Farm Topics

In recent years there's been quite a revolution on dairy farms throughout the country. The old cow yards and the now antiquated milking systems have been swept away and replaced by gleaming concrete yards and new methods designed to speed up milking and make the whole operation a more economic one. On this page are three of the new types of yards and sheds now in use - the herringbone, the angle park and the conventional but highly modernised yard and shed. The herringbone is on the property of A. E. Field and Sons, McShane's Road, Richmond; the angle park is that of Brian Webby's, Hope, and the other shed that of Mr P. B. Chisnall, Brightwater.

The herringbone shed and yard of Field and Sons. The cows enter on both sides of a pit and they are handled from here. Eight cows a side are milked at one time, and the 81 cows in production here are put through in a little over an hour. Cost of the new plant was about $5400.

Mr Webby and his angle park shed. The cows, six a time, step up into the stall and the operator stands below to fit the cups. Mr webby can put 50 cows through an hour with ease.

The more conventional, walkthrough shed of Mr Phil Chisnall, but with innovations. The cows enter the yard along the main concrete drive which is flanked by silage bins. While waiting they can feed on the silage. During milking they are separated from the bins, but once milked they can return by another route to the bins.

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The Nelson Photo News

No 83 : September 16, 1967

Farm Topics