Opal Creek Feedlot, managed by Angus Lee at Australian Country Choices, faced significant safety challenges in their high-traffic areas with cattle slips, trips, and falls. This case study examines how they addressed these issues using the YoungStar mat.
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Braeside Stables, located in Toowoomba, recently undertook a significant upgrade to their facilities by installing Kura rubber mats in their tie-up area.
Continue readingWhyalla Beef’s switch to YoungStar illustrates the importance of selecting the right materials for ensuring safety and efficiency in high-traffic areas. The matting has not only reduced injuries and maintenance costs but also enhanced animal welfare standards, making it a commendable solution for similar facilities in the industry.
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In Clifford Park’s stable alleys, NumatAGRI’s Kura mats deliver a groundbreaking blend of safety, stability, and easy maintenance.
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AACO’s Aronui Feedlot in Dalby, QLD, Australia, has taken a significant step in improving livestock management by incorporating the YoungStar Mat into their operation, overseeing the welfare of around 22,000 cattle each year.
The Aronui Feedlot faced a pressing challenge with the safety of cattle in areas prone to slips and trips. Brenton Watterson, the Operations Manager, identified the need for a solution, remarking, “Initially we found a need for the young star matting down on one of our hospital yards.”
"By implementing the young star mat we've significantly reduced the amount of slips and trips as they're turning through them gateways, drafting out the front of the crush."
The YoungStar Mat was chosen for its potential to provide a safer environment for cattle movement. Watterson observed the mat’s effectiveness and decided to expand its use: “As we built this new facility here we’ve definitely thought it had its place in our bud box setup and then in our rebuild on our induction shed.”
The primary benefit was a significant reduction in cattle slips and trips. Watterson attests to this improvement: “By implementing the young star mat we’ve significantly reduced the amount of slips and trips as they’re turning through them gateways, drafting out the front of the crush.”
The mat was not only effective but also easy to install. “It arrived with all the gear we needed right down to the steering knife to cut it, so yeah, everything within the box ready to go,” Watterson appreciated the convenience.
The YoungStar Mat proved to be more manageable and comfortable than traditional surfaces. “It’s a lot easier to clean than normal stamped concrete… It’s better than concrete when you’re standing on it all day,” Watterson highlighted the dual benefits of the matting.
"Overall, I definitely recommend the YoungStar matting in your feedlots."
The success of the YoungStar Mat at Aronui Feedlot has set a precedent, with Watterson concluding, “We will definitely be considering putting it in all of our sheds in the coming years and recommend any other feedlot with an issue with slips and trips especially around your crushes and drafting yards.”
Heavy-duty feedlot mat with hoof-stopping lugged profile.
W: 900mm x L: 2100mm
Thickness: 32mm
Before Stockyard’s Kerwee Feedlot in Jondaryan, Queensland implemented the YoungStar Matting system, their existing infrastructure had aged and was no longer satisfying the business’s strict standards. Animal welfare is a key focus for Stockyard, and when exploring a new system to replace the existing, they needed one that would improve the safety and comfort for their cattle. “We tried other products that that were probably more from a dairy background with not much success,” recalls Ben Schweitzer, Livestock Manager at Stockyard’s Kerwee Feedlot. The existing mats, installed with steel mesh, could not withstand the water and the environment, further deteriorating the conditions for the cattle.
In a bid to find a sustainable solution, Kerwee Feedlot came across the YoungStar Matting system. “Numat approached the yard roughly two years ago and this is a step we’ve taken forward from there. From hearing other people’s experiences from other feedlots, we decided to go with the YoungStar here,” Ben comments. The matting system distinguished itself not only through its unique grip pattern but also through its remarkable durability, specially designed to withstand the demanding conditions and frequent usage of the feedlot environment.
The implementation process began with installing the YoungStar mats at the dispatch area and the trial pen. A crucial aspect that set YoungStar Mat apart from the previous solutions was the installation process. “Our mats are installed with 10 concrete screws which adds a lot more stability in the mat with the movement of the mat,” Ben notes, highlighting the durability and resistance of the YoungStar Mat to wear and tear.
"It’s reduced slips, trips, and falls and it creates a lot safer space for the animals."
The implementation of YoungStar Mat had an immediate effect on reducing trips, slips, and falls at the feedlot, thereby providing a safer environment for the cattle. “It’s reduced slips, trips, and falls and it creates a lot safer space for the animals,” Ben says. Unlike the previous matting systems, the YoungStar Matting proved to be sturdy and reliable.
Not only did the YoungStar Matting enhance the safety conditions, but it also simplified the cleaning process. “We clean this facility every day. With the YoungStar matting, it’s nice and easy to clean nothing gets too stuck to it,” says Ben.
