Section R3-2-806. Parlors and Milk Rooms

A.      Construction Plans.

1.        Any person constructing or extensively altering a parlor or milk room shall submit the plans and specifications to the Dairy Supervisor for written approval before work begins. The Dairy Supervisor shall approve or deny the plans within 10 business days.

2.        Plans shall consist of a scaled plot design with elevations and pertinent dimensions.

3.        Any deviations from the requirements in this Section and from approved plans and specifications may be made only after written approval of the Dairy Supervisor.

B.       Site.

1.        The parlor and milk room shall be located in a place free from contaminated surroundings.

2.        Feed racks, calf pens, bull pens, hog pens, poultry pens, horse stables, horse corrals, and shelter sheds shall not be closer than 100 feet to the milk room or closer than 50 feet to the parlor.

C.      Surroundings.

1.        Dirt or unpaved corrals and unpaved lanes shall not be closer than 25 feet to the parlor or closer than 50 feet to the milk room; corrals shall be constructed to remove runoff from the lowest point of the grade. A minimum 3% slope shall be maintained in unpaved corrals where the available space for each animal is 400 square feet or less but may be reduced proportionately to 1 1/2% slope if 800 square feet or more is provided for each animal.

2.        A paved (concrete or equivalent) ramp or corral shall be provided to allow the animals to enter and leave the par- lor. This paved area shall be curbed at least six inches high and six inches wide and sloped to a paved drain area. The paved area shall provide access to permanent feed racks or mangers and to water troughs. Water troughs shall be provided with an apron of concrete or equivalent at least 10 feet wide at the drinking area. The cow stand- ing platform at permanent feed racks shall be paved with concrete or equivalent for at least 10 feet back of the stan-

chion line. The stanchion line shall have a curb at least one foot in height.

D.      Floor level elevations of all structures shall be at least 15 inches above surrounding ground level and shall carry drain- age 50 feet from the parlor and at least 100 feet from the milk room. Instead of natural drainage, automatic pumps or other means shall be provided for drainage disposal.

E.       Milk room.

1.        The milk room shall not be more than 15 feet from the parlor and may be located under the same roof (extended) as the parlor. The milk room shall consist of one or more rooms for the handling of the milk and the cleaning, sani- tization, and storage of the milk-handling equipment. Hot and cold running water outlets shall be available in each room. There shall be a minimum of five feet between a farm milk tank at the widest point and the milk room wall where the wash vats are installed. Except for currently installed milk tanks, there shall be at least three feet between any farm tank or farm tank appurtenance and the milk room walls.

2.        Passageway. The passageway between the milk room and parlor shall have at least a 3-foot clearance for ingress and egress and have ceiling or roof ventilation. Equip- ment such as milk receivers, dump tanks, or coolers that are part of an enclosed milk line system may be installed in the passageway if:

a.         A 3-foot clearance is allowed for the walkway;

b.        Space is provided between walls and equipment to permit the disassembly of equipment for cleaning or inspection;

c.         The passageway between the parlor and the milk room may be closed at one end. The parlor may be separated from the passageway by a pipe rail fence if the slope of the parlor floor is away from the pas- sageway. If the slope of the parlor floor is toward the passageway, a concrete wall between the passage- way and parlor floor of at least 12 inches in height shall be provided.

d.        Rustless pipe sleeves with tight-fitting flanges and protective closures shall be installed where the milk lines, hoses for tankers, and wash lines go through the walls or stationary doors of the passageway.

3.        Floors.

a.         The floors of the milk room, and passageway, if pro- vided, shall be constructed of four-inch thick con- crete, or other impervious material troweled smooth. The milk room floor shall slope at least 1/4 inch per 12 inches to a vented trapped drain. The passageway floor shall slope at least one inch per 10 feet toward a drain or gutter. All floor and wall junctions shall have at least a two-inch radius cove. Concrete floors built on soils other than sandy loams shall have a sand or rock cushion at least six inches deep.

b.        Drainage from the milk room may be independent from or connected to the parlor drainage. Floor drains shall be vented, have a water trap, and a clean-out plug. All floor drains and pipes under the milk room and parlor floor shall have leakproof con- nections and meet all applicable plumbing codes.

4.        Walls and ceilings.

a.         All walls and ceilings shall be constructed of a light colored, impervious material with a smooth finish. If concrete block or masonry construction is used, all voids below the floor line shall be filled with con- crete.

b.        The main ceiling height shall be at least nine feet above the floor and not less than the height of the farm tank plus two feet. New or extensively altered ceiling shall be at least three feet above the tank. The ceiling may follow the rafters to the plate line which shall be at least 7 feet 3 inches above the floor.

