In the high-stakes world of dairy farming, your flooring isn’t just a surface—it’s a bio-security barrier. At Duracom, we engineer our cowmats to withstand the toughest industrial conditions, but even the most durable rubber requires a strategic maintenance plan to stay effective.
Proper hygiene doesn’t just make the barn smell better; it directly impacts somatic cell counts, prevents lameness, and extends the life of your investment by years. As experts in livestock flooring, we’ve compiled this professional guide to help you protect your herd and your bottom line.
Why “Clean” Means “Profitable”
A dirty mat is a slippery mat. When manure and moisture build up, the specialized anti-slip textures of your Duracom mats—like our Diamond or Hexa patterns—can become compromised. Furthermore, bacteria thrive in damp environments, increasing the risk of mastitis.1 A rigorous cleaning schedule is the simplest way to ensure your cows stay comfortable enough to meet their 14-hour daily rest target.
The Duracom Professional Cleaning Protocol
1. The Daily Discipline
To prevent the buildup of organic matter and ammonia, a quick daily routine is essential.
- Dry Scraping: Use a rubber-edged scraper or stiff broom to remove manure and old bedding. Avoid metal scrapers that can gouge the rubber surface over time.
- Low-Pressure Rinse: If possible, do a quick hose-down. High pressure isn’t usually necessary for daily maintenance and can sometimes push debris into the seams of non-interlocking mats.
2. The Weekly Deep Clean
Once a week, you should aim to eliminate the microscopic bacteria that daily scraping misses.
- Scrubbing: Use a soft-bristled industrial brush to agitate the surface, especially within the grooves of the Diamond or Hexa designs.
- Safe Chemistry: Use mild, pH-neutral detergents or specialized farm disinfectants.
Expert Tip: Never use petroleum-based cleaners, undiluted bleach, or acidic solutions. These chemicals break down the carbon bonds in rubber, causing the mats to become brittle, crack, or lose their “cloud-like” cushion.
3. Monthly Bio-Security Inspection
Once a month, take ten minutes to walk your barn and check the “health” of your flooring:
- Check the Seams: Ensure mats haven’t shifted. If you aren’t using our Hexa Interlocking system, look for gaps where waste might be seeping underneath.
- Assess Drainage: Ensure the integrated fluid-clearing channels on the underside of your Duracom mats aren’t clogged.
- Monitor Wear: Look for uneven thinning in high-traffic areas, such as near water troughs or milking parlor entrances.
Pro-Tips for Extending Mat Lifespan
Ensure Proper “Dry Time”
Rubber is non-porous, but if you reintroduce cattle while the mats are still soaking wet, you increase the risk of humidity-related hoof issues. After a deep clean, allow the mats to air-dry fully. In poorly ventilated barns, fan-assisted drying can be a game-changer.
Optimize Your Floor Slope
No mat can fix a standing water problem if the concrete beneath it is perfectly flat. For the best results, Duracom mats should be installed on a slight slope (1–2%) toward a primary drainage channel. This allows our integrated bottom-groove technology to work at 100% efficiency.
The Benefits of a Maintenance-First Mindset
When you follow this professional maintenance routine with your Duracom cowmats, you unlock several key advantages:
- Superior Hoof Health: Dry, clean mats prevent the softening of the hoof horn, reducing the incidence of thrush and rot.
- Odor Control: Managing ammonia levels through cleaning improves the air quality for both your cattle and your staff.
Extended Warranty Value: Regular care ensures your mats last well beyond their 24-month warranty, often providing 8–10 years of service.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I remove stubborn odors from my cowmats?
Odors are usually caused by bacteria trapped in moisture. Use an animal-safe, enzymatic cleaner that “eats” the organic matter, and ensure the mats are lifting slightly during deep cleans to let the underside dry.
2. Can I use a pressure washer?
Yes, but keep the nozzle at least 12 inches away from the surface. Concentrated high-pressure streams can eventually degrade the microcellular EVA blend that gives our mats their comfort.
3. Why are my mats “bubbling” or shifting?
This usually happens if fluids are trapped underneath. It’s a sign that the drainage channels are blocked or the mats weren’t tightly fitted during installation.
Upgrade Your Dairy Hygiene Standards Today
Investing in Duracom means investing in a world-class environment for your livestock. Our mats are engineered for easy maintenance, but the care you provide on-farm is what turns a great product into a decade-long solution.
Need a custom maintenance plan or looking to upgrade to our easy-to-clean Interlocking series?
[Contact the Duracom Expert Team today] at +91 9122767806. Let’s build a cleaner, safer, and more productive future for your farm!