Dave it is not possible to give exact figures unless the cow sizes are known.
Aim to have them standing at between 60 and 70 degrees to the pit.
With our NZ Jerseys which are smaller then North American ones, the
milk droppers were spaced at 26 inches as opposed to 36 inches for NZ
Friesians standing at 30 degrees.
I made a milking video which Stockman Grass Farmer sold, but could be
sold out of. Someone on graze-l may have one they could sell to you
at half price or you could try and buy one from the producer -
Integrated Images
24 McMeekan Av
Chedworth
Hamilton
New Zealand
integrated.images@clear.net.nz
If you have Freehand I can email you a herringbone plan.
A few tips from the plan -
Cows must walk up hill in to bails, not downwards.
Milk line should be just above head height, and off center so that
nipples are in center of pit.
Pit and rails should be long enough to hold two cows more than are
being milked. This saves having to use a back gate or rail.
The bail floor should be lowest in the centre where cows walk to prevent moss
buildup and highest away from the pit so cows are standing up hill
and to stop moisture against wall which can grow moss.
Install a self closing horizontal U gate cows push through to get out
of the race and into the lane. Cows feel they are not out until
through this gate so move out more quickly.
>Vaughan Jones asked;
>Dave, do you have zigzag or straight back (rump) rails?
>
>Vaughan,
>In the current double 10 herringbone (circa 1976) we have zigzag rump
>rails but my major issue to remodel is that I only have a 64 inch (163
>cm, I hope my conversions are correct) platform on each side with no
>additional cow head room in front. The entire shed is only 17 feet wide
>(518 cm). I could cantilever a floor over the pit to expand the platform
>but question whether the remaining pit width would be adequate.
>A second problem for cow flow is that cows exit through a single file
>door at a right angle to the platform (a very poor old design from the
>1970's). It might be possible to develop a large collection area as cows
>exit where they could then gradually exit single file.
This doesn't work well because cows stand there, muck and slow cow
movement out.
The exit race should be
>Another big
>challenge is inadequate space for good controlled cow flow entering the
>shed (other existing buildings too close for good cow flow).
>One of the great advantages of seasonal production is that a remodel job
>could be arranged during the dry period.
>Any comments or dimensions would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Regards,
>Dave Forgey
>
>
>Dave and Helen Forgey
>Forgey's River-View Farm, Inc.
>6032 W Georgetown Road
>Logansport, IN 46947
>574-652-2461
>forgraze@carrollnet.org
>www.carrollnet.org/~forgraze
>-----------------------------------------------------
>The Grass is Greener on Our Side of the Fence.
>
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--
Best wishes,
Vaughan Jones
