Dairy Design Idea???

[Feathers-N-Fur]

We have been talking of someday having a Grade A dairy, but the only one we have seen was prohibitively expensive. I had an idea I thought I would run by some of you who do run dairies. What about bringing home a single wide manufactured home, I see them free all the time, and remaking it into 3 rooms, a milking room, a milk handling room and a kitchen. It wouldn't be part of the barn. Impenetrable walls and floors could be attained with tile and lino. Putting in all the required sinks would be doable. Is there something I'm not considering? I'm thinking a couple thousand dollars instead of a couple HUNDRED thousand. What do you think?

[steff bugielski]

You can use a trailer but you will want concrete floors. You should contact your Dept. of Agri. They should be able to provide you with a list of regulations. Here is how we did it.

Pardon the dirt. Boy that digital camera picks up everything
Milking stand


Milkhouse




These rooms are attached to the barn but not as expensive as a trailer. They are small maybe 10 x 12 tops. We do not have a cheese room yet but are planning it as we speak. It will be about the same size but not attached.
I milk by hand and milk 12 does a day. My biggest regret is the milkhouse should have been able to house 2 refrigerators. During peak milking I run out of room long before the milk is old. I then have to bring it to the spare fridge and thats a pain. But the cheese room will take care of that.
When we built them we had the milk inspector come often to double check that things were to their liking. Nothing worse than building something and then having to change it.
We did all the work ourselves and it maybe cost $2000.00 total. We also scavenged most of the stainless and counter tops.

[LaManchaPaul]

Originally Posted by Feathers-N-Fur

We have been talking of someday having a Grade A dairy, but the only one we have seen was prohibitively expensive. I had an idea I thought I would run by some of you who do run dairies. What about bringing home a single wide manufactured home, I see them free all the time, and remaking it into 3 rooms, a milking room, a milk handling room and a kitchen. It wouldn't be part of the barn. Impenetrable walls and floors could be attained with tile and lino. Putting in all the required sinks would be doable. Is there something I'm not considering? I'm thinking a couple thousand dollars instead of a couple HUNDRED thousand. What do you think?

Hey, please let us know of your progress on a GREAT idea. Your trlr also would have the required bathroom. Paul

[sammyd]

As mentioned above, consult with the state before you do anything.
I've seen Amish with commercial kitchens for making noodles in old house trailers but never anything to do with dairy.

[billooo2]

Each state has its own set of regulations. Here in Ohio, they call for a 'non-absorbent floor, such as concrete' (I may not have the exact wording)

[Qvrfullmidwife]

You will likely be required to have floors of cement ("or similarly impervious material") sloped to a drain.

For us, bar none, the best place to start was our local dairy inspector. He was a great source of information and encouragement, we were truly surprised, LOL!

[Ken in Maine]

Talking with your local dairy inspector is THE most important step... after all he is the one who will approve the issuance of your license. Ours here in Maine was super. He came out.. looked at what we had and we discussed what we needed. There were no surprises and the entire process went very smoothly.

Don't fight... don't argue... simply do what he reccomends and the entire process will go easily and quickly.

Our inspector was more concerned with our milk handling room that the actual place we milked. Also his key phrase was the surfaces must be cleanable. We have linoleum floors and wood trim but the wood is all poly'd and the drywall is all primed and painted.

Here is a link to our milk handling room.

http://www.mainegoats.com/Milk%20room.html

The cheese room is in the works and should be finished in a couple weeks.