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| I've got a double 6 parallel now, it used to be a stanchion barn, then a 3 on a side herringbone swing, that changed to a double 3 herringbone in the late 80's. Put the parallel in 92'. If I was going to build again it would be a double 10 parallel w/indexing stalls. I would pour all concrete walls, put a metal roof on it. No wood in the barn, would use fiberglass doors or alum./w glass. Some guys were building doors out of plywood, then covering w/ Kemlite.
No steps in barn, that is a killer on your knees! Put your milking pit at ground level, elevate the cows, small ramp from holding pen to milking pit. Roof cover over holding pen w/ crowd gate.
I would rather milk cows ( especially heifers ) in a parallel, they can't kick you. Never reach around legs, allways between hind legs. It is the only way to break heifers in milk barn. And with indexing stalls, you can make heifer back up to you. Yes, it is a little dirtier, you just wear milking sleeves. If your cows are clean, you will have no problem in a parallel. Now cows in dry lots out west here in sloppy weather, sometimes get dirtier, but it is short lived with our weather.
My opinion is, it is easier for new help to learn to milk in a parallel, than a herringbone. Something you will need if looking down the road at hip replacement. I don't want to discourage you, but I'm 45, my health isn't the greatest either. I'm most likely looking at least a knee replacement in 10-15 years. Will be lucky if that's all. My barn, I can make last my lifetime, but if a kids wants to come back, I will need to rebuild, or they will at some time. My barn is only running 6 hours a day, so we could a lot of cows, before rebuilding.
I would really think about payoff time of this new barn, if you are in your 40's, bad health, is there kids to take over, hired men, etc.? I would love to build a double 10 here, but it's not wise, if no kids come back.
Three years ago, they quoted me about $90,000 + all of my old equipment to build the double 10 w/ no building. I guessing at least $90,000 for a building or more ? Would you be better off taking that money and changing your operation to something that is not a labor intensive as dairying? Just trying to get you to think outside the box. Look at all your options. I don't need to milk cows that bad, I like it, but I can sure live without it.
Edited by Russ In Idaho 7/24/2010 17:32
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If you could change anything when building a new dairy what would it be
