Cows get mattresses to help them sleep

Sleep soundly, Ermintrude. Doze dreamily, Daisy. The United Kingdom's hard-working cows are being encouraged to take the weight off their cloven feet.

Exploiting the principle that happy heifers produce more milk, a Northern Ireland company is expanding its range of night-time bovine pamper products.

Wilson Agriculture in Coleraine has been given a government grant to support its production of Pasture Mats and Poly Pillows to soothe the afflictions of living in concrete-floored cowsheds. The firm is also developing Stable Comfort mattresses for horses. The £21,000 grant from Invest Northern Ireland will be spent on research which may ultimately improve the horizontal quality of life for farm animals.



Enthusiasm for cow mattresses began in Canada, because cattle in northern latitudes spend so much time in barns and byres, according to Evelyn Wilson, a director of the Coleraine company. "If you lie in a comfortable bed all night you'll be in good form all day," explained Mrs Wilson. "It's the same for cows."

Her firm had been importing mattresses from Canada for 12 years but this year started making its own. "They are like beanbags covered with closely knitted army blankets," she said. "The insides are made of rubber crumbs from old car tyres."

Each mattress costs £45. "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."