First Cow in the Parlour row

[Thompyd]

I sometimes struggle to get a cow to walk into the parlour first after a few rows in. No problems with cows following and filling up the row easily on their own but getting the first cow up and to the very front can sometimes be a struggle.

Any suggestions what could be down? I do give the first cow a wee trickle of meal. Have thought about sheeting the front gate. 90 degree parlour with headlocks

 

[frederick]

Does your cow flow change during the year. All winter mine is perfect won't need to move a single cow. This time of year just over halfway through they are becoming a bit stubborn. All will get cake the second they arrive at the manger.

I'm begining to think it's a light thing and reflections from the wet floor with sun higher in the sky.

If solar panels go in under the grant roof lights will be deliberately covered and all milking done under artificial light.

 

[More to life]

Real big cows older parlour ?

 

[Thompyd]

New parlour, 90 degree, plenty of room. Line up no problem after the first cow goes in, just need more cows to lead the pack

 

[Happy hillbily]

Won't help you now. But get some brown swiss cows. 1st one in 1st one out no matter where their going.

 

[DairyNerd]

Can you open your back gate before the last cow has walked out? Milked in a parlour for 4 years with no back gates and virtually never went out for a cow, even heifers would follow in.

 

[7600-four pilot]

Some cows prefer a particular stall, a particular side. Had a cow which insisted in only being milked in a particular stall in an abreast parlour. When she came in and seen her stall occupied she'd walk back out to the door waiting to be let out back to the collecting yard.

 

[Farmer Keith]

Can you open your back gate before the last cow has walked out? Milked in a parlour for 4 years with no back gates and virtually never went out for a cow, even heifers would follow in.

Had one back out half way through milking here on Tuesday as the back gate was left open, can’t imagine having a parlour without them. Also letting them in before the front gate was closed would make me nervous, it’s got a sprint down the track written all over it!

 

[box]

Wind up the backing gate in the yard, squeeze them up a bit and put some pressure on to "make" them come in.

It's a bad habit that they get into, it's a time and money killer and you've got to nip it in the bud. I get it occasionally, usually it's some big fat bossy b*tch who doesn't want to go at the front of the row, but stands there hogging the entrance and not letting anyone through. It only becomes an issue once the first few rows are gone. Solution is as above.

It doesn't take long to break the habit, but it creeps back again after about a month, especially if they're well fed and in no rush to get milked and get back to the feed. Refer to the above solution to get things moving again.

 

[daveydiesel1]

How about a dog that you could train to go out and make them come in

 

[Grassman247]

No back gates here, 3 cows behind last cows, next row coming in as the other is leaving. This is only possible with scissor gates at the front.

 

[Thompyd]

I've no issue with the cows coming in, it's just getting a leader to come in first that has no problem putting her head into the front stall. After the first few rows I run out of leaders and if you try to force one in that doesn't want to be there your just asking for trouble as they will just refuse to go into the first stall while everything is piling up behind them. I'll try a bit of stock board on the front gate and see if that helps any.

I always give off if someone goes into the collecting yard. Chase a cow in thats standing at the entrance if needed but back into the pit after that. Don't want to teach bad habits.

 

[Jasper]

Before we go for the cows at a farm I milk at we have to tie the back gates shut or else there’s two full sides in when you get back . There not easy to open either