Milk Machine Operation And Maintenance

Having a milk machine makes work easy and increases efficiency. Breakdowns can be a major challenge resulting in downtime and huge losses not to mention the repair cost. So, how do you avoid these breakdowns? Let’s walk through together and learn how to operate and maintain milk equipment.

Brief History

There are lots of milk products in the market today and it is estimated that cows produce 83% of the milk that makes these products. Come to think of it, milk is intended for calves but what percent goes to the calves? Most of the milk is used by humans with calves getting less than 5% and this can explain why men are so interested in milk and its production.

Some decades ago, hand milking was the in thing but this has changed over time. Today, machines have been introduced and cows can be milked 2-3 times a day with ease. These machines are designed to imitate the calf’s milking and somehow make the cow release milk just like the calf would stimulate milk production.

The principle behind machine milking is the creation of pressure difference. The machine comes with a rubber liner that makes it possible to create low pressure to the teats compared to the surrounding atmospheric pressure. This guarantees milk flow with the milk being stored in a can. To make it safe for cows, the liner collapses periodically creating a relief and massage on the teat, a process known as pulsation. This typically happens once in every second.

How To Operate A Milk Machine

Step 1: Check The Machine Before Use

Do not just pick any machine and start milking as doing so would mean exposing your animal, yourself and the machine to huge risk. Ensure that the machine you are about to use is in good shape, is clean and is the right machine for the animal. Hygiene is paramount and should never be overlooked as it also determines the quality of milk to be collected.

Milk appliances should be cleaned daily after every use to ensure that milk doesn’t stick to the parts. While many may think that its other forms of dirt that make it necessary to clean the machine, milk itself can be very left to stick to the equipment. It contaminates the fresh milk and thus needs to be cleaned as soon as possible. Regular disinfection of tank, horse and suction cups is also essential.

Step 2: Attach All Caps And Tubes To The Machine

It’s important to ensure that all the caps and tubes have been attached appropriately. For the vacuum seal to be achieved, all the parts needs to be connected and the connections done correctly. Key to note is the O-ring that ought to be placed before attaching the lid. Failure to place the rings results in poor seal.

Step 3: Prepare The Cow

Ensure Proper Location And Feeds

Secure the cow in her parlor or stanchion. Normally, the cow will know where to go and stand if you are consistent with your milking schedule. Over time, the cow becomes preconditioned and will automatically tell what will happen next. Having some feeds keeps the animal happy and will give you an easy time while milking. It may also stimulate milk production.

Clean The Udder Thoroughly

A clean udder ensures that the appliance isn’t collecting any dirt during installation. Using a clean towel, clean the teats and the lower part of the udder to get rid of dirt and debris. Once that is done, initiate the milking process by squeezing the teats downwards as if hand-milking. This dislodges any plugs that may have accumulated at the end of the teats.

Dip Teats In Iodine Solution

Always have a 70% iodine solution ready before milking your cow and dip the teats for a couple of minutes. Leave the solution to dry and dab the excess iodine. Avoid touching the teats after the dip.

Step 4: Attach The Vacuum Line And Turn On The Vacuum Pump

For milkers that get power from an electrical outlet, plug your appliance and turn on. The same procedure should be followed when using motor powered milkers. Well, with some machines you may need to wait for the negative pressure to build up. With such machines, turn them on earlier to avoid delays and inconveniences. For optimum results, ensure that the pressure is 0.04 kPa before inserting the cups.

Note: Ensure that everything is securely attached before turning on the machine.

Step 5: Move The Milker Beside The Cow

This is necessary for milkers that move from one point to the other and may not be applicable to milkers fixed to the parlor. If not using a trolley, place the bucket on the ground next to the cow. this will leave enough operation room to access the udder with ease.

Step 6: Hold The Claw Under The Udder

The claw is the holding unit that enables the user to collect milk from all teats. Holding the claw beneath the udder makes it easy to ensure that the cups do not get twisted during milking. To get it right, ensure that the hose points to the front of the claw.

