Cow Milking systems

There are different milking systems (bucket, trolley, pipeline, little auto tandem, herringbone or parallel parlors) each of them has a different work routine. The number of cows, the financial resource, the skilled workforce, and the availability of time are parameters influencing the selection of the milking system in addition to stall type and milking system also in small cow dairies. Mechanical milking and dimensioning of cow milking systems with a number of milked up to 100–120 cows.

Mechanical milking was at the beginning to increase the efficiency of the milking process to improve milk quality and quantity, and the labor efficiency. The mechanized milking systems also contribute to the operators’ and animals’ welfare, considering the effects on the routine of the milking tasks. The time occurred for both the pre-milking and post milking tasks is essential to determine the number of milking stalls and milking units that a milker can manage in the operation timeframe.

Milking Extraction / Flow Time

The effect of milk flow time on milking performance as the most influencing activity. The milking extraction time of each cow depends on multiple variables: animal milk yield, correct feeding and stimulation during the preparation tasks, the physiologic predisposition of the cow to release milk more or less quickly.

Simulated the milking extraction time, and they found average times around 5–5.5 min however, the milk yield per milked cow increased, thanks to the genetic improvement of the animals, and thereby the milking extraction time increased between 6 and 8 min. The milking extraction time determines the number of cows that the operator can milk per hour.

Preliminary Assumptions

Achieving good and realistic results in milking operations in small cow dairies, both in labor productivity and animal welfare.

Milking cow is not that simple

Cows need to release the milk * (the correct routine)
Over milking needs to be minimized * (correct take off setting)
Cows need to be milked out well enough * (good unit position, correct liner, correct use of support)
Vacuum level needs to be optimal *(teat ends close direct after milking)
Mastitis needs to be prevented * (lots of aspects)

The Routine of Milking Cow

The routine is the starting point for assessing the milking determines the number of milked cows per hour. Different milking systems have common tasks (as pre-dipping, inspecting foremilk, udder preparation, attaching teat cups, post-dipping), but in the meantime there are different operations that characterize each specific routine (e.g., animal entry and exit if there is a parlor, bucket, trolley or milking group positioning if tie-stall).

Milking Routine

Each milking system has its work routine with specific sequences of operations, there are some common tasks, mostly manually performed by the milker: pre-dipping, inspecting foremilk, udder preparation, attaching teat cups, removing teat cups (if the milking cluster removal is absent), post-dipping (disinfecting teats).

The washing and the maintenance of the milking unit, as well as the transportation of the milk tanks outside the stall at the end of the milking operation in tie-stall, were not considered in the calculation of the routine time

Number of milked cows
Milk extraction (or flow) time	6–8 min
Early (initial) routine	Animal entry (Ten); bucket, trolley, or cluster positioning (Tpos), pre-dipping (Tpre), foremilk inspecting (Tfor), udder preparation (Tup), teat cups attach (Tatt)
Ending (final) routine	Teat cups removal (Trem), post-dipping (Tpost), bucket or tank empting (Tempt), relocation of the mobile parts of the milking system (Trr), animal exit (Tex)
Milking routine	30–180 s
Downtime	Unproductive time due to unpredictable events (Always present and split among Tri, Trf and Trr)
Milker’s time for milking each cow	Tc is always higher than, or equal to, the milking routine Tr
Number of stalls	Only in parlor
Number of milking groups
Milker waiting time	Unproductive routine time (for example due to the absence of the milking cluster removal

Inspected Milking Systems

The milking time per cow is always equal to the routine time, while the number of milking groups (and, consequently, the number of milked cows) depends on the milk flow time and on the routine time. In herringbone and parallel parlors, in fact, animal entry and pre-dipping are fastened by the group management of the cows.

Milking Parlors

There are many types of parlors, the choice of which depends on the herd size. Parlor type affects building size, cow traffic to and from parlor, milking routine and mechanization level. The number of daily milking is also important. two milking per days are planned and animals are milked every about 12 h (usually at 4:00 and at 16:00). Two milking/day represents a standard situation. because milking time is one of the components that modulates the milk lipolytic system. The swing-over milking system permits the milking unit to shift from one stall to another positioned in front of it, speeding up the milking routine. Proper drainage and ventilation are also essential

Tandem Milking Parlors

Tandem milking parlour is suitable for small herds and buffalo milking. The tandem configuration, characterized by individual boxes and side milking, offers a full-length view of the animal and an independent single-stall milking process. place cows in individual stalls in a row, standing nose-to-tail. These parlour features allow easy and safe human–animal interaction, individual animal attention and single stall higher efficiency, providing a faster milking process and individualized milking.

