Parlour Auto Wash System

Farfield

Do many use auto wash after milking to wash out the milking lines? Do they really save much time and would you recommend it? I am thinking along the lines of putting one in to enable me to go on and do other things after milking-just hose down the parlour, press the button and go!!

mahoney_j

Farfield wrote: »

Do many use auto wash after milking to wash out the milking lines? Do they really save much time and would you recommend it? I am thinking along the lines of putting one in to enable me to go on and do other things after milking-just hose down the parlour, press the button and go!!

I have one and wouldn't be without it ,just finish milking ,take bottom fill pipe off ,connect to wash line press wash and off u go.i was happy with my tbc before in old parlour which was aroubd 15 to 25 constantly but this year in averaging 7 with my lowest result been 2 .chemical usage up 10% but I'm saving nearly that by buying 200 Ltrs drums

maxxuumman

Same here, wouldn't be without it. Never have TBC problems. No matter who is there parlour is always washed properly. Speeds up getting out of the parlour. Surprising what you would get done while it's washing

linebacker52

How does it work is it just a matter of pushing a button and it will shut everything off or will you have to go back to turn off milk pumps etc.

maxxuumman

Just change line from milk to wash, it does everything else. Walk away

delaval

Neighbour vas an Alfa one. His evening hit wash is on night rate. It rinces after milking and restarts to do hot wash later. It will have his machine rinced before each milking.

We don't have one and have considered it. Decided against as cant see saving. We set machine to wash and then wash parlour and surrounds and head for breakfast. We use a detergent that requires no rincing at all. Tbc sub 15 at all times. If we have a spike it's the tank always.

Farfield

Do you not have to go back and open the sump bung and the bottom of the filter chamber to let all drip out for next milking?

maxxuumman

Farfield wrote: »

Do you not have to go back and open the sump bung and the bottom of the filter chamber to let all drip out for next milking?

Dont know what other makes do buy, the drains are automatic.
It should do what it says on the tin.

Sam Kade

delaval wrote: »

Neighbour vas an Alfa one. His evening hit wash is on night rate. It rinces after milking and restarts to do hot wash later. It will have his machine rinced before each milking.

We don't have one and have considered it. Decided against as cant see saving. We set machine to wash and then wash parlour and surrounds and head for breakfast. We use a detergent that requires no rincing at all. Tbc sub 15 at all times. If we have a spike it's the tank always.

What detergent is that?

delaval

Sam Kade wrote: »

What detergent is that?

Something gold I'll look in am and give you details. We get from Gregg care in Donegal.

kevthegaff

By the time i wash down the parlour and let out the cows the machine is washed up, i think they are a luxury to be honest!

MFdaveIreland

Used dairy master auto wash, put the machines together at the end of the milking and press wash, puts the rinse, hot wash and rinse through itself, handy as hell

whelan1

MFdaveIreland wrote: »

Used dairy master auto wash, put the machines together at the end of the milking and press wash, puts the rinse, hot wash and rinse through itself, handy as hell

but as kev says you still have to be there to washdown, its not as if the wash takes up time as you are powerwashing or feeding calves when its on- well i am

maxxuumman

90% of the Washdown is done as the last row are milking here. ( cluster removers .. Another luxury) and calves are fed during the first 2 rows.

mahoney_j

maxxuumman wrote: »

90% of the Washdown is done as the last row are milking here. ( cluster removers .. Another luxury) and calves are fed during the first 2 rows.

More or less sane here ,start cycle when o. Last row of cows ,about 2 or 3 minutes after cows leave parlour rinse has started and I'm hosing out parlour.parlour hosed out before rinse cycle is finished ,then in off for breakfast or to round up cows for ai etc.and I know my parlour is washed consistently every day.

MFdaveIreland

whelan1 wrote: »

but as kev says you still have to be there to washdown, its not as if the wash takes up time as you are powerwashing or feeding calves when its on- well i am

I could have went and shut the cows in and the parlor would have hot washed and rinse without me having to switch it over. That's what I mean

mf240

kevthegaff wrote: »

By the time i wash down the parlour and let out the cows the machine is washed up, i think they are a luxury to be honest!

Same here. Have a ball valve on the trough with rinse water so it's always full, saves waiting for it.

Timmaay

Good idea, thats on my (very very long) to do list also, bloody hate waiting for it to fill, and equally so hate leaving the tap on to fill it, and going away to do something else quick only for it to take longer and have the trough overflowing!

jersey101

I turn my tap on full and by the time i have the clusters on the first line its filled. By the time i have the second row sprayed and whiped the detergent trough is full

dar31

Would have thought a ball cock on the rinse water was standard, minimal cost for a huge time saving

Have down in the grant app for an auto washer , reckon when cows are calving it will be a huge benefit, out side of that oft will just about justify its self

jersey101

dar31 wrote: »

Would have thought a ball cock on the rinse water was standard, minimal cost for a huge time saving

Have down in the grant app for an auto washer , reckon when cows are calving it will be a huge benefit, out side of that oft will just about justify its self

parlour here is no where near finished. Still alot of things to be done

whelan1

Timmaay wrote: »

Good idea, thats on my (very very long) to do list also, bloody hate waiting for it to fill, and equally so hate leaving the tap on to fill it, and going away to do something else quick only for it to take longer and have the trough overflowing!

have a hole bored in the side of the trough , so if i forget to turn off tap the water isnt going into the detergent sink, must put a ballcock on it though, good idea