Herringbone Milking Parlor
Angled Stall Systems
Plan a herringbone milking parlor around your building, cow flow and milking routine. NexAgri supplies angled stall systems with glass jar or electronic metering options, supported by CAD layouts and a clear equipment quotation.
What Is a Herringbone Milking Parlor?
A herringbone milking parlor positions cows diagonally along both sides of an operator pit. The angled arrangement gives milkers side access for udder preparation and cluster attachment.
Also called a herringbone milking parlour, the system combines an angled cow platform with a central working area. Stall angle, pit length, cow size and entry and exit routes determine the practical layout.
NexAgri helps dairy farms, equipment distributors and project contractors select the stall arrangement, milking equipment and installation scope for their project.
How the Herringbone Layout Supports Your Milking Routine
Side Udder Access
The angled cow position supports side access for preparation, cluster attachment and observation during the milking routine.
Building and Cow Flow
Plan the stall platform, pit, holding area and return lanes together. Existing buildings need a measured layout before stall count is selected.
Metering and Automation
Choose glass jar or electronic milk metering around the records and operating workflow your dairy needs. Include automatic cluster removal in the equipment package where required.
Herringbone Milking Parlor Configuration Options
Select the milking and management workflow first, then build the equipment list. NexAgri quotations identify the selected steelwork, milking units, vacuum system, cleaning equipment and controls.
Glass Recorder Jar System
Visual milk collection and observation with manual record keeping. A practical choice when the operating team prefers a straightforward workflow.
Electronic Milk Meter System
Electronic yield records and selected automation functions support a dairy that needs production data alongside its daily milking routine.
| Selection factor | Glass jar system | Electronic metering |
|---|---|---|
| Milk observation | Visual observation at the recorder jar | Meter readings and production records |
| Daily records | Manual recording workflow | Electronic data collection |
| Operating priorities | Simple visual supervision | Production tracking and selected automation |
| Future development | Plan mounting space and services for intended upgrades | Define meter, identification and software interfaces |
Herringbone Layout and Engineering Specification Guide
| Engineering item | Project design requirements |
|---|---|
| Stall angle | Review 30° and 50° layouts against cow size, platform width, pit length and operator reach. |
| Steelwork and surfaces | Define galvanized steelwork, stainless components, corrosion protection and cleaning conditions in the Bill of Materials. |
| Operator pit | Coordinate pit depth, width, drainage, steps and service access with the civil drawings. |
| Vacuum and pulsation | Size the vacuum system for the selected milking points and pipe layout; document pulsator settings and electrical requirements. |
| Milk transfer and CIP | Define milk-line materials, milk transfer, wash circulation and cleaning equipment around the selected installation. |
| Installation and handover | Document utilities, assembly drawings, commissioning tasks, operator guidance and the agreed delivery responsibilities. |
Herringbone Parlor Planning & Project Budgeting
A herringbone parlour quotation depends on stall count, equipment selection, building work, utilities, freight and installation. Review these together to compare complete project costs.
Layout and Cow Flow
Provide building dimensions and map the holding area, entry gates, cow platforms and return routes. Identify new construction or retrofit constraints early.
Milking Window and Staffing
Combine the herd plan, milkings per day, preparation routine and available operators to select a practical number of milking positions.
Equipment and Service Costs
Include consumables, cleaning water, electricity, routine service and replacement parts alongside the equipment and installation quotation.
What to Send for a Layout and Quotation
- Current herd size, planned expansion and milkings per day.
- Target milking window and available operators.
- Building drawings, pit dimensions and cow entry and exit routes.
- Preferred metering, identification and automation requirements.
- Project location, utilities and installation requirements.
Herringbone vs Parallel Milking Parlors
| Selection factor | Herringbone milking parlor | Parallel milking parlor |
|---|---|---|
| Cow position | Angled along the pit | Approximately perpendicular to the pit |
| Cluster attachment | Side access, depending on stall arrangement | Rear access |
| Layout review | Stall angle, platform length and exit route | Stall spacing, platform depth and rapid-exit clearance |
| Operating fit | Batch milking with side access for udder preparation, cluster attachment and observation. | Rear cluster attachment with batch cow release; plan exit clearance and return lanes around the operating routine. |
Compare our parallel milking parlor, explore the rotary milking parlor, or visit the milking parlor systems overview.
Installation Layout References
Use these installation views to discuss equipment arrangement, service access and site requirements.
Planning a New Installation
Coordinate the milking pit, platform drainage, utilities and cow return lanes with the civil drawings, so the building and equipment are designed as one installation.
Assessing a Retrofit
Check angled stall layouts against existing pillars, clear height, pit dimensions and services. Identify which facilities can be retained and what modifications are needed.
Plan Your Project with NexAgri
Share your farm requirements so we can discuss a practical equipment scope.
Submit Your Information
Send your herd size, milking schedule, site dimensions and project location.
Custom CAD & 3D Layout Modeling
Our engineering team prepares site-adapted 2D stall layouts and 3D equipment models based on your barn dimensions, herd growth plan and pit requirements.
Get Custom Proposal
Confirm the equipment list, commercial terms and installation responsibilities before ordering.
Herringbone Milking Parlor FAQs
Practical answers for dairy farm owners, equipment buyers and project teams.
Is a Herringbone Parlor suitable for my herd size?
Suitability depends on the planned milking window, herd routine, building dimensions, number of operators and the selected equipment configuration. Share these inputs so the stall count and operating layout can be reviewed for your project.
Can I retrofit this system into an existing narrow barn?
A herringbone layout can be evaluated for retrofit projects because the angled stall arrangement may suit an existing building footprint. Send measured barn dimensions, pit area, entry and exit routes, drainage and utilities for a site-adapted layout review.
Should I choose 30-degree or 50-degree stalls?
Compare both layouts at the same stall count. Check the resulting platform width, pit length, cluster-attachment position and walking route. Where building length is constrained, ask for a 50° layout comparison; where side access is the priority, examine the 30° arrangement against your preferred preparation routine.
Can I start with Glass Jars and upgrade to Electronics later?
Plan the intended upgrade in the initial design. Identify the future meter and automatic cluster remover requirements, then reserve mounting positions, cable routes and control space. Check milk-line and vacuum capacity for the intended final configuration before ordering the initial system.
How difficult is the installation for local teams?
Installation requirements are defined by the selected equipment, site readiness and agreed service scope. The project quotation can identify assembly guidance, drawings, required local resources, commissioning responsibilities and any support included.
What maintenance does a Herringbone system require?
Maintenance planning should cover the stall structure, vacuum and milk system, pulsation, cleaning equipment, controls and consumables. The required intervals and spare-parts scope depend on the equipment selected for the project.
Request a Herringbone Parlor Layout & Quotation
Send your herd size, site dimensions and preferred milking routine. Let us define the equipment and project scope with you.
B2B equipment supply for dairy farms, distributors and project contractors.