Farm building modernisation for greater efficiency
Hybrid Supa Slats in action: dairy modernisation for more efficient farming, increased slurry storage, and cow comfort.
Problem
When Andrew and Richard Pidcock-Matkin set out to refurbish one of their dairy buildings, they faced several challenges: integrating robotic milking technology, extending slurry storage capacity, and ensuring the flooring would actively improve hoof health and cow comfort. Having already experienced the benefits of our hybrid flooring elsewhere on their farm, they wanted a solution that would boost efficiency, animal welfare, and long-term sustainability.
Solution
We worked with the family to deliver a fully integrated upgrade:
- Efficient milking through incorporating the latest robotic milking technology to streamline processes and improve throughput.
- Our flooring combines 50% rubber and 50% concrete for superior grip, comfort, and hoof health. In this case, it helped cows quickly adapt to the new milking system with greater confidence and reduced slipping.
- Installing new slurry tanks at varying heights to match existing infrastructure, avoiding unnecessary excavation and costs while improving capacity and efficiency.
Andrew and Richard Pidcock-Matkin observe, “The rubber inserts in the slats are better for the cows’ feet. They don’t slip. With this better grip, cows are happy to stand on the flooring and it seems to have helped them get used to the new robotic milking system. It gives them more confidence.”
With improved animal welfare, more efficient operations, and a sustainable infrastructure upgrade, the project demonstrated how AgriStride flooring can be at the heart of a successful farm refurbishment.