Step 7: Open The Vacuum

Once the vacuum is opened to the claw, listen to confirm that its clicking properly. Normally, the machine will tick once in every half or three quarter of a second. Just do not listen too long as this may see you lose pressure which is necessary in keeping the cups attached. Otherwise the cups will fall off due to insufficient pressure.

Step 8: Attach The Cups To The Teats

At this stage, ensure that all the cups are nicely fitted starting from the back right teat to the left and later to the front if you are milking from the left side of your cow. Make it quick and smooth to avoid losing suction. The best idea would be guiding the cups with your hand rather than trying to see the teats not unless the parlor is raised to allow you see under the cow.

Step 9: Confirm Whether Milk Is Flowing Into The Bucket

After attaching the cups, the milk should start flowing immediately. You should therefore see milk starting to enter the bucket. If this is not the case, check whether the cups are inserted correctly and the pressure is adequate.

Step 10: Remove The Cups

Wondering what’s the best way to do this? The best and easiest way of removing the cups is kinking the hose to the claw. This allows the cups to all off freely. Large and advanced milk machines have an automatic system of releasing the cups where individual cups fall off once that quarter of the udder is out of milk.

Step 11: Teat Dip The Cows

This should be done a minute after the cups have been removed. The purpose of doing this is avoiding infections and safeguarding the teat canal as it remains open for some time.

Step 12: Turn Off The Machine

After turning off the machine, remove the lid and pour out the milk into milk containers. Repeat the entire process for all the animals.

Step 13: Clean The Machine

Always ensure that you are cleaning the machine after the milking process is done. Clean the equipment using lots of water and cleaning solution. Place the suction cups’ open end into the pail of water. This allows the machine to suck the water through the hose to the bucket once its turned on. Repeat the process with clean water to rinse the entire machine.

Maintenance

With the milk machine being in use for 5-6 hours every day, it not only needs monthly maintenance but also daily maintenance. You do not want to deal with a broken machine thus the need to take good care of it. Here are the regular maintenance checks that should be given priority.

Daily

  • Wash the milk line, claws, hose, receiver jar and trap.
  • Check the rubber parts for tears, holes or water in shells. Replace those with holes.
  • Check vacuum recovery time and vacuum levels. The recovery time shouldn’t be more than three seconds after opening the milking unit.
  • Check belt tension in in vacuum pumps. This should be 0.5-inch from rest position. Also check the oil reservoir.
  • Confirm that pulsulators are working. This can be checked with the thumb in the liner. Also check each of the bleeder vents in the milk unit. A fine wire is needed for short milk tube vents but a paper clip can be used on claw vents.
  • Check for air leaks

Weekly

  • Clean the moisture drains and vacuum regulator valves.
  • Check vacuum regulator and pulsulator filters, clean and replace if necessary.
  • Inspect short vacuum tubes using a vacuum gauge to determine whether the pulsulators open and close fully.
  • Check electric connections for tightness and stall cocks for leaks.
  • Open weigh jars and receiver jars and clean gaskets and fittings.
  • Four to Six Weeks
  • Disassemble pulsulators, clean screens and air ports. Replace the worn out parts.
  • Using the vacuum gauge, check each pulsulator’s operation.
  • Disassemble vacuum regulators and clean them. Replace air filters.
  • Clean the pulsulator vacuum lines.
  • Inspect air tubes, milk hose and vacuum hose.
  • Check the float and wash trap inside and outside.

Every Six Months

  • Keenly inspect the entire milk system.
  • Replace all hose, air tubes and rubber parts.
  • Replace milk hoses.
  • Check and replace the receiver jar gasket.
  • Install new rubber hoses as well as rubber hose nozzles used in washing udders.
  • Change belts and oiler on vacuum pumps.

Doing these preventive services is quite essential as they reduce breakdowns and give the machine a longer life. Preferably, you should engage a professional in the six month servicing as this will help identify the parts that are completely worn out or require upgrading.

Conclusion

Knowing what to do and when to do it is quite important when operating a milk machine. Keenly follow the specified operation and maintenance schedule and you can be sure of having a machine that is less troublesome. Proper maintenance increases efficiency and gives you value for money.

