Dairy Conversion Queries

[pine_guy]

At a farm sale last year, had a short run of these in what was a very rough cubicle shed that was like a cubicle museum. Must have been over 10 different styles in it. Anyway, quite a few of them easy fix cubicles had broken, the weld had given way joining the short stubby bar onto the fixing/bolting plate (that the plastic pipe slides onto). No idea how long they had been on though.

I’m looking at plastic. Easyfix but am really taken with these.View attachment 888664

 

[Llmmm]

At a farm sale last year, had a short run of these in what was a very rough cubicle shed that was like a cubicle museum. Must have been over 10 different styles in it. Anyway, quite a few of them easy fix cubicles had broken, the weld had given way joining the short stubby bar onto the fixing/bolting plate (that the plastic pipe slides onto). No idea how long they had been on though.

Im no expert but i think the main idea of a cubicle is to keep the cow in a certain area by haveing the cubicle flexible im sure they could move and lie into next cubicle but maybe im wrong cus i never tried them yet

 

[som farmer]

I think the important question is what cows are you intending to keep, and what system you are going to use, Different systems, mean different size cows, which in turn, mean different cubicles. An intensive high imput/output requires large investment, and, in pricing that out, every firm that quotes, their cubicles are the best, but, at the other end, low imput/low output, requires least investment, or even least housing, and the requirements for that, can easily be 2nd hand ! Horses for courses !

 

[HasthorpeGrange]

View attachment 888687

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Had iae cantilever in since 2012, no issues and a good strong cubicle.
Note 2012, when I went to put another run in a couple of years back they seemed to have lost the plot somewhat.

Installed a couple runs of Spinder instead. These are your bolt to floor type, no posts.
Have been very pleased with them.
They do look smaller than the iae, however, get a tape out and they measure as giving the cow more room than the iae, which is the important bit.

180 on parlour exit is a lot. Make it as gradual as you can.

 

[Sid]

We are in the process of converting to dairy and are planning to start next spring. Instead of bombarding the All Things Dairy thread with questions I though I would start a thread and ask plenty of questions as we go.

For cubicles does any one have a strong opinion as to whether or not the bottom horizontal fixing rail which is used to fix a lot of the cantilever cubicles to has a negative effect on the lunge space of the cows as they rise? The other option is a post every cubicle with only a neck rail running horizontally but not all suppliers have this option.

If your doing the job yourself or even using outside labour, make sure the posts don't snag where the cubicles go.
I gave this advice to someone, they knew better, then had to make special brackets to carry the cubicles.

 

[Sid]

Next question...the cows will exit the parlour and turn 180 degrees and head back to grass/cubicles. I plan to put a shedding gate in but initially it will probably be a homemade spring and rope system but as it is around the side I’ll probably have to get out of the pit to shed cows as they leave the parlour.

in summary my question is does anyone have a rope operated shedding gate which is not in front of the parlour but you can somehow stay in the pit to operate?

Seen plenty using vacuum rams to move gates. More to go wrong but easier to flick a switch than pulling ropes and it doesn't need tying off to hold in place

 

[vantage]

@lazy farmer has gates controlled from the pit I think.

 

[lazy farmer]

@lazy farmer has gates controlled from the pit I think.

I do ?works really well occasionally get one too many much less often I’ll miss one. Been In nearly 2 decades now??. Have replaced the string on it once?

 

[lazy farmer]

Seen plenty using vacuum rams to move gates. More to go wrong but easier to flick a switch than pulling ropes and it doesn't need tying off to hold in place

No tying off required

 

[thesilentone]

Interesting thread, updating a dairy unit has some decisions and future options/changes to consider. Size, spacing, headboard, lunge length, fall, matts/bed, access (emergency) and future proofing.

Cows are not completely happy head to head, so off-set spacing is also worth considering.

No 1 consideration must be the cow, no 2 future proofing.

Sand v rubber has benefits both ways, which is going to give you the best return.

 

[Jamer]

Had iae cantilever in since 2012, no issues and a good strong cubicle.
Note 2012, when I went to put another run in a couple of years back they seemed to have lost the plot somewhat.

Installed a couple runs of Spinder instead. These are your bolt to floor type, no posts.
Have been very pleased with them.
They do look smaller than the iae, however, get a tape out and they measure as giving the cow more room than the iae, which is the important bit.

180 on parlour exit is a lot. Make it as gradual as you can.

We have 10 year old Spinder, been occupied 365 days/year, till we get everything out next spring. They are great cubicles in my opinion and we will fit the same when re-fit a shed soon. I just don't get the attraction of the flexi bendy things- I just know certain cows will take the opportunity to turn around in the bed if I fit them.

 

[MrA.G.]

We have 10 year old Spinder, been occupied 365 days/year, till we get everything out next spring. They are great cubicles in my opinion and we will fit the same when re-fit a shed soon. I just don't get the attraction of the flexi bendy things- I just know certain cows will take the opportunity to turn around in the bed if I fit them.

Are you moving from fully housed to a grazing system? And if so are you adjusting cow type accordingly?

 

[MrA.G.]

View attachment 888687

Thanks for pictures. My issue with having a parlour operated shedding gate close to the front of the parlour means that the exit has to be reduced down to single file quite soon after the cows exit which in my mind will reduce cow exit speed. As you can see below I would like a good bit of room at the front and side to help with cow flow. Still work to be done on the drawing

 

[Beetlejuice]

Seen plenty using vacuum rams to move gates. More to go wrong but easier to flick a switch than pulling ropes and it doesn't need tying off to hold in place

Valid point you make

 

[Jamer]

Are you moving from fully housed to a grazing system? And if so are you adjusting cow type accordingly?

Never been fully housed or all grazing. Moving to autumn calved. Cows are mostly Hol crossed with BS, SR, NR, DR. 8500l on a liquid contract.

 

[dinderleat]

Next question...the cows will exit the parlour and turn 180 degrees and head back to grass/cubicles. I plan to put a shedding gate in but initially it will probably be a homemade spring and rope system but as it is around the side I’ll probably have to get out of the pit to shed cows as they leave the parlour.

in summary my question is does anyone have a rope operated shedding gate which is not in front of the parlour but you can somehow stay in the pit to operate?

I’ve just got an air ram on a Shedding gate with a switch in the parlour works a treat.

 

[devonshirekiwi]

Have you considered EID tags with auto drafting? I have built two herringbone sheds with this and would not do anything else. A person standing at the front of the pit pulling a rope will stuff cow flow. Also a 180 turn on exit will only make things worse, a straight exit is the ultimate but a 45 degree exit works well.

 

[vantage]

Have you considered EID tags with auto drafting? I have built two herringbone sheds with this and would not do anything else. A person standing at the front of the pit pulling a rope will stuff cow flow. Also a 180 turn on exit will only make things worse, a straight exit is the ultimate but a 45 degree exit works well.

I have auto drafting using collars. Works well. It’s not a cheap option, but our parlour has no room at the front to draft, it’s a long 180* turn, drafting is 180’ from the parlour.

 

[TomB]

Have you considered EID tags with auto drafting? I have built two herringbone sheds with this and would not do anything else. A person standing at the front of the pit pulling a rope will stuff cow flow. Also a 180 turn on exit will only make things worse, a straight exit is the ultimate but a 45 degree exit works well.

What drafting gates are you using, what’s accuracy like?