The Herringbone Milking System: Economic Appraisal, Labor Efficiency Analysis, and Adjustment Possibilities

Excerpts from the report: New technology is constantly being developed through research and is continually becoming available to farmers. One of the more important new developments which seem to hold promise for greater efficiency in dairy farming is the herringbone milking system. This system combines well with such modern improvements as loose housing of dairy cows, pipeline milking, and bulk handling of feed and milk. The herringbone system can be a vital cog in the progress toward the greater efficiency dairy farming needs if it is to keep pace with progress in most other types of farming. In this report, new information on the herringbone milking system has been brought together and analyzed. The herringbone is compared with other milking systems for different farm situations, and its possible impact on dairy farming is considered. The results should be of interest to dairy farmers who are considering changes in their milking systems, particularly those who are thinking also of expanding the size of their herds. The results may be of interest to others who wish to keep abreast of current developments in dairy farming and to size up prospective changes.