Portable Milking Machine Components And Operation

Having a portable cow milking machine in your dairy farm will go a long way in boosting your dairy profitability. These machines are quite efficient in milk harvesting and transportation. They make it possible to milk herds in their grazing land and will eliminate the need to have a centralized milking parlor.

Having invested your money in this milking appliance, it is necessary that you understand how to operate it. You also need to go a step further and learn how to care for your machine and maintain it in the best state.

Most retailers will only sell milk machines but will not teach you how to use milking machines. You need not worry. We’ve got your back and have gone out of our way to teach you how to use, maintain and repair your milking machine.

What Are The Components Of A Milking Machine?

A milking machine is comprised of;

  • Vacuum control and production system
  • Milking unit
  • Milk transportation system
  • Cleaning, maintenance and sanitization system

These are the essential systems that every milking machine ought to have. Milk cooling is also included in some machines. However, this is not part of the primary system. It enhances the quality of milk but is not a necessity for every milking machine.

Essential Parts Of A Milking Unit

1. Teat Cups

Portable cow milking machines have four teat cups while goat milking machines have two teat cups. The teat cups are designed to fit all shapes and sizes of animal teats.

The teat cups have a soft rubber lining. This lining expands and contacts to fit different types of teats. This is the only part of the milking machine that gets in contact with the cow teats or udder.

2. Claw

This is the part that connects the teat cups to the milk bucket or delivery pipes. The claw collects the milk from the cups and delivers it to the tank.

3. Pulsation Chamber

Milking is all about creating pressure difference. This pressure difference is brought about by the pulsator. The pulsator uses vacuum and air to create pulsation. The pulsation creates suction force thus drawing milk from cow teats.

4. Connecting Tubes

These are the tubes used to channel milk and air to the different milk machine components.

The other essential components include regulators, sanitary traps and balance tanks. All these components facilitate efficient operation and go a long way in ensuring the highest milk standards are achieved.

How To Operate A Milking Machine?

Milking machines, whether manual or motorized, are not easy to operate. They demand skills and experience. This is necessary in ensuring quality milk delivery and cow welfare. It’s important that you understand how these machines work. This calls for keen focus on the whole milking process right from the insertion of teat cups to the transfer of milk from milking buckets.

Step By Step Guide On How To Use A Milking Machine

Having understood the essential parts of the milking machine, it will be easy for you to understand how to operate the machine.

  1. Before you start milking, ensure that the machine is clean and ready for use. Suck water into the bucket by dipping the milking tubes. clean the tubes and the can thoroughly.
  2. Close the cup of the can ensuring that its air tight.
  3. Clean the udder and the teats before inserting the cups.
  4. Open the vacuum and attach the cups to the teats. The cups will attach automatically due to the vacuum. The vacuum from the compressor will be continuous and the milking tubes will press the teats gently. Milk flows to the can and will be seen flow through the tubes.
  5. Once the milk flow is over, hold the milking tubes and pull down gently. This is essential in extracting leftover milk from the teats. Delay in detaching the tubes from the teats doesn’t cause any harm to the cow. Contrary to may myths, milking machines will never draw blood from the cow. Store the milk in a clean and safe environment.
  6. Clean the milking tubes and the can. this should be done using hot water. rinse the tubes and the can with cold water. You need to be very careful when cleaning the machine as any negligence can result in damages or affect the quality of your milk.

The teat cups are the parts that get into direct contact with the animal. These cups have the milking and pulsator side. The two sides are separated by a thin membrane. The membrane is responsible for the pulsation. Once the teat is inserted in the teat cup, it fills up the cup chamber. The machine is then turned on. This causes a vacuum to form in the chamber. Subsequently, milk is drawn from the cow teats.

The milking stage alternates with the resting stage. During the resting stage/phase, air rushes into the teat chamber. The air increases pressure inside the chamber. The increased pressure collapses the liner. This results in a massaging effect on the cow teats. The massaging effect increases blood flow to the teats and udder. It also helps avoid teat injuries.

Why Is Pulsation Important?

