Cows Get Mattresses to Aide Sleep
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Cows in the United Kingdom are being given the royal treatment with pamper products — namely mattresses and pillows to take the load off their hoofs.
Wilson Agriculture, a Northern Ireland company in Colerain, believes that happy heifers produce more milk, and has been awarded a grant of nearly $42,000 US to ‘improve the horizontal quality of life for farm animals’ with creature comfort.
The government grant will support the company’s production of Pasture Mats and Poly Pillows so cattle will no longer suffer afflictions of living in concrete floored barns, and for the development of Stable Comfort mattresses for horses reports The Guardian.
Evelyn Wilson, director of Wilson Agriculture said, “If you lie in a comfortable bed all night you’ll be in good form all day. It’s the same for cows.”
The company had initially imported mattresses from Canada and has been for the past 12 years. But to perhaps improve profitability, productivity and quality control, they began producing their own version of mattresses.
“They are like beanbags covered with closely knitted army blankets.” said Wilson. “The insides are made of rubber crumbs from old car tires.”
“Cows spend more time inside than they used to. These mattresses stop cows injuring themselves when they go down on their knees. Animals are not stupid. They love them.” she said.
The animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming warns that the mattresses shouldn’t be used as an alternative for cattle going out to pasture. “They do not make keeping cows inside all the time acceptable. Living indoors too much can increase lameness.”
Wilson Agriculture claims that improving cattle comfort will encourage them to lay longer, reducing injuries and removing the stress off their cloven feet and legs, thereby saving energy for milk production.
Research reveals that healthy cows spend 16 to 20 hours a day lying down in an outdoor pasture. But when confined to a barn they spend only 8 to 10 hours in a prone position.
Adding further to creature comfort, the Poly Pillow fixes down the front of the Pasture Mat. It positions the cow, providing a restful lying position with a natural front leg extension.
A Wilson Agriculture fact — there are currently more than 2 million Pasture Mats beneath cows world-wide. Who knew?
If you’d like to provide some bovine pampering to your precious creatures, you can find out more on their website.
wouldn’t want to have to change those sheets..Maybe cows would be happier out in the pasture laying down on some nice soft grass instead of cramped in a barn with breast pumps attached to their teets sucking out their milk every day!!
Haha, no, it definitely wouldn’t be a whole lot of fun changing sheets for cows. I don’t think there would be a concern for that here. I would imagine that the mattresses could simply be hoses off. But even that doesn’t appeal to moi
’sucking their milk out every day’ … I wouldn’t enjoy the life of a dairy cow Tom, or any cow for that matter.
I do love Ice Cream though (-:
lol…no I wouldn’t like to be a dairy cow either….but if I was I would need my electric blanket too…..
Now all they need are some snacks and cable TV. With the Animal Planet channel locked in. ‘Course then again, TV might turn em’ into a bunch of moo-rons.
I can’t argue that one, Tom
Ah, yes, all the creature comforts Kim
Hahaha, good one Nitropuppy, too funny! Don’t forget The Pet Detective, among others
I think those mats are a good idea. Sand gets too expensive, and out here in Wisconsin in the frigid winters the sand piles freeze and is a pain to sand the cow stalls. it just makes sense to convert to mats.
Even though it would probably be best for the cows to be able to roam free in pasture and lay in soft grass, since that isn’t really an option in this case I’m glad that they’re taking measures to make life for the cows a little more comfortable. Though if this is going to lead to more milk production, that means the cows will be milked even harder. So maybe that part of it won’t be more comfortable for them. But they’re probably used to it…
The concern for cows is praiseworthy. However, it also brings to notice how much we have departed from the natural expected of living the life. Cows are expected to roam freely in open green pasture, return home by evening (in India that timing is called ‘Godhuli’- means the time when there is dust raised by cows’ hooves as they run happily back home with their tails raised in ecstasy). This is a beautiful time, the freshness as same as we feel when we smell the drop of rain soaking the earth, making it emnate an intoxicating ‘earthy’ fragrance!
These are the pleasures that our cities have deprived us of. The simplicity of life has vanished… We have closed ourselves in the cocoon of our selfishness, so much so that we see everything in terms of utility to us.
Life is beautiful, let us celebrate Life and not death. Feel the raw nature on yourself and just enjoy—–the gentle breeze, the cooing of birds, the mooing of cows, bustling of leaves….