The Milking Parlor (167)

[@freddylove9914]

Good morning all great job Thanks for the video 🙏

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

Good morning!

[@robcooper5813]

Thanks for the update on the 3/4 hoses, very interesting and worth doing with that increased milking speed.

[@AhTechus]

The filming and editing techniques are so professional

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

My wife edits all of our videos, she'll be happy to hear that. Thank you!

[@BernardVandeVelde-i9z]

Hello Piet, good to hear that the cows are doing well. Good team and good management 👍. thanks for the interesting vlog. greetings from Belgium 🇧🇪

[@PgP736]

❤ from Norway

[@benjaminskuhblog6034]

Hi Piet, how old is the parlor? Most of the parts are the dark green of GEA, but some still the light green of Westfalua-Surge.

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

This was originally a double 16, built in 2008. In 2013, we expanded the parlor to a double 24. All the same equipment but the name changed from westfalia -surge to GEA. You have a good eye for picking that up!

[@teresamason3930]

How did you train them to just line up like little kindergartners headed for the playground? Wow I had no idea the work that jug of milk goes through!! lol I’m a city girl, so please be gentle with me, I’m learning 😮😊

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

They learn pretty quickly, new heifers will follow cows into the parlor, on accasion we have to push a new heifer in. Typically after the first 2 times they have figured out how to come in and turn sideways. The main thing is that they learn what happens in the parlor, once they figure out that they are coming into the parlor to be milked it doesn't stress them out anymore.

[@rothfarms]

Well I have not watched all the videos yet but guessing double 16 ?? I think mentioning that every time in the parlor is good info

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

We have a double 24 rapid exit.

[@illovehockey]

Hey Piet! Fellow dairman here. Why that prep? From stripping cow 8 till she gets attached certainly you are outside of the 90-120 second window? Love to get your thoughts. As we are in the middle of changing our prep. Thanks

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

On average it's about 90 seconds from predipping to attaching the cows. We used to dip 8, strip 8, wipe 8 and attach 8, but changed to dip 8, strip 8 and then wipe and attach 2 at a time to reduce one trip for the milkers.

[@illovehockey]

@ Have you looked at the Future Cow TeatScrubber? If so what's the reason for not going that way. Thanks in advance.

[@hamwallet7069]

Morning Piet! Ever looked into that auto vector feeding? Tech always has been a big interest of mine.

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

Not at this point, a larger model would have to become available. It would take around 10 vectors to keep all of our cows and heifers fed.

[@thomashellebuyck9961]

Hello Piet, what's the outer diameter (mm)from the new milk hose? I see that the counter balance doesn't stand open on the hose. Here in Belgium I already did a few parlors with the 3/4" hose also.

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

About 32mm outside diameter. It's surprising how much of a difference the bigger hose makes on high production cows.

[@keenankelley187]

Will you consider a rotary in the future over your current parlour? Less labor?

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

Possibly, there are definitely some advantages to a rotary parlor. We're a ways away from needing to upgrade our milking equipment, so we haven't had a serious discussion about that. We would have some labor efficiency with a rotary and cows flow is really good, but I like the simplicity and reliability of a parallel parlor.

[@PedroSantos-bw2sf]

Nice Video Piet Super production, high componentes You feeding palm fat or some product to help boost % fat?

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

Yes, all the lactation cows have palm fat in the ration.

[@PedroSantos-bw2sf]

@ ok, is nice product , but is awesome 4,3 fat with 91/92 lbs

[@youricorput7006]

Germaina opdrijfhek , wij hebben deze ook hier , hier ook wat moeilijk om aan onderdelen te komen

[@andrewvisser372]

What is your vacuum?

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

Vacuum at the teat end is around 12.4 inHg

[@tublifer1]

How many guys are milk crew and are there separate cow pushers also in the barns to yet Piet? Great numbers for such a large milking herd, well done!

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

8 full time guys on the milking team with 2 guys that will fill in when needed. 1 person brings the cows to and from the parlor and cleans the freestalls and manure alleys.

[@bencast-pt1pd]

How many times a day do you milk? How big is the parlor?

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

The cows are milked 3 times, we have a double 24 rapid exit.

[@ksoft5]

Very nice, please give a try to Cow Master Herd management app for your dairy management.

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

I'll check it out, thanks!

[@teresamason3930]

Those cows are adorable, they look like they’re excited about going in for milking. ❤

[@carstenpedersen8808]

How many employees do you have , how many cows can you milk at the time

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

24 full time employees, milking 48 cows at a time.

[@carstenpedersen8808]

Merry Christmas and Happy new year

[@r.scotthill3082]

How many pounds of solids?

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

Right at 7 lbs/ cow / day.

[@alowl450]

Use your impressive clout to stop the DC crazies who want to go back to the 1950s.

[@hobertlee7598]

ARE YOU HIRING

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

We are not hiring at the moment.

[@PaulWilcox-n2p]

Are you concerned about Trump coming after your help

[@jerryalexander1895]

Are you assuming that they are not here legally.

[@PaulWilcox-n2p]

@jerryalexander1895 yes I had a farm retired now had Mexican help don't think 1 in 10 are legal

[@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047]

Zero concern, this country, along with every other developed nation, can't function without immigrant labor. Just because some farms operate with undocumented workers doesn't mean we all do. We don't hire anyone without the proper documentation and our guys travel back and forth to Mexico which couldn't be done without the proper documentation.

[@PaulWilcox-n2p]

I agree with you not talking about you personally 😊

[@kikuroyal007]

I will do any work in your farm give me job​@@pietvanbedaf-nddairyfarmer9047