Introducing DCC Waterbeds XC, ACT's upgrade to the 3rd generation isolated-chamber cow waterbed, extra comfort for your free-stall bedding

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Introducing DCC Waterbeds XC, ACT's upgrade to the 3rd generation isolated-chamber cow waterbed, extra comfort for your free-stall bedding

Expanded isolated water chambers ensure even more support and coverage for knees and hocks when the cow is laying down

Advanced Comfort Technology, Inc., is proud to bring dairy producers an upgrade to the third generation isolated design of dairy waterbed technology.  The extra comfort (XC) offered by the new design will provide the most comfortable free-stall bedding solution, yet. The expanded water chambers offer even more comfort for the cow's knees and her body, with the ultimate in cow comfort, consistency, cushion, and support.

DCC Waterbeds ISO®, with two independent chambers have been providing comfort to cows around the world since 2013. DCC Waterbeds float the hocks, knees, and udder.  They are a proven, comfortable alternative to deep- bedded sand or solids. The DCC Waterbeds XC design offers even more comfort for the cow when she’s in the lying position by expanding the water flotation surface area of the bed.

"We found an opportunity to expand the lying space while maintaining the long-life performance of DCC Waterbeds.  The XC design provides extra comfort for the cow by expanding the water chambers," said Scott Hartwell, CEO and Managing Partner of ACT, Inc., and designer of DCC Waterbeds XC. "With DCC Waterbeds, no other bedding system has been in barns for 20 years and has dairy producers saying that they look as good as day one. DCC Waterbeds are built to last, and the ISO XC is built for maximum comfort."

Unlike traditional flat mats, water can never pack, ensuring long lasting comfort. Unlike deep bedding, DCC Waterbeds are consistent every time a cow drops to the laying position. DCC Waterbeds help simplify manure management while providing proven high levels of cow comfort and support.

Headquartered in Wisconsin, Advanced Comfort Technology, Inc., is a second-generation, family-owned company that distributes DCC Waterbeds® worldwide. ACT, Inc., has been improving dairy cow comfort by providing waterbeds for cows since 1999. For more information, visit www.DCCWaterbeds.com.  For more information about DCC Waterbeds, contact Vice-President and Managing Partner, Amy Throndsen, at 608-709-2693. 

DCC Waterbeds are NOT flat cow mattresses

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Many times producers will tell us that they “don’t like mattresses” because they consistently perform poorly, contributing to hock abrasions, wearing out in five to six years, and need tremendous amounts of additional bedding material.

We tell these folks over and over: Dual Chamber Cow Waterbeds are NOT mattresses.  Here are the major differences:

Construction

The fill base of all manmade flat mattresses on the market are solid rubber, latex, crumb rubber, foam, or fabric. These base materials are then encased in covers made of rubber, latex, or fabric. The construction leads to two major problems: 1) the materials inside the mattress will pack, and 2) the top cover and seams are the weakest point in the system and often tear.

DCC Waterbeds are a vulcanized rubber bladder system. Since they are filled with water, it is impossible for them to ever pack. Also, there is no top cover. The bed itself is guaranteed for 10 years (six years when installed in a tie stall barn).

Comfort

The ultimate test of a bedding surface’s performance is when the cow is lying. Mattresses may feel soft when the cow is standing on them, but standing is not where you want your cows to be.  Cows are most productive and least susceptible to lameness when they are lying down. When cows lie on flat mats, no matter how soft the mat is, the surface she lies on is inflexible.  The only thing that moves is her skin, and her skin abrades against the flat mat surface. This rubbing is what causes hock injuries, which leads to discomfort and more standing up.

Again, DCC Waterbeds are totally different.  The front pillow cushions the knees as she descends.  The rear cushion comforts her hips as she drops to the resting position. As the cow continues her lying bout, up to three hours at a time and 12-14 hours per day, the DCC Waterbed acts much like a specialty hospital bed where a person is confined for long periods.  The hospital bed moves with the skin, preventing bedsores.  The DCC Waterbed performs the same function.  The cows body forces the water to her lighter points, her hocks, knees and udder, her pressure points, and the bed moves with her skin, preventing sores.

Cost and durability

Manmade rubber flat mattresses and DCC Waterbeds can be comparable in terms of up-front costs. However, we tell farmers to take into consideration two things 1) the warranty and 2) the amount of additional bedding you need to keep the mattress comfortable. DCC Waterbeds have a 10-year warranty and need little to no additional bedding material to provide consistent and superior cow comfort.

It is important when reading news articles or research studies that waterbeds of any type are not ever confused with results for mattresses. Data for mattresses cannot be used as data for waterbeds. In one study that compared waterbeds, sand, and mattresses, you can see how much better waterbeds perform compared to mattresses: http://bit.ly/JDS2007.