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WI | Like others mentioned, you can build a shell cheaper than modifying an old barn into a parlor. This way you can get the higher ceilings you need and the holding area. I did it here in the late 90's and installed a double 8 swing parlor with enough pit room to expand to a 12. One person can normally milk in a pit like this but 2 makes it go faster. Started with 60 head also and went to 200 milking once the free-stall was built later in the year.
We ran the numbers also back then and it was not feasible to modify an old barn. If labor is an issue, robots would be better in the long-term but you will have a much heavier debt burden with those. Last I priced the Lelys they were $210,000 each and only milk 60 cows max. That does not include the new building or building modification to install it in. Treated cows would still have to be milked separately also with those unless they have a way to separate the milk on them now. Very large farms are using rotary parlors but those are way over most smaller dairies budgets.
Edited by CIH7777 10/27/2016 05:29
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Low cost parlors
