FR3028142A1 - FLOOR COATING FOR AN ENCLOSURE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a floor covering (1) intended to equip an enclosure for rearing animals, for example cattle. This coating (1) comprises a bearing surface (2) on which the animals are intended to bear. This bearing surface (2) is divided into a plurality of bearing portions (21) which are separated from each other by grooves (3) for receiving the liquids flowing on said coating (1) so keeping the support portions (21) dry (or at least without excessive moisture).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES The present invention relates to a floor covering intended to equip an enclosure for the breeding of animals, for example cattle (dairy cattle and / or beef cattle), in particular for the development of corridors of circulation of such a breeding enclosure. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND The comfort of animals is a determining parameter in the performance of a farm, which in particular influences the health, food intake, fertility and longevity of animals. This comfort of animals is governed in particular by the legal obligations set out in the Amsterdam (1999) and Lisbon (2009) Treaties relating to the Protocol on the Protection and Welfare of Animals, as well as the adoption of the second European strategy for animal welfare. In a stable, this comfort implies in particular a fast and efficient evacuation of the droppings generated by the animals. This manure management must indeed make it possible to reduce the gas emissions and the proliferation of bacteria in the breeding enclosure, and consequently to improve the ambient conditions and the sanitary performances. These droppings are more likely to make the ground slippery, with the risk of falling and injury that result. Several waste disposal systems coexist to this day: mechanical drainage systems, "watershed" systems and grating systems. In the context of a "mechanical evacuation" solution, the droppings present on the ground are scraped once or several times a day by a scraper device called a planer (operated by a tractor or by automatic means), to be brought 'to a collection pit located outside the breeding building. However, the separation of urine and feces is not optimal within such an evacuation system, thus constituting an important source of ammonia. In addition, the installation of such an evacuation system involves major structural work, which are difficult to envisage in an existing breeding enclosure. In the flush-type solution, a flushing liquid empties the excreta energetically into a gutter and into an outer pit. However, again, the separation of urine and feces is not optimal within such an evacuation system, still constituting a major source of ammonia. In addition, the implementation of such a system leads to a significant humidification of the floors of the breeding enclosure, likely to cause adhesion and hygiene problems. More generally, excessively moist flooring is likely to cause sanitary problems in the feet of animals, including lameness, constituting a major health problem in livestock.

In particular, among infections causing lameness, digital dermatitis, also called "Mortellaro disease", is the most problematic. There is therefore a need for technical solutions for reducing soil moisture in livestock enclosures, advantageously without requiring major structural work, so as to improve the conditions of adhesion and the sanitary conditions of the soil. animals. There is also an interest in simple solutions that allow some separation of urine and faeces, so as to limit the production of ammonia in breeding enclosures.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION In this context, the Applicant has developed a new flooring structure to improve hygiene conditions in a breeding enclosure, including optimal management of liquids. The floor covering according to the invention, intended to equip an enclosure for rearing animals, for example cattle, comprises a bearing surface on which the animals are intended to bear; and said bearing surface is divided into a plurality of bearing portions which are separated from each other by grooves for receiving liquids flowing over said coating. Such a structure allows automatic and continuous removal of liquids from said support portions to said grooves.

The surfaces supported by the floor covering thus remain permanently relatively moist, thereby contributing to improving the qualitative characteristics of the soil in terms of adhesion and hygiene. This structure also allows a rapid and relatively effective separation of urine from feces, to limit the production of ammonia within the breeding enclosure. Such flooring according to the invention is also adapted to be implanted in a simple manner within a new or existing breeding enclosure (improvement or renovation), without requiring the implementation of major structural work .

The less humid environment also allows the hoof of cattle to be harder, which is part of the health of the foot of these animals and helps reduce the risk of slipping animals. According to other advantageous features: the liquid receiving grooves are rectilinear and extend parallel to one another, delimiting between them a plurality of bearing portions which each have the shape of a straight strip; the grooves each have a width of between 15 and 50 mm and a depth of between 15 and 50 mm, and the bearing portions have a width of between 50 and 500 mm; the grooves comprise two lateral faces connected by a bottom face with a circular arc section, or plane, extending at the angle, or at least approximately at right angles, said lateral faces, advantageously via chamfers; the support portions extend in the same plane, or at least approximately in the same plane; - The support portions are provided with a non-slip relief, and / or abrasive material, to allow and / or promote the wear of the hooves and the health of the animals' feet.

