MILKING-PREMISES FOR TOWN SUPPLY.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVII, Issue 5, 20 November 1923, Page 318

MILKING-PREMISES FOR TOWN SUPPLY.

A GOOD MODEL. Live-stock Division. During the past few years the standard of dairies supplying milk for city or town consumption in the Dominion has been steadily raised, largely as the result of inspection and advice by the Department of Agriculture. There is still room, however, for considerable improvement in .design and general efficiency among the ordinary run of such premises. With a view to presenting what may be regarded as a

good model for the class of larger suburban dairies a set of photographs has ' been taken of the milking-premises of Mr. W. Huse, at his dairy farm, " Cottleville,” Hayward's, in the Hutt Valley, near Wellington. These are here reproduced, together with some descriptive notes. ■ .

Fig. i gives an external view of the premises, which lie practically east and west, thus affording protection • against the prevailing winds and dust. For further protection a sliding-door .is placed at each end. The shed is built entirely of corrugated iron and concrete, with the exception of the -heads and the frame, which are plated into a low concrete wall. The white building on the left is the milk-house, and

through this a permanent stream of water flows. This stream passes immediately behind the wire fence, and into it is discharged - through an open concrete drain the washings from the shed. The broom seen in the photo is standing on this drain, and the effluent is immediately behind the large post in the first ' fence. The small shed at the rear end of the milking-shed is for washing-up, and contains a boiler and tubs for this purpose. The holding-yard is among the trees at the west end of the shed, and its floor is also of; concrete. Its fence is shown at the right of the photo. A concrete race with a swing-gate leads from the holding-yard to the bails. The Stall appearing as separate from the bails is for the accommodation of clean utensils just prior to milking.’

Fig. 2 is an interior view of the shed, and gives a good idea of the roominess and comfort obtained. Note the leg-ropes attached to

rings in the ironwork, and the handles and pulleys immediately above for releasing the head-bails. On the under side of the bail-heads runs a perforated sanitary pipe, to which water is supplied immediately after milking. This sprays the floor, which is then brushed down. The entire shed, with the exception of the concrete base, is painted white. The long roof to the centre walk affords ample protection for the milkers in wet weather. There is a small room on either side between the last bail and the outside wall at the eastern end. One of these rooms is used for holding the milk during milking, and the other by the milkers for washing, &c. •

Fig. 3 shows cows in the bails feeding from movable boxes. These are preferable for sanitary reasons to the permanent feeding-box. The

water for washing-down purposes was turned on for two or three minutes before the cows were bailed up.

Fig. 4 was taken to show the race from the.holding-yard, the. gate to the yard being closed to allow the cows that are milked to pass along another concrete race placed just outside the holding-yard, and so to the open. This race turns to the left and at right angles to the main race. By this system during the wettest of seasons no, dirt or mud is brought into the milking-shed. . The fall from the rear walls to the centre is only 2 in., and as each cow has ample space , to turn there is no falling or slipping in the shed.

Fig. 5 is a view in the milk-house. The milk before going into the cans is put. over a cooler, and the cans are.then' placed in the trough,

through which water is continuously flowing. The walls are lined with glazed tiles, and ample air is provided through glass louvred windows.- A rail is provided for the milking-buckets and metal plunger.

GENERAL.

Following are the principal measurements of the shed : Total length, 50 ft. ; total width, 35 ft. ; height of rear walls, 9 ft. inside to floor ; height of roof from floor at lowest elevation, 7 ft. ; head-space, 2 ft. 6 in. ; space for each cow, 4 ft.. 5 in. ; length of rail separating cows, 8 ft. 3 in. ; centre walk (open), 6 ft. ; fall from rear wall to centre, 2 in.

The shed accommodates twenty cows and cost £750, of which £50 was spent on painting. The design is capable of being either extended or reduced or otherwise adapted to suit varying requirements or means.