> Are there any women on this list who
> run their dairy alone?
>
> What features in the parlor make it
> easier for a woman to do the work?
HI,
Heck yes. Lots of women have run a dairy alone.
Many more, with worthless husbands, for all practical
purposes are milking cows alone.
-
The features in a parlor that make it easier for a woman are
the same features that make it easier for a man.
The main thing to make it easier is usually adding a crowd
gate.
Eliminating grain feeding in the parlor is usually the next
biggest factor to make things easier.
Lots of water pressure and volume for washdown after milking
is probably the third biggest factor to make it easier.
-
By the way, there are several ways to figure milking parlor
platform height.
The best rule is to have the work height 0 to 4 inches below
the point of your elbow measured when standing relaxed.
This means the teat ends should be several inches below
your elbows when standing erect.
Another way to figure is to have the platform about 2 inches
less than half the milker's height. The average women
seems about 5' 6" so that calls for a platform height of
around (66 inches / 2) - 2 inches = 31 inches height.
If you have a lot of blow bags (big uddered cows) the
platform should be higher. If you have a mostly tight
uddered two year olds, or generally good uddered cows, like
typical New Zealand cows, then 27 inches is about right.
The best guide is the cow's teats should be just below your
elbow height.
--
Kindest regards,
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F. W. Owen
Owenlea Holsteins
9430 Spencer Road
Homerville, Ohio 44235
e-mail fwo@bright.net
home page http://www.bright.net/~fwo
voice & fax 330.625.2369
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