Milk recording

mattthetrasher

Hi folks, we doubled up a twelve unit in march 2016 and haven't recorded since, we were recording with waikato meters prior to this. I want to start milk recording again would ye get 12 more meters and do the recorder service or go on the ediy meters. I have used ediy before and found it frustrating, has it improved? Thanks in advance

Buford T. Justice XIX

mattthetrasher wrote: »

Hi folks, we doubled up a twelve unit in march 2016 and haven't recorded since, we were recording with waikato meters prior to this. I want to start milk recording again would ye get 12 more meters and do the recorder service or go on the ediy meters. I have used ediy before and found it frustrating, has it improved? Thanks in advance

It has improved but every recording is frustrating with some meter not being able to read the barcode. I usually have 3 spares and usually end up using at least two to replace the ones not working.

Saying that, it is a good bit cheaper but you would want a second person in the pit for numbers and changing bottles.

mattthetrasher

We used to have swingover arms and hang them on those, no swingover arms now so where do they hang now

Keepgrowing

I have 16 Waicato meters for sale.

On a side note, how much did parlour output change by going 12/12?

I have similar in mind

mattthetrasher

Keepgrowing wrote: »

I have 16 Waicato meters for sale.

On a side note, how much did parlour output change by going 12/12?

I have similar in mind

Uo from 84/hour to 120 five rows per side per hour, one man

Buford T. Justice XIX

mattthetrasher wrote: »

We used to have swingover arms and hang them on those, no swingover arms now so where do they hang now

Mine hang on the milkline and secured by a bungee cord. A short piece of tube to connect the meter to the milkline input and connect the milk tube to the bottom of the meter.

Starting up and shutting down the meters is a slow job. They have to switched on slowly, individually and the same turning off except slower because you're waiting for the data to download onto the handheld controller. If you go too fast, you'll have to return to the meter you didn't wait for and wait again as the rest of the data is downloaded.

If you decide to use the DIY system, they send someone out to you for the first milking to show you how to operate it and recognise the two problems, not reading the bar code and the meter not draining properly. Most of the bar code errors are just dirt or water stopping the barcode being read properly and just turning the bottle a small bit sorts it but it really destroys any rhythm you might have if it's happening too much but to be fair, it has improved in the past year.

Mooooo

So diy would be preferable to hooking up the waikaito ones. Will record again prob go 4 or 6 times yearly. Is the much of a price difference fit versus normal then.? Already have enough waikaito ones here

Keepgrowing

mattthetrasher wrote: »

Uo from 84/hour to 120 five rows per side per hour, one man

Is that at peak or now?

mattthetrasher

Keepgrowing wrote: »

Is that at peak or now?

Doing 20 litres now 124 in an hour in the morning. Its probably a row slower at peak 108/hour with maybe a row on

Wildsurfer

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

It has improved but every recording is frustrating with some meter not being able to read the barcode. I usually have 3 spares and usually end up using at least two to replace the ones not working.

Saying that, it is a good bit cheaper but you would want a second person in the pit for numbers and changing bottles.

A few tips for ya Buford... Buy a plastic box with a lid and keep the stack of bottles in that in pit to keep them dry and clean before you attach them and keep dry tissue in your pocket to clean the red barcode reader on meter. Then just keep hitting the select and finished milking buttons, always gets me going again. I used to change out meters but you waste too much time. A massive help is to get a milker in for pm milking so you can keep your hands dry and clean attaching bottles.