DeLaval rubber mat RM20N

Transcription

1 DeLaval International AB DeLaval rubber mat RM20N DLG Test Report 5276 Short description Black, treaded rubber mat, 20 mm thick, Registering company DeLaval International AB P.O. Box 39 SE Tumba/Sweden Telephone: Telefax: Internet: surface with a hammer beat structure, under side with knobs (height 5 mm), thickness of the mat without knobs 15.5 mm. Push-type installation. (Technical data see page 10) Deutsche Landwirtschafts- Gesellschaft e.v. Prüfstelle für Landmaschinen

2 Evaluation short version Test criterion Test result Evaluation Suitability suitable as an elastic floor cover in the resting area of high cubicles in cubicle houses single mat, installation possible even if cubicle dividers are fixed. Technical criteria Wear resistance, durability and ageing Test stand trials Abrasion test good wear resistance + Long-time pressure test no significant, lasting deformation ++ no significant wear, + Acid test no alterations to the cover + Dimensional stability no significant alteration in length or width + Deformations none ++ Handling, installation Installation by the owner easy + Installation instructions detailed and understandable + Cleaning and disinfection Self-cleaning good + Daily cleaning does not cause any difficulties + High-pressure cleaner minimum distance 5 cm with a flat jet nozzle ++ minimum distance 40 cm with a coarse dirt remover Efficient thorough cleaning upper side: well possible + and disinfection under side: well possible + Warranty, recycling Animal-related criteria Behavioural observations Selection behaviour of the animals Joint evaluation 10 years Mat is taken back by the manufacturer + no deviation from specific behaviour noticeable + The floor cover is accepted well by the animals % without any pathological result Slip resistance during on dry and wet cover slide tests good + Secure foothold of the animals good on farms + Deformability and elasticity In new condition 8.0 mm, satisfactory After a long-time test 7.8 mm, satisfactory Toxicological safety confirmed by the manufacturer Evaluation range: ++ / + / / / ( = standard) DLG Test Report

3 Test results I. SUITABILITY The DeLaval rubber mat RM20N is suitable as an elastic floor cover in the resting area of high cubicles in cubicle houses and tethered cattle houses. Since this is a single mat, it can be installed even when the cubicle dividers are fixed. Problem-free installation requires proper building of the concrete subfloor with an overall inclination of at least 3% (better 4%). For proper function, small additional quantities of litter are highly recommended. II. TECHNICAL CRITERIA Wear resistance, durability and ageing In a standardized abrasion test, during which the cover was rubbed with emery cloth (granulation 280) at a load of 500 N (= specific pressure 8.1 N/cm 2 ), abrasion depth after 10,000 double strokes was 0.9 mm, which corresponds to ca. 5% of the cover height. Of the rubbed area (61.5 cm 2 ), 1.8 g were abraded. Small abrasion depth and little abrasion therefore indicate a good wear resistance of the stall mat. After exposure to long-time pressure exerted by a steel foot (contact area 75 cm 2 ) on a test stand and 100,000 alternating loads of 10,000 N (corresponding to ca. 1,000 kg), no noticeable wear or damage to the stall mat was determined. No noticeable, lasting deformation was measured. An acid test with lactic acid according to DIN did not show any alterations to the cover, such as swelling, softening, and destruction. Dimensional stability During the test period, a noticeable alteration of length and width did not occur in practice after proper installation. Deformation (formation of craters and channels) was not observed. Handling, installation The installation instructions are detailed and understandable. The mat can be installed by the customer. Installation requires two persons. The mats are installed by pushing, and they are attached using two to three screws and pegs at the indicated spots.of the front side. Cleaning and disinfection The self-cleaning effect is good, and the daily cleaning of the surface does not cause any difficulties. Small quantities of litter make it easier to clean the cubicle as well as the animals and to keep them dry. The impermeable surface allows for easy, efficient disinfection and thorough cleaning (e.g. using a high-pressure cleaner). It is recommended to soak the dirt before cleaning. In test stand trials with a highpressure cleaner (throughput 1,000 l/h, approximately 145 bar, exposure period 1 minute), damage to the cover only occurred when a minimum distance of 40 cm (with a coarse dirt remover) and 5 cm (with a flat-jet nozzle) was not kept. Under the floor cover, moisture (urine, milk) may collect. This cannot be avoided. Cleaning is easily possible because the floor cover is attached with screws only in the front area. For the cleaning and disinfection of the cover, only the cleaning agents permitted by the manufacturer should be used. Warranty and recycling According to its warranty conditions, the manufacturer grants a warranty of 10 years. If the freight costs are taken over, the manufacturer takes the stall mat back in a clean condition. A written agreement with the manufacturer is recommended. III. ANIMAL-RELATED CRITERIA Behavioural observations During practical use, behavioural observations in the form of videoand direct observations were carried out. The direct observation of 20 getting-up processes each on two farms did not show any deviations from the normal movement process. In addition, no deviations from the specific behavioural patterns (e.g. typical movement processes during getting up and lying lown, lying positions) which would have to be attributed to the floor cover were determined. Selection behaviour of the animals A selection test was carried out in a cubicle house (8 cubicles, 4 animals, minimum acclimatization period 2 weeks, observation period 7 days). As a comparative cover, a solid rubber mat (thickness 18 mm, upper side hammer beat profile, under side groove tread) was used. The video observations showed that the floor cover was accepted very well. At 10.1 hours per day, the average standing and DLG Test Report