According to a particular embodiment, the flooring consists of a screed made of bitumen or concrete, in which the grooves are formed. According to another particular embodiment, the floor covering consists of a set of longitudinal members that are secured to a receiving surface, in a juxtaposed manner and while maintaining a spacing defining the grooves. In this embodiment, the receiving surface advantageously consists of concrete or bitumen.

In addition, preferably, each spar is made of a single material or consists of at least two superimposed layers each made of different materials. According to yet another particular embodiment, the floor covering consists of a mat comprising a base of which: - a lower face is intended to rest on a receiving surface, and - an upper face is provided with protruding structures arranged at a distance from one of the others, which delimit between them the grooves and whose free face forms the support portion.

In this case, the carpet is advantageously made of elastic material, for example an elastomeric material or a plastic material. Again in this case, the carpet comprises elongate reinforcing elements, embedded in its constituent material, selected from textile fibers, metal or any other product providing stability and / or resistance to elongation. Still in this case, the protruding structures advantageously incorporate each at least one fluid-tight longitudinal chamber. The protruding structures thus inflated allow the feet of animals to sink into the mass of the flooring, which envelops these feet and improves stability. The slip becomes almost impossible. In general, the floor covering also advantageously comprises: ducts opening into the grooves, for the evacuation of liquids, and / or an electrically conductive network connected electrically, on the one hand, to the longitudinal and watertight chambers, and on the other hand, at least one earth electrode. The present invention also relates to a breeding enclosure comprising a circulation corridor whose floor is constituted by a coating according to the invention, as defined above. The circulation corridor advantageously comprises a longitudinal axis; and the grooves are arranged parallel, or at least approximately parallel, with respect to said longitudinal axis. This breeding chamber further advantageously comprises means for collecting liquids flowing in the grooves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be further illustrated, without being limited in any way, by the following description of various particular embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a diagrammatic and vertical cutting plane, a floor covering according to the invention which consists of a mat of elastomeric material in which are formed longitudinal chambers sealed; - Figure 2 illustrates the floor covering according to Figure 1, the longitudinal sealed chambers contain a fluid for participating in the elastic deformation of its bearing surface; - Figure 3 shows schematically and in a vertical sectional plane, another embodiment of a floor covering according to the invention which is constituted by a set of single-material longitudinal members secured to a receiving surface; - Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the floor covering according to Figure 3, wherein the side members are bi-material; - Figure 5 shows schematically and in a vertical sectional plane, yet another embodiment of a floor covering according to the invention which is constituted by a yoke in which are formed directly grooves; - Figure 6 shows schematically and in a vertical sectional plane, yet another embodiment of a floor covering according to the invention, the grooves comprise a bottom face arcuate section; - Figure 7 is a top view of the flooring according to the invention to illustrate the arrangement of the grooves. The floor covering 1 according to the invention, shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, is particularly suitable for equipping the floor with an enclosure for rearing animals.

By "animals" is meant, in particular, cattle (in particular dairy cows or beef cattle), pigs, or any other farmed animal (sheep, poultry, rabbit, horse, etc.). Such a breeding enclosure (not shown) consists of a building delimited by a frame, suitable for the desired breeding (for example a barn in the case of cattle). At least part of the soil of this breeding chamber is constituted by the floor covering 1 according to the invention. In particular, the floor covering 1 is advantageously located at the level of the traffic corridors which are used by the animals running between the different functional spaces of the breeding enclosure (for example cubicles, parlors, etc.). And this floor covering 1 is able to collect the liquids flowing on the floor and to evacuate them, so as to offer a relatively dry (or at least not presenting an excessive humidity) support surface for the feet of the animals. and therefore healthier. For this, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, the corresponding floor covering 1 comprises a bearing surface 2 on which the animals are intended to bear and which is divided into a plurality of separate support portions 21 from each other by grooves 3.

