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<blockquote data-quote="born2run" data-source="post: 187783" data-attributes="member: 2498"><p>I like your incentives program. If I had a little bit more sway with my boss I'd mention this. ;-) Perhaps when the time is right.</p><p></p><p>From a previous post of mine where I showed a pic I think you can figure that we cannot go releasing individual cows. Thus we do commonly have to wait on one slow cow, or my partner has to wait while I treat. This is the only disadvantage of that design, and I guess is easily overlooked when you consider the speed in which you can run cows through. Timing is so important there. You prep correctly and I have never seen the herd go past 78/hour. Sure, by racing through procedures I can get 110/hour, but we get a 1500 lb. drop in the end. This is one thing that I wish the boss was more tuned into when they impose time limits.</p><p></p><p>I had the privelege of milking with the herd manager in late May/2005. This is a huge rarity for me, but at that time I was still on my school schedule and their daughter did a no-show. At any rate, he mentioned that the boss had told him he'd made me a good offer. To which I was responded "yes, but I can't figure out why?" He said two things made me stand out above the others, dependability (I've never pulled a no-show or been late), and that I "know what I'm doing when I get there." Now the herd manager easily calls me his "best" milker, which I respond to with, "I certainly hope so! I'm not up against much!" <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> To be honest with you we never really talked beyond me staying there 2 years, so I'm not sure what the vacation does after that. I'll be there 3 years in August, but since I only went full time in July 2005 I am now only eligible for that 1 week. (Already planning that trip, btw.) <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>I am the oldest milker there, herd manager is quite a bit older. That should tell you something. I have had my share of problems with the "kids". I used to come there on Sunday nights and cross my fingers I could make it through a shift without treating. While that has lessened with the SCC dropping, Sunday nights remain the only night where I commonly make more then 2nd shift, sometimes 1st shift.</p><p></p><p>Interview questions...I don't ever feel like I went through a formal interview. I went over there for a visit, referred by my dad who they knew from doing custom work. They asked two questions, "What is your current wage?" and "What is the SCC?" They walked me through the dairy and began talking of potential start dates. It was that fast. I know at that point they were quite inexperienced with hiring. The dairy had only been in operation a full year. I've heard since then that they have changed it somewhat, actually giving the new potential hire a change to milk to see if they like it. Perhaps they just assumed I would because I was coming from a flatbarn. lol</p><p></p><p>I trained one gal, and overall am very happy with the results. She's a 16 year old, and my only problem with her is keeping her motivated. I realize full well by the end of 400 cows you are getting tired, for sure if you only milk once or twice a week. But I hate to see performance slacking simply because of this. I can tell my one partner at the start of the shift, "Let's try to get a clean filter tonight." This will get results. I certainly can't whine about his washing job. On the other hand this gal just doesn't care. The milkers have digital screens that show the cows individual pounds, and I basically have to monitor the entire parlor to insure everyone is being milked out. While I don't expect my partner to know what I know, I would appreciate them at least checking pounds before post-spraying. I have the benefit of being there 6 days a week, and, knowing not only what the cow milked like yesterday, but her current SCC and the last couple of months.</p><p>What would you recommend for me as far as motivating a partner to do a good job? Beyond the bosses daughter (who no-one can change) I am fast running out of options. Partner puts on milkers, and I end up checking and balancing all 24. It's a fine line between nagging and correcting. Can you help me here? Once when I asked the boss about this he simply responded with "that's your job as lead milker" and dropped the subject. Opinions?</p><p></p><p>Mixing pens...this is totally preventable, which only adds to the irritation when it happens. It comes from people either forgetting to close gates, or, running a new pen in behind the few cows from that last pen in the parlor. I've mixed up one or two, and made sure the herd manager was aware of this. I've also tried to make him aware of when my partner does it, mainly so I don't get blamed for something I didn't do. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>I let the cows outside once, and it will never happen again. I also milked a treated cow into the tank once shortly after I'd started there, but got lucky because she was actually good. That also is a mistake I will never repeat. I like your approach that mistakes happen, and for the most part the herd manager shares the same opinion. The boss tends to be a bit less forgiving.</p><p></p><p>Holding pen...has an airdriven crowd gate (Usher H.R.S-- by Blue Diamond). Recognize that? Anyway, it has safety hoses on it that prevent the gate from actually going over a cow. However it still is possible to drop cows with the gate and not realize it, or have a ketotic or "hot" cow go down back there and not be aware of it until the pen is almost empty.</p><p></p><p>We have the same system that you intend to utilize in your new facility as far as partners. Two are in there until the end when one of us leaves for another pen. Freestall barn has auto-scrapers, but we still have to scrape stalls and alleys by the waterers, as well as back by the doors where the scrapers back up to. As far as cleaning waterers, that's my job. Summers I do it everyday, winters every other day. I go in 1 1/2 hours early every day and clean, either the waterers or powerwashing walls, etc.