Simple Checks of a Milking System

Two common reasons for milking system problems are: inadequate system capacity to cope with levels of production per cow, and inadequate routine maintenance of equipment.

In below, there are 10 recommendations which YOU find them useful:


A) Checks During Milking

1. Teat Condition
- Teats should be as soft and supple just after milking as before milking.
- Machine milking is the main cause of hyperkeratosis (result from excessive vacuum , over-milking, hard liners or liners mounted at un-necessarily high tension, short teatcup liners or insufficient collapse phase of pulsation).


2. Completeness of Milking Out
- If milking clusters work correctly, strip yields are typically less than about 0.3 L/cow. A problem exists if strip yields average more than about 0.5 L/cow. Undermilking causes bulk milk cell counts to rise.
- The most common causes of incomplete milking: poor type or condition of liner: mis-match between the claw inlet and the short milk tube; clusters that are too light; clusters that do not hang evenly on the udder because the connecting hoses are too long, too short, twisted, or poorly aligned in relation to the cow; or high milking vacuum levels.


3. Frequency of Slipping or Falling Teatcups
- A problem exists if more than 5-10 slips or falls per 100 cows milked require correction by the milker(s). The most common cause of frequent slippage is poor alignment of clusters in relation to the udder.
- Heavy clusters, uneven weight distribution within the cluster, or blocked air admission holes are other common causes of cup falling.


4. Milking Time Per Cow
- On average, cows giving 10 L of milk per milking will be milked in about 5 minutes. Cows producing about 15 L per milking will be milked in about 6 minutes Add 1 minute to the mean milking time per cow for each 5 L. Increase in mean milk yield per milking slower average milking times per cow may indicate problems with milking equipment or with milking management.


B) Checks While Machine Running But Not Milking

1. Pulsation
- The most common pulsation faults include cracks or splits in the pulse tubes, foreign material (dirt, grit, straw, feed particles or insects) under the pulsator valve seats or lodged in the air inlet ports.
- Listen closely to each pulsator as a first check for uniformity between units. The sound of air entering the external air port should be regular and intermittent.
- Feel that all liners are at least opening and closing fully in a pulsation cycle by turning on the vacuum shut-off valve to each cluster in turn and inserting a thumb into each teatcup in turn.


2. Vacuum Regulation.
- Farm vacuum gauges often are inaccurate. Sometimes the indicator needle sticks and it will not move above 45-50 kPa, check the operating vacuum with a separate vacuum gauge of known accuracy.
- The vacuum pump should have sufficient reserve capacity. Note the vacuum level with all units shut off. Then, open the vacuum shut-off valves to one unit (or two units in systems with more than 32 units). If the vacuum level does not fall more than 2 kPa, then the Effective Reserve is likely to be adequate.
- The vacuum regulator requires regular checking, cleaning and maintenance to maintain its designed level of performance.



C) Checks when Machine Not Running

1. Teatcup Liners
- Liners should be designed to fit the teatcup shells. The mouthpiece should not be distorted by the cup. Liners should fit firmly to prevent twisting in the shells.
- Liners should have no cracks in the short milk tube connecting to the claw, and no surface crazing or swelling evident on the mouthpiece lip or inner barrel.


2. Claws
- The air vents in the claw or teatcups should be clear and unblocked.


3. Milk Tubes and Droppers, Short Milk Tubes and Short Pulse Tubes
- Hoses\tubes should be inspected for wear, cracks, tears, or change in cross-sectional area due to kinking, distortion or swelling due to fat absorption.


4. Milklines
- The most common milkline faults on typical farms are inadequate size, and variable slope or flat spots.