An economic analysis of four milking systems with emphasis on the labor factor

Dairying is an important agricultural enterprise in Tennessee Ranking second only to beef cattle as a source of agricultural income.Labor is responsible for a large portion of the dairyman\u27s production cost, and quality hired labor is becoming more difficult for a dairyman to obtain. Dairy scientists and agricultural engineers have developed many innovations which reduce labor requirements, improve sanitary conditions or improve working conditions. However, few studies have been conducted to examine the economic aspects of these innovations. Using primarily secondary data, this study attempted to analyze the interrelationships between the physical quantities of labor used, capital requirements,and costs of production. The annual total costs of operation and upkeep of four types of milking parlors were analyzed graphically to determine the range of herd sizes for which each parlor has the lowest costs. Since it has been found that a man cannot milk for more than two hours and retain his mental alertness and effectiveness, the maximum number of cows which could be milked in each parlor within a two-hour time, i.e., the maximum effective capacity of the parlor, was determined. This was found to be a herd of 91 cows for a double-four herringbone parlor, 58 cows for a double-two walk-through parlor, 51 cows for a three-in-lineiii_ivside-opening parlor, and 43 cows for a ten-abreast stanchion parlor.It was assumed that 89 percent of these cows would be milking during the winter season and 84 percent of these cows would be milking during the summer season. Using the maximum effective capacity of each parlor, feeding,housing, and manure handling systems were evaluated to determine the appropriate ones to combine with each parlor. It was concluded that the appropriate innovations to use with a double-four herringbone parlor would be an upright stave silo with mechanical unloader and feeder, free-stall housing, and a liquid manure operation. A double-two walk-through parlor was coupled with an upright stave silo with a mechanical unloader and feeder, free-stall housing, and ramp system for handling manure. For a three-in-line side-opening parlor, it was also concluded that an upright stave silo with mechanical unloader and feeder, free-stall housing, and a ramp system for handling manure would be most appropriate. The ten-abreast stanchion parlor was combined with a self-feeding horizontal silo, free-stall housing, and a ramp system for handling manure