cows must walk consistently over th e platform with
their normal walking gait for all milkings.
Research has shown that cow m ovement through
alleyways will be sped when solid white sidewalls are
installed. The alleyway areas should also have
excellent lighting to facilitate norm al cow movem ent.
The alleyway leading onto the StepMetrix should al so
have solid plastic walls. The shielding should extend
for 5 to 10’ (1.5 – 3m) past the exit end of the
StepMetrix Step down platform. The plastic shielding
should be installed from approximately 1’ (30 cm ) of
the ground to a total of 5’ (1.5 m) off the floor. If gates
are used to narro w a co w movement alleyway, the
gates should also h ave the same white pla stic
shielding. The goal is for cows to see the rear end of
a herd-mate moving cal mly and sl owly through the
shielded alleyway, which will encourage them to walk
in the same calm, relaxed manner.
An additional technique to improve single file cow
movement is to install narrow rubber mats imbedded
at floor level to enco urage cows to mo ve in a singl e
file into the exit alleys. The ru bber flooring can be
wide at the e xit of the parlor and then narrow down
toward the entrance of the exit alley whe re the
StepMetrix is installe d. The goal i s to make it m ore
comfortable for the co w to be in sing le file at the
StepMetrix location.
1.2.2
StepMetrix Sensor Module Location
•
The StepMetrix sensor module must be installed
in an area where cows walk in a single file after
milking so that only one cow can walk on th e
sensor module at a time at their normal pace. The
breezeway or an exit all eyway of th e milking
parlor is an ideal location.
•
The StepMetrix should be installed as far a way
from the mil king parlor as possible in order to
avoid groups of cows walking through the system
in a mass.
•
The StepMetrix should be installed in a location
where the cows will leas t likely to be pushed
through the system. The cows must be allowed to
move through the syste m one at a time a t a
normal pace.
•
The StepMetrix must be installed in a location
where all the cows can walk through the system
after every milking
•
The sensor module must be installed so that
there are no sharp turns, high step s or othe r
obstacles at least 10 feet (3m) before and 10 feet
(3m) after the system.
•
The sensor module must be installed in an area
with easy access to water for re gular cleaning.
Automated flushing is ide al for kee ping manure
cleaned from underneath the sensor module.
•
If there is a footbath, it must be at lea st 20 feet
(6m) before the StepMetrix step up or 20 fe et
(6m) after the StepMetrix step-down.
•
The sensor module must be in stalled with the
StepMetrix step up and StepMetrix step down in
place.
•
Recommended StepMetrix installation locations
are shown in Figures 1-4.
•
In order to get SMX™ scores from all of the cows
passing through the sensor module, every effort
must be ma de to avoid crowding of the cows
before the step up and after the step down.
•
Depending on the layout of the dairy, more than
one StepMetrix may be required in order to collect
data from all of the cows.
•
The floor must be leveled before installation of the
StepMetrix sensor module.
•
The water draining systems should be such that
the sensor module is not submerged in the water
at any time.
1.2.3
StepMetrix Controller Location
•
The StepMetrix controller must be in stalled on
non-vibrating posts or a wall.
•
The controller can be lo cated 8-10 fe et (2.4 to
3m) above ground level. It needs to be accessible
for troubleshooting.
•
The controller must be installed within 58 inches
(1500 mm) of the top of the StepMetrix BM ID
antenna and within 70 inches (1800 mm) from the
ISO ID antenna furthest from the controller.
•
The load cell cables must not be shortened.
Splicing the cables will adversely affect the
performance of the StepMetrix.
•
The controller must be located on the same side
as the load cell conduit locations.
1.2.4
Communication
•
A CAT 5E communi cation cable should run from
the controller(s) to the dairy PC.
•
The CAT 5E cable must be run in conduit, and
must be no more than 300 feet (90 m) in length.
•
A dedicated Ethernet connection to dairy PC from
a StepMetrix controller(s) is required.
•
Refer to B ouMatic Ethernet Communications
Instructions 9E-867 for further details.
1.2.5
Wiring
•
To operate properly, the controller requires 1 4
AWG (1.94 mm²) minimum input power stranded
wires to keep voltage drops to a minimum.
•
Keep wiring as sho rt as possible for the best
protection against voltage drop.
•
Wiring must be routed through conduit for
protection and aesthetic purposes (we
recommend the use of PVC conduit). AC and DC
wiring must not be route d together in the sam e
conduit.
StepMetrix™ Installation Instructions
9E-864C
3
