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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-03-30, Page 3- Business Beat THE HURON EXPOSITOR, March 30, 194-3 DAVID SCOTT PHOTO COMFORTABLE COWS - Ernst Gubelmann of RR 4 Walton uses Pasture Mats from Promat Ltd. in Seaforth in his dairy bam. At left, one of his Brown Swiss cows has secure footing on the mat. Gubelmann uses straw on top of the mats to help clean off manure. Above, a pair of his Holsteins relax on the Pasture Mats. Seaforth firm makescows com BY DAVID SCOTT Expositor Staff You think your working condi- tions are tough, try standing on all fours on a concrete floor 12 hours a day. It doesn't sound too comfort- able for humans or dairy cattle. The problem of uncomfortable cows, whether standing or laying down in stalls, sparked the invention of a practical solution by a company in Seaforth. Two years ago in March, OMAF (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) called a meeting and invited everyone in the dairy equipment and supply busi- ness. Animal behavioural special- ists, veterinarians, and agricultural engineers spoke about the problems of design of new dairy barns, how the dimensions of stalls are too small and generally uncomfortable to cattle. Also from the meeting came the information that cows lay down in pasture 16-18 hours a day. But in an enclosed barn environment only lay down 8-12 hours a day. "It's not a good condition," said Doug Young, Sales Manager- for ):romat Ltd. of Seaforth. especially since there's a trend toward total year-round housing of dairy cows. Children greet spring's arrival "We're all looking for a dinosaur. Something we've never ever seen before..." The children at the Seaforth Co- operative Children's Centre have spent the last few weeks learning about dinosaurs through stories, games, fingerplays and songs. They were able to dig for 'dinosaur bones' just like real scientists. Dinosaur eggs were prepared specially by Sandy. With the arrival of spring green thumbs are now busy planting seeds in decorated pots and in the homemade greenhouse. A sure sign of spring is the run- ning of the tree sap. On March 31 the Centre's children will be going on a field trip to Storey's Sugar bush to sec first-hand where maple syrup comes from. Happy Birthday in the month of March goes to: Gwynne Burgess, Jennie Hildebrand, Hilary Burgess, Andrea Murray, Gianni Chiappetta and Steven Jordan. Happy Belated Birthday to Shaun Brooker. (Sorry we missed you, Shaun.) ♦' SENIOR CITIZEN'S DAY ON TUESDAY, APRIL 5 receive DOUBLE COUPONS Canadian Tire cares about Senior Citizens and to show their appre- ciation offers double coupons with all purchases the first Tuesday of each month (Cash or cheque, excludes Auto Centre labor) Open: Mon. to Thurs. 8:30-6; rl. 8:30-9.00; Sat. 8:30-5:30 THIS TUESDAY IS DOUBLE COUPON DAY FOR SENIOR CITIZEN'S ONLY AT SEAFORTH CANADIAN TIRE 527-1350 "If they're falling onto concrete... it can cause trauma." Swollen hocks and joints and abrasions on legs are common problems for cattle who stand in stalls with concrete floors. "Cows have a peculiar way of laying down. They crash the last six to eight inches. If they're falling onto concrete or hard rubber, it can cause trauma. If they're laying in a natural environment, they don't have a problem," said Young. The Pasture Mats from Promat Ltd. in Seaforth offer a solution. The mats are made from rubber crumb. Each mat contains the equivalent amount of rubber from 10 passenger ,ear tires inside 12 cells. The material won't rot, it's not biodegradable. The rubber crumbs are injected into the cells and won't 'migrate' or move around. "The Pasture Mats have the deadening effect of sod. It's a springy type of rubber. The energy is 'stored and given back to the cow when it lays down, like a trampo- line. It's not like landing on con- crete or sand," said Young, who developed the prototype of the Pasture Mat. The results of the mat can be beneficial for cattle. Swollen hocks will go away in seven days, accord- ing to Young. There are incidents of milk pro- duction noticeably increasing where farmers have used the mats on top