Handling a throughput of roughly 4,000 head per month, the matting continues to showcase its resilience. “We roughly have 4,000 head per month come through this facility that we’re standing here at now and this matting is still in the same shape the day it was put down which is roughly two years ago now. It’s made a big difference to us,” Ben concludes.
Grassdale is among the largest and most prominent beef feedlots in Australia. Overseeing animal health at the complex operation is Livestock Health Supervisor, Brett Harrison, who has been with the feedlot for over 11 years. One of the pivotal improvements he’s seen over these years is the implementation of NumatAGRI’s YoungStar rubber matting across their processing sheds. Designed in partnership with industry experts, YoungStar has been specially tailored to meet the demands of the beef industry.
Grassdale’s initial setup featured stencil concrete flooring in their processing sheds and hospital units, which became a significant issue. The hard, slick surface led to an increase in slips and injuries amongst the livestock, and a higher incidence of foot rot and foot abscesses. Harrison explains, “The animals, as they only have a very thin hoof, as they slip and scramble on the concrete, they’re taking that off.”
In addition, the concrete flooring also posed safety risks for staff and horses. The slip-prone surface was not conducive to the safe and efficient running of the feedlot.
"Overall, this matting's been very successful. I'd recommend this matting in the use of a feed yard or sale yard."
To mitigate these issues, Grassdale sought a better alternative. After trialling several rubber matting solutions, they found their answer in NumatAGRI’s YoungStar rubber matting. The product’s high durability and safety credentials distinguished it from other options, making it the ideal solution for Grassdale’s needs. “We have tried two different types of rubber matting and this one has been the most successful by far,” Harrison affirms.
YoungStar matting was installed as part of the construction of new sheds. Apart from being highly durable, it also significantly enhanced safety for both humans and animals, leading to a substantial reduction in slips and injuries. Harrison observed, “It’s a lot safer for people and horses to walk on so there’s less chance to slip compared to other types of matting that we’ve had.”
The ease of cleaning was another advantage of YoungStar. Given Grassdale’s commitment to daily washing of yards, YoungStar matting – being easier to hose down – contributed to a cleaner and more hygienic environment.
"We have tried two different types of rubber matting and this one has been the most successful by far."
The implementation of YoungStar rubber matting delivered remarkable results, enhancing both animal welfare and worker safety at the feedlot. The incidence of foot rot and foot abscesses in cattle reduced significantly, and the staff and horses experienced fewer slips and falls. The matting proved durable, withstanding the heavy traffic passing through the sheds.
Summing up the impact of the installation, Harrison stated, “Overall, this matting’s been very successful. I’d recommend this matting in the use of a feed yard or sale yard.” Given this success, Grassdale plans to extend the use of YoungStar matting to all their processing sheds.
Grassdale’s experience with NumatAGRI’s YoungStar rubber matting serves as a testament to its effectiveness. By significantly enhancing the safety and wellbeing of both livestock and staff, and proving easy to clean and durable, YoungStar has brought substantial benefits to one of Australia’s largest beef feedlots.
NumatAGRI would like to thank the team at Grassdale for their feedback and support during the testing and development stages of creating the YoungStar Mat. A huge thank you to Brett Harrison for his time in the making of this case study.
General Manager, Phil Lambert, has been working with the NumatAGRI team since late 2019.
Having used rubber matting at Teys Condamine for many years, Phil and his team were familiar with the benefits of using matting in their high-traffic concrete areas. The rubber solutions had helped reduce and prevent slips and falls when working cattle through the yards, but due to the high flow and large volume of cattle that were moving through daily, the previous rubber products did not keep up with the demand, wearing down quickly.
Because of the uniquely engineered features of the Youngstar mats, Teys Condamine began trialling the thicker, purpose-built rubber in their yards, and figuring out if and how they could adapt the rubber into their daily operation.
“We started off with a few small sections of matting throughout our yards. With the results that we saw very quickly, we purchased additional matting, with now our induction shed and hospital yards being fully matted.”
Rubber matting has been the best solution to reduce slips and falls in the high-traffic, concrete areas at Teys Condamine. The mats are also protecting the soles of the cattle which Phil explains has been helping reduce bacteria and prevent infection through the feeding period. A reduction in noise and calmer animals have also been a result of installing the Youngstar mats.
The team at Teys Condamine Feedlot are now looking toward the future and identifying more ways they can utilise the benefits of NumatAGRI Youngstar rubber mats.
“We are now looking at options around installation [of Youngstar mats] in our dispatch area. Also [in] our concrete areas through our cattle arrival, [for] when cattle are leaving trucks, to provide solutions there.”
