You can try visiting Rohtak in Haryana or Moga in Punjab.
Murali Krishnan
The amount of time required to perform the pre-milking work routine on each cow determines the number of milking units and milking stalls that one each operator can use effectively. If you want excellent milking routines (teat and udder sanitation, effective stimulation, appropriate preparation lag times) practiced in the parlor, it must be sized to encourage the desired outcome. A parlor that is too big will encourage the operators to take short cuts and not implement the complete milking routine. A parlor that is too small will result in bored workers and early unit attachment. Who will be operating the parlor? The skill level and motivation level of the people in the parlor will determine how efficiently the milking routine will be implemented.
• Will the parlor be used as a place to provide special treatment to cows? Some parlor types are more suited to providing individual cow care than others.
• What is the expected production level, milking interval and cow grouping strategy? These factors will influence the average amount of time that milking units stay on cows. Short milking times lend themselves to smaller parlors.
• What sort of work environment do you want to provide for the operators? Some parlor types allow the use of support arms for milking units and milk hoses and some do not. Support arms offer several advantages for both people and cows. Support arms carry the weight of the cluster and hoses so that operators do not have to. This reduces considerably the strain on the shoulders and lower back of the operators. Even weight distribution on each quarter is also easier to achieve and promotes even milk-out while reducing the number of slips and unit fall offs that occur during milking.
For fast and speedy operations, various types of milking parlors, are there. Tandem, Herringbone, Rotary, swing types are there with milk recording systems. Computerization too possible in such parlors.
For more information please mail us on sreevinayakaagencies@yahoo.com
youtube.com/watch?v=3Ra0EFrWo0Y
Sri Vinayaka Agencies
9446352007
Side Opening Parlor or Tandem Parlor
Side opener parlors usually are located on the end of a holding area with two entrance lanes similar to herringbone and parallel parlors. A gate at the entrance point between the holding area and the milking parlor holds the cow until an empty stall is ready. The parlor may be organized to allow the cows to exit in return lanes on either side of the operator area or cross over to a single return lane on one side. The use of a single return lane reduces not only the cost of the parlor itself but also the facilities to catch and/or sort cows when leaving the parlor. A single return lane does not slow down cow flow in this parlor type because cows are released individually. Side opening, tandem and in line parlors handle cows one at a time so a slow-milking cow does not delay the completion of milking and release of other cows in the parlor. These parlors are well suited to farms that take special care about observing individual cows and practice individual cow care in the parlor. The throughput of these parlors is less affected by variations in cow milk out times and the disruptions from feeding grain in the parlor.
The number of stalls in a side-opening parlor is usually limited to 4 to 8 for one operator and 8 to 12 for two operators. Stall lengths quickly add up to excessive walking time and difficulty in keeping track of distant milking machines. These parlors have received a recent return to interest because of extra computer controlled automation. If auto detachers are used, the detacher can signal that a unit has been removed and the cow automatically is free to go, the gate closes and another cow is allowed to enter the stall. This parlor type has a high stall use rate which makes it an economical choice for farms using a high level of automation and technology and is well suited to farms with up to about 400 cows that practice a high level of management. This parlor type is not easily expandable, but if designed properly can be converted into a herringbone or parallel parlor with more milking stalls in the future.
Sri Vinayaka Agencies
sreevinayakaagencies@yahoo.com
Can you also share details of Cheapest and best suitable parlor for 100 cattle unit? State some value inputs why it is better. request you to share all numbers involved.
Hello reply.rathi,
Midi-Line / Swing over Parlour milking system is specially designed to secure cost efficiency while providing top performance on your dairy farm.
A cost effective milking parlor system is the Midi Line also known as swing over system. By using the milk clusters for both sides of the milking pit, you can maximize the use of each cluster. The vacuum system is smaller and cheaper and as it only uses half the traditional amount of milking clusters, it makes the system a cost effective simple solution and economically viable system for small herds. You can also add provisions for electronic milk metering, automatic take off’s and electronic Herd management systems and CIP (clean in Place) systems can be incorporated. Use of Alkaline and Acidic detergents recommended to prevent scaling in SS pipes.
This cost effective milking parlor system goes from a basic system to a highly automated one. In such systems, one person can handle up to 12 cows in one hour.
