Farmers building a new parlour will usually put one in or leave space for one to be installed later. Some farmers install one in an existing set-up and that can require more careful design work to best fit it in.

This week, I feature a simple drafting system installed in an existing set-up in the yard of Limerick farmer Liam Drake. For this project, Liam went to John O’Donnell of O’Donnell Engineering based at nearby Emly.

The firm fabricates the equipment for drafting and livestock handling equipment, and carry out installation. But, in addition, John O’Donnell will help a farmer design a new handling set-up, providing drawings, etc. His farming background (he’s still farming cattle), his training as an equipment fitter and his long experience supplying handling equipment to farmers makes him uniquely able to do so.

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Liam, based at Kilfinane, decided to install a drafting system because he had increased cow numbers and was now milking on his own.

New layout a ‘great relief’

‘‘Often, when a herd gets bigger the system starts to bulge and that’s what happened here,’’ said John O’Donnell. ‘‘The yard area is compact but once there is sufficient room, that’s actually an advantage — less washing and less tank space are needed.’’ With the new layout, the cows are moving in the same direction every day and can be drafted out without them even realising it. ‘‘I had the new layout in place for this spring and it’s been a great relief — I’m on my own here,’’ said Liam Drake. ‘‘I now have a smooth flow of cows in and out of the yard.’’

Steelwork for a set-up like this would cost €5,000, plus VAT, and fitting about €800. Concrete work would be extra.

Various concreting jobs were carried out by Liam Walsh, Kildorrery, Co Cork and also Tom Hayes, Kilfinane, Co Limerick.