The Construction of Milking Sheds

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 66, Issue 4, 15 April 1943, Page 217

The Construction of Milking Sheds

llilllllllllllllilllllllilllllllllllllllllllilllllll Contributed by the

Dairy Division

This article is written primarily for supplying dairies, as defined in the Dairy-produce Regulations 1938. The Dairy Division does not control dairies for town supply, and where these are to be built or are likely to be used for town supply the farmer is advised to communicate with the Live-stock Division of the Department of Agriculture, as the regulations for these dairies differ somewhat from those for factory supply.

r i| ’HE milking-shed plays a most I important part in dairy-farming operations, and the progressive dairyfarmer recognises that a well-planned and properly equipped shed materially assists in the production of the finest quality milk and cream. Comfort and convenience at reasonable cost are major considerations, but sanitation and hygiene must always be foremost. Apart from the cleanliness of the equipment, a pure atmosphere inside the milking-shed and milk-room has a definite bearing on quality, and the proper layout of the yards and exitrace is of the greatest importance. Before proceeding with the erection of a milking-shed or the installation of a milking-plant the extracts from the Dairy Industry Act, 1908, and the regulations under the Act, which are given later in this article, should be read carefully, or, better still, consult tht local Farm Dairy Instructor.

The Site

The first and most important consideration is the selection of the site. The site should be governed by the fall for drainage, proximity to an adequate and permanent water-supply, the contour of the ground, convenience for handling the herd to and from the respective paddocks, and distance from the road, &c.

In the layout of the shed due consideration must be given to the direction of the prevailing wind, care being taken to have the milk-collecting or separator room at the windward end. It is also desirable to have the drainage flowing from the milk-room, etc., through and beyond the shed to a sump, which must be at least 30 ft. away from the outer edge of the yard.

Foundations Under Walls

The walls at both ends of the actual milking-shed must be erected on concrete dwarf walls 4 ft. high. This places the bottom plate above the manure-level of the cows, and will be found highly satisfactory and economical. Around the separator and engine rooms the height of concrete dwarf walls should be at least 1 ft. 6 in. and 4ft. will be still better. This will protect the timber from the moisture of the floor and outside ground, and prevent leakage of floor washings. Provision should be made for three ventilating, .openings near the floor at the back and two at the front in the

outside concrete dwarf walls of the separator-room. These openings will have the effect of drying the floor quickly and are much more satisfactory than ventilation at a higher level. The structure should be fastened down by means of bolts set in the green concrete of all foundations to be built upon, and posts at the end, of bail partitions should be anchored to the floor in districts where strong winds prevail. The interior surface of all concrete dwarf .walls must be finished to a smooth plane surface with a steel tool. Unless properly finished, these rough surfaces quickly become insanitary through milk and manure adhering to them, and are made worse by washing, as small stones and sand are scrubbed out. Foundations properly erected not only facilitate the cleansing of the premises, but add considerably to the life and strength of the building. The bails at the heads of the cows may be dealt with in either of the following ways: (1) By a concrete sill not less than 4in. high, to be capped by the main plate throughout the length of this section and unbroken at doorways; (2) by concreting to a height of at least 4in. only that part covered by the dummies. The former method is generally considered the more satisfactory, as it is simpler to erect, and as the exit doors close against the sill

The above illustration shows an internal race milking shed built at Greytown for Mr. T. N. Smallwood, under the supervision of Mr. R. Wilson, Farm Dairy Instructor, who designed the welded tubular bails. The sides of the dummies are hinged to allow the cows to pass round the internal race, which, with the drafting gate, is shown at the right of the picture. The tubular fittings have many advantages, but for those wishing to build in' wood the shed shown in Fig. ■ 1 is recommended.

they assist in keeping the inside of the shed clean and free from draughts. It will facilitate cleaning if all rightangle corners, especially those at floorlevel, are rounded instead of square.

Floors

All concrete floors should be not less than 3in. thick and finished to a semismooth surface. Gateways should be reinforced with wire or pig netting. The fall, in the floor of the shed from the back wall to the gutter should be not less than 4in. in 10ft. It has been the experience of practical farmers that cows will slip more readily on a floor that is comparatively flat than on a floor with a fall. A floor with a fall requires less water for cleansing purposes. The fall in the floor of the separatorroom or milk-collecting room should he towards the door, and the floor