For 100 cows 2x 6/12 is fine. When one side milking is on, you can do the pre milking routines on the other side thereby saving time. Similarly, post milking routines can also be done avoiding waiting time for the cows to be milked.
Murali Krishnan
Trivandrum
9447088234
Hi All Members :
I’m suppose to start a Diary firm at District Nayagarh, Odisha by second week of October 2013. I want to buy 50 each of Cross Breed Cow and Murrah Buffalo. Please mention the price involved and capacity thereof.
FACTORS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION WHILE PLANNING FOR A DAIRY FARM
- Construct slightly elevated shed from the ground level. Prevent water logging on all 4 sides.
- Ensure good air circulation. Split roofing ideal.
- Ensure good drainage facility.
- Manpower must be made available in the project area.
- Have separate storage facilities little away from the shed for dung and urine.
- The shed should be away from thickly populated areas. Plan according to the herd size.
- Plant shade giving trees around the shed.
- Allocate fodder cultivation land (1 acre for 8 cows) and good watering facility must be there for fodder.
- It will be nice if water drinking facility is provided individually for cows using water bowls in case of tied up system or have water tubs in case of loose
housing system. - Electricity must be made available, if not standby generators must be there as fodder chopping, milking and high pressure water pumping for cleaning – for all these we need power.
- Ensure veterinary care nearby. Have tie up with a nearby veterinarian.
- Stock first aid kit, de-wormers, boluses/ injectables for fever,diarrhoea etc.
- Keep in mind land for extension, if need be.
- Housing cows according to the yield. For eg. High yielders on one side, Pregnant cows - a separate block, Sick cows on one side, about to calve cows on a separate shed , heifers all on a separate shed, house calves on one side having pipe separation, visible to the cows.
- Milk room and Milking Machine must be near the shed. Bucket machines ideal up to 100 cows. More than 100, better to go for Parlors having milk measurement facility using milk meters and milk finally getting collected in a Bulk Milk Cooler manufactured by reputed companies.
- Feed storage, dry fodder storage area must be planned in the initial stage itself. Plan one room for fodder chaffing with motor driven chaff cutters.
- Milk must be sold to the end consumer if possible to earn maximum price. Sell it as fresh milk. Select Housing Societies/Flats/Schools/College Hostels or canteens.
Murali Krishnan
srivinayakatvm@gmail.com
9447088234
Dear Chandra,
I am interested in starting a dairy farm with 8-10 buffaloes, lacking some primary information, Can you please send me your contact details to my email id.
Thanks,
Mahendra
Dear Mahendra - sorry, I am no expert on dairy.
Tips for beginners of Dairy Farming.
When a person tries to enter into dairy farming or any agriculture related activity, he/she is confused on how to do this, where and when.
First of all, analyze the demand for that product in that area or nearby regions. Prepare the marketing plans. Find solutions for transportation, preservation, value addition, by product manufacturing etc. Secondly, identify the machines that will enable you to do it. Getting labor is becoming very difficult. Mechanization is the key today.
When it comes to dairy farming, selecting cows/buffaloes is the first step. After making up your decision, then identifying cows/ buffaloes plays the key role. In case of cows it is better to have a mix of Foreign breeds like Holstein and Jersey plus good yielding Indian breeds like GIR, Tharparkar, Sahiwal.
For starting it in small levels, you need basic cemented flooring shed with simple roofing to protect the cows/buffaloes from the sun, heat and rain. Make sure you have water drinking devices in front of them on a 24 x7 basis. Give calcium and mineral supplementation as per the local vet’s advice. De-worm them periodically. Give preventive vaccinations like FMD, Hemorrhagic Septicemia +BQ, Theileria etc. Large scale planning needs fodder cultivation methods, land for that, water facility, well planned shed for housing the cows/buffaloes with drinking bowls, manure scraping solutions using automatic - hydraulic/chain type manure scrapers, Automatic Cow brushes, Veterinary medicines store, Doctors room, Artificial Insemination Equipments, Ear tags to identify cows, Milking Machines / Parlours depending on herd size, Milk Measurement, Automatic clean In Place Systems etc.
Normally farming is done as a part time activity. But now a day’s you can see lot of Gulf and USA returned people are seen entering into this field, as a full time activity. Fresh milk has got demand always.
