Display Mats

Where do people get the mats that you put in front of your cattle so they don't paw up the bedding. I know that Sullivan's has them but I was wondering if there was a cheaper way to go. Thanks

Mine have come from several different places from trailer mats cut, rubber truck bed liners, or conveyor belt.

If you have a Rural King near they have rolls of it at 2 different thickness that they will cut the exact length you need.  Just got a mat from them and it is working great.

Does any one know of where to get them from besides Rural King (I don't have one near me).

It's another one of those places that it doesn't pay to cheap out on - if you're gonna use them more than a couple of times of a year, you need the same type of mat you get from the show supply places.  If you can find them at some sort of farm supply or trailer parts store near you, you may be able to save a few bucks, but as a rule anything much lighter doesn't last and if you get the really heavy ones used in horse stalls or trailers they won't roll up and they're awfully heavy and awkward to move around (great at home, not so much to haul to shows).

Have to agree with DLD.  The show supply mats are pretty nice.  We ordered one and it didn't come in in time for our last show.  Needed  a 22 footer so I rolled up a 5/16 thick 4' wide belt we use for the wash rack at home.  Thought I tore a hernia trying to load it, but it DID NOT shift around under the heifers at the show.  Little much though and I am glad the show mat is in for this weekend! 

I had a 3/4 inch rubber stall mat (the 4'x6' kind that are heavy and impossible to move because you can never get a good grip on them) that I cut right down the center with a chain saw to make 2 - 2'x6' pieces.  Could be a little wider, but are much more manageable than the full size mat.  Gives you 12 linear feet of fan cage mat for less than $40.

So a few questions on the sullivan show supply 22 ft display mat. Are the corners cut like triangles like they are in the picture, how wide are they, and are they smooth or do they have ridges on them. Thanks

Ribbed on one side, smooth on the other.  Corners are square. 

Thanks

No problem!  Anytime! 

sullivans has 11 footers also. the only thing i dont like is when your mat is too long and you have to roll it under. or over the edge its a lot easier for them to shift those mats

I have a 15', a 12' and a couple around 8's.  Some combination of those pretty much always works, though using more than one they tend to get wallowed around a little worse too.  Don't know about other show supply outfits, but i've always been able to get whatever length I wanted from Blue Ribbon - the little one's aren't exactly 8' even, but were leftover pieces I was able to get a little cheaper.

I just bought a 5' x 10' matt from Farm & Fleet for about $80. Took the sawzall to it and split it while still rolled up new and now have 2 30" x 10' matts. I've also been told the Prarie Du Chien Tractor Supply has bulk rolls to cut to length.

We bought a 22 foot from Sullivans, and cut it in half so we have two 11 foot sections. When we only take 4 head, we use the 11 foot, but over 4 and we unroll both. The good thing about cutting it is the size is adjustable, and with the extra we just put it under the other piece in the middle. It sometimes moves a little, but if you put it rib down (towards the dirt) it slides less.

We got ours for free from an old conveyor belt at a coal mine

If you have a rock quarry close to you or any place that has conveyer belts go talk to them.  We have several quarries close to us and you can get belting cheap or even free,  they change the belting pretty often so most of the time there is a lot laying around.

I like to use industrial anti fatigue mats (see pic). I use the heavy duty ones which can still be handled easily can be cable tied together for strength and allow urine to pass through and not pool.

My local tractor supply has them like rural king