Maximum distance from parlour pit to dairy?

newholland · Sep 11, 2014

I know the answer is as short as possible.

But in reality how far is too far? is 40 meters from milk pump to wash trough / bulk tank room too much?

I know walking backwards and forwards will be a pain. But will 40m distance to suck wash water through give issues - vacume? and will the extra hot water volume get expensive?

The choice is an extra £50k loan for new dairy ( we have quite enough mortage already and I lose enough sleep as it is) or 40meters of milk pipe and use old dairy (which is in good condition) and then build new tank room in 10 years time when milk price is better!

Any thoughts from other peoples experiences much appriciated.
Thankyou.

Blue. · Sep 11, 2014

Robots pump that far,frost would be my main concern.

You know what I'm going to say

Why £50k for a dairy????

multi power · Sep 11, 2014

there is a well known very large herd not that far from here with parlour at far end of yard n milk silo by side of road

is there any reasonwash trough etc couldnt be in the pit if distane is an issue?
wash trough here must be 40ft from parlour n no problems

neilo · Sep 11, 2014

We pumped 130m from the robots to the tank room/existing dairy without any issues. The only problem would be losing temp of the wash water unless the pipe is well insulated. Our robot pipe was underground in a conduit and insulated (& expensive), but no reason why enough pipe lagging round it shouldn't do the same.

As far as the vacuum is concerned a longer pipe would just give you a bigger reserve.

newholland · Sep 11, 2014

You know what I'm going to say

Why £50k for a dairy????[/QUOTE]

I know. OK.......

It is £10k cost in labour, new pipe fittings, hire a tank, move existing tank, ice builder, double plate cooler, water pumps, heat recovery, hot water heaters x2, liquid mineral system, 25000 lt water tank and god knows what else.

Then we need a building and insulation - its suprising how much space it all takes
Then concrete floor and drains etc. Concrete foundation pads for water and milk tanks
Then electrics - move distrubution board and rewire
Then a wall coating
Then some doors
What about a few windows
Then while you at it, everybody says its cheaper to do the job right, so what about a WC and a bit of a chemical store and herdsman office and a roof overhang to park the quad bike under and what about some new concrete for the tanker to park on as farm assurance keep moaning etc etc etc.
Suddenly £50k has gone into thin air!
Jobs like the above just evolve as they go along!

ok..... to move 1 x8000lt dx tank and 1x hot water heater into a new 6m x 4m tin shed with a 3" concrete floor and the wash water running out the door will cost £7K for sure! But then you will stand and look at the tin shed in 5 years time and wish you had done the job right

newholland · Sep 11, 2014

Cheers Neilo, I though you did something like that. I remember your unfortunate story about the rat eating the pipe and no milk in the tank......

Vacume was my worry, I dont know much about what distance does to it.
Its helpful to bounce an idea around before phoning a company.

multi power · Sep 11, 2014

newholland said:
Cheers Neilo, I though you did something like that. I remember your unfortunate story about the rat eating the pipe and no milk in the tank......

Vacume was my worry, I dont know much about what distance does to it.
Its helpful to bounce an idea around before phoning a company.

vaccum would be no problem, i know of a family who milked in 7 different cowsheds all around the yard, inch n a quarter pipe went a long distance around the yard

Blue. · Sep 11, 2014

newholland said:
Cheers Neilo, I though you did something like that. I remember your unfortunate story about the rat eating the pipe and no milk in the tank......

Vacume was my worry, I dont know much about what distance does to it.
Its helpful to bounce an idea around before phoning a company.

Long vacuum won't be a problem,just insulate your pipes well and have them fall so they empty.

Thick Farmer · Sep 12, 2014

Just sell up. If you can't afford it now then there's no chance later on...

newholland · Sep 12, 2014

Dont be so misrable thick farmer

multi power · Sep 12, 2014

newholland said:
Dont be so misrable thick farmer

he does have a point, by the time i think i have saved for something the price has often gone up by 50%

Headless chicken · Sep 14, 2014

Distance is ok as long as it's straight aparently it's turns that cause problems on vacuum

tanker · Sep 14, 2014

I know people that have fair distances from parlour to dairy,most of the issues are not insurmountable,you can get in-line heaters to keep circulation cleaning water hot & good insulation to keep out the cold during frost..Though I have to say £50k for a dairy would more than keep me awake.I've heard of one farm that used a shipping container,there's a friend of mine that milks 600 and his dairy is extremely basic,plastic coated sheet structure but it passes farm assurance,is clean& durable..you must surely be able to do it cheaper than that..

robin banks · Sep 14, 2014

Absolutely you can and should build a cheaper dairy. You can spend as much as you like. I always think about how little I can get away with.

newholland · Sep 14, 2014

I fully agree, but its just how I am - I either ensure I have the money to do a well engineered, good quality, basic job which will last 25 years or dont bother. I can't stand putting effort into something which is a bodge. The point is a dairy is a large slug of money for what is a lot more than just a tank room.
Other wise we end up with a farm which a heap of bits and pieces which is what we currently have and its an absolute pain.

Look at the build template of a kiwi parlour - simple but correct dairy layout next to the parlour - toilet, office, store, kitchen, machine room, generator, tanker pad.

would sooner do a bodge of 40m of pipe work and get a tidy dairy finished in 10 years time.
maybe my brain has gone to mush............................................................

newholland · Sep 14, 2014

Thanks for the inline heater idea and vacume bend tip off.

newholland · Sep 14, 2014

Come on, I need somebody to buy an MSP rapid exit......somebody must be keen!!???

jimmer · Sep 15, 2014

outdoor silo with a shipping container next to it
job done

know a bloke that pumps milk a fair way to his tank underground , no probs that i am aware of

auto wash will cut down your walking

J B · Sep 16, 2014

Plenty of talk about vacuum loss over 40m but surely you don't need the vac pump by the dairy

Put the vac pump outside the parlour and leave the tank where it is :scratchhead:

upnortheast · Sep 16, 2014

newholland said:
I know the answer is as short as possible.

But in reality how far is too far? is 40 meters from milk pump to wash trough / bulk tank room too much?

Any thoughts from other peoples experiences much appriciated.
Thankyou.

Was on a farm in Northern Ireland a few years ago. Robots had been put into a shed away from the main steading. The milk line was around 300 yards long(underground ) to the bulk tank at the farm. I think they had increased the amount of hot water at wash time but it seemed to work fine

Maximum distance from parlour pit to dairy?

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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