Technology For Agriculture LLC
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HerringBone vs ParaBone vs Parallel
What are the Differences?
At 30" from Cow-to-Cow-to-Cow ParaBones are shorter and slightly wider than HerringBones.
Think about a ParaBone if
- you have the width (say 22 ft for Conventional Exit and 30 ft for Rapid Exit)
- but not the length
- ParaBones are your only choice if you are trying to milk more cows thru an existing building with may be a dbl. 6 HerringBone. Chances are a dbl. 8 ParaBone fits. Another HB would not - because its too long. Neither would a Parallel - because its too wide.
ParaBones are also your lowest cost choice because
- at less than a 45" HerringBone we are using less steel and
- they cost less than a Parallel, because there are no Sequence Gates.
But
- Arm TakeOffs do not fit in ParaBones, therefore
- You are milking thru the rear legs
- They are not as clean as HerringBones
- Somewhat lower Quality of Milking compared to HerringBones
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At 45" from Cow-to-Cow-to-Cow HerringBones are longer and slightly narrower than ParaBones
A full size HerringBone with Arm TakeOffs should always be your first choice, because
- Quality of Milking
- Best udder health/lowest SCCs
- easiest on the milker, claw is well presented
- easy on equipment maintenance
- cleaner milking
- Best visibility of the cow
- easy access to the udder from the side
- No squawking teat cups, no fall-offs
- Lower Cost of Labor
- Milking with just one milker is possible for longer parlors and more units per milker; Cost of labor will matter a great deal in the coming years. For details
Why do they call them 'ParaBone' to begin with?
Because the cows are arranged at Parallel spacing, but stand HerringBone - fashion.
Design Specifications
Cows stand at 65 dgr to pit wall.
30" Cow-to-Cow
Cow Platform Width - 6 ft 3" for Conventional Exit, 32 ft for Rapid Exit
Cow Platform Length - depends on size of parlor. Estimate: (# of stalls x 2.5 ft) + 5 ft + 5 ft + 2 ft
Height of Pit Wall - 38" give or take a bit
Height above Cow Platform - 92" minimum
Cows stand at 35 dgr to pit wall
45" Cow-to-Cow-to-Cow but can also be 42" or 38"
Cow Platform Width - 5 ft 3" for Conventional Exit; 11 or 12 ft for Rapid Exit
Cow Platform Length - depends on size of parlor.
Estimate: (# of stalls x 3 ft 9") + 5 ft + 5 ft + 2 ft
Height of Pit Wall - 38" give or take a bit.
Height above Cow Platform - 92" minimum
What's our Experience?
9 out of 10 times we install full size HerringBones with Arm TakeOffs as a first parlor, upgrading from TieStalls
Most of the time ParaBones are replacing HerringBones where more cows need to be milked in an existing building.
We have installed a few ParaBones as 'first time parlors' for budget reasons.
Likewise for new and very large parlors, like dbl. 30s or 40s. You'd be saving 15" of length per stall - or 50 ft overall. Makes a difference....
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HerringBones vs ParaBones
HerringBones vs ParaBones
At 27" or 28" Cow-to-Cow spacing they are the shortest stalls but also the widest. The only time you would consider a Parallel if you have a wide building, say 38 to 40 ft, and limited length.
A Parallel should always be your last choice because
- Quality of Milking
- Udder Health
- Less clean milking environment
- No visibility of the cow, and
- 'The Blessings' come right from above where you are milking.
Divider Gates (aka Sequencing Gates) are necessary. Without them incoming cows would turn around because the platform is too wide.
But the bloody Sequencing gates are also a nuisance, for example:
- They cost money. That's why Parallels are more expensive than ParaBones
- They require maintenance
- They are a pain for larger cows, say 2,000 lbs and up. These cows do not fit into the narrow stalls (they can't make the 90 dgr. turn) and slowly 'eliminate themselves from the herd'. We have heard it many times.
- In a HerringBone or ParaBone larger and smaller cows can share space, but can't in a Paralllel, because of the sequence gates.
If a cow goes down in a HB or PB, especially those with vertical lift Rapid Exits like the Germania Brisket Bar, you drag her out into the Exit Alley until she recovers, while you continue milking.
If she goes down in-between the Sequence Gates - what will you do? You can't milk in the stalls in front of her. In some cases you cut up the stalls, in others the cow, depending on how she went down.
vs Parallels
vs. Parallels
Cows stand at 90 dgr to pit wall.
27" or 28" Cow-to-Cow (30" Parallels are just now coming on the market
Cow Platform Width - 40 ft for Rapid Exit. (Conventional Exits are not available for Patrallels)
Cow Platform Length - depends on size of parlor. Estimate: (# of stalls x 2.35 ft) + 2 ft + 2 ft
Height of Pit Wall - 40" give or take a bit
Height above Cow Platform - 92" minimum
Hard as we may look - we see no advantages of Parallels vs the other two.....
Out of 75 parlors over the last 15 years we have installed 5 Parallels. Why? If a customer has firmly made up his mind that he wants a parallel, we don't talk him out of it.
If you insist we'll install a Parallel and very much appreciate the business!
For lots of HerringBone Pictures
Click Here
For ParaBone Pictures
Click Here
For Parallel Pictures
Click Here
