Zero Slips, 40% Less Bruising: Rubber Mats on Cattle Wagons
Quick Snapshot
Cattle slipping and falling on bare steel floors during long-haul rail journeys, causing stress, bruising, lameness, and risks to handler safety – all impacting meat quality, carcass value, and operational efficiency.
Result? Dramatically improved animal welfare and transport outcomes with Numat YoungStar 32mm rubber mats installed across over 200 wagons: zero reported slips or falls, 40% reduction in bruising for better meat value at unload, 50% less post-haul lameness, calmer cattle that load quicker and stand steady even on turns, plus safer handlers and zero mat maintenance after three years.
Client Profile
Client
Watco Australia.
Contact
Stephen Rowe.
Location
Queensland and Western Australia.
Operational Scope
150,000 to 200,000 head of cattle per year.
Mats Installed
2,892 YS32 rubber mats
Works for Welfare – And Your Bottom Line
Numat supplied YoungStar 32mm rubber mats to Watco Rail for their cattle wagon refurb program.
Over 2,500 mats installed across 150+ wagons so far – preventing slips, calming cattle, and reducing bruising.
Zero reported slips or injuries in wagons with Numat YoungStar installed.
The project kicked off in 2023, with ongoing refurbs through to 2026.
Rubber Mats Installed:
146 second-hand KOJX Wagons: 1,958 mats
66 New purpose-built wagons: 934 mats
"The primary goal for us was to reduce the amount of slipping and bruising in the wagons"
The Numat solution
Cattle on rails face rough rides. Uneven floors lead to slips, stress, and bruising that hits meat value hard. Handlers risk injury too, and bent floors from new wagons can ground the whole lot.
YoungStar mats fix that fast: Grip for steady footing, cushion for long trips, recycled rubber that lasts.
Watco Rail Pty Ltd knows this all too well. As Australia’s leading rail cattle transport network, they’ve been hauling live cattle since expanding into Queensland in 2021 via their Cattle Train service. They move up to 1,000 head per trip along key corridors, focusing on getting stock to processors and ports in top shape.
Animal welfare is core to Watco’s ops – they prioritise calmer, safer journeys to cut stress and avoid fines.
They didn’t settle for just any fix. Watco researched mats thoroughly until they landed on Numat’s YS32. It’s proven the best and most durable for cattle across Australia and New Zealand, with square lugs that grip like nothing else on those bumpy rails.
Project details
- Mats supplied: 2,892+ YoungStar 32mm sheets
- Coverage: Floors in KOJX wagons, new purpose build wagons, plus ramps and races
- Install method: Bolted to existing floors, sealed edges for hygiene
- Timeline: First batch Jan 2023; ongoing through to 2026 (pauses for cattle seasons)
Total wagons: 212
Results & benefits
- Bruising down 40% on matted wagons – better carcass value at unload.
- Zero slips or falls reported – cattle stand calm, even on turns.
- Lameness reduced by 50% post-haul – no sore feet from concrete grind.
- Handlers safer: Fewer incidents, quicker loading times.
- Zero maintenance on mats after 3 years – outlasts metal floors.
“The mats make cleaning the wagons much faster and more efficient, allowing us to get the fleet back on the tracks sooner”
Why YoungStar 32
For Watco Australia, YoungStar 32 offered the best combination of grip, durability, and long-term performance.
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)
