Our plan was to construct a new milking barn during the summer and fall of 2007. We have a local builder who does exceptional work with steel and concrete, although he had never built a milking parlor. I contacted him in the fall of 2006 about building our new facility.He stopped by in December to say that he had a little free time and would like to start construction rather than waiting till spring. He related that he had a large tent that they could heat and pour concrete even when it was freezing. The tent was set up the week after Christmas and the first 48' of the parlor was constructed completely inside the tent.

You may click on the pictures to enlarge them in all Phases of the construction. Then click the back (<-arrow) on your browser to return to this script or to go to the next Phase of the Parlor

The first picture is the parlor under construction during  January & February 2007. All concrete floors have pipe inbedded for heating with circulating hot water. The studded walls are constructed with treated lumber to resist moisture. Side walls will be covered with curtains which can be opened or closed as weather permits.

The second  is removing the tent on Good Friday. They continued to form the circular holding pen walls in late April. Construction stopped at the end of April and he moved to higher value construction at several local industries. We have an excellent sand pit on our farm and I hauled fill into the holding yard during harvest breaks this summer.

 

Third is forming the floors and cow platform to complete the last 48' of the parlor. Construction resumed in late September. With the tent removed workers were able to extend the concrete pit, walls and cow platform to accomodate the 36 a side stall platform. Galvanized stalls are being built in his shop and once the roof is complete they will be suspended from overhead trusses. The milk room and utility area is under construction inside the tent to the right of the milking shed.