should be raised at the four corners of the room to facilitate cleaning. The fall in the holding-yard of 3in. in 10ft. is sufficient and should be towards the main gutter and also towards the gutter outlet from the yard. The gutter should be so situated as to gather all the drainage from the milkroom and convey it as directly as possible to the sump. The fall in the gutter should not be more than lin. in 10ft. A dwarf concrete wall 3in. high round the sides of the holding-yard is recommended. This prevents objectionable matter collecting and falling over the outer edges, causing contamination.' , When the contour of the site is suitable, and where a small concrete hold-ing-yard is used in front of the shed with a larger holding-yard at the end of the shed farthest from the separa-tor-room, a gutter inside the shed or holding-yard is not provided, the floor

of the shed and yard being in one direct fall from the back of the shed to the outside of the yard. A space is provided in the 3in.-concrete sill to allow for drainage to a concrete drain leading to the sump or manure disposal. Such a floor is more simple to put down than one in which a gutter is provided, and this arrangement of yards has the advantage of tending to keep dust and yard contamination from entering the milking-shed, especially in districts of a sandy nature. ;

Exit Race

The object of the fenced exit-race is to keep the atmosphere of the separa-tor-room and milking-shed as pure as possible, and, apart from cleanliness of equipment, good surroundings and a pure atmosphere have the greatest bearing on quality. In addition to ensuring a better atmosphere in the shed the race greatly solves the farm-

er’s difficulty of keeping the exit from the shed in satisfactory condition, and is a great advance on the unfenced race off which the cows can step at any point. The width of the race in front of the dummy bails is governed by the type of cow to be milked, but it should be made narrownot more than 3ft. to 3ft. 9in. in widthto prevent the cows from turning. Cows will travel to the end of such a race, whereas they will stand about, if a wider space is provided. For instance, an average Jersey cow steps forward 2ft. 3in., whereas a Friesian steps forward 3ft. 3in. Therefore the width of the race in the latter case needs to be increased by 9in., which will allow ample room for the cows to clear doorways. The fall from the shed to the outer edge of the race can be lin. in 3ft., or thereabouts. A 3in. dwarf wall 'on the outer edge of the race forms a drainage recess. There should be in this recess a fall of lin. in 10ft. around and towards the main gutter, as shown in the plan. The race shown in the plan is recommended where practicable, the milked cows being worked back to the original entrance. In this way only a gateway need be metalled, and the back of the shed is kept sweet and clean. Under these conditions the mud, if any, is kept at the extreme point from the milk-collecting room. In the working of a race of this description it is imperative that all doors should open the one way, as shown in the plan. The end of the exit-race, such as the alternative shown in the plan, should be taken to good solid ground, slightly rising if possible. It should never be taken downhill, as the traffic of cows will very quickly take the metal from the end of the race, leaving the concrete high above the surrounding ground. On the other hand, it should not be taken uphill, as water will lodge at the end of the race. The last

10ft. to 15ft. of the race should be sunk from Bin. to 12in. below ground-level to allow for the country sinking from the traffic of cows. A semi-circle of concrete, also 12in., under ground is generally provided at the end of the race or gateway and covered with metal.

Drainage Sump

The drainage sump must be situated at least 30ft. from the outer edge of the shed proper, preferably on the lee side, and made of concrete with the following dimensions: Length, Bft.; width, 10in.; inside measurements, thickness of walls, 4in.; depth, sloping down from nothing at the inlet end to 18in. at the outlet end. The sump should be provided with a removable wooden cover .to facilitate cleaning. This sump, which has proved to be very successful, is shown on the plan. One or more of these can be used as requited. t . • The discharge of drainage into a creek has several objectionable

features. It is a waste of useful manure,, and may also contaminate a watersupply. A sump readily cleaned, and worked in conjunction with a portable liquid-manure tank, is therefore recommended.

Shed Construction

In setting out the building the open part or front of the shed should so face as to allow the sun’s rays to penetrate the shed during the greatest part of the day. It is necessary to have the outlet doors in the back of the shed, which is also the highest part of the building, as shown by the side elevation of the plan. s A draught-proof wall the height and width of the space above the 4ft. dwarf wall is required between the milkingshed and separator-room. Dressed T. and G., preferably flooring, placed vertically on the separator-room side of the studs is recommended, as it provides a smooth surface behind the milk-vat, which is easily cleaned and which prevents milk splashes lodging in dwangs and crevices. No door is--allowed through this wall, and entrance to the separator-room must be from outside the milking-shed. A draught-proof wall is also required between the engine-room and separatorroom in case of a shaft-drive, and, in the case of a direct drive — i.e., a belt passing from the engine-room to the separator-room—two walls with an air space 2ft. wide and open at both ends is required. No door is allowed in either of these walls, and entrance , to the engine-room must be from the outside, and not from the separatorroom. . ' . The verandah front, as shown in the plan, provides convenient covered access to these two rooms, and also provides a convenient place for housing a copper or steam steriliser under cover. Wood fuel can also be kept dry under the verandah, and covered, access to the copper or steriliser is provided.

