For successful treatment place the mat or mats (herringbone dairies will require two of) in the entrance to the milking platform. Fill the mats with the remedy of your choice (see below), using a bucket or watering-can, then simply top-up as required during milking. By placing the mat at the entrance to the milking area, cows have their feet treated before standing quietly being milked. This is one of the most significant reasons why Hoofmat treatment is more effective than usual footbath type treatments. After milking, simply hang the Hoofmat over a wood rail and hose off. (Note: Remedy residues may affect galvanised rails).
The Shoof Hoofmat is 1.8m long x 0.9m wide with 30mm of foam core. It will hold approximately 35 litres of remedy, which should treat about 80 cows passing over. Top up as required during milking. The Shoof Hoofmat should last approximately 100,000 cow passes, but this will be dependent on many factors.
Remedies: Any remedy used in a footbath can be used more effectively and economically in a Hoofmat. This could be formalin, copper-sulphate or a patent remedy.
Our standard recommendation, for simplicity and economy, is copper-sulphate powder or granules mixed 2% (by weight) with water. But we especially recommend Intracare "Hoof-fit" material, as it is not harmful to the environment as copper-sulfate is. One of the great benefits of changing from a footbath to Hoofmat for lameness treatment and prevention, is the significant reduction in highly-toxic treatment remedies such as formalin and copper-sulphate entering into drainage systems and the environment.
