Main Types and Practical Farm Uses
Choosing between different types of milking parlour is one of the most important equipment decisions a dairy farmer makes. The parlour layout affects daily labour, cow flow, milk quality, and how easily the farm can grow. But no single design works for every herd size or farm layout.
This article explains the practical milking parlour types used on livestock farms today. It covers how each system works, when one type makes more sense than another, and what to watch for before committing to a design. Use it as a decision guide, not a product catalogue.
What Is a Milking Parlour?
A milking parlour is a dedicated area where dairy animals are brought for milking. The parlour is designed to organise cows, position operators safely, and support efficient milking routines. Unlike a stanchion barn where cows remain in individual stalls, a milking parlour brings animals to the equipment in groups.
Parlour design directly influences milking speed, udder access, and labour needs. According to the Dairy Cattle Science textbook (4th Edition, Chapter 9, p. 275), milking parlour efficiency depends on cow throughput and labour organisation. The correct type for a farm depends on herd size, building layout, operator preference, and future expansion plans.
Herringbone Milking Parlour
The herringbone parlour is one of the most widely recognised types of milking parlour. Cows stand at an angle, usually 30° to 45°, with their rears facing a central operator pit. This angle gives the milker easy access to the udder from the side while keeping the cow’s body out of the way.
- Operator position: In a pit below cow level.
- Cow angle: 30–45° from the pit wall.
- Entry/exit: Groups of cows enter one side, are milked, and exit as a batch when all finished.
- Best for: Medium to large herds (60–300+ cows) where batch milking is practical.
Herringbone designs can be single-sided or double-sided, with rapid-exit options that lift the front rail to release cows faster. The angled stance shortens udder distance and reduces operator bending compared to a flat side-by-side layout.
This type works well on farms that milk in groups and want reliable throughput without extreme automation.
Parallel (Side-by-Side) Milking Parlour
In a parallel parlour, cows stand perpendicular to the operator pit, positioned side-by-side. The milker works between the rear legs from behind. This setup shortens the pit length for a given number of stalls, making it compact.
- Operator position: In a pit, directly behind the cow.
- Cow position: 90° to the pit, side-by-side.
- Access: Udder access is from the rear, which can be slower for attachment but allows a very linear cow flow.
- Best for: Larger herds (200–800+ cows) where pit length and rapid cow movement are priorities.
Parallel parlours often use rapid-exit front gates that lift to release all cows on one side simultaneously. The design reduces operator walking distance but requires cows that are calm enough to be milked from behind.
Rotary Milking Parlour
Rotary parlours move cows on a rotating platform while the operator stays in a fixed position. Cows step onto individual stalls, rotate past the milker, and exit after one full turn. This continuous flow eliminates batch waiting.
- Operator position: Fixed station inside or outside the platform.
- Cow movement: Constant rotation, one cow per stall.
- Labour: Highly efficient for large herds; one or two operators can milk many cows.
- Best for: Large dairy operations (300–2,000+ cows) focused on high throughput.
Rotary systems come in internal and external configurations. An internal rotary places the operator inside the circle; an external rotary places the operator outside. The choice depends on udder access preference and barn layout. Rotary parlours are mechanically complex and require a significant investment, but they can reduce milking shift length considerably.
Swingover Milking Parlour
A swingover parlour is a simpler setup often used on smaller dairy farms. Cows are positioned in stalls, and the milking unit swings from one side of the parlour to the other, so one cluster serves cows on opposite sides. The operator swings the unit over between cows, which reduces the number of milking machines needed.
- Operator position: Central work area, often at cow level rather than a deep pit.
- Udder access: Side access or between rear legs, depending on stall design.
- Throughput: Slower per stall, because the operator must swing the cluster manually.
- Best for: Small herds (10–60 cows) or farms with limited budget and space.
Some swingover parlours have a pit; others are flat-floor systems. The design suits farms where labour is not the main constraint, and the focus is on low initial cost and simplicity.
Robotic (Automatic) Milking Parlour
Robotic milking systems, also called automatic milking systems (AMS), allow cows to be milked without direct human presence. Cows enter a stall voluntarily, sensors detect the udder, and robotic arms attach the teat cups. The system cleans, milks, and releases each cow independently.
- Operator role: Monitoring and management, not routine milking.
- Cow flow: Free, voluntary entry, usually with a smart gate system.
- Labour: Replaces manual milking labour but increases management data requirements.
- Best for: Farms willing to rethink cow routines, often 50–250 cows per robot unit.
Robotic parlours shift labour from milking to oversight. They provide individual cow data and can improve milk frequency, but they require reliable technical support and a barn layout designed for voluntary cow traffic.