Side-Opening and auto tandem

In this type of parlor, the cows move individually to their milking stalls entering and exiting through gates manually (tandem) or automatically (auto tandem) opened and closed (Figure). The milking operation is performed individually, and cows may have a different milk flow time without affecting the milking routine of the other animals.

Auto tandem (Side-Open) with Automatic Milking Cluster Removal

Tandem milking parlor you combine comfortable milking in a box setup with tried and tested milking technology. Especially with smaller herds, you can save valuable time while maximizing cow comfort. With optional positioning, the arm supports you, from ergonomic attaching and a good milking cluster fit to gentle milk harvest. Depending on the equipment, the milking control unit monitors the milking routine for you, simultaneously sending the current milking data to the herd management system.

The Auto Tandem milking parlor is completely different from other milking parlors. Its range of benefits are particularly suitable for small herds:

Individual boxes give you an ideal view of the cow and make the process stress-free.
Each cow is milked individually and on its own – this increases throughput by up to 30 % per milking stall.
The Multiline control panel produces minimum noise emissions and protects the sensitive milking parlor components.
The cow boxes can be arranged flexibly – suitable for all buildings.
You can choose from a range of modern milking parlor components: Milking control units, milking arms and pulsators.
It consists of multiple boxes with sufficient space to keep even the largest animals comfortable.
The boxes are mounted parallel to the milking pit, giving you a clear view of the animal.
This also makes it easier to attach the milking clusters.
Each of the boxes works independently of the others

In side-open parlors, the swing-over is not present, because animals are handled individually and not in groups

The Swing Over milking

You can take care of two milking stalls opposite one another with only one milking control unit and milking cluster. The double function of the Posi Swing milking arm makes it possible. The basis of this double-sided milking system is the especially compact herringbone milking parlor. While the cow on one side of the milking parlor is milked, you can let the next animal into the other side.

Especially with only one person milking in the parlor, The milking arm is positioned in the middle of the milking pit. When you swing it over to the side where you want to start milking.

The milking arm is positioned in the middle of the milking pit. When you swing it over to the side where you want to start attaching, the vacuum starts. Simultaneously, you instantly have the milking cluster at the ergonomic height you need. The milking control unit takes over milking management for you and sends the herd management system the relevant data on the cow and milking stall. In the meantime, you can switch over to the other side of the group and finalize milking procedures.

The Swing Over milking system is an economically sound investment for small and mid-sized herds. Decreases investment costs. Despite investing less per milking stall, you can still achieve high efficiency thanks to higher productivity and a milking system working continually at high capacity. In addition, you easily save about half the water for rinsing milking clusters as well as half the time for cleaning in the long term.

Increased throughput and yield
Better ergonomics for the milker with shorter pathways, meaning the cow and the milking clusters can be reached easily
Short hose lines and low strength vacuums for better udder health and high milk quality
Low investment costs as the milking parlor components each serve two milking stalls
Milking starts automatically when the Posi Swing milking arm swings out.
You can use the milking control devices to control the entire milking process.
The gates can be opened and closed from any milking stall via the milking control device, meaning you no longer have to walk unnecessarily to the other gates.
The milking process beings automatically when the Posi Swing milking arm is controlled using the milking control devices.
These are connected to the milking management system and provide you with important data to optimize your herd.

Herringbone and Parallel Parlors

In herringbone and parallel parlors, cows are handled in groups. The size varies from 4 × 2 to 30 × 2. Many herringbone and parallel parlors are equipped with rapid-exit stalls (by freeing all cows at once from one side of the parlor in a direction perpendicular to the entry lane, (Figure), which increase the milking parlor efficiency and improve the milking routine.

Initial and final routines are the same as in auto tandem, but the entrance of the animals and the pre-dipping operations take less time, as the operations are sequentially performed (collective animal milking) on two parallel rows. Without swing-over, the number of milking groups. The milking routine in parallel parlors is the same as herringbone, but with a lower entry time of the animals.