The main pillars supporting the shed should be stepped up on a small concrete base to keep the bottom of the pillars dry, or upon glazed drain-pipes set in with the floor fpundations, thereby prolonging their life. Cylindrical containers or drain-pipes set into the floor foundation and filled with concrete, and having eyelets for leg-ropes, &c., have been used by some farmers for this purpose.

Dummy Bails

Dummy bails can be either supported from the floor on a raised concrete

base or suspended from the roof, but the suspension method proves most effective, leaving the floor of the shed unobstructed. When suspended dummies are adequately braced they are as rigid as those supported from the floor. Tne timber used in the dummies and centre studs should be dressed, as it is more sanitary and easier to clean than rough material.

Sliding Seat

The sliding slotted seat is a valuable addition, as it does away with the necessity of carrying stools from cow to

cow and is, therefore, more sanitary. The seat consists , of a sft. length ,of 6in. by 2in. timber set inside the dummy and resting on a short length of. lin. piping set into the bottom ends of the corner posts of z the dummy bail. The end of the plank inside the dummy is fastened by a bolt through a slot some 2ft. 6in long. The plank will, therefore slide sideways on the pipe to provide a seat while stripping either cow in the bail, and the slot and bolt allows the seat to slip back inside the dummy when not in use. The bottom of the seat should be lOin. to 12in. from the floor. . If the dwangs on the front of the dummy are correctly spaced to allow it, a safe recess for holding the strip-ping-bucket can be provided just above the sliding seat. '

Door Rods

The door rods are generally made of timber, and when the exit doors open all one way as shown on the plan the rods are placed overhead. The handles can more easily be kept clean and sanitary by placing short lengths of discarded milk-piping, which can be obtained from any milking-machine firm, over the ends. There are many variations from the wooden-door lever used in different districts, but the details required adequately to describe them would take up too much space in this article.

Internal Race Shed

As an alternative to the walkthrough shed which has been described in detail, a plan of the newer type of internal race sheds is also given. In this shed the wall at the head of the cows is extended 3ft. to include the race, and the width is consequently increased to 19ft. over all. The length is also extended 3ft., and by an arrangement of the gates the cows can be returned into the concrete yard, into a holding yard, or to a reading or paddock as shown in the plan. The bails in which the cows are milked are wedge-shaped, and consequently it is almost impossible for even a small heifer to turn round in them. The side of the dummy is hinged, and when it is opened the cow passes out into the race behind the bails, and so round the end of the shed to the point of discharge. (Fig. 2.) A 4ft. concrete wall is required in this shed between the separator-room and the bail at the end, but rails only are necessary between the bail and the race at the opposite end of the shed. A dwarf concrete base 18in. high is required under all the other walls, and where metal is available at a reasonable price farmers are advised to make those round the race 4ft. high, as it will facilitate cleaning. %

■ The construction of the bails is shown . in detail and need not be described. It is claimed for this type of

shed that it is less draughty and much more comfortable to work in than the older type, and since it is all under one roof the whole of the floor is easily kept clean. A similar race can be included in the older plan if desired without altering the bails. Milk Room Where milking-machines and a separator are used the positions of the respective units in the milk-room are shown in the plan. These positions should on no account be altered if the maximum efficiency is to be obtained. If the shed is operated with electric power the motor can be fixed to the wall overhead, on a block of concrete raised from the floor, or to a shelf stayed out from the wall. The type of rotary vacuum pump now being manufactured occupies a small space and can be fixed to the wall. The most important point to remember when erecting a milkingmachine is that the distance from releaser to vacuum pump in any plant need not exceed 4ft. 6in. (Fig. 4). -A saving - can therefore be made by adopting right methods, as a minimum amount of piping is used if the vacuum tank is erected close to the vacuum pump.. The vacuum tank should be fitted as close to the vacuum pump, as possible so that all the vacuum piping can be flushed. The tank should be of sufficient capacity to hold the water used in flushing the whole system. If the vacuum tank is fitted with a drain-, age flap and placed at a reasonable height from the floor the washing of the machine is facilitated, and the tank can be quickly emptied by breaking the vacuum at any part of the machine, this will release the boiling water which has been carried over into the tank. The vacuum can then be again raised and the washing completed.