5.        Doors and windows.

a.         Each room of the milk room shall have at least one glass or other light-transmitting material. The total window area in each room shall be equivalent to at least 1/10 of the floor area. All opening windows shall have at least 16-inch mesh screen.

b.        Exterior doors of the milk room shall open outward, be solid, self-closing, and tight fitting. Any door from the passageway shall be a solid door, metal covered on both sides of the bottom half. Wooden door jambs or frames shall terminate six inches above the floor, and the concrete floor cove shall extend to the jambs or frames.

c.         All working areas in the milk room shall contain at least 30 foot-candles of lighting.

6.        Ventilation. At least two wall ventilators shall be installed horizontally not more than 10 inches nor less than four inches above the floor in each milk room. The wall venti- lators shall provide openings equivalent to 2% of the floor areas. Wall-vent openings shall be equipped with metal framed insect screens. The milk room shall contain ceiling vents. In the absence of forced draft ventilation, the ceiling vents shall be shafted to a roof peak vent that is at least 12 inches in diameter to ventilate the room and exclude dust, rain, birds, insects, and trash. Ceiling vents shall provide high ventilation equivalent to an opening of 2% or more of the floor area. Ceiling vents shall not be installed directly above bulk milk storage tanks. Oil or gas water heaters shall be vented outside above the roof edge.

7.        Tanker loading area. A tanker-loading area, at least 10 feet by 12 feet, paved, curbed, and sloped to drain, shall be provided adjacent to the milk room where milk is transferred from a farm tank to a milk tanker. If a tanker is used instead of a farm tank, a tanker shelter shall be provided that complies with the construction, light, drain- age, and general maintenance requirements of the milk room.

8.        Farm tank installations. All farm tanks for the cooling and storing of milk shall be installed in the milk room. Bulk milk tanks equipped with agitator shaft opening seals may, if approved by the Dairy Supervisor, be bulk- headed through a wall.

F.       Parlor.

1.        Floors.

a.         The floors, curbs and quarters shall be constructed of four-inch thick concrete or other, light-colored, impervious material, finished smooth. The floors, alleys, gutters, mangers, and curbs shall slope lengthwise at least 1 1/2 inches per 10 feet toward a drain or gutter. The cow standing platform in the ele- vated stall parlor shall slope at least 1 1/2 inches toward the floor gutter.

b.        Floor and wall junctions shall have at least a two- inch radius cove and shall be an integral part of the floor.

c.         The cow standing platform litter alley, feed alley, and gutter shall be given a true, even surface. The cow standing platform, litter alley, holding corral and concrete lane shall be treated to prevent slip-

ping. Concrete floors built on soils other than sandy loams shall have a sand or rock cushion at least six inches deep.

2.        Walls. All walls shall be constructed of a light-colored, impervious material that shall extend at least four feet above the ground floor. All walls shall be finished smooth on the inside with the top ledge rounded on open walls. If a parlor wall forms a part of the holding corral or an entrance or exit lane, it shall be finished smooth on the outside. If a concrete block or masonry construction is used, all voids below the floor line shall be filled with concrete. In elevated stall parlors, the wall under the cow standing platform adjacent to the milking area shall be finished smooth and designed to prevent drippage.

3.        Plate line. The plate line in the floor level parlor shall be at least 7 feet 3 inches above the floor. In elevated stall parlors, the plate line shall be at least 6 feet 6 inches above the cow standing platform.

4.        Superstructure. The exposed superstructure of the parlor or ceiling shall be constructed of smooth material. The roof sheathing in an exposed superstructure shall be applied directly to the rafters.

5.        Stalls. The cow standing platform and floor level parlors shall be at least three feet wide for each cow and shall be at least four feet 10 inches and not more than six feet from the stanchion line to the gutter, depending on the size of the cattle and the design of the manger. If stan- chions are not used, the cow standing platform shall be at least 7 feet in length. The cow stall in a tandem elevated stall shall be eight feet in length. A tandem stall and a herringbone stall shall have a smooth, flat, non-absorbent splash panel behind each cow.

6.        Light and airspace. The parlor shall have at least 400 cubic feet of air space for each stall. Window space, with or without glass, shall be equivalent to at least 6% of the floor area. Light-transmitting material in the roof may be substituted for window spaces. Artificial light shall be at least 30 footcandles at the floor level and located to mini- mize shadows in the milking area.

