mechanized setup similar to that developed at Penn. State.* Another pos- 

 sible mechanization in a pen-stable milking-parlor arrangement can be 

 achieved by modification of 8. Such a change would be toward metering 

 feeders and a drag conveyor, as developed at Michigan State. f 



An Appraisal of Several Feeding Arrangements. 



Table 22 measures approximately the effects of alternative methods of 

 grain handling and feeding upon equipment overhead and operating and 

 labor costs. Under Situation A, it is assumed that we are working with the 

 25-cow herd previously mentioned in the text, where grain was stored in an 

 overhead-grain room, and the operator carried or dropped bagged grain 

 downstairs and filled the grain cart. Under these conditions it took 20 

 minutes per day to feed. With Situation B, he installed an overhead-bulk 

 bin from which he filled the grain cart and feeding time declined to 10 

 minutes daily. Under Situation C, it is assumed the operator installed the 

 Penn. State Mechanical system for stanchion stables with bulk feed, and cut 

 feeding time to 2.5 minutes daily. ijl 



It is apparent that the time savings from installing an overhead-bulk 

 bin and downspout are more than sufficient to offset the overhead costs on 

 the additional investment, even without taking into account a savings in the 

 purchase price of bulk vs. bagged feed. Installing the mechanical system, 

 however, causes overhead and operating costs of such magnitude that they 

 more than offset resultant time savings. However, considered with the bulk 

 feed savings, the net results might be closer to net results with Situation A. 

 Nevertheless, Situation B still appears to represent the best choice of the 

 three methods. 



The preceding comparisons dealt with alternatives in a stanchion 

 stable. The same approach can be applied to feeding grain in a milking 

 parlor. There is probably little difference in time required for grain feeding 

 with either a stanchion stable or a milking parlor, when similar facilities 

 and practices exist. It is contended by some that grain feeding can be more 

 effectively combined with other chores in a milking parlor, whereas in a 

 pen-stable it is more or less a distinct operation. On the other hand, with 

 a milking parlor, the operator must go to the feed supply and make the 

 rounds of the stalls with each new batch let in for milking. This arrangement 

 might mean fewer feet of travel, but probably no less time in the aggregate 

 for the grain feeding operation. 



Hence, in Situations D and E, it is assumed that the daily grain feeding 

 times equal 20 and 10 minutes, respectively. With D it is assumed that there 

 is an overhead-grain room. The operator carries or drops bags of grain 

 downstairs, fills a storage barrel in the milking parlor, and feeds out of this 

 barrel with a scoop scale. With the latter (E) it is assumed that an overhead- 

 bulk bin with a downspout is constructed. The barrel can then be filled per- 

 iodically by gravity flow. Under Situations F and G, it is assumed that a 



* Penn. State Mechanical Dairy Feeder, Penn. Agr. Exp. Sta., Progress Report 

 No. 110, Nov., 1953. 



t Letter from Dept. of Agr. Eng., Mich. State College, East Lansing. Mich.. 

 May 6, 1954. 



tThis system consists essentially of an automatic pouhry feeder with elevating 

 and conveying features to fill a series of telescoping feed meters. Meters are set indi- 

 vidually as necessary to deliver the desired amount of grain to each cow. A time 

 switch operates the feeder. Each meter is connected to the feed release mechanism — 

 which is operated by pulling a handle at one end of the stable. 



38 



