Pampered cows get good night's sleep

Cow mattresses gained favour in northern latitudes

A good night's sleep may be a recipe for happy and healthy life, but an NI company is adopting the same creature comforts for cows.

Frazzled bovines down on the farm can now look forward to taking to their 'cow beds' at the end of a stressful day in the fields.

Wilson Agriculture in Coleraine has been given a government grant to support its production of Pasture Mats and Poly Pillows to ease the lives of cows forced to lie on uncomfortable concrete floors.

The £45 mattresses are said to help the contented cows produce more milk.

Wilson's is also developing stable comfort mattresses for horses and a £21,000 grant from Invest Northern Ireland will be used on research which may ultimately improve the quality of life for farm animals.

The company's Evelyn Wilson said cow mattresses gained favour in northern latitudes, where cattle spend so much time in barns.

It imported mattresses from Canada for 12 years, but has started to make its own.

"If you lie in a comfortable bed all night you'll be in good form all day. It's the same for cows," said Ms Wilson.

"They are like beanbags covered with closely knitted army blankets," she said. "The insides are made of rubber crumbs from old car tyres.

"Cows spend more time inside than they used to. These mattresses stop cows injuring themselves when they go down on their knees. Animals are not stupid. They love them."

However, animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming cautioned against keeping cattle indoors permanently and not going out to pasture.

"Living indoors too much can increase lameness," said a spokesman.