How to prepare for a new parlor

摘要

With a new parlor comes a lot of changes and even stress. Here are four steps to help you make a successful transition. When Clare, Mich., producer Dick Kleinhardt switched to a parlor, he cut his milking-time labor by more than half. The switch frommilking his 132 cows in a stanchion switch barn to a double-10 parallel parlor changed his labor needs from two people spending a total of 14 hours a day milking to one person spending a total of four hours a day milking. Efficiency — the ability to milk more cows with fewer hours of labor — is the main reason why producers switch to a parlor. However, the road to improved efficiency is not always a bed of roses. The first milking in Kleinhardt's new parlor took 5.5 hours and six people.