Research shows cattle raised in covered slatted floor facilities benefit from adding rubber slatted mats. They have better mobility, as witnessed by getting up and down more frequently, and exhibit less lameness when assessed while walking compared with cattle raised on concrete slats.
Jerad Jaborek’s comments about lameness and cattle welfare in the last paragraph add value to this review of research results. Whether adding rubber mats or not, veterinarians can use this article to help any producer work on improving footing as a welfare and profit strategy.
Source: Feedstuffs, April 22, 2026. Link.
Adding rubber mats to concrete slats reduces lameness and typically improves ADG in finishing cattle over 1,000 pounds.”
Image: Link.