melkveestal

Melkveestal is a term used in some Nordic languages to describe a milking stall or milking bay within a dairy barn where cows are positioned during milking. The primary purpose is to provide a safe, controlled space for cows to stand during milking and to give access to the udders for milking equipment while minimizing contamination of the milk and exposure to handlers. A melkveestal is typically part of a larger milking system, such as a milking parlor with a vacuum-driven milking machine and a milk line to a bulk tank.

The ruang can be configured in several ways, including tie-stall, herringbone, parlor, or rotary systems. In tie-stall setups cows are restrained in individual stalls; in parlor systems cows queue and are milked in rows; rotary systems move cows over a rotating platform. Key design features include non-slip flooring, good drainage, proper stall dimensions to allow a comfortable stance, secure head gates or stanchions, access to udder hygiene, and connections for milking clusters, milk tubes, and a vacuum line. Modern systems may incorporate automation such as automatic cluster removal, dairy robotics, or sensor-based monitoring.

Welfare and management considerations focus on cow comfort, proper handling, hygiene to prevent mastitis, regular maintenance of equipment, and staff training. Efficiency gains include reduced labor and improved hygiene, but the choice of system depends on herd size, housing, climate, and economics. Historically, milking stalls evolved from hand milking and simple stalls to mechanized parlors in the 20th century, with further automation in recent decades. The term melkveestal remains a descriptive label for the milking area within dairy barns in some Nordic contexts.