parlour layout

TEAT SQUEEZER

its much easier for me to double up existing 10 unit than demolish at front of parlour,move bulktank, extend framework and extra feeders/augers etc... double systems are seen as inefficient but considering the above expense is it worth it for 6 extra units

delaval

TEAT SQUEEZER wrote: »

its much easier for me to double up existing 10 unit than demolish at front of parlour,move bulktank, extend framework and extra feeders/augers etc... double systems are seen as inefficient but considering the above expense is it worth it for 6 extra units

Double 10 = 16 units. May not be a bad plan

Sami23

delaval wrote: »

Double 10 = 16 units. May not be a bad plan

I'd agree with that

freedominacup

TEAT SQUEEZER wrote: »

its much easier for me to double up existing 10 unit than demolish at front of parlour,move bulktank, extend framework and extra feeders/augers etc... double systems are seen as inefficient but considering the above expense is it worth it for 6 extra units

I haven't milked in a double ten for years but the tech nedds to be of a good spec to be comfortable. Straight 16 is easy, IMO ACRs are optional. Off we go again delaval:D. You're going to spend a good bit extra on tech with the double 10. Maybe taking the oppurtunity to look at the whole parlour set-up, collecting yard and shedding system if you are going to have to do demo work. The balance mightened be as large as you think between the two options.

delaval

freedominacup wrote: »

I haven't milked in a double ten for years but the tech nedds to be of a good spec to be comfortable. Straight 16 is easy, IMO ACRs are optional. Off we go again delaval:D

Sorry I won't bite but...............no I won't:p:p:p

bbam

Is
The existing Parlour wide enough for double up? The pits in older parlours were tight and it may be too narrow for the double up.

If it is wide enough I'd say it's a better option. Why spend the money knocking and rebuilding yard and sheds when you could spend that on the extras in the double up to make life easier.

TEAT SQUEEZER

4 ft wide pit..

delaval

bbam wrote: »

Is
The existing Parlour wide enough for double up? The pits in older parlours were tight and it may be too narrow for the double up.

If it is wide enough I'd say it's a better option. Why spend the money knocking and rebuilding yard and sheds when you could spend that on the extras in the double up to make life easier.

You could spend your money on Acr's, milkmeters, those up and down barriers, auto id, moo monitors, willy warmer and all those essential things instead of knocking a wall. Freedom I'm sorry I just couldn't resist:(:(:(:(

Tipp Man

Cluster removers are essential on nearly every parlour of any readonable size IMO

Have never worked in a doubled up parlour but it sounds like a good idea for easy capacity increase

grazeaway

could you put up a sketch of your current layout, so that we can be nosey and see what the restristions around it are.

my dad had an 8 unit milker, his idea at the time was that if he needed more he could double up too. what he ended up doing was actully putting in 7 at each side but milking 8 at a time. the reason being that he noticed that there were arways a few slow milkers and he would be waiting for ages for them. he found that by only putting in 7 at a time or soemtimes only 6 (we had two very slow milkers/heavy milkers that would always go in together). it saved him about 20 mins a milking. he reckoned that if he doubled up he may not save him as much time as the milking times would need to even for all the cows. 1 slow milker will hold up the rest.
i remember a teagasc guy calling out one time and critising him for not using 8 at each side, my dad laughed at him and handed him the milking apron and set the stopwatch. there was an avg of 3-4mins difference in each change over. we tried to get all the slow milkers into the same run but cows have their own routine and some would only go into certain units.

bbam

Tipp Man wrote: »

Cluster removers are essential on nearly every parlour of any readonable size IMO

Have never worked in a doubled up parlour but it sounds like a good idea for easy capacity increase

Double ups are only really for parlours where space is a problem.
I'd go for the double up before knocking the dairy, extendin the pit, the stalls will need extending or replacing. We all k ow when you start knocking and moving stuff that cost is never what we thought as extras always creep in.
The big question is how good is the existing infrastructure. If the dairy and surrounding buildings are functional, knocking them would be mad. If you can get the double up in the parlour it will be a good job and less upheaval all round.
The 4ft pit might leave it tight for double up in this case, I don't remember exactly but think 6ft would be more common, depends on milk recording too.