Milking Pit Drainage

[AlfM]

What is the preferred method of drainage in the pit? Channel drains or just having the concrete slope to a drain? If using channel drains do you have one row down the middle of a row each side of the pit?
Thanks.

 

[upnortheast]

Used to have a channel with a slot cover in ours, down the centre of the pit worked fine for 20 years

 

[vantage]

Our pit is domed from centre to standing, was told at the time it was better for your back. Anyway the water runs alongside the wall to a drain at the end.

 

[Farmer Keith]

Centre channel with slots here but can’t see it makes a great deal of difference however you did it.

 

[Fergieman]

Ours just slopes to one end with a sump at the end. That allows a full covering of the floor with mats. If you have channel drains down the middle and mats laid either side it a tripping hazzard.

 

[AlfM]

Ours just slopes to one end with a sump at the end. That allows a full covering of the floor with mats. If you have channel drains down the middle and mats laid either side it a tripping hazzard.

That was some of my thinking really. If they go down the middle it's less expense as less channels but how do you not have a trip hazard? Down each side then no such problem.

 

[Horn&corn]

Normal drain one end and not a problem. Easy to rubber mat that way

 

[Big_D]

You definitely want the pit either level from side to side or sloping down towards the cow standings (higher in the middle) Sloping away from the cows is not good for your body. Had to alter ours, level from side to side, sloping to a drain at one end should be grand.

 

[Tarw Coch]

That was some of my thinking really. If they go down the middle it's less expense as less channels but how do you not have a trip hazard? Down each side then no such problem.

Center channels need grids, so probably buying a precast Chanel. channels at side can be open as they’re under the overhang where you don’t tread, so all you do is space timbers for concreting our from walls so cost next to nothing.

 

[Davy]

You definitely want the pit either level from side to side or sloping down towards the cow standings (higher in the middle) Sloping away from the cows is not good for your body. Had to alter ours, level from side to side, sloping to a drain at one end should be grand.

We thought the same when we poured our pit. Folk said you'd want a slope towards the cow, but you don't stand facing the cow walking up and down the pit. I thought it would be worse for your body, so we made it level across the width and a fall to the front, with a small gulley taking the water to the front on either side

 

[Tarw Coch]

We thought the same when we poured our pit. Folk said you'd want a slope towards the cow, but you don't stand facing the cow walking up and down the pit. I thought it would be worse for your body, so we made it level across the width and a fall to the front, with a small gulley taking the water to the front on either side

I would design for sloping towards the cow but the slope needs to be subtle.

Worse parlour I ever looked at had a very prominent slope towards a Center gully and you could feel that hard on your legs just having a look around.

 

[Moorlands]

We have a side gulley formed with a 3x3 bit of timber that got run through saw to slightly taper it to make extraction from the concrete once dry easier used them at front of cow standings too works a treat and was cheap to do.

 

[Sid]

Which is better for posture leaning in or leaning back?

In reality you don't really need very much of a slope to drain?

 

[Sid]

We have a side gulley formed with a 3x3 bit of timber that got run through saw to slightly taper it to make extraction from the concrete once dry easier used them at front of cow standings too works a treat and was cheap to do.

We have same, have a run on it to back of parlour as well , the way we wash out

 

[jimmer]

Grid down middle is a cuss

 

[Farmer Keith]

Which is better for posture leaning in or leaning back?

In reality you don't really need very much of a slope to drain?

I would think if you had so much fall it was noticeable under foot you’ve got far too much, realistically just off level is where you need to be.

 

[Agrispeed]

There are loads of model drawings on AHDB and DairyNZ.

I have a 2.5º fall to either side in my pit and it was ideal. Drains down each side, and it stays nice and clean and you're not walking around in puddles. The drains are well under the kerbs so don't get in the way.

A drain down the middle would pitch you away from the cows so you will be further away from them, unless you lean forwards which wouldn't be ideal for your back and legs.