4 Figure 2: result of the selection test resting times on the cover are in the normal range. Resting behaviour does not show any deviations from normal resting behaviour. Interrupted lying-down processes were not observed. The evaluation of the video recordings showed that during 24 hours the animals spent an average of 14.4 hours standing and resting in the cubicles. Of these, the animals spent 10.1 hours in the cubicles with the DeLaval rubber mat RM20N and only 4.3 hours in the cubicles with the solid rubber mat. The average duration of a resting phase was also higher on the DeLaval rubber mat RM20N than on the solid rubber mat. Joint evaluation carpus front ankle Figure 3: The areas shown were examined. Figure 4: Percentage of the results found knee tarsus rear ankle On three farms which had installed only the tested cover, a total of 98 cows were examined for externally visible damage in the joint area as of the second third of lactation (joint evaluation). Evaluation comprised the left and right half of the body and focused on the 10 spots exposed during resting (cf. figure 3). Joint evaluation was always carried out by the same person at the end of the winter feeding period. The results were classified according to the following criteria: The percentage of the results found in the 98 animals examined is shown in the following diagram (figure 4). 81.8% of the spots evaluated did not show any pathological result. Significant alterations, such as increased circumference in the bursal area (open) and lameness were not found. Small alterations, such as hairless spots, were found at 12.7% of the spots evaluated. At 5.5% of the spots evaluated, medium alterations, such as skin abrasions and increased circumference in the bursal area (covered) at the joints were found. DLG Test Report

