Cows mucking in the parlour

PREES

Member
Location
SW Wales
We are having a major problem with cows mucking in the parlour which not only slows down the job but makes it a horrible working environment for all concerned.
We are milking through a 20/40 swing over with ACRs & cluster flush and feeding maximum of 4kg. We dry wipe, use a backing gate and have fitted mats.
The first row each side is usually sh!t free but once we get to the second rows they tend to muck on the way out if there is any delay in the routine. From the 3rd row onwards we get 2 or 3 cows sitting in each row and each side and it seems to be the cows in the midle of the rows that are worst. If we start using the wash down pump to clean up as they walk out they seem to muck even more. Any suggestions as to what might be causing it? I know feeding in the parlour does not help but we don't have any option currently.

We have had our local sparky test for stray voltage but does not see a big problem! Can anyone recommend someone who can evaluate this aspect in more detail?

Also wonder whether there is a problem with our routine which is making matters worse, there are usually 2 involved in milking, getting cows to the collecting yard but I think the cups are hanging up too much on occasions. I have wondered about fitting a go pro camera to film the milkings so someone can objectively analyse our routine? Again any suggestions as to who can help at a sensible price?
 

PREES

Member
Location
SW Wales
Good point but not too much, we do "encourage" them out but hardly noisy, aggressive shouting. As a rule our cows are very quiet and docile, not jumpy. We have quite a tight calving pattern so heifers disrupt matters at this time of year but the muck problem is always there not just when we are introducing the heifers.
 

Ball acre

Member
Location
Somerset
We are having a major problem with cows mucking in the parlour which not only slows down the job but makes it a horrible working environment for all concerned.
We are milking through a 20/40 swing over with ACRs & cluster flush and feeding maximum of 4kg. We dry wipe, use a backing gate and have fitted mats.
The first row each side is usually sh!t free but once we get to the second rows they tend to muck on the way out if there is any delay in the routine. From the 3rd row onwards we get 2 or 3 cows sitting in each row and each side and it seems to be the cows in the midle of the rows that are worst. If we start using the wash down pump to clean up as they walk out they seem to muck even more. Any suggestions as to what might be causing it? I know feeding in the parlour does not help but we don't have any option currently.

We have had our local sparky test for stray voltage but does not see a big problem! Can anyone recommend someone who can evaluate this aspect in more detail?

Also wonder whether there is a problem with our routine which is making matters worse, there are usually 2 involved in milking, getting cows to the collecting yard but I think the cups are hanging up too much on occasions. I have wondered about fitting a go pro camera to film the milkings so someone can objectively analyse our routine? Again any suggestions as to who can help at a sensible price?
Are you waiting for slow cows, do they go on first? Worms? I bought some eprinex last week and put it on some repeat offenders. Seems to be working.
 

Devon lad

Member
Location
Mid Devon
I only wash mucked area when the unit is on the cow and 3 cows behind. I find if you hose when the unit is off them they cr@p everywhere. If muck is pretty solid I use small hand scraper I made up and wipe off rest with paper towel unless unit is covered. How long are row times?
 

early riser

Member
Location
Up North
Getting much autumn grass in the diet?

If it's any consolation our cows muck is very loose at the moment due to lush, low DM grass but this will alter when winter housed
 

PREES

Member
Location
SW Wales
What is the exit like? Straight out ?

They go straight out into a "holding area" which comfortably holds at least 2/3 rds of the row and then exit back down a race parallel to the parlour so ultimately they do have to turn through 180 degrees, the holding area is matted and there is a hoofcount foot bath and sorting gate at the end of the race, about the same length of the parlour.
 
I find that if the routine takes too long they muck, if they are in and out quick no muck. 1st side never muck because they are in and out quick. Don't let a side in until you are ready to start work on them.
Same applies with moving cows over road, if they wait at end of race for 10 mins, they muck as they move off, if they walk straight out no muck.
Bit like a bird of prey, always mucks before it takes off!
 

PREES

Member
Location
SW Wales
We are still getting problems in our parlour (20/40, 2 people [1 plus no2 getting cows from cubicles and helping in the pit] taking 3.5 hrs to milk 280 cows, muck everywhere! - see OP) so we were wondering about getting a visit from a company called Precision Milking who carry out some dynamic testing AND look at milking routine etc to see where we are going wrong! Does anyone have experience of them or know of anyone else?
 

jimmer

Member
Location
East Devon
are the cows all waiting for that amount of time
do you start milking as soon as the collecting yard is full , could you milk in two or more groups to allow cows to be standing for shorter times ?
 

PREES

Member
Location
SW Wales
The first stall gets a little cake to draw them in, then each stall is fed automatically through auto ID. They do get fed all in one go, they are eating the cake. The first row each side is usually sh!t free but once we get to the second rows they tend to muck on the way out if there is any delay in the routine. From the 3rd row onwards we get 2 or 3 cows sitting in each row and each side and it seems to be the cows in the middle of the rows that are worst. If we start using the wash down pump to clean up as they walk out they seem to muck even more. I know feeding in the parlour does not help but we don't have any option currently.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 62 35.0%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 28 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,286
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top