Try to give your produce to the end consumer, thereby earning maximum revenue. Moreover, it earns customer loyalty if your produce is good and maintains quality. Gradually demand will increase resulting in your dairy farm slowly going for an expansion. Be careful of middlemen when you go for purchase of cows. Carefully get to know the rate of cows. Read available books helping in selection of cows or take with you an experienced farmer who knows how to select good cows. Avoid over feeding. If you have land constraints, go for hydroponic systems for fodder production avoiding harvesting, chaffing, and watering jobs. It’s advisable to keep in touch with the local veterinarian. Rear calves carefully. Breed your cows using good semen.
Money is there from milk and dung too. Convert dung to Vermi Compost or Organic Manure thereby earning money from that too.
Milking machines are there in today’s world enabling you to milk 1 to 10 cows at a time. Pulsation by pneumatic type, oil free type is normally seen in milk can assembly of most company machines. Milking Parlours suggested for Large Dairy Herd like Rotary type, Herringbone type, Parallell type, Swing type, Flat barn type etc.
Happy farming.
Murali Krishnan
9447088234
srivinayakatvm@gmail.com
Hi,
I like to know aout the feeding methods & Ratio.
Feed cows according to their yield. For eg. if a cow produces 12 liters, then better to give feed pelleted good brand cattle feed, of 400 gms / liter, 12 x 400 gms = 4.8 kgs plus for body maintenance another 2 kg additional. ie; 4.8 kgs + 2 kg = 6.8 kg. Give fodder 25 kg minimum per day for a good lactating cow. If its a dry cow you need to give maintenance ration only, plus dry fodder like hay. Give water as much as the cow wants by installing water bowls, please note that one bowl must be there for every cow. Don’t construct water channels in the feeding manger because the disease for the cow standing extreme left will be passed on to the cow standing on the extreme right through water. A good cow consumes about 80- 100 litres of water every day. Install fans in the dairy shed. Keep 4 sides open. Lay cow mats if possible.
Murali Krishnan
Srivinayakatvm@gmail.com
Hi Murali,
Thanks for your valuable info. Can you sugeest any alternate insted of branded cattel feed.
Regards,
Dhinu
You can think of making your own mix with Gingelly cake, Copra (coconut) cake, Groundnut cake, Rice bran, Wheat bran, Maize, Dried tapioca, Calcium and Mineral Supplements, Salt, Mineral mixtures etc. But the proportion is important. Talk to some well experienced dairy farmers in your region.
Murali
Mine is not a hybrid or imported breed. So I am least worried about minerals and heavy feeding. They are sturdy and do well with just hay, fresh grass and plain water.
But to slightly increase milk production I give rice bran, coconut cake, little ground cake as it is expensive. And I also give rice congee water. water strained after boiling rice. This is very good for cows and even humans.
I don’t prefer gingelly cake as it is generally loaded with fine stone grains. look for good quality.
But don’t experiment all this on high milk yielding cows as they deplete a lot of minerals and nutrients daily. so feed as per Murali’s suggestion.
this lines are from the same thread. but quite old
Dear Prasham
1-Dry fodder is not mandatory for cow but it is recommended due to the following reasons
I. It reduces production cost of milk
II. It helps in digestion & rumination
III. It helps in filling stomach(rumen)
to add more on this topic.
Dry fodder is also important for cows as it helps in maintaining body temperature(unlike olden times cows are not left to freely graze with availability to many herbs). for eg in my locality farmers give paddy straw grown during raining season to cows in summer months and hay of summer months are given during monsoon. this stabilizes body temp.
Hay also increases fat content in milk. fresh grass will give more milk but it will lack fat content.
But it is also important to give native variety of hay of wheat or paddy as hay is of superior quality. Hybrid all the nutrients are concentrated on grains.
Milking machines are 100% safe. The same Milking Can/Machine can be used for milking cows and buffaloes. Complete milking is possible. The difference is with the milk let down pattern in cows and buffaloes. In cows you can see milk as soon as you attach cluster but in buffaloes it takes a little more time for the buffalo to start milk let down. Cows complete milking in 6-8 minutes irrespective of their yield but in buffaloes, multiple let downs are there, so it takes little longer. Pneumatic pulsators, oil free ones have an alternating pattern (only two inflation / liners close at a time). The alternating pattern results in less claw flooding in units with a small claw, no backward pressure, ensuring good let down. Milking Machines with 25 litre can with pneumatic pulsator, milking two opposite teats at a time.