7.        Alleys.

a.         The litter alley, exclusive of gutter, shall be at least 4 feet 9 inches wide behind a single string of cows. In a 2-string head-out parlor, the litter alley shall be at least eight feet wide between gutters.

b.        In a floor level parlor, the feed alley in single and 2-single head-out types, shall be at least 5 feet 9 inches wide  between stanchion  line  and  wall. In 2-string head-in parlors, there shall be at least 10 feet between stanchions.

c.         The milking alley in the 2-string tandem elevated stall parlor shall be at least eight feet wide but may be reduced to five feet at the narrowest point if auto- matic feeders are installed and used. The width of the milking alley in the 2-string herringbone parlor may be reduced to five feet at the narrowest point.

d.        In the single-string elevated parlor, the milking alley shall be at least eight feet wide.

8.        Gutters.

a.         All parlors shall have gutters to catch the defecation of cows while in the stall and for any water used for rinsing.

b.        Gutters in the floor level parlor may be either trench or step-off. The gutter shall be at least 14 inches wide and two inches deep at the cow standing plat- form. The gutter floor shall slope down away from the cow standing platform 1/2 inch across its width.

The gutter shall have a uniform depth for its entire length.

c.         The gutters in an elevated stall parlor shall be grate-covered in the stall and trenched along the out- side wall. The stall gutter shall be located to catch defecation of cows in the stall. The stall gutter shall be at least 500 square inches in area and at least 20 inches wide and four inches deep. A herringbone parlor may have the stall gutter width reduced to 14 inches provided a 500 square inch area containing the animal is maintained. The wall gutter shall be at least eight inches wide and three inches deep and the bottom may be rounded. A trench gutter may be eliminated in an exit alley if the alley is curbed and sloped to drain.

d.        Pipe used for parlor gutter drainage shall be at least four inches in diameter and meet applicable plumb- ing codes.

9.        Curbs.

a.         In elevated stall parlors, the cow standing platform shall be curbed on the side next to the milking alley and the curb shall be at least six inches in height with the top rounded to retain the elevated stall floor washings. This curb may be lowered to not less than two inches at the area where the milking machines are applied. Metal curbs shall be free of voids and sealed to stall and floor or wall.

b.        Floor level parlors shall contain a curb under the stanchion line at least six inches wide, 12 inches high from the stall floor, except if metal mangers are used the top of this curb shall be rounded.

10.     Stanchions.

a.         The stanchion shall be metal or other impervious, easily cleanable material. The lower horizontal line of the stanchion shall be at least two inches above the curb and at least 14 inches above the floor if no curb is provided.

b.        In floor level parlors, the manger shall have:

i.         A width of at least 27 inches with a back wall at least 12 inches above the floor;

ii.        Rounded corners;

iii.      The low point of the manger at least eight inches out from the stanchion line and three inches above the floor; and

iv.       A lengthwise slope of at least 1 1/2 inches per 10 feet toward a drain or gutter.

c.         Mangers and feed boxes in all types of parlors shall be constructed of impervious materials, finished smooth, and provided with drainage outlets at low points.

11.     Ventilation.

a.         Ventilation shall be provided in the parlor, holding corral, and wash area, if roofed.

b.        Continuous open 18-inch ridge vents that rise at least six inches above the roof area are permitted. Any ridge vent continuing over the feed room shall be tightly screened.

c.         If a stack vent is used, single string parlors shall have a 12-inch diameter opening, and multi-string parlors shall have a 14-inch diameter opening with not more than 10 feet between vent and wall, and vent and vent.

d.        A flat ceiling shall have at least two vents, two feet by two feet or equivalent, shafted to a roof peak vent with not less than a 12-inch opening. The ceiling vents may be located directly over the cow standing

platform or the milking pit. The vents shall be located not more than 10 feet between vent and wall, and vent and vent.

12.     The lower half of the parlor doors shall be covered on both sides with corrosion-resistant metal.

G.      Roof drainage from parlors, milk rooms, or shelters shall not drain into a corral unless the corral is paved and properly drained.

H.      If animals are fed in the parlor, feed storage facilities shall be provided. Feed storage rooms, when installed, shall be parti- tioned from the parlor and shall be fly and rodent proof. The feed discharge area of the bulk feed storage shall be concrete or other impervious material that is curbed and drained. Bulk feed may discharge directly into the parlor. A bulk feed tank located opposite the passageway shall be at least six feet from the milk room. Overhead feed storage is permissible if it is fly, rodent, and dust tight. Feed shall be conveyed to the manger or feed box in a tightly closed dust-free system. Overhead metal feed tanks may be used.

I.        Facilities to store dairy supplies shall be provided. Only sup- plies that come in contact with the milk or milk contact surface of the milk-handling equipment may be stored in the milk room and shall be protected from toxic materials, vectors, and dust.

Historical Note

Former Regulations 1 - 11. Section R3-2-806 renumbered from R3-5-06 (Supp. 91-4). Section amended effective December 2, 1998 (Supp. 98-4).