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="born2run, post: 187783, member: 2498"] I like your incentives program. If I had a little bit more sway with my boss I'd mention this. ;-) Perhaps when the time is right. From a previous post of mine where I showed a pic I think you can figure that we cannot go releasing individual cows. Thus we do commonly have to wait on one slow cow, or my partner has to wait while I treat. This is the only disadvantage of that design, and I guess is easily overlooked when you consider the speed in which you can run cows through. Timing is so important there. You prep correctly and I have never seen the herd go past 78/hour. Sure, by racing through procedures I can get 110/hour, but we get a 1500 lb. drop in the end. This is one thing that I wish the boss was more tuned into when they impose time limits. I had the privelege of milking with the herd manager in late May/2005. This is a huge rarity for me, but at that time I was still on my school schedule and their daughter did a no-show. At any rate, he mentioned that the boss had told him he'd made me a good offer. To which I was responded "yes, but I can't figure out why?" He said two things made me stand out above the others, dependability (I've never pulled a no-show or been late), and that I "know what I'm doing when I get there." Now the herd manager easily calls me his "best" milker, which I respond to with, "I certainly hope so! I'm not up against much!" :) To be honest with you we never really talked beyond me staying there 2 years, so I'm not sure what the vacation does after that. I'll be there 3 years in August, but since I only went full time in July 2005 I am now only eligible for that 1 week. (Already planning that trip, btw.) :) I am the oldest milker there, herd manager is quite a bit older. That should tell you something. I have had my share of problems with the "kids". I used to come there on Sunday nights and cross my fingers I could make it through a shift without treating. While that has lessened with the SCC dropping, Sunday nights remain the only night where I commonly make more then 2nd shift, sometimes 1st shift. Interview questions...I don't ever feel like I went through a formal interview. I went over there for a visit, referred by my dad who they knew from doing custom work. They asked two questions, "What is your current wage?" and "What is the SCC?" They walked me through the dairy and began talking of potential start dates. It was that fast. I know at that point they were quite inexperienced with hiring. The dairy had only been in operation a full year. I've heard since then that they have changed it somewhat, actually giving the new potential hire a change to milk to see if they like it. Perhaps they just assumed I would because I was coming from a flatbarn. lol I trained one gal, and overall am very happy with the results. She's a 16 year old, and my only problem with her is keeping her motivated. I realize full well by the end of 400 cows you are getting tired, for sure if you only milk once or twice a week. But I hate to see performance slacking simply because of this. I can tell my one partner at the start of the shift, "Let's try to get a clean filter tonight." This will get results. I certainly can't whine about his washing job. On the other hand this gal just doesn't care. The milkers have digital screens that show the cows individual pounds, and I basically have to monitor the entire parlor to insure everyone is being milked out. While I don't expect my partner to know what I know, I would appreciate them at least checking pounds before post-spraying. I have the benefit of being there 6 days a week, and, knowing not only what the cow milked like yesterday, but her current SCC and the last couple of months. What would you recommend for me as far as motivating a partner to do a good job? Beyond the bosses daughter (who no-one can change) I am fast running out of options. Partner puts on milkers, and I end up checking and balancing all 24. It's a fine line between nagging and correcting. Can you help me here? Once when I asked the boss about this he simply responded with "that's your job as lead milker" and dropped the subject. Opinions? Mixing pens...this is totally preventable, which only adds to the irritation when it happens. It comes from people either forgetting to close gates, or, running a new pen in behind the few cows from that last pen in the parlor. I've mixed up one or two, and made sure the herd manager was aware of this. I've also tried to make him aware of when my partner does it, mainly so I don't get blamed for something I didn't do. :) I let the cows outside once, and it will never happen again. I also milked a treated cow into the tank once shortly after I'd started there, but got lucky because she was actually good. That also is a mistake I will never repeat. I like your approach that mistakes happen, and for the most part the herd manager shares the same opinion. The boss tends to be a bit less forgiving. Holding pen...has an airdriven crowd gate (Usher H.R.S-- by Blue Diamond). Recognize that? Anyway, it has safety hoses on it that prevent the gate from actually going over a cow. However it still is possible to drop cows with the gate and not realize it, or have a ketotic or "hot" cow go down back there and not be aware of it until the pen is almost empty. We have the same system that you intend to utilize in your new facility as far as partners. Two are in there until the end when one of us leaves for another pen. Freestall barn has auto-scrapers, but we still have to scrape stalls and alleys by the waterers, as well as back by the doors where the scrapers back up to. As far as cleaning waterers, that's my job. Summers I do it everyday, winters every other day. I go in 1 1/2 hours early every day and clean, either the waterers or powerwashing walls, etc. [/QUOTE]
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