Rubber Mats for Calmer Cattle and Better Welfare
Quick Snapshot
Trial in January 2020. Expanded to beefside race. 32mm YoungStar mats installed on loading ramp and race. Processing 6,500–7,200 cattle weekly.
Result? Zero maintenance in five years, calmer stock, and bruising down; all boosting animal welfare from truck to processing.
Client Profile
Client
Casino Food Company Limited.
Contact
James McKinnon.
Location
Casino, New South Wales, Australia.
Operational Scope
1,200 cattle per day.
Why It Works for Welfare – And Your Bottom Line
Rubber mats like YoungStar tackle welfare head-on: superior grip cuts slips by giving hooves a sure hold, reducing lameness and injuries from day one.
Calmer cattle mean less stress hormones, better flow through the plant, and no hidden costs like rejects or downtime.
At Casino, it’s paid off with quieter yards, happier handlers, and a big drop in maintenance costs. The 32 mm ramp has needed zero maintenance in five years no re-grooving, no repairs, just keeps working.
Better welfare, lower costs, higher returns. Simple as that.
"The company wouldn't spend money if they didn't think they were going to get return on investment and they're putting more in. The company believes it is improving the way the cattle are."
The Numat solution
In January 2020, Casino trialed Numat’s 32mm YoungStar rubber mats on the loading ramp. Success led straight to the beefside race. Made from tough recycled rubber, these mats bolt down easy – no big shutdowns.
YoungStar’s square lugs give instant grip, softening the drop from trucks. It’s sealed, so no bacteria traps, and holds up under constant pounding.
“We went from trial to full install because the cattle flowed better right away,” James notes.
Over five years, zero maintenance on that ramp. Cattle slow down, corner clean, and stand calm – even the sore-footed ones.
Bruising dropped, meaning healthier stock and better quality meat for our vendors.
Handlers work less, stress less. No more prodding frantic animals – they just walk. And when one lays down? Less fight-or-flight, safer for the team.
Project scope & timeline
- First Order: Jan 2020
- Install Areas: Main loading ramp, full beef-side race, veal-side areas and some holding pens
- Total Area Covered (to date): estimated 600-800m² across three stages
Product: YoungStar 32 mm + YoungStar 20 mm (later veal/holding pens)
Results & benefits
- Bruising reduction: Clear visible decrease (2019 vs 2023 data, grain-fed cattle only)
- Feet/lameness issues: ~50 % reduction
- Slips & falls on ramp/race: Effectively zero since 32 mm install
- Maintenance: Zero on 32 mm ramp in 5+ years
- Animal behaviour: Cattle slow down, corner cleanly, stand calmly even when sore-footed
- Handler safety: Significantly fewer “fight-or-flight” incidents
- Meat quality: Reduced bruising = higher vendor returns
“If we have cattle that are sore footed we bring them onto the rubber matting and they will actually stand on the rubber matting happily”
Why YoungStar 32
For Casino Food Company, YoungStar 32 offered the best combination of grip, durability, and long-term performance.
Designed with the needs of stock yards, sale yards and abattoirs, in mind. YoungStar is a built-tough rubber matting system that’s simple to install, easy to clean, and an exceptional performer under pressure. Its well-placed lugs are designed to stop cattle slipping and dramatically reduce the incidence of falls and injuries.
Features
• 18mm thick base with 14mm high square lugs (total thickness 32mm)
• Fully vulcanised sealed rubber (doesn’t hold moisture or bacteria)
• Stainless-steel fixing system (no protruding metal parts)
