In 2016 an underpass was constructed on the farm of Kevin and Michael Gunn from outside of Strokestown in Co Roscommon.

In recent years the farm has moved to milking 180 cows and with a busy country road separating the farmyard from the vast majority of the 90ha milking platform.

This was adding a considerable workload when bringing cows in for milking.

It was also a major safety concern for both the family and road users.

Underpass design

In an unusual design, the underpass leads cows directly into the shed with cows entering the shed between the cubicle shed and the recently constructed milking parlour.

The roadway leading to the underpass is 3.5m wide while the tunnel itself is 4m wide.

“We decided to go with a wider tunnel than the roadway so that the underpass would not slow down cows,” Michael explained.

The culverts were supplied by Shay Murtagh Precast Concrete from Co Westmeath.

As slurry on the farm is spread through an umbilical system, a fixed pipe was fitted when the underpass was installed for spreading

Cows will then move up a grooved ramp up into the shed. Here they can turn left towards the collecting yard or right into the cubicle shed.

Cows will then enter a large holding yard which has capacity for the 180-cow herd on the farm.

As slurry on the farm is spread through an umbilical system, a fixed pipe was fitted when the underpass was installed for spreading.

This eliminates the need to run the pipe through the underpass every time slurry needs to be spread and is a simple, labour saving addition.

Exit

Once cows exit the parlour they are over a slurry channel until they either exit the shed or go back into the cubicle shed.

Cows can also be drafted to a separate holding area if required or guided back towards the underpass and out to pasture.

The Gunns also recently installed a new 32-unit Boumatic internal rotary on their farm. Read all about the new parlour here.

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Watch: breaking the mould with an internal rotary