FACTORS AFFECTING MILKING PARLOR EFFICIENCY AND OPERATOR WALKING DISTANCE

Milking parlor performance was evaluated in herringbone, parallel, automated side opening, and rotary milk parlors. The effects of entry time of the first cow, operator walking distance, pre-milking hygiene, and milking routine were determined. Operator walking distance is the highest in automated side opening parlors and lowest in rotary parlors. As the length of herringbone and parallel parlors increases, operator walking distances for double-10 parallel and Herringbone parlors ranged from 762 to 875m/h (2500-2871 ft/h) and double-40 parallel and herringbone parlors ranged from 991 to 1141 m/h (3251-3743 ft/h). Operator walking distance in parallel parlors is 95 to 150 m/h (312- 492 ft/h) less than herringbone parlors. Entrance time of the first cow increases with parlor length. Implementing a premilking hygiene routine increases labor requirements. Using a rotating milking routine will increase the number of cows milked per hour in larger parlors.