CowTime - Your Time SMASH presentation 2010
What is our aim? To get the best value or return for your effort. Not to work harder or longer!
Milk Harvesting Involves all the process: getting cows to the dairy, milking and cleaning up
Milk Harvesting Three elements: Cows People Facilities
What are the big ticket items for improving labour productivity, sustainability, and efficiency? [On most dairy farms]
Paddock to Yard Time spend pushing cows Tracks/laneways surface, width, drainage, turns, etc
The yard Flow into the yard Is there enough room Surface Backing gate
The Dairy cows Cow comfort Space, pipe work, surface, etc The milking experience! Pushing them in or out? Do you leave the milking area? Why?
The Dairy people Working environment Work between hip and shoulder Do not twist!!! Working environment
Cleaning up Yard Volume instead of pressure! Hydrant wash? Biggest single change on many farms!
Summary Allow cows to make the decision to do what you want them to do in a timely fashion Think like a cow See the world like a cow
References CowTime Neil Chesterton - lameness Book – The Behaviour of Cattle by Albright & Arave, 1997 CAB INTERNATIONAL ISBN