of hard rubber surfaces or concrete in their stalls. If the mats were introduced in a barn where farmers were using sand or hay or a more natural surface there wasn't a big increase in production but there was a decrease in labour and bedding costs, said Doug Young, Sales Manager for Promat Ltd. What Young thinks is remarkable is that after one month of the Pas- ture Mats in stalls farmers will comment on how much longer cows try down: `In some barns. farmers have come in to do milking and found all of the cows laying down. "Many farmers have never seen that," said Young. The mats allow the cows to sink in a little to secure their footing when they're standing. Some farmers using the mat have commented that it's the best cure for "dumb heifer disease," said Young. When heifers are about two sHoffirrie- anada NEEDS OUR HELP! PAY THE GST - HELP JEAN PAY THE PST - HELP BOB HOFFMEYER'S TAKES 0/0 OFF ALL PINE LUMBER ALL HARDWOOD LUMBER ALL SPECIALTY PLYWOOD You Actually Save Over 17% By Paying Your Taxes On A Lesser Purchase. In -Stock Items Only - Cash * Carry SALE ENDS APRIL 9TH "Quality c3' Service Since 1906" SEAFORTH SEBRINGVILLE 527-0910 393-5101 a years old, they're put in a tie -stall. If their footing isn't good, about five per cent of the time the cow can't figure her new arrangement and ends up beating herself against her surroundings causing serious injuries. The Pasture Mats alleviate this problem overnight, according to Young. For older cattle the mats can ease the pain of rheumatism when easing up and down in the stall. Some cows are regularly culled now because of feet and leg prob- lems. In the past, the problems have been blamed on the floor they walk on. But just the difference in stand- ing time between a pasture environ- ment and a barn stall has an effect on cows. "Cows are standing (in stalls) three to four hours longer than nature intended them to be," said Young. "Cows stand normally a. quarter , of :.the= time - only ; six___ hours a day." The Pasture Mats are said to reduce standing time 40-50 per cent which results in much better foot and leg health. Young said the mats might even allow farmers to get another lactation out of the cows. But some of the benefits or results from the mats might not show up for years. see Company, page five ` -- HEALTH ON THE HILL A Review of activities at SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL East Huron Long Term Care Planning Committee Meeting March 31, 1994 — 10:00-12:00 noon Seaforth Community Hospital Board Room You are invited to come and help plan for Multi Service agencies model for Huron County. Sally Lawton will speak on Placement Co-ordination Service. To order reference material call 1-800-663-3775 and ask for "Salmon" book of Rainbow Series. ULATIONS BILL on your 15th year as a successful GM Dealer Celebrate our Anniversary with a $1 7.95 oil change on most vehicles. McLaughlin Chev Olds 13 Main St. N., Seaforth 527-1140 THURSDAY MAR. 31 SAVE 5 on all GROCERIES AT SEAFORTH GROCERY on S50. minimum purchase between 5 & 9 pm only CANADIAN TIRE /.4edeith Join Us at the Seaforth HOME & GARDEN SHOW WED. & THURS. APRIL 6 & 7 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. • Meet Bert and Gert. Your children will love the Alert Twins from Stay Alert... Stay Safe. • Receive a FREE booklet. It will help your children recognize potentially unsafe situations. • Talk to a police officer. You and your children will learn important facts about child protection. Stay Alert...Stay Safe is a national charity whose mandate is to give children the skills and confidence to help them stay safe wherever they are The charity's educational materials are funded by the Canadian Tire Child Protection Program TOGETHER, WE'RE HELPING KIDS TO BE CAREFUL Vflflf101fifanamsP TIM Child Protection, Foundation STAT AItIT-STAY SArI Ii, ✓ CACP Canaaban Assoc,al,On or C?,eis o1 Police ASSOCIATE STORE FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL: 527-1350 C AD IAN TIRE SEAFORTH OPEN MON. to THURS. 8:30 to 6:00 P.M. FRI. 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. SATURDAY 8:30 to 5:30 SUNDAY 12 TO5:00 P.M. 0E41.441 K