What are the different types of milking sheds?
The two common types of milking sheds (parlours) in Australia are herringbone and rotary sheds, with a smaller number of robotic sheds emerging.
Each dairy farm has a milking shed where the cows are milked by machines. The milk is held in a vat before it is collected each day and taken to the factory by a milk tanker.
The herringbone shed, one of the most common types of milking sheds, features a central sunken pit with raised platforms on either side where cows stand during milking. The cows are positioned at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees to the pit, which is typically two to three metres wide, providing space for the milking staff to work. The pit is lower than the platform to allow farm hands to work at a comfortable height. Milking machines are placed within or above the pit, and operators attach a set of four cups (the milking cluster) to the cow's udder from behind or in front of her hind legs, depending on the cows’ angle. Once milking is complete, the front gate opens, and the cow's exit. Herringbone sheds vary in size, accommodating anywhere from six to over 30 cows per side, depending on the herd size.
Image above - a 'herringbone' milking shed
A rotary shed features a large circular platform that rotates like a carousel while the cows are being milked. The cows step onto the raised platform at the entrance, and an operator attaches the milking machines. Each cow stands in its own individual stall as the platform rotates slowly, allowing milking to be completed by the time the cow completes the circle. At the exit point, another operator removes the milking cups, and the cows leave the platform.
Image above - a 'rotary' milking shed
In Australia, there are a small number of robotic dairies, also known as Automatic Milking Systems (AMS), where cows are milked by robots without human involvement. The cows decide when to visit the dairy and enter a milking booth where they are rewarded with feed. The robot then washes the cow’s udder, and sensor-guided cups are attached to begin milking. After milking, the robot sprays disinfectant on the teats, and the gate opens to let the cow exit. While robotic milking booths are efficient, they are costly to install and can only manage a limited number of cows each day.
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