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It was here
that Lamb Farms was originally started.
This site functions as the hub of operations as well as the welcome
center for our many visitors.
Many additions have been made over the years and on this page a few
of them will be shown. |
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1
= Office & Shop
2 = Milking Cow Barns
3 = Parlor & Holding Area
4 = Heifer Barn
5 = Hospital Barn & Parlor
6 = Prefresh Packs
7 = Dry Cow Barn
8 = Calf Barn
9 = Bunks & Feed Prep
10 = Manure Separator |
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In 2001,
the completion of the new milking facility and the addition of a
1,300 cow barn, allowed the farm to expand to 2,400 cows and milk
3 times a day.
This facility also houses a large meeting room used for training
and a viewing area for visitors to see the cows as they are milked.
Large overhead doors on each side of the parlor, a high ceiling
and plenty of ventilation give an open feeling to the milking area
and aid cow comfort during milking.
A large break room complete with 2 showers and several lockers provides
employees with a comfortable place to take breaks and eat meals.
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Cows are
milked on a Westfalia Surge, 60 cow rotary parlor. Cows enter in the
lower right corner of the picture and exit beside the entrance.
The speed of the rotary can be adjusted as needed and it can also
be stopped and restarted easily if needed. On average, the rotary
makes 6 turns every hour.
Cows are very comfortable and enjoy the ride.
An upstairs viewing area with many large windows gives visitors a
good view of the parlor in operation without disturbing the cows.
As seen from the bottom picture, at the far side of the parlor (beside
the prep area) is a rest room, washing machine & dryer room and
an upstairs office for the milking manager.
On the side of the viewing area is a small living quarters for the
rabbi who oversees milking which allows us to be New York's largest
Kosher dairy.
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A tunnel gives access
to the center of the rotary.
This dropped center give easy, head height access to milk pumps, meters,
pulsators and other related milking equipment that require regular
maintenance.
The rotary runs almost silently on 120 nylon rollers that can also
be accessed here. |
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After
cows enter the rotary they are prepped for milking.
Usually there are 5 people around the rotary when it is at its peak
of operation.
1. A foam pre dip is rubbed
on the teats to sanitize and stimulate milk let down.
2. Cows are wiped clean and
dry.
3. The unit is attached.
4. A "roamer" moves
back & forth around the rotary to reattach any units that fall
off.
5. Post dip is applied to the
teats to help kill any bacteria that may attempt to enter the teat
canal before it closes after milking.
This milking procedure helps us produce top quality milk that our
customers desire.
Our goal is to maintain excellent milk quality and we usually run
below 150,000 Somatic Cell Count.
--
Click Here --
to see a mini clip of the parlor in action.
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When it is time to
be milked, cows are brought into a holding pen just behind the rotary.
Time in the holding pen usually only about 45 minutes. Many fans
and a sprinkler system help cool cows in hot weather.
An air operated gate behind the cows gently moves forward with the
touch of a button.
On the other side of the holding pen is a lane for cows to return
to their group in the barn.
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Just off the side
of the return alley are several pens that are used to separate cows
that may require special attention that day.
Here a trim table lays cows on their side to have their feet trimmed.
Cows are usually trimmed twice every year.
There are also 2 palpation rails here that are used mainly for vet
check.
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Twin 8,000 gallon bulk
tanks cool milk and hold it until it is picked up. Security cameras
are on in this room 24 hours a day to ensure the safety of the milk.
Total production is about 185,000lbs.a day
(over 21,000 gallons) and is picked up three times a day. |
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The utility
room is just behind the bulk tanks.
A 250kw generator powered by a large Allis Chalmers diesel engine
supplies power when the electric company cannot.
The 480 gallon hot water capacity is is kept hot by twin 1,000,000
BTU boilers.
A 10hp Ingersol Rand and a 15hp Gardner Denver air compressor supply
the air needed to operate the parlor.
In this room is the entrance to the tunnel that leads to the center
of the rotary. A steep set of stairs takes you down then up again
to the center.
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Two pack barns are used
to house pre fresh cows. Cows are bedded with straw and are monitored
hourly.
A special small pen can be used to put cows that may require extra
special attention.
The feed lane is on the outside of the building and is covered by
a large overhanging hoof. |
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Two long 6 row barns
house the milking cows.
The old barn, built in 1992, is 720' long with 12' side walls, has
850 stalls and uses sawdust for bedding. The new barn is 800' long
with 14' sidewalls, has 1,050 stalls and used sand for bedding.
Four rows of fans cool cows in hot weather.
Cows move to the center of the barn where they then pass through
the alleys that take them to and from the parlor to be milked.
Both barns are designed for two lane traffic.
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Plenty of fresh, clean
water is required to maintain high milk production.
Cross alleys contain Bolhman waterers that can be used from both sides.
All alleys in the sand barn have rubber belting for improved cow comfort. |
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This picture shows the
center alley that leads to the parlor.
Manure is scraped to the center of the barn using automatic Houle
alley scrapers. Manure then drops into this auger where it is taken
to the separator building.
(seen on the 'Sanitation' tab) |
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Cows constantly kick sand out of the stalls and it goes into the manure
where it is then separated and reused. About 40lbs. of sand per stall,
per day is used for bedding.
Approximately 75% of the sand is reused.
This truck is used to put the sand into the stalls. |
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The herdsmen have an
office adjacent to the rotary.
The old parlor on the other side of the farm is used to milk treated
cows. Separating these cows improved the effeciency of the rotary.
Computers are used to keep records of production, breeding and medications
for cows.
('Dairy Comp 305' software) |
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Maintenance is always
a big task on any large farm.
A special truck is equipped with everything needed to keep things
running smoothly.
The maintenance staff has a dedicated room for keeping extra parts
and they also have an office upstairs just off the meeting room.
A computer keeps maintenance records organized and easy to find when
needed. |
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A large, 30' x 27' meeting
room is upstairs just opposite the viewing windows overlooking the
rotary.
This meeting room provides an excellent place to hold training meetings
for employees and also serves as a nice place to welcome our many
visitors. Marker boards and flip charts are available for use if needed
4 0 people can be seated in this room and a kitchenette in the corner
helps when providing refreshments. |
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Downstairs, opposite
the milk house, is a large, quiet break room for employees to relax
and kick back while on break.
Just off the break room are two rest rooms with a shower in each
and lockers are just outside the restrooms if they want to use them.
Vending machines are also available for the employees' convenience.
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Just off the meeting
room is an office that is used as a mini laboratory.
Milk samples are taken from cows that show signs of mastitis and are
cultured to determine what course of action needs to be taken and
what medicine to use.
This culturing helps manage new infections and improve milk quality. |
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