Milking Stanchion

DaninKansas · Aug 7, 2014

I'm helping my son build a milking stanchion for his Brown Swiss cow. I've got some pretty good ideas on how I will build it but no dimensions. How far apart are the bars on the stanchion when it is closed? I don't want to have it too small nor do I want it loose enough that the cow thinks if it twists just right it can get its head out.

redforlife · Aug 7, 2014

any of the ones I have ever seen were hinged at the bottom with not much of a space in between at the bottom, and the top part was made so it was adjustable. It could be locked in different positions according to size of neck on the cow. If you make yours in this manner, you shouldn't need exact measurements. Just simply lock it where you want it.

Ron Anderson · Aug 7, 2014

With all the small time dairy farms gone out of business would think you could pick up one for nothing. I could give you one if you were close by.
Anyway the top slides shut and some had various clicks or locks that would hold small necks and large ones. As I remember a Brown Swiss and Holstein would be a larger animal then say a Jerzy or Guernsey.

old · Aug 7, 2014

To bad your not closer to me. I have a friend who just got some land and on that land is an old dairy barn with the head stalls still in it. Bet he would let you have one or more pretty cheap.

farmerwithmutt · Aug 7, 2014

Maybe tie stall? I ripped my stanchions out put in a bar across the front about 2 ft up and tied the cow to that i think its whats called a new york tie stall

dustycoal · Aug 7, 2014

found these plans on line, hope they help you?

DaninKansas · Aug 7, 2014

Our cow is larger than the average Jersey (she's actually 1/4 Jersey and 3/4 Brown Swiss) but a lot smaller than a Holstein. Her yearling heifer (5/8s Jersey - 3/8 Brown Swiss) weighed in at 700 pounds at just over a year old.

My son took them both to the county fair - the only dairy cows present (sad state of affairs). The judge was very complimentary on the yearling and covered her from head to tail and finished by saying he wished there had been other dairy heifers to compare to show just what an exceptional animal she appeared to be.

DaninKansas · Aug 7, 2014

That's what I need. Looks like it should 7" wide when closed and as wide as I can get it when open.

The cow pretty much stands to be milked but you have to keep feed in front of her or she'll just walk away. With the tiny teats (breed for milking machines) my X-Large hands have a hard time milking with any speed - at this rate she's going to be one fat cow.

Dave H (MI) · Aug 7, 2014

Around here I don't think there is a true farm auction that doesn't have stanchions either on the antique wagons or in the scrap. Most sell for scrap either way. I have seen trailers full being hauled to the yards. You should be able to find some. Or build em....fun project if you have time.

RodinNS · Aug 7, 2014

I'm sure if you looked around in farm country you'd find a farm that has a bunch of old Beatty stanchions laying around that they would be only too glad to see you take some... If you were here I'd fix you up with one just to see it gone.
IIRC, the space between the rails is about 8" with mabey 10" being the very maximum.

Rod

Milking Stanchion

DaninKansas

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redforlife

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Ron Anderson

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old

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farmerwithmutt

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dustycoal

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DaninKansas

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DaninKansas

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Dave H (MI)

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RodinNS

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