Benefit from our many years of expertise in technical equipment and farm inputs when designing your livestock housing in a way that meets animal welfare standards. Our product requirements, testing methods, and evaluation standards — developed in close collaboration with experts — combine the latest scientific findings with the specific needs of agricultural operations, resulting in improved animal welfare and greater efficiency.
DLG migration analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous in our environment, e.g. in stable floor coverings, teat rubbers or feeding technology. Some variants are considered carcinogenic. This test focuses on protecting animals and consumers from harmful chemicals. The risk assessment for possible substance transfer commonly used in food law is applied.
Based on the strict requirements of DIN 3763 and DIN 7861, DLG TestService uses a test in accordance with DIN 3762 to assess whether polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from stable equipment or accessories for cattle, dairy cows and horses enter the environment and, if the guideline values are complied with, awards the DLG quality seal ‘PAH-safe’.
Testing of flooring systems
The barn floor is the only barn equipment that is used by the animals 24 hours a day. Elastic barn floor coverings of good quality support animal welfare. DLG TestService tests whether the animal is able to behave in a species-appropriate manner and whether it comes to any harm by using the floor system. The floor coverings are tested in accordance with the DLG testing programmes and the DIN 3763 (cattle) and DIN 7861 (horses) standards
Test criteria
Dairy cows
Soft flooring in raised cubicles in cubicle housing systems, also known as comfort mats, enable the animals to lie down on a soft, comfortable surface that is appropriate for their needs. In order to reach the functional areas of the barn, i.e. the feeding, lying and milking areas, the walking surfaces must enable the cows to move around safely and quickly.
Pigs
Flooring systems in pig barns must allow the animals to lie down on a dry, soft, and thermally insulated surface. Non-slip and slip-resistant surfaces are just as crucial as a clear separation of functional areas. The floors should be designed so that feces and urine drain away quickly and the resting area remains clean and dry. At the same time, the flooring must be gentle on the pigs’ hooves and joints. Furthermore, the flooring must withstand the pigs’ curiosity.
Animal-related criteria
- The softness and malleability of a floor are crucial factors in determining whether cattle will accept it. Dairy cows lie on soft comfort mats for about twice as long as on hard lying surfaces, with the following result:
- Significant relief for hooves
- Improved joint health
- Increased rumination and udder blood circulation.
- Potential milk yield increases of 1.0 kg to 1.5 kg per cow per day with soft bedding surfaces
- The surfaces of stable floors must be sufficiently non-slip (in both dry and wet conditions) to enable the animals to move around safely.
Technical criteria
- Sufficient slip resistance and abrasion resistance of the floor or floor covering
- Resistance to acids (excrement and feed acids) as well as cleaning agents and disinfectants used in agricultural applications
Investment promotion with DLG APPROVED
Floor coverings for cattle and dairy farming with the DLG APPROVED quality seal support farmers in Switzerland and the Netherlands with investment subsidies.
- Netherlands
Farmers can receive subsidies for barn construction if they achieve at least 47 points in accordance with the Maatlat Duurzame Veehouderij programme (certification system for holistically sustainable livestock barns) from the measures listed there regarding animal welfare and the associated points catalogue. By installing DLG APPROVED bedding and flooring, they can already achieve 19 points. - Switzerland
As part of the Swiss BTS support programme (particularly animal-friendly housing systems), the DLG APPROVED BTS test is the basis for receiving subsidies for lying area coverings.