The grooves 3 thus constitute structures such as gutters or gutters opening upwards through the bearing surface 2. These grooves 3 are capable of collecting (by gravity) and containing the liquids flowing over the floor covering 1, so that these liquids stagnate as little as possible on the support portions 21.

By "liquids" is meant in particular the liquid excrements produced by the animals of the farm, in particular their urine. For this, as described below in relation with FIG. 1, each groove 3 is delimited by two lateral faces 31 connected by a bottom face 32. The two lateral faces 31 extend here in parallel, or at least approximately parallel, one with respect to the other. In FIGS. 1 to 5, the bottom face 32 consists of a plane bottom face extending between the two lateral faces 31.

Each side edge of the bottom face 32 is here connected to a lower edge of a side face 31 by means of a chamfer 33 (or cutaway) so as to limit the angles likely to retain dirt. These chamfers 33 extend at an angle of between 400 and 500 (for example of the order of 45 °), with respect to the bottom face 32. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. The bottom 32 of the grooves 3 may have a concave curved appearance, for example an arcuate section. In addition, these grooves 3 advantageously have particular dimensions to allow efficient collection of liquids, while avoiding hindering the movement of animals. In this respect, as illustrated in FIG. 1, each groove 3 can be defined by two dimensions: a width A, corresponding to the distance separating its two lateral faces 31, and a depth P corresponding to the maximum distance. separating, on the one hand, its bottom face 31 and, on the other hand, the supporting portions 21 adjacent. In this case, the grooves 3 advantageously each have: a width A of at most 50 mm, preferably between 15 and 50 mm, and a depth P of at least 15 mm, advantageously between 15 and 50 mm. The grooves 3 are advantageously regularly spaced, relative to each other, on the floor covering 1.

In other words, these grooves 3 are advantageously regularly distributed on the floor covering 1. On their side, the bearing portions 21 of the bearing surface 2 extend between two grooves 3, and advantageously in the same plan, or at least approximately in the same plane. These bearing portions 21 preferably have a horizontal flat surface (FIGS. 1, 3 to 6) or a curved convex surface (FIG. 2). These bearing portions 21 preferably have a width L of between 50 and 500 mm, and more preferably between 10 and 300 mm.

For optimum adhesion, these support portions 21 are advantageously provided with non-slip reliefs 211. The non-slip relief 211 consists, for example, of a one-piece relief chosen from the reliefs used in floor coverings conventionally used in building buildings. breeding, for example diamond shaped protruding elements with bosses. Some of the support portions 21 still advantageously comprise a layer of an abrasive material 212, to allow and / or to promote the wear of the hooves and the health of the animals' feet. In this case, the bearing surface 2 comprises, alternately, a bearing portion 21 provided with a layer of abrasive material 212 and a bearing portion 21 devoid of this layer of abrasive material 212. To obtain this layer of abrasive material 212, the abrasive material is advantageously mixed with the constituent material of the bearing portions 21.

The abrasive material consists for example of particles of quartz, metal or any other material having an abrasive power on the hoof of cows. This abrasive material is added before, during or after the manufacture of the bearing surface 2 of the floor covering 1.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 7, the grooves 3 are rectilinear and extend parallel to one another. Each groove 3 thus comprises a longitudinal axis 3 ', extending parallel to its lateral faces 31; the longitudinal axes 3 'of the different grooves 3 extend parallel to each other.

Preferably, the grooves 3 are distributed over the width of the floor covering 1; and these grooves 3 extend over the entire length of the floor covering 1. The grooves 3 thus delimit between them a plurality of support portions 21 which each have the shape of a straight strip. Each bearing portion 21 thus comprises a longitudinal axis 21 ', extending parallel to the longitudinal axis 3' of the grooves 3 and the longitudinal axis 21 'of the other support portions 21. Such a coating structure of sol 1 according to the invention can take different embodiments. According to a first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the floor covering 1 consists of a mat of elastomeric material or plastic, intended to be attached to a receiving surface S of the breeding chamber.