HERRINGBONE PARLORS

The efficiency of a milking system is usually assessed based on multiple parameters, which, in small herds with a number of animals not higher than 120, are reduced in cows milked per hour and the number of stalls to complete the milking in time (about 2 h). For this reason, the focus was to discuss the above-mentioned results, as obtained by the models and by the surveyed farm.

Herringbone

Wide alleys allow cows to enter the milking stall stress-free and stand comfortably and relaxed for better milking. The convenient milking stall dimensions enable fast attaching over short distances, offering an excellent view of the individual cow. For easy ergonomic handling and little effort, the milking clusters and control units are placed within easy reach. Sensible functions such as gate control can be integrated directly at the milking stall. In addition, depending on equipment, various components can be easily connected to your herd management’s digital network, if desired.

Position cows at an angle of roughly 30-60° Herringbone milking parlor accelerates the milking process while still being gentle on your animals. Combines the two most important aspects of milking: an animal-friendly approach that ensures long-term, high-quality milk, and fast throughput to increase yields.

Advantages of 60-degree herringbone parlour

quick exit
short walking lines
good working posture
short distance between the cows
ideal for short, wide milking parlour.
the milker comes very close to the cow
milking takes place between the hind legs

Advantages of 30-degree herringbone parlour

simple and efficient
the cows will easily find their places
easy access for the milker
ideal system for narrow, long parlour.

Are you looking for a way to further increase throughput and profitability with a herringbone configuration? Thanks to short retention times and fast group changes, the optional “Rapid Exit” helps you save significant time and the integrated indexing functions speed up and simplify attaching.

The system is called Rapid-Exit and it enables you to milk your animals quickly and gently, even with large herds. The animals leave the milking parlor forwards along a wide gangway once the milking parlor frame has lifted automatically.

Optimized access to the cow and a clear view of the system simplifies the work of the milker.
The animals are ideally positioned with an index bracket on the front gate
The milking stalls are large enough for the cows to be very comfortable.
Its regulated entrance system and innovative Rapid-Exit increase throughput by up to 15 %.
Compatible with electronic milking control systems and can be expanded modularly
Available in various sizes: from 1×3 to 2×24 milking stalls for the 2×8 to 2×20 milking stalls.
The gangways are especially wide and fitted sparingly with poles.
This means that the cows can get to their milking stalls quickly, safely and stress-free.
Once they arrive, both the milker and the cow benefit from the stall’s generous dimensions: Each animal has 120-125 cm of space, so they can be milked happily and calmly.
The animals are positioned at 30° to each other and the open design of the milking stalls means that they are always easy to reach and see – giving you optimized control and a clear view during milking.

Herringbone & Parallel milking parlors

PARALLEL PARLORS

Parallel parlor resembles the herringbone, but cows are arranged perpendicular to the edge of the milker’s pit, where he/she works back to the animal (Figure 4). Advantages of this system for the lowering of the milking routine are higher displacement of the cows (animals move faster) and fewer movements of the milker. As for herringbone, also in this case, a milking group for each stall or a milking group every two stalls (swing-over) may be provided.

Parallel

Improve throughput performance and number of cows milkings per day. Milk more cows per hour in the most efficient manner – in a space-saving footprint. Operators can quickly attach through the rear legs and indexing functions position the cow comfortably in the stall, regardless of breed or cow size. With choice of milking clusters and control units, you can take advantages of the modern herd management and make the milking routine convenient and efficient for you, while at the same time optimizing cow comfort for your herd. Perfect system for medium to large herds. You can hold up to 2×50 milking stalls.

High throughput with fast front exit and quick positioning of the animals
Operating panel is more convenient for the milker and protects sensitive components
Individual indexing with flexible front arm
Robust and durable construction
Open design and wide gangways for greater cow comfort
Milking stalls can be opened individually and independently of one another as needed.

Its open layout makes entering the parlor a stress-free experience. A simple design for the milking stalls that gives the cows greater freedom of movement. The flexible front arm enables the system to automatically index the animals without additional stress. The cows also have a clear view to the front so that they don’t feel trapped. And a more comfortable, relaxed cow produces higher quality milk.