Pulsation serves several purposes. These purposes include;

  • Protecting the teat from injuries-continuous suction of the teat can result in injuries. The extended suction periods can result in accumulation of lymph and blood in teats. This would result in stress and complications such as mastitis.
  • Pulsation promotes blood circulation. This is very important in maintaining the teat in great health. It also stimulates milk production. The soothing that comes from the massage encourages the cow to produce more milk.

Pulsator Ratios

Milking machines have many contrasting characteristics. One of the characteristic that will be different in most machines is the pulsation ratio. Typically, a milking machine should have 60 pulses per minute. Regardless of the ration, the sum should always be a hundred percent (100%).

The pulsation ratios range between 70/30 and 50/50 combinations. The numerator (top) indicates the milking times while the denominator (bottom) indicates the massaging times. These ratios can be varied to suit the farm’s operations.

The most preferred pulsation ration is 60/40. This is the rate that gives moderate vacuum and pulsation. It is a ratio that will enable the machine draw milk from the cow efficiently, swiftly and safely. You will finish milking quickly without hurting the cow.

Rates beyond 70/30 aren’t recommended. Such ratios would result in fast milking at the expense of the cow’s health. It results in excessive teat sucking injuring the teats.

Ratios below 50/50 are safe for the cow but will result in slow milking. The ratio results in low suction thus little milk is extracted from the teats.

Modern cattle milking machines have dual pulsation. This is a system that allows the machine to have different ratios for the front and hind quarters. The hind quarters are set at the 60/40 ratio as they hold more milk than front quarters whose ratio may be 50/50.

Proper Way To Test Milking Machine Suction

Every farmer should ensure that their milking machine not only draws milk from the cow but is also comfortable. This demands that you conduct some tests before using any milking machine on the dairy cow. Here are the steps to follow when testing cow milking machines.

Start the vacuum machine. Use your finger to test the suction. Place the finger in the teat cup. Let it stay there for 20-30 seconds. This will help you assess how comfortable the cup is. Adjust the ratio until when comfortable levels have been achieved.

Faulty machines may give wrong test results. Such machines will have signs such as noisy and leaks. If you notice signs of bleed holes replace the parts. Failure to do so may result in teats ‘bathing up’. This may expose your milk to the risk of contamination.
Portable milking machines are designed differently. These machines have varying components and their operation also varies. This makes it necessary to understand your portable milking machine’s components and how to use it efficiently.

You may also need to learn how to maintain and repair the machine. We have covered that in a different post. These are tasks that are easy to perform if you have the right information. We hope that our outline on the simple procedures have been of help. Enjoy milking your cattle and maximize dairy productivity with these portable machines.

Top Ranking Portable Milking Machines Reviewed

Modern farming involves the use of machinery and advanced technology. One of the machines that have gained popularity in modern dairy farms is the portable milking machine.

A portable milking machine is an accessory that every dairy farm needs. The machine is every effective in harvesting dairy milk. It not only boosts the farm output but also facilitates dairy profitability.

In addition to reduction of milking costs, milk machines have numerous benefits. They significantly cut operation costs and milking time. You stand to enjoy all these benefits especially when using a modern machine.

The milking process is not complete until when the milk has been stored and preserved. Portable milking machines such as barrow type milk machines play a vital role in ensuring that this milking process is complete.

It is needless to invest in the best milking machine and end up losing all the milk during transportation. Portable milk machines play a major role in ensuring that the milk is safe, clean and free from contamination.

Outstanding Features Of A Reliable Portable Milk Machine

  • Gentle on cow teats and udder
  • Has high milking speeds
  • Ease of cleaning, maintenance and repair
  • Safe operation
  • Maintains milk at high quality without degrading it
  • Flexible to meet the herds demands

Which Are The Best Portable Milking Machines?

The debate on the best portable milking machine may ensue every other year. The market experiences changes every other year. What was thought to be the best milking machine today may not be the best tomorrow.

Milking machines are classified on different criteria. This means that the machine that may be the best in terms of speed may not be the best when it comes to milk quality. Having considered all these factors, with have outlined five of the most important factors that you need to consider when buying a milking machine

We have also reviewed the best portable milking machine for each of the five common factors. It will thus be easy for you to get the best milking machine in terms of portability, power, versatility, fuel efficiency and speed.

Best high speed portable milