A quiet confidence among Pembrokeshire milk producers is creating an upturn in the fortunes of suppliers to the dairying industry.

As more farmers capitalise on the county's ability to grow grass well, producers are investing in parlours to complement grazing-based systems.

At Clarbeston Grange, Clarbeston Road, Nigel James has completed a two-year transition to this system by installing a parlour specifically designed to maximise operator efficiency.

The decision to convert the farm to a grass-based system was triggered by the changing economics of dairying.

To sit back, do nothing and wait for the high milk prices to come back would probably have been very unwise, says Nigel, who, in partnership with his brother, Chris, also farms Stackpole Home Farm. The design of the parlour was dependent on a herd of cows with a compact seasonal pattern. In our case, as with Stackpole, this is a spring pattern, Nigel explains.

We feel this is the best way to utilise the grass as cows will now calve down and go straight onto grazed grass.

The farm infrastructure had to be improved and a system of roadways and troughs were installed. Cow numbers were increased and the calving season of the cows already on the farm were shifted to a spring pattern. Extra cubicles for the bigger herd were put in place last autumn.

The final piece of the jigsaw was a parlour to replace an Alfa-Laval installation which had given over 30 years reliable service.

It was still operating reliably but simply didnt have adequate throughput for the increased number of cows we are now intending to milk, says Nigel. Milking too many cows through this now inadequate parlour was rapidly becoming an unacceptable drudgery.

A simple, long herringbone parlour without automatic cluster removal or in-parlour feeding was, in Nigels opinion, an appropriate choice. Delaval, formerly Alfa-Laval, won the contract with its patented Duovac System. Nigels plan for a 25:50 swingover herringbone, the upper limit of a one-man system, made the Duovac System an important one.

The Duovac units, one per cluster, detect when milk flow from the cow has all but ceased. The vacuum level at the teat end is reduced and the system works in reverse when the clusters are attached.

It is clearly a very cow-friendly system as cows stand very quietly and contentedly to be milked, says Nigel.

Looking forward to operating the new system is herdsman Frank Layton, with support from Tony Davies.

This is due in part to the Duovac system but also, I believe, to the attention which has been paid to other aspects of the planning of this unit, especially correct and thorough earthing to minimise stray voltages in the concrete, correct cow and therefore cluster alignment and perhaps, most importantly of all, correct overall planning to allow efficient cow flow.

Other features of the installation include an electrically-operated backing gate which allows the operator to remind cows to walk into the parlour at the flick of a switch.

CAPTION: Nigel James pictured in the new 25:50 swingover herringbone parlour at Clarbeston Grange.