A very happy Christmas to all of our customers and a big thank you from us here at Mayo for your continued custom in 2021!

The office will be closed from Wednesday 22nd December and will re-open Tuesday 4th Jan 2022.

If your query is urgent, please call 07825155299

Social media messages and emails will be checked intermittently across the break

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Much consideration is given to cow movement, cow flow and drinking points in virtually all buildings new and old, and this consideration needs continue. However, the greatest consideration is being given to cubicle design.

The cubicle structure is just a guide and will act as a guide regardless of shape or form. Its function is effective for extremely short periods in the cow’s routine and has little to do with the overall quality of the environment. It does have a role to play, but this role must be considered in terms of the principles that determine whether the cow’s natural preferences are being met.

Cows must have ease of access and ease of escape. This applies to food, water and her bed.

• The bed should be shock absorbent to cushion the impact from free-fall.
• The bed should have optimal softness to ensure that it closely resembles field conditions. This will encourage the cow to partake in manoeuvres that are normal.
• The bed should have non-slip properties to ensure that the cow has complete confidence when getting up.
• The bed must be a closed cell structure to prevent the harbouring of bacteria, thus providing a hygienic surface.
• Ease of maintenance, cost effectiveness and life span are also valid determining factors.

These are a sample of the principles that govern us at Mayo Cow Comfort when we engage with farmers on their cow housing. They are foremost in our minds when we are manufacturing the Mayo Mattress.

It should be remembered that buildings do not need to be new to create a good environment for your cows.

Mayo Cow Comfort Principles

1. Ease of access. Determined by the height and position of the neck rail.
2. Shock absorbent bed to cushion impact from free fall- determined by floor cover.
3. Optimal softness to ensure that the bed closely resembles field conditions- determined by floor cover.
4. Non-slip surface to enable the cow to have complete confidence in getting up. This is determined by floor cover and positioning of correct brisket board type.
5. Ease of escape determined by neck rail, cubicle design, passage width & anti-slip property of floor cover.
6. Hygienic surface, determined by floor cover.
7. Stress reduction in entry and escape given almost 360-degree vision of the cow by removing any perceived trip or hit hazards.
8. Ease of maintenance- determined by floor cover.
9. Feasibility and cost effectiveness, determined by existing conditions.
10. Long lasting quality system determined by all of the above.

To put these principles into practice it is necessary to look at the height of the neck rail and the position of the brisket board, but the most important element is the bed.

The Mayo Mattress provides all the elements needed in a cow mattress for the ultimate in cow comfort.

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Comfort

The bed should absorb the shock that occurs when the cow ‘free falls’ during certain stages associated with achieving the lying position. The bed should be a good insulator and should be soft enough to entice the cow to lie down for optimum periods.

Non-Slip

This element is generally under estimated. A good system will enable the cow to leave the space without difficulty. This is achieved by preserving her lunge space and providing a non-slip surface whether it is wet or dry. If the cow has any fear of being able to ‘escape’ from her lying space then she will only enter it as a last resort or not at all. On occasion a cow will get up and almost immediately lie down again when she is at pasture- just to change position. This behaviour will also occur under the correct conditions indoors and will contribute to leg and udder health, probably due to enhanced blood flow.

Hygienic

Hygiene is often solely associated with management, both in the cubicle house and in the parlour. In the cubicle house the herd’s overall health will be affected by the behaviour of the cows. They should circulate with a purpose and with as little hindrance as possible, thus keeping stress level to a minimum. The surface of the lying space should be comfortable, non-absorbent, free from dishing and easily cleaned. Surface little should cycle regularly.

Long Life

It is not enough for the bed to exist for a long period. It must continue to function and retain the qualities outlined above.

The Mayo Mattress sets the highest standards in cow welfare and hygiene. This is being seen by independent consultants in the UK that monitor dairy farms on behalf of the biggest processors.

It will never collapse or go hard, it will not deform and dish. It can never absorb.

Mayo have been designing and producing the best cow cubicle beds available for almost 30 years.

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