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• We carry a full range of spare parts and can be ordered and installed through your local Agent.  Find your nearest Agent.

Work out the maximum number of cows you want to hold.

• Allow 1.2m² per cross bred cow (eg 12m x 50m= 600m²÷1.2=500cows)
• Allow 1.5m²/cow for large Friesians (eg 12x50m=600m²÷1.5=400 cows).
• Maximum yard length approximately 70 metres
• Yards< 13m wide 2 wheel drive.
• Yards> 13m wide 4 wheel drive.
• Yards> 13m wide use a Herdflow Crowd Gate.
• Yards< 13m wide can use Reporoa High Lift Gate or Herdflow Crowd Gate.

• The ideal fall should be between 1% and 2% for operating the Dungbuster wash booms.

• If the fall is to be > 2% consider 4 wheel drive for the backing gate.

• Cows generally load better when walking uphill to the dairy shed.

• Some sites suit fall down towards the dairy shed and these work fine as well.

• In some cases the fall needs to be in 2 directions – a “gull wing”. The wash system can be programmed to automatically wash a gull wing yard shape. 

• Ideally post heights should be 1350mm, 1500mm or 1700mm above concrete level. Herdflow can cope with any measurements in between if necessary.

• Post heights can be different on each side. It is important that the posts on each side are exactly the same height and that the sides are straight and parallel. Additional costs may apply if they are not.

• Herdflow provides and installs the top rail in the form of an “I” beam as part of the gate price.

• The idea of a 1700mm post height is to allow for a side entry to allow cows to walk underneath the “I” beam.

• Cows can enter the collecting yard from the race or move between the collecting yard and holding pens by moving underneath the “I” beam.

• The maximum width between posts for a side entry is 4metres. The “I” beam is supported underneath by 100mm by 50mm RHS supplied by the farmer.

• Check out our Customer Yard Information Booklet on this website

Follow the next set of questions below

• Both Gates Run on an “I” beam so will not derail.

• The Herdflow Crowd Gate (HFCG) drives via a pinch drive system like a rotary milking platform. The drive wheel is tensioned on to the side of the “I” beam via a spring to help reduce slippage.

• The Reporoa High Lift Gate (RHLG) drives on top of the “I” beam. Water (and therefor ice) cannot accumulate on the “I” beam. The drive wheel is also now supported by bearings on each side of the wheel and the weight of the gate is directly over the drive wheel.

• Herdflow produces the Rectangular Yard Electric Top Gate to operate in front of either the HFCG or the RHLG or as a stand alone backing gate.

• This purely a matter of choice. Reasons given for purchasing include:

  • Cow flow into and through the shed is poor so I need a quick operating Top Gate to help overcome this problem.

  • The HFCG is seen mainly as a solid barrier between herds and as a fully automated yard washing machine. This means the Top Gate gives the ability to take small bites of cows while the HFCG or RHLG remain in position at the back of the first herd.

Yes if:

• Your gate (RHLG or HFCG) is greater than (>) 13m wide.

• Your location is subject to hard frosts where the whole “I” beam may ice up.

• Your yard is quite steep – say >2% fall.

• With HFCG push the wash button and the gate will wash the yard no matter where the gate starts from. When finished it will automatically turn the water off and return to the up position ready for the cows to enter again.

• With RHLG the same level of automation applies except for the raising and lowering of the booms which has to be done manually.

• Breech sensing operates when the gate is in the down position and moving cows towards the dairy shed. If the cows are over pressured and the gate deflects backwards it will stop then reverse back 1 metre and then stop.

• Breech sensing comes standard with the HFCG and as an option with the RHLG.

• Cow Detection is the detection of cows that will not move out of the way as the gate is lowered amongst the herd. If installed the gate will not descend on the back of a cow preventing damage or crushing.

• Cow detection is only available as an option with the Herdflow Crowd Gate.

• The HFCG is definitely a stronger and more robust gate being made of heavier duty steel and pipe.

• We have agents in different regions from Invercargill to Dargaville.

• For an agent near you see the Agents Tab on this website