The bearing surface 2 of this flooring 1 is thus intended to undergo elastic deformation, allowing a comfortable movement of animals. The receiving surface S of this breeding chamber advantageously consists of a concrete screed (or slab), possibly reinforced with a wire mesh, or bitumen. This floor covering 1 consists of an elongated strip comprising a base 15 of which: a lower face 151 is intended to rest on the receiving surface S, an upper face 152 is provided with projecting structures 16 arranged at a distance from one another and the peripheral contour is delimited by two lateral edges 153 and by two end edges 154 (only one of these end edges 154 is visible in FIG. 7).

The protruding structures 16 each have an elongate shape, of the spar or chevron type, regularly distributed over the width of the base 15 and extending parallel to its side edges 153 (FIGS. 1 and 2). These projecting structures 16 each comprise: - a lower face 161 which is secured to the upper face 152 of the base 15, - a free upper face 162 forming one of the bearing portions 21, and - two side faces 163 forming the lateral faces 31 of the grooves 3.

Each protruding structure 16 advantageously has a height P of between 15 and 50 mm and a width L of between 50 and 500 mm. Two juxtaposed projecting structures 16 delimit, between them, one of the grooves 3 of the floor covering 1. These grooves 3 are again evenly distributed over the width of the base 15 and extending parallel to its lateral edges 153 (FIGS. 1 and 2). These grooves 3 advantageously extend over the entire length of the floor covering 1 (between its end edges 154). The exposed portions of the upper face 152 of the base 15, between two projecting structures 16, form the bottom faces 32 of the grooves 3. The bearing portions 162 are advantageously adapted to undergo a deformation in depression, that of minus 1 mm, and preferably between 1 and 5 mm, during the support of the foot of the animal or a person.

"Depression" means in particular a decrease in the thickness between the bearing portion 21 and the lower face 151 of the base 15, by bringing the respective surfaces. For this, the floor covering 1 is advantageously made in at least one material capable of undergoing an elastic deformation chosen from: - elastomer materials, namely for example natural rubber, "synthetic natural" rubber (or synthetic poly-isoprene) ), polybutadiene or styrene - butadiene, or - plastic materials or thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), namely for example PVB (butyral polyvinyl), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) / SBR (styrene - butadiene), PP ( polypropylene) / EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer), TPU (polyurethane TPE). This floor covering 1 can be made: - single material, or - multi-material, for example a first material forming the base 15 and a second material forming the projecting structures 16.

In order to further optimize this phenomenon of elastic deformation, each projecting structure 16 incorporates a longitudinal airtight chamber 165 intended to contain a fluid (FIG. 2). This longitudinal airtight chamber 165 extends over the entire length, or at least approximately the entire length, of the associated projecting structure 16. This longitudinal airtight chamber 165 is advantageously centered on the longitudinal axis 21 'of the associated projecting structure 16; it extends in addition to at least half or even three quarters of the width of the corresponding projecting structure 16. The fluid consists of a gas (air for example), a liquid (water for example), a gel, or their mixture. Each sealed chamber 165 advantageously comprises an access duct (not shown), especially for filling or emptying.

Once the longitudinal chambers sealed 165 filled by the fluid, the support portions 21 preferably have a slightly convex convex shape, promoting the flow of liquids towards the grooves 3 located on either side. For its part, the base 15 has for example a thickness of between 2 and 10 mm. In the direction of its thickness, the base 15 here comprises two layers, one upper 155 and the other lower 156, between which is reported a reinforcing intermediate layer 157. The reinforcing intermediate layer 157 is selected from the fibers textiles, metal or any other product providing stability and / or resistance to elongation. This reinforcing intermediate layer 157 consists for example of a textile reinforcing reinforcement, advantageously made of a material chosen from nylon, cotton, polyester, polyamide or any other reinforcing textile. This floor covering 1 may also be able to direct parasitic voltages and currents coming from the ground or from the subsoil to earth connections T located outside the enclosure. For this, the floor covering 1 advantageously comprises a network of electrical conductors 8 intended to be electrically connected between, on the one hand, the longitudinal sealed chambers 165 formed in the projecting structures 16 and, on the other hand, said earth T. Such a floor covering 1, before it is laid, is advantageously stored in the form of plates, and more preferably in the form of rolls. This last embodiment in rolls has the advantage of allowing a simple and fast installation of the flooring in the breeding enclosure by unwinding; it also makes it possible to ensure optimum continuity of the grooves 3 for the efficient recovery of the liquids at the ends of these grooves 3. These plates or rollers advantageously have a straight or rectilinear peripheral edge, or an assembly structure (puzzle type) facilitating their interlocking interlocking with a complementary assembly structure. The base 15 has a width which is advantageously between 300 and 3000 mm, and more generally a width equal to the flow corridor equipped. Such a floor covering 1 can be manufactured by assembling a set of superimposed parts, to form an assembly of the one-piece type, for example: by vulcanization of a set of parts made of elastomeric material, by gluing, by welding .