5 Table 1: Classification of the results Result without any particular result hairless spots < 2cm hairless spots > 2cm skin abrasions < 2 cm skin abrasions > 2 cm increased circumference in the bursal area, covered increased circumference in the bursal area, open joint participation Classification no alterations small alterations small alterations medium alterations medium alterations medium alterations great alterations great alterations The pathological results determined were mainly found in the tarsal joint and the knee. Only in a few cases were pathological results found in the ankles or the carpal joint. The concentration of the pathological results in the rear leg area must probably be attributed to increased moisture and soiling in the rear area of the cubicle. Slip resistance Slide pulling trials with a round plastic foot (contact area 75 cm 2 ) at sliding speeds of the plastic foot of 16 to 400 mm/min showed good slip resistance on the dry and wet unlittered cover. Measured friction coefficients (µ) are above the minimum value of µ = On two farms, 20 getting-up processes each were examined using direct observations. These observations also showed that the animals had a secure foothold. Slipping of the animals was not observed. Elasticity was measured after a long-time trial with a steel foot (contact area 75 cm 2 ) and 100,000 alternating loads of 10,000 N. After the long-time test, the penetration depth of the spherical cap decreased from 8.0 mm to 7.8 mm. Bearing pressure grew from 34.3 N/cm 2 to 35.2 N/cm 2 (cf. figure 5). This means that deformability and elasticity only decrease to a very small extent. Toxicological safety The manufacturer confirmed the toxicological safety of the floor cover. IV. SURVEY RESULT A survey among 20 farms which have been using the stall floor cover for up to 6 years confirmed the experiences during the test. On the farms, a total of 3008 cubicles were equipped with the floor cover. On 95% of the farms, the cover was installed by the farmer. 84% stated that installation was easy and did not require any practice or experience. On all farms, the cubicles were accepted well by the animals. The cover is evaluated good to very good by 85% of those surveyed. 90% would purchase it again if necessary. Deformability and elasticity In ball penetration tests in new condition using a spherical cap (r = 120) and a penetration force of 2,000 N (corresponding to ca. 200 kg), penetration depth was 8.0 mm. The bearing pressure of 34.3 N/cm 2 calculated on the basis of these results indicates an acceptable load on the carpal joints during lying down and getting up. Figure 5: Deformability, penetration depth of the spherical cap (r = 120 mm) as a function of the contact pressure DLG Test Report

6 Description and technical data (measured values) Main measurements and weight Length Width Thickness Weight per m to 2300 mm 1000 to 1300 mm 20 mm ca.18 kg Available sizes (push-type installation) width x length (mm): 1000 x 1300/1400/1500/1650/1750/1850/ x 1500/1650/1750/1850/ x 1650/1750/1850/ x 1800/2300 Warranty 10 years Test The utility value test included technical measurements on test stands, practical tests, behavioural observations, joint evaluations, and a survey among farms. Test stand trials comprised tests of deformability and material hardness (by means of a ball penetration test), durability and elasticity (through alternating loads), abrasion resistance (using the aid of an abrasion test with emery cloth), slip resistance (through slide pulling tests), and resistance to lactic acid according to DIN In a cubicle house of the Landwirtschaftszentrum Haus Düsse, the selection behaviour of the animals was recorded using a video system. Realization of the test DLG-Prüfstelle für Landmaschinen, Max-Eyth-Weg 1, Groß-Umstadt Landwirtschaftszentrum Haus Düsse, Bad Sassendorf Practical application Landwirtschaftszentrum Haus Düsse, Bad Sassendorf Reporting engineer Dipl.-Ing. agr. H. Reubold, Groß-Umstadt DLG test panel Dr. med. vet. H. Brentrup, Münster Dipl.-Ing. architect J. Gartung, Braunschweig Dipl.-Ing. architect F. Koch, Hannover Dipl.-Ing. A. Pelzer, Bad Sassendorf Dipl.-Ing. agr. F. Pieper, Pretzier Dipl.-Ing. agr. K.W. Wolf, Höchst DLG committee for animal welfare Ms. Dr. sc. agr. C. Müller, Trenthorst Published with the support of the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food, and Agriculture ENTAM The European Network for the Testing of Agricultural Machines is the association of European test centres. It is the goal of ENTAM to spread test results Europe-wide to farmers, agricultural machinery dealers and manufacturers. 11/2003 DLG You will find more information about the network under or under the address: info@entam.com Deutsche Landwirtschafts- Gesellschaft e.v. Prüfstelle für Landmaschinen Max-Eyth-Weg 1, D Groß-Umstadt Telefon: , Fax: Tech@DLG-Frankfurt.de Internet: Deutsche Landwirtschafts- Gesellschaft e.v. Prüfstelle für Landmaschinen Lerchensteig 42, D Potsdam Telefon: , Fax: Tech@DLG-Frankfurt.de Internet: DLG Test Report