Barn Floor Concrete Grooving FAQ

Cut in concrete grooving is cutting grooves into concrete to give the cows improved footing in barns, yards, holding areas, pens, parlors and walkways. It is done using a custom built machine with diamond blades that create 90-degree angle grooves in the concrete. The cows’ hooves catch the 90-degree edge more effectively than the rounded edge you normally get with cobblestone stamped or boat floated concrete.

Grooving has multiple advantages, including but not limited to:

• Eliminates cows from doing the splits and injuries from slipping.
• Improves heat detection by helping cows get secure footing while riding.
• Improves milk production.
• Reduces lameness and hoof care costs. Rough finished floors will speed up footwear by 20%.
• It’s easy to clean and doesn't cause damage to equipment.
• Improves water run-off.
• It is a more permanent solution than other methods and is cost effective.

Cut in grooves give cows better footing due to the 90-degree angle created, which tends to catch hooves better than a rounded edge that floated grooves and cobblestone stamping create. Grooving is a more permanent method than others, including scarifying, scabbling and acid treatments. Many of these methods leave an abrasive and uneven surface, which causes grinding of the hooves and feet. These methods are a temporary solution and will wear over time. They are also harder to clean and may cause damage to equipment. Another option is rubber mats, which can become slippery when wet and are expensive.

We are a family owned and operated business, so you will get the personal touch you deserve. Specializing in a diamond pattern and diagonal concrete grooving. Our main goal is the safety and comfort of your herd, and we are willing to work with you one on one to find the best solution to achieve that goal.

We recommend our 5/8” wide grooves 4” on center. This pattern allows the cow's hoof to stay on the flatter surface while standing to stay more comfortable and sure-footed and not twisting into wider grooves. Our 5/8” wide grooves are plenty wide enough for their hoof to fall into the groove and catch on the side of the groove.

The objective is to make the cow comfortable and confident as they are on the concrete.

We can get our smallest machine through an 18” opening.

Yes, we can, and we recommend cut in grooves for new concrete. We recommend having the new concrete poured and put a light broom finish on it. Then have Midwest Grooving come and groove it to your specs, this way the grooves will have the nice clean 90-degree angle instead of the rounded edges left by floated grooves or cobblestone stamping. We can also work with your contractor to get it done in a timely manner and we offer a discount for grooving new concrete.

The main preparation for grooving is your normal scraping, no washing or scrubbing. The only other necessity from you, the farmer, is a water source. In addition, there is no strenuous clean up necessary afterward. Grooving creates a sludge which is not harmful to cows and will be wiped away the next time you scrape.

On average, we can groove between 400 and 600 square feet an hour. This varies slightly depending on the grooving design and hardness of the concrete.

Depending on the design, concrete grooving costs are well worth the price. Typically, if you lose one cow, the grooving would have paid for itself. Also, it decreases costs spent on hoof care and increases milk production.

Concrete should be grooved anywhere cows walk, including yards, pathways, pens, alleys, holding areas and parlors. We take into consideration the direction of travel, turn alleys, watering and feeding areas, and then recommend a diagonal, a diamond pattern, or straight groove, which ever will allow better footing for your animals and be the most cost-effective.

Unlike other methods that may ruin the concrete, wear down from cleaning equipment and will need to be repeated frequently, grooving may last 10 years or more depending on the hardness of the concrete.