In particular, in the case of vulcanization, to obtain the longitudinal sealed chambers 165, an intermediate piece, for example a fireproof plastic sheet, is introduced between two of the parts to be vulcanized so as to prevent their local attachment. According to a second embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the floor covering 1 is constituted by a set of longitudinal members 17 which are directly secured (in the absence of a base 15) with the receiving surface S. longitudinal members 17 are arranged in a juxtaposed manner, while preserving spaces between them which are intended to define the grooves 3 desired.

The receiving surface S is again made of concrete or bitumen. Each spar 17 comprises a set of faces: a lower face 171, intended to rest on the receiving surface S, an upper face 172, intended to form a bearing portion 21 of the bearing surface 2, and two lateral faces 173, each intended to form one of the lateral faces 31 of a groove 3.

The bottom face 32 of the grooves 3 is itself formed by an exposed portion of the receiving surface S, located between two side members 17 juxtaposed. The fastening of each spar 17 with the receiving surface S is obtained for example by means of a mechanical attachment (pointing, riveting, etc.) or a chemical fixation (bonding in particular). According to a first variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, each spar 17 is made in one piece, for example made of elastomeric material or plastic material similar to that described above in relation with FIGS. 1 and 2.

According to a second variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, each spar 17 consists of at least two superposed layers: a lower layer 177 forming the lower face 171 of the spar 17, and an upper layer 176 forming the upper face. of the spar 17. These two superposed layers 176, 177 are advantageously secured by vulcanization, gluing or welding. The advantage of this second embodiment is the ease of installation and the possibility of using used products of different thicknesses. According to a third embodiment according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 5, the floor covering 1 consists of a screed made of bitumen or concrete, in which the grooves 3 are formed directly.

Such grooves 3 are for example obtained - by means of a matrix-type tool, comprising the negative relief, applied to the material being solidified, or - by mechanical grooving of an existing soil. In an alternative embodiment of the floor covering 1 according to FIGS. 3 to 5, it is still possible to cover the longitudinal members 17 (FIGS. 3 and 4) or the yoke (FIG. 5) with a film 18 made of elastomer material, reinforced with fibers, intended to form the upper surface of the floor covering 1. The portions 181 of the film 18, matching the grooves 3, are advantageously maintained by means of profiles 19 having a concave curved section (for example in an arc of a circle) which are mechanically fixed in the bottom face 32. The portions 182 of film 18, between the grooves 3, form the support portions 21.

This film 18 then marries the underlying surface so as to form the bearing portions 21 and the grooves 3 of the floor covering 1. In practice, and generally for the various embodiments, the floor covering 1 is intended to constitute the soil of a breeding enclosure.

In this case, the breeding enclosure comprises a set of spaces, including the cubicles, at which the animals are intended to circulate and park, still designated traffic corridors. A circulation corridor C, illustrated very schematically in Figure 7, advantageously comprises a longitudinal axis C '. And the floor covering 1 is preferably installed so that the longitudinal axis 3 'of its grooves 3 is arranged parallel, or at least approximately parallel, with respect to the longitudinal axis C' of the corridor C.

This orientation is particularly useful for promoting the evacuation of the liquids contained in the grooves 3 to the collection means 5 equipping the breeding chamber and which are located at the end of the corridors C.

The collection means 5 comprise in particular a pit 51 (or a recovery channel), installed at an open downstream end 35 of the grooves 3 of the floor covering 1. These collection means 5 may also comprise conduits 52 for the evacuation of liquids (only a few conduits 52 are shown in Figures 1 and 2 for the sake of simplification). The ducts 52 open, on an upstream side 521, in the grooves 3 and, on a downstream side 522, opposite the orifices of a grating (shown very schematically).

