Rubber Mats for Animal Pens Reduce the Risk of Cattle Disability - Reduce Environmental Contamination

     In Thailand, over 95% of dairy farms prefer the 'standing barn' style of dairy farming, where each cow is tethered to stand within a slot in the barn due to space limitations. Most pen floors are cement to facilitate easy cleaning, but raising cows on such floors often causes health problems. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation and the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), under the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), have therefore developed "Environmentally Friendly Rubber Mats for Animal Pen Flooring" to help reduce the risk of injuries to dairy cows and the environmental impact of chemical contamination.

     'Laying rubber mats on pen floors' is one solution that farmers have adopted to reduce cattle injuries. However, there are various types of rubber mats available on the market. If the mats meet the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) standards, they tend to be expensive, whereas non-standard mats, such as foam mats, are approximately 3-4 times cheaper but have a shorter lifespan.

       The standout feature of these Environmentally Friendly Rubber Mats for Animal Pen Flooring is that they are 'high-quality, durable, and environmentally friendly'. They are made from natural rubber and use a low quantity of chemicals. Particularly, they utilize a special grade of zinc oxide in the rubber formula, resulting in a mat with lower zinc oxide content than conventional mats. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies zinc oxide as a harmful chemical to the environment as it can persist in rubber products and potentially harm various forms of life. Therefore, if a rubber product has a low quantity of zinc oxide (along with other chemicals), when it reaches the end of its use without being reused or properly disposed of, it helps reduce the quantity of toxins contaminating the environment.

     Currently, the 'Environmentally Friendly Rubber Mats for Animal Pen Flooring' innovation has passed the TISI no. 2584-2556 standard, confirming its efficiency and durability. However, it is not yet commercially produced and is in the process of further field testing, with the search ongoing for businesses interested in transferring this technology.

Data updated on February 16, 2023
Source: National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)
Tel. +66 2564 8000