Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle – Part 1: Herd combination and the production cycle

The main focus of this series is to provide the dairy farmer with the necessary advice and information regarding dairy structures from an engineering point of view. Enjoy...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle – Part 2: Different dairy cattle breeds and basic requirements

Dairy cattle breeds differ in many ways. Some breeds adapt better than others in particular environmental circumstances and the quantities of milk, butter fat and protein...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle – Part 3: Environmental requirements

The purpose of the intensive housing system for dairy cows is mainly the provision of an environment in which the stress factors which accompany milk production, as well ...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle – Part 4: Influence of the thermal environment

High temperatures Warm and humid weather conditions cause heat stress in dairy cows, which decreases milk production, milk quality and reproduction. The health status of...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle – Part 5: Prevailing weather and physical environmental requirements

Considering the biological characteristics of dairy cows and the influence of high and low temperatures on production, the climatic conditions prevailing in a certain reg...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle: Part 6: Influence of unfavourable environmental conditions

The occurrence of wet, muddy conditions and accumulation of manure, do not only make the production of hygienic milk difficult, but also contribute to mastitis, hoof and ...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle – Part 7: Planning of a dairy

The planning and construction of a successful dairy require thoughtful actions and the involvement of various knowledgeable people. Many problems and complaints about dai...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle – Part 8: Milking parlours and related structures

There is a wide variety of options to choose from when constructing a dairy parlour. These parlours are costly to build; therefore, you will mostly find them on commercia...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle: Part 9 – The benefits and disadvantages of fishbone and rotating parlour structures

Fishbone milking parlour Cows enter these parlours in groups and stand at an angle to the milking pit, so that only the udder part of the cow is exposed to the labourer ...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle: Part 10 – Rapid-exit milking parlours and regulations

Rapid-exit parlours are designed to improve the efficiency of fishbone and parallel parlours. All the cows on the one side of the parlour are let out simultaneously in a ...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle: Part 11 – The interior and exterior layout of a milking parlour

To ensure a pleasant milking experience for the cows, farmer, workers and even visitors, it is very wise to have a look at all the factors involved and do some planning b...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle: Part 12 Interior layout of the milking parlour (continued)

The interior design of your dairy can make or break your operation. With some clever thinking beforehand, your dairy will become a place of pride for generations to come....

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle: Part 13 – Holding pens

The importance of holding pens at milking parlours is often disregarded. The absence or errors in the form and layout thereof, is the direct cause of poor cow flow at wel...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle: Part 14 – Milking machine systems

Milk is a very sensitive product and can get stale and smelly within a very short time. Bad milk will be rejected by the buyer and cause serious financial losses. Milk...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle: Part 15: Milking machine systems efficiency and milking robots

The most important aspect concerning the efficient functioning of milking machine systems is vacuum stability. It is associated with positive milk removal from the udder ...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read

Create the perfect environment for your dairy cattle – Part 16: Microcomputers and feeding systems

Good old fashioned milk recording with pen and paper was inexpensive, but it was unreliable and brought about many problems. It also increased the workload when it had to...

13 May 2022 · < 1 min read