Michigan State University Extension Agriculture reported on Apr. 20 that research into the use of rubber mats in concrete slatted floor feedlot facilities shows potential benefits for cattle welfare and performance, especially in regions with harsh winters. These covered facilities are common throughout the Great Lakes region and parts of the Northern Plains, offering protection from cold temperatures and heavy snowfall, which can negatively affect cattle health.
The study is significant because it addresses ongoing concerns about animal welfare and food safety in intensive beef production systems. Covered slatted floor designs not only protect cattle from weather-related stress but also allow for higher stocking densities by requiring less space per animal. This results in more efficient land use at a time when farmland availability is increasingly competitive.
According to data summarized from ten studies conducted since 2015 across Ireland, Italy, and the United States, adding rubber mats to concrete slats improved average daily gain (ADG) by nearly five percent compared to concrete alone. The benefit was most pronounced for heavier finishing cattle over 1,000 pounds, who saw a greater improvement than lighter growing animals. Researchers found that while growing cattle had similar ADG regardless of flooring type, finishing cattle gained more weight with rubber mats due to reduced energy spent coping with hard surfaces.
Additional findings indicated that rubber mat installations resulted in cleaner hides overall compared to outdoor or deep-bedded systems; however, cleanliness differences between concrete and rubber slats depended on factors like mat design and drainage properties. Studies from Italy showed improved locomotion and less joint inflammation among animals raised on rubber surfaces but also noted longer hoof claws due to decreased wear. Irish research revealed mixed results regarding hoof lesions but found no difference in lameness rates between flooring types.
In all three U.S.-based studies cited by Michigan State University Extension Agriculture researchers, lameness scores were lower for cattle housed on rubber mats than those kept on bare concrete. For example, one Illinois study recorded a reduction of up to 32 percentage points in severe lameness cases when using rubber flooring instead of concrete. A commercial Iowa feedlot observed fewer pulls from pens due to injury or illness—three times less often—and a significant decrease in both morbidity and mortality rates among animals raised on cushioned floors.
Michigan State University Extension Agriculture addresses challenges related to food production, health outcomes, and environmental sustainability through education and outreach programs according to its official website. The organization operates major facilities such as greenhouses, meat labs, organic farms, woodlots, bird sanctuaries, horticultural gardens as well as research centers across Michigan according to its official website. In fall 2021 it enrolled over 3,700 students across undergraduate through certificate programs according to its official website, while maintaining partnerships with AgBioResearch scientists at eight MSU colleges according to its official website.
Looking ahead at industry implications: “Cattle raised on rubber slats have better mobility…and exhibit less lameness when assessed while walking compared with cattle raised on concrete slats,” the article states. While producers must weigh installation costs against these benefits for animal health and productivity gains—the report concludes that installing new or replacing worn-out mats may be an important step toward improving overall feedlot outcomes.
