Pregnancy Testing Facilities
There are three basic setups for efficient pregnancy testing of dairy herds. There are many variations on these depending on the characteristics of your dairy. The basis principles of a good setup are outlined in our November 1999 newsletter.
- Rotary Dairies
An examination platform allows for many procedures to be performed with ease and speed, often during milking. It can be used for applying heat detection aids, examining cows for signs of heat, AI, preg testing, vaccinations and many other procedures.
The safest platforms for the cows and operators are a couple of inches above the rotary platform to allow milk lines to pass underneath and are positioned with a few inches overhanging the rotary platform to prevent cows feet dropping of the edge of the platform whilst being examined.
The platform should be long enough to access 4 - 6 bails at once and deep enough to allow people to easily pass behind a preg tester or an inseminator as they are working. A longer platform will allow multiple operators to work at once, which minimises the time taken to perform tasks. We commonly have three vets preg testing at once, checking 200 cows an hour.
- Herringbone Dairies
Cows can be preg tested in herringbone dairies by positioning planks for the operators to stand on. These planks can be supported by drums in the pit or boards across the pit. This is the most common method we use when preg testing, and this method also allows for multiple operators.
This method can be dangerous in unsuitable dairies, where the cows are standing too close to the edge of the platform or the rail at the cows tail is too high. If a cow slips there is little time to remove your arm before it will contact the rail.
Obviously this method cannot be used during milking, and the design of some dairies doesn't allow enough room for operators.
- Herringbone Race
A herringbone race outside the dairy can be used to perform tasks during milking. The race should hold the same number ( or more ) of cows in one side of the herringbone.
In most sheds, this will allow multiple operators to keep up with the flow of cows after being milked. It is sometimes useful to have a drafting yard to hold excess cows if cows are being milked fast, or the race holds less cows than get milked at any one time.