving, who he had seen at last year’s Dairy Event. The French company, which has entered the UK agricultural market for the first time, employs a unique grooving and surfacing machine, developed and used during the last 20 years on more than 10,000 dairy farms on the Continent.
"I had tried square indents cut in the concrete, but they were never deep enough to make a real difference," said Geoff, who realised that the grooving service offered by Vermot would only have to stop two or three fatal fallers for it to pay for itself.
Vermot Grooving is run by the former dairy farmer, father and son team of Denis and Lionel Vermot, and it was Lionel who came over from France last October to do the grooving on Lower Fields.
Using high speed floating cutters rotating at 1,500 rpm, the Vermot machine cuts clean, neat grooves, 10mm to 13mm deep, 18mm wide, spaced 55mm apart, and run in the right direction to suit the cows.
The company says that grooving is recommended in 90 to 95 per cent of cases, but where it cannot be used a scarification technique can be used instead.
Geoff decided to have the grooving carried out on every smooth concrete surface walked on by his 370 Holstein Friesians, and 350 followers, including the bedding, calving and open yards and his old cowsheds.
Lionel was able to work with the cows inside the shed during the job that covered the 2,500m sq in only two days.
"The machine can reach right into the corners, and up to the troughs – it’s really fantastic what they can do," said Geoff.
Geoff recommends a good water supply to ensure the grooving is done easily as Lionel has to keep the Vermot machine filled up all the time.
"I’d also say to anyone thinking of doing it to keep the lines straight rather than in a herringbone pattern, which is harder to wash and scrape out - stick to the straight lines."
Geoff has been impressed with the results and would recommend any dairy farm with a smooth concrete and falling cow problem to consider Vermot.
"It was such a good job and has made an enormous difference to the cow welfare. You can see how much happier the cows are. The effect was almost instant, and we have had no problems with fallers since it was done.
"Lionel was easy to work with, and he even joined us for an English roast beef dinner!"
Case study 2 – the Bennetts of Wootton Bassett
The Bennetts of Tockenham Court Farm, Wootton Bassett near Swindon, are another dairy farming family who have had excellent results from the deep concrete grooving produced by the Vermots and their machine.
Peter Bennett, and his son, Steve, milk 300 cows, with 150 followers, in a commercial herd of black and whites supplying milk for Cadbury’s chocolate. The herd on the 520-acre Wiltshire farm produces two million litres a year, with an average yield of 8,300 litres.
Peter, who heard about the Vermot grooving from Geoff Spence, explains that they put in a new milking unit three years ago, including a new parlour, cubicles, and slurry facilities.
At the same time, they also laid down new concrete that, over the course of time, became so shiny and slippery that accidents with the cows had become increasingly frequent.
"It was especially a problem from March onwards when the yard started to dry up and the concrete floor began to become even more slippery than normal," said Peter, who found the sight of an injured cow incredibly distressing.
"It was terrible to see them splitting themselves, the legs going sideways and damaging the pelvis. We’d spend hours lifting them to try and strengthen their legs again. Half of them may have survived, but those that didn’t would have to be have been culled.
"It was very upsetting and we had to do something about it."
To solve the problem, they studied a range of remedial flooring and grooving measures that could possibly stop the cows from slipping on the concrete and injuring themselves.
"We looked at diamond-shape groves, square ones, or even rubber matting, but then we saw Vermot at last year’s Dairy Event and thought that we’d give it a try.
"They were a bit more expensive than the some of the other grooving options, but we talked to Geoff Spence and he said that, from his experience, because of the deepness of the grooves that it would really help our herd."
The Bennetts decided to use Vermot to groove all 3,500 m sq of concrete in all areas of the farm, including the cowsheds, the walkways, the calving sheds and the collecting yard.
"We tried to do it everywhere, so that we would prevent the situation from occurring later when we realised that we had missed a piece that we should have done. I didn’t want to have to say, ’We should have done that! Why didn’t we do that?’"
Peter found the concrete grooving process quick, straightforward and thorough.
"Lionel (Vermot) was easy to work with and it’s good that he comes from a dairy family background. I was particularly impressed with how he did the grooves around the water trough at different angles, which created a semi-circle of grooves outwards to match the angle that the cows would come up to the trough.
"The machine they have developed does it very quickly, unlike other grooves which are done by hand and not as deep, and they were able to do the grooving while the cows were still inside."
In all, the 3,500 m sq cost the Bennetts £12,000, but Peter says the cost has been well worth it.
"Cows cost about £2,000 each, but if you lose the cow you not only lose the animal, you lose its production as well, which means between £3,000 and £3,500 with each accident.
"There’s also the peace of mind for us, as we love our animals and want them to be happy and content."
The father and son team were also pleased because none of the foot problems they had expected - as the cows adjusted to the grooving – had materialised. Another bonus they do expect is the more limited use of leg shackles, which they fitted on any fallen cow when put out in the field to recuperate.
While it is still early days, the Bennetts say that they haven’t had a problem with cows falling and slipping since Vermot did their grooving this March.
"The cows are so much surer on their feet, and one thing we noticed straightaway was that the number of bulling cows increased immediately because they were no longer frightened to stand up," added Peter.
"We used to have about six or so downer cows a year, sometimes a spate of fallers, but so far we haven’t had a single incident!"
