GL 054 Selection of Elevated Milking Parlors

Today, nearly one half of the time for dairy chores is spent with milking and related tasks such as assembling, cleaning and maintaining milking equipment. Effective milking, coupled with an efficient and economical combination of labor and equipment, is a high priority dairy enterprise goal. Elevated and mechanized milking parlors represent a major development in attaining such a goal.

Further improvements are certain, but these guidelines provide much useful information for selecting and constructing elevated and mechanized milking parlors. Key subject areas discussed are: basic considerations, types of milking parlors, automation and mechanization, parlor selection and design diagrams for 7 types of parlors. See Guideline 54S, Construction Material for Milking Parlors, for additional information.