In the case of a carpet-type floor covering 1 (FIGS. 1 to 3), the ducts 52 are advantageously formed in the thickness of its base plate 15. A slope is advantageously applied to the floor covering 1 (and in particular to its grooves 3), to promote the flow of collected fluids towards the collection means 5, namely the pit 51 or the ducts 52. In operation, the floor covering 1 is capable of receiving various organic materials, including faeces (urine, feces). The floor covering 1 then allows a flow of liquids in the grooves 3, thus avoiding the accumulation of these liquids on the support portions 21 which thus remain relatively dry. The solids, in particular faeces, remain mainly on the support portions 21, so as to avoid their mixing and to limit the production of ammonia within the breeding enclosure.

These solids are advantageously removed by scraping the bearing portions 21, by means of a scraping system possibly chosen from the usual systems. During cleaning of this floor covering 1, the cleaning liquid will also flow in these grooves 3, preventing the support portions 21 remain excessively wet. This phenomenon therefore allows the animals to walk on a relatively healthy support surface 2, with a reduced risk of falling and without moistening their feet. In general, the floor covering 1 according to the invention thus allows a rapid and continuous evacuation of the liquids with respect to the bearing surface 2, which allows an effective maintenance of the latter in the dry state (or less without excess humidity), thus limiting the hygiene problems encountered with the usual floor coverings. The floor covering 1 according to the invention also allows a certain separation of the liquids which flow in the grooves 3, with respect to the feces which remain mainly on the support portions 21, so as to avoid their mixing and to limit the ammonia production within the breeding enclosure.

Claims (13)

REVENDICATIONS1. Floor covering, intended to equip an enclosure for rearing animals, for example cattle, which coating (1) comprises a support surface (2) on which the animals are intended to bear, characterized in that said bearing surface (2) is divided into a plurality of bearing portions (21) which are separated from each other by grooves (3) for receiving liquids flowing over said coating (1). 2. Floor covering according to claim 1, characterized in that the grooves (3) are rectilinear and extend parallel to each other, delimiting between them a plurality of support portions (21) which each have the shape of a rectilinear strip. 3. Flooring according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the grooves (3) each have: a width of between 15 and 50 mm and a depth of between 15 and 50 mm , and in that the support portions (21) have a width of between 50 and 500 MM. 4. Flooring according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the grooves (3) have two side faces (31) connected by a bottom face (32): - arcuate section circle, or - plane, extending to the square, or at least approximately to the square, said side faces (31), preferably via chamfers (33). 25 5. Floor covering, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it consists of a yoke made of bitumen or concrete, in which are formed the grooves (3). 6. Flooring according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it consists of a set of longitudinal members (17) which are secured to a receiving surface (S), that of juxtaposed manner and while maintaining a spacing defining the grooves (3). 7. Flooring according to claim 6, characterized in that each spar (17) is - monoblock or - consisting of at least two layers (176, 177) superimposed. 35 8. Floor covering, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it consists of a mat comprising a base (15) of which: - a lower face (151) is intended to rest on a surface (S), and an upper face (152) is provided with protruding structures (16) arranged at a distance from each other, which delimit between them the grooves (3) and whose free face (162) forms the portion support (21). 9. Flooring according to claim 8, characterized in that the carpet (1) is made of material capable of undergoing elastic deformation. 10. Flooring according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the projecting structures (16) each incorporate at least one longitudinal sealed chamber (165) for containing a fluid, and which floor covering (1) optionally comprises an electrically conductive network (8) electrically connected, on the one hand, to said longitudinal sealed chambers (165) and, on the other hand, to at least one earth electrode (I). 11. Floor covering, according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises ducts (52) opening into the grooves (3), for the evacuation of liquids. 12. A breeding enclosure comprising a circulation corridor (C) whose floor is constituted by a floor covering (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 13. Breeding chamber according to claim 12, characterized in that the circulation corridor (C) comprises a longitudinal axis (C '), and in that the grooves (3) are arranged in parallel, or at least approximately parallel to each other. with respect to said longitudinal axis (C ').