Murali Krishnan
srivinayakatvm@gmail.com
Trivandrum
9447088234
Cream seperator’s available for taking cream from milk is available in 60 Litre per hour, hand operated and hand cum motor driven 165 litre per hour, 500 lph & 1000 lph electrically operated. For those who would like to understand how this works, see the picture enclosed.
Requirements for housing
Housing systems must provide:
• A comfortable, well drained lying area, slightly above the floor level.
• Protection from adverse weather
• Provide sufficient space to allow the animal to move and lie down and rise freely without any risk of injury
• Freedom to have adequate food and fresh water to maintain health and vigor.
For a housing system to be successful, it must provide adequate space and the behavioral needs of the cow. The design of the barn and the level of methods applied can affect the health and welfare of the cows and this can have an impact on ailments such as lameness and mastitis.
Ventilation of dairy shed:-
Correct building design is critical to ensure adequate ventilation. This is very important in maintaining air quality.
To ensure good and enough ventilation, it is important that the building design must have:
• Provisions to avoid excess heat
• Eliminate excess water vapor
• Eliminate microorganisms, dust and gases
• Provide free flow of air
Natural ventilation is the best and most efficient and least expensive system for providing an favorable environment within a building. Buildings will naturally ventilate best when they are positioned at right angles to the wind directions there.
Fewer than 10 cow’s one sided housing is the best. For 30 cows, 15 on the right and 15 on the left side is better. Give 6-8 feet wide passage in the center.
Split roofing with a provision for air entry and exit in the centre is ideal.
Have drains sloping to one side and the waste water should flow towards the fodder land. Its better to install water spraying devices in the shed in case of Large Dairy Herd farms or spray water on cows. Spray water on cow’s body just before noon say by around 11 and clean cows just before milking in the afternoon so that the cows will be clean when they go for milking. Give provisions for enough water intake for all cows. Take note of the picture attached below.
Murali Krishnan
srivinayakatvm@gmail.com
Research on milk-fed calves shows that calves are highly motivated to consume at least twice as much milk as they have traditionally been provided or fed naturally. When allowed to consume more milk, calves gain weight more quickly and are less hungry. Faster growing calves turn into faster growing heifers – they are able to calve out at younger age and ultimately produce more milk, particularly during the first lactation. Calves should be offered a minimum total daily intake of 20% of body weight in whole milk ideally through nipple-based system like calf bottles.
The new calf-feeding methods work well for individually housed calves and it also facilitates group housing because well-fed calves are less motivated to perform abnormal sucking behavior, such as cross sucking. Group housing of dairy calves provides a number of advantages to calves and producers.
One key advantage of group housing is that calves take advantage of ‘social learning’ to quickly discover and make use of solid feed. This means that young group housed calves start ingesting solid food earlier than individually housed calves. These calves benefit by early intake of solids which helps to minimize weaning distress and improves calf performance after weaning.
Murali Krishnan
9447088234
srivinayakatvm@gmail.com
quote author=srivinayakatvm link=topic=155.msg12914#msg12914 date=1382504081]
Requirements for housing
Housing systems must provide:
• A comfortable, well drained lying area, slightly above the floor level.
• Protection from adverse weather
• Provide sufficient space to allow the animal to move and lie down and rise freely without any risk of injury
• Freedom to have adequate food and fresh water to maintain health and vigor.
For a housing system to be successful, it must provide adequate space and the behavioral needs of the cow. The design of the barn and the level of methods applied can affect the health and welfare of the cows and this can have an impact on ailments such as lameness and mastitis.
Ventilation of dairy shed:-
Correct building design is critical to ensure adequate ventilation. This is very important in maintaining air quality.
To ensure good and enough ventilation, it is important that the building design must have:
• Provisions to avoid excess heat
• Eliminate excess water vapor
• Eliminate microorganisms, dust and gases
• Provide free flow of air
Natural ventilation is the best and most efficient and least expensive system for providing an favorable environment within a building. Buildings will naturally ventilate best when they are positioned at right angles to the wind directions there.
