Herringbone Sheds

A herringbone  set-up can be the most efficient and economical solution for milking commercial herds. Typically a herringbone system needs a smaller building footprint than a rotary platform, which may can be important for some farms. In a herringbone system cows stand on an elevated linear platform in an angled or herringbone manner facing away from the operator area. This exposes the udder of the cow to allow access to milk the cow from the side as well as room for a cup remover and associated equipment.

JS & LC Partnership, Waihoarunga

40 Aside Herringbone Shed
Waikato milking machine
Automatic cup-removers and swing-arms
Rectangle yard with FEC Hydraulic Backing Gate
Manual drafting

This was the first dairy shed we’d ever built so we did a fair bit of research around the area and there were two names that featured prominently: Robert, from Field Engineering & Construction, and Russell from Russell Black Building, which builds the sheds for Field Engineering & Construction. This led us to get in touch with Robert. He took us for a drive and showed us some of the sheds and we were very happy with what we saw. Although we had a basic idea of what we wanted Robert helped us to mould if from there and made suggestions, particularly around the size of the drafting areas and type of backing gate that would be best. It was a short time frame for the build – three months – and Robert arranged the whole process so I needed to have little to do with it. There were a few teething problems but they managed to sort these out nicely and get the job done. We pushed it fairly hard in terms of time frame but the end result was what we wanted. The shed is very easy care and easy to use with good cow flow. After sales service has been good. Robert has a guy on the road in a van and he’s been incredibly helpful and is very knowledgeable. We would definitely use Field Engineering & Construction again.
 
Jeremy and Louise Dyson

Annaross Family Trust, Blackpoint

40 Aside Herringbone Shed
Read milking machine
​In-bail feeding with crushed grain & minerals
16m round yard with 2x backing gates
Manual drafting

​We’ve built quite a few dairy sheds but this is the first shed we’d built from scratch. We chose Field Engineering & Construction because we liked the sheds Robert had built and the fact that Robert oversees everything so we didn’t have to deal with different tradies. We found Robert really easy to deal with and talk to. Anything that needed to be changed was changed quickly and when we asked for something we always got what we asked for. Field Engineering & Construction delivers excellent quality of workmanship and the after sales service was good as well. If we had to build another cow shed we would use Field Engineering & Construction again.
 
Monique and John Dekker

---

Greenhills Dairy

40 Aside Herringbone Shed
Waikato milking machine with swing-arms
In-bail feeding with crushed grain (attrition disc-mill) & mixing silo
15m round yard with 2x backing gates & Manual drafting
Nock screw press separator with transfer sump & stirrer

Bluecliff Dairy Ltd

40 Aside Herringbone Shed
Milfos milking machine
15m round yard with 2x backing gates
Auto drafting
​

It was a new conversion and the first one I’d done. I’ve been out in the dairy scene and sharemilking for some time now and I’d heard of Field Engineering & Construction. All the reputable experienced farmers seemed to choose them for their shed builds. I also know a few people who didn't use them and probably regretted it! Robert took care of everything and oversaw the whole project – builders, subbies etc. I had input along the way but I pretty much left everything up to him. It was easy, he got the job done and done on time.
Peter Dyer

We heard about Robert by word of mouth and it was price that made me choose Field Engineering & Construction as well as Robert’s reputation for building a good shed. Robert had a big hand in the original design and presented us with a plan. He was easy to deal with and any changes were no problem and we did change some of the design of the shed as we went. Field Engineering & Construction completed the project in a timely manner. The shed is good; the cows enter and flow well. When the cows managed to lift off a couple of the gates Robert’s team came back and welded clips on all the gates. Would I use Robert again? Too right. He’s a good guy Robert and I would have no hesitation in using him again if I want to build another shed.
 
Sandy McAlwee