Quick Comparison of Milking Parlour Types
| Parlour Type | Cow Position Relative to Operator | Typical Herd Size Range | Labour Efficiency | Operator Location | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herringbone | Angled 30–45° | 60–300+ cows | Moderate to high | Pit | Batch milking, medium-large herds |
| Parallel | Perpendicular (90°) | 200–800+ cows | High | Pit | Large herds, compact pit design |
| Rotary | Stalls on moving platform | 300–2,000+ cows | Very high | Fixed station | Maximum throughput operations |
| Swingover | Side-by-side or angled | 10–60 cows | Low to moderate | Floor or shallow pit | Small farms, budget-conscious |
| Robotic (AMS) | Voluntary entry box | 50–250 cows/unit | Replaces manual labour | Remote monitoring | Labour savings, precision mgmt |
How to Choose the Right Milking Parlour Type
Begin with your farm’s numbers and work flow, not the equipment alone. Ask these questions:
- Herd size now and in five years: A parlour that fits 80 cows today may block expansion.
- Available barn space: Pit depth, stall length, and cow alley widths differ among types.
- Labour structure: Family farm vs. hired crews influence whether you need automation or a simpler system.
- Cow temperament: Rear-access parallel parlours demand calm cows.
- Milk frequency goals: Robotic systems support more frequent milking per cow.
- Capital and operating budget: Rotary and robotic systems require more investment and ongoing support.
There is no single best type of milking parlour. A herringbone parlour may strike the right balance for a 120-cow herd, while a grazing-based farm with 200 cows might prefer a swingover or a simple pit parlour. Keep the focus on practical daily routines, not just technical specs.
Common Mistakes When Planning a Milking Parlour
- Overbuilding for the current herd: A large parlour with too many stalls wastes time and cleaning effort.
- Underestimating future growth: Rebuilding a pit or changing the parlour type is expensive later.
- Ignoring cow flow: Poor entry and exit design causes delays and stress.
- Selecting the wrong access position: Side-access, rear-access, and herringbone angles affect milker comfort and speed.
- Neglecting ventilation and lighting: Parlours need consistent airflow and good visibility for udder health.
- Treating all types of milking parlour as equal: A parallel design cannot easily be converted to a swingover later without major construction.
Preventing these mistakes starts with a clear farm profile before speaking with equipment suppliers or barn builders.
Other Parlour Configurations Worth Noting
Beyond the main types, some farms use variations:
- Rapid-exit herringbone: Adds a front lift gate for faster batch release.
- Polygon or trigon parlours: Multi-sided pit layouts that increase stall count with shorter walking distance.
- Tandem parlours: Cows stand nose-to-tail and enter/exit individually, useful for small groups or special-needs cows.
These variations are built on core layouts and should be evaluated as adaptations of the primary types covered above.
Final Takeaway
The types of milking parlour available today range from simple swingover systems to high-throughput rotary and robotic designs. The right choice depends on herd size, labour, barn space, and long-term goals—not just a checklist of features. A well-matched parlour improves daily efficiency, animal comfort, and operator safety. Take time to evaluate how each layout fits your farm’s actual work patterns before committing to a design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Herringbone parlours remain common on medium-sized dairy farms because they offer a practical balance of cost, udder access, and throughput.
Physically changing a swingover into a herringbone or parallel system usually requires pit reconstruction and stall changes, so it is not a simple retrofit. Planning ahead is wiser.
Rotary systems pay off when milking more than 300–400 cows twice or three times daily, and when labour efficiency is a top priority. Below that scale, a well-designed herringbone often works fine.
Yes, but they require careful cow traffic design. Many grazing farms use robotic systems with a guided or free-cow-flow layout that allows pasture access between voluntary milkings.
Pit-based systems (herringbone, parallel) reduce bending and keep the operator below the cow’s kicking zone. Flat-floor swingover parlours can increase strain if not designed ergonomically.
Parallel parlours can have slightly faster cow entry and exit, but total milking time also depends on cow-to-operator ratio and the number of units. Both can handle similar cows per hour when sized correctly.
A milking parlour is specifically designed for milking only, with cows entering and leaving in groups. A milking barn, like a tie-stall or stanchion barn, houses cows and allows milking in place, which is a different management system.
References
- Penn State Extension guide to Standard Operating Procedure for the Milking Facility
- Penn State Extension guide to Safety Risks in the Milking Parlor Non Biological Exposures
- Penn State Extension guide to Seconds Do Matter in Your Milking Routine
- Penn State Extension guide to Transitioning to a New Robotic Milker
Related Guides in This Category
- Milking Parlour: Practical Farm Use, Selection and Daily Management Basics
- Rotary Milking Parlor vs Parallel Parlor: Which System Fits Large Herds?
- Parallel vs Herringbone vs Rotary vs Tandem: Which Works Better for Your Farm?
- What Is Milking Parlor and When Does It Make Sense on a Farm?
- Milking Parlour Design Placement for Better Livestock Access and Daily Workflow
- Herringbone Milking Parlor vs Parallel Parlor: Layout and Cow Flow Differences
- Small Milking Parlour Design Placement for Better Livestock Access and Daily Workflow
- What Is a Milking Parlour and When Does It Make Sense on a Farm?