The electric motor, a vacuum pump, or a vacuum tank are not in themselves a source of contamination to milk or cream, but may become so if neglected, so that these units should be so installed as to be conveniently cleaned. The milk-vat can be suspended from the roof with iron rods, or supported upon a pipe stand set into the floor, or upon hinged wallbrackets. A convenient milk-vat measures 3ft. by 3ft. by lOin. deep, with a fall and a tap towards one corner. The tap should have an extended delivery pipe which can be uncoupled when the milk-vat is full. This will allow the separator to be cleaned

during the milking in the flush months of the season. A ; separator which is too large causes a loss of butterfat in the spring and autumn owing to the milk getting cold before there is sufficient in the vat to warrant starting the separator. Where a pipe stand is used to support this type of milk-vat an adjustable bar or two hooks attached to the stand on the side nearest the door, as shown on the plan, will serve to support a milk-cooler, and if the vat is given a quarter turn the tap will ; be brought into the right position to deliver the milk on to the cooler. A glazed drain-pipe of a suitable size set into the concrete floor and filled with concrete makes an excellent stand for a separator. It will ;be noticed that in the plan a small fixed window is shown in the draught-proof wall. This is recommended, as it has been found to be a decided advantage in the running of the plant and for carrying out herd-testing work, &c. Where whole milk is being supplied the milk-room can be used as a milkhouse, provided that it is kept in a hygienic condition. This avoids the necessity for a milkstand, but the contour of the ground may require the roadway for the delivery truck to be excavated to the doorway (Fig. 1) or a sliding door can be provided in either of the outer walls of the milk-room to suit the fall of the ground. This is being practised by some dairymen who have proved over a period of years that good milk with a low bacterial count can be delivered from a milkroom so constructed. On a level site, or where a sunken ramp is unsuitable, a milk-lift can be used to raise the milk for cooling purposes.

Water Heating Appliances

The boiling-point of water at sealevel is 212 deg. F. An ordinary copper, when properly fitted in and used at each milking, is quite satisfactory for obtaining boiling water, because it can be filled a second time if necessary and the water can be actually boiled. After completing the cleansing of the whole milking plant, &c., a small quantity of water can be put into the copper and, by means of a perforated cover fitted over it, steam can be very cheaply generated to sterilise dairy utensils. The utensils can also be placed in the copper and boiled. There are various makes of steam generators and waterheaters on the market today, and when properly installed and equipped they are proving highly efficient. Regulations governing the size of electric cylinders and wattage of elements in relation to the various sizes of milking-machines in use are included in the Dairy-produce Regulations 1938, and before installing one the local Farmy Dairy Instructor should be consulted.

Washing-down

A 600-gallon tank cannot be considered to provide adequate water for all purposes. Where water has to be

pumped into a tank it is advisable to place the tank upon a stand at least 12ft. to 14ft. high to obtain pressure for cleansing purposes. A waterpipe at least lfin. in diameter should be carried overhead from the tank to a central position in the milking-shed. A fullway cock of the pressure type should be fitted. Connections can be taken off the main water-pipe to suply the various units in the dairy at the points where they are required. Many farmers have successfully provided a water-connection in each bail, coupled to a short hose for washing cows’ udders. ’ The practice is to reduce down from the stop-cock (which is the main sluicing medium) by a series of pipes or connections to a Jin. pipe to which can be fitted a fin. rubber hose of any desired length. The end of the rubber hose can be further reduced down by piping to a I fin. nozzle. Such an arrangement assists in speeding up the cleansing operations, and has proved satisfactory. Some dairymen used a rubber hose as already described, fit two fullway stopcocks to the delivery pipe of the pump, and use the pump as the pressure medium. This method works well, but care must be taken in the manipulation of the fullway cocks, as one must always be open. A device for

assisting to clean the cowyard can be made by boring small holes at every 9in. in a fin. pipe, which extends the full width of the yard at gate-entrance and can be merely cemented or supported upon a concrete floor. A controlling tap on the pipe-line can be fitted in a handy position to suit the operator. Some also use this method at the head of the bails. Where highpressure water is not available an open trough in a handy position and a bucket will give good service. (Fig. l.> (To be continued.') ■

Cobalt Deficiency in Sheep and Cattle

As the result of investigations into the prevention of bush sickness by the use of cobalt, it is now possible to recommend to farmers in the districts concerned, methods by which they can economically prevent the incidence of the disease. These recommendations are made jointly by the. Department of Agriculture and the Cawthron Institute, and are available in a bulletin issued free by the Department. Copies may be obtained from the Department’s officers in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.