Fewer than 10 cow’s one sided housing is the best. For 30 cows, 15 on the right and 15 on the left side is better. Give 6-8 feet wide passage in the center.
Split roofing with a provision for air entry and exit in the centre is ideal.
Have drains sloping to one side and the waste water should flow towards the fodder land. Its better to install water spraying devices in the shed in case of Large Dairy Herd farms or spray water on cows. Spray water on cow’s body just before noon say by around 11 and clean cows just before milking in the afternoon so that the cows will be clean when they go for milking. Give provisions for enough water intake for all cows. Take note of the picture attached below.
Murali Krishnan
srivinayakatvm@gmail.com
Thank you for detailed explanation on machine. Please advice few good brands of machine as advised below and approx cost. Are cleaning chemicals available easily in India and please advice on this too.
Regards Nikhil
One can cluster can milk 10 cows in one hour(electrically driven machine takes 6-8 minutes to milk one cow irrespective of its yield). Buy machines giving careful thoughts, don’t buy some “scrap” called milking machine. Please think why machines working using hand pumps and leg operated ones are not seen in gulf countries or USA, Australia or New Zealand? The reason is they are technically not working in the right methods and applying recommended vacuum levels. A good machine must milk the cow pressing opposite teats- one on the left side in the front quarter and the right teat at the back quarter like how we mark “X”. Definitely they are having better machines for all other purposes. Then why only in milking?
A good milking machine will have the following:
• Electrically driven vacuum pump, oil free.
• Vacuum gauge
• Vacuum meter
• Aluminium or SS milking can of 30 litre capacity.
• Pneumatic pulsator, oil free
• Liners, Milk sight glass, Teat cup Shell transparent, Teat Cup Shell Stainless steel part, one set of 3 brushes.
Machines having European standards and ISO certifications are the best and not from countries from where we normally get throw away Tape Recorders or DVD players. The country of origin is very important.
There is no harm in using a milking machine. It can never take blood out of the cow even if you keep it there for 15 minutes after completing the milk let down. No harm is caused to the cow as the vacuum is passed on to the cow’s teats after regulating it. You will get good clean milk without froth from the machine. The only thing is after milking you need to open the milking can lid, measure the milk and pour it to another preferably SS or Aluminum vessel. Avoid milk getting touched by hands as it prevents mutiplication of microbial content in milk and can last for more time. It’s always better to chill it immediately after milking. For that too never depend on locally made coolers. Go for Company made coolers only.
Locally made stuff will give you trouble and draw more electricity.
If you have 2 milking can machine, for 25 cows I think in 1.5 hours your job will be done. Ladies can operate this machine. Just attach and detach milking clusters to the cow’s udder. Its always better to use iodine after milking to dip the cows teats. Iodine is a disinfectant and it helps the cow to close the opened teat canal. I think I have given a very detailed reply clearing your doubt. Happy Milking !!
When there is no milk seen in the milk sight glass (In machines imported from Turkey, you have two piece liners, with a milk sight glass in between having a transparent part between the liner and the short milk tube). In other machines, single piece liner or in the milk claw bowl bottom (the transparent part in which you can see milk getting collected from each teat), you please put the weight of your right hand in the milk claw so that extra weight is added to the milk claw bowl bottom part. Remember to put your hand on the dark part, over the top of the milk claw bowl bottom( the piece where the rubber liners are attached to the plastic part,normally its above the transparent part), so that it gives that extra weight on the four teats of the cow, like you squeeze the last milk from the teats . When the milking is about to be over, the same action is done by putting little extra weight. The milk sight glass helps you to see the milk flowing out from the 4 teats as you don’t have to bend too much to see the bottom milk flowing from the 4 teats.
Milking is done using machines only in USA, NEW ZEALAND and AUSTRALIA. They are doing complete milking and they are very strict on teat dipping as well as hygiene practices after milking like teat dipping, wiping the udder using teat dip wipes{throw away type, you never use a used wipe}, washing utensils with acid and alkaline detergents. No soap or washing detergents. Complete milking is possible and their cows yield three times more than our cows. No fears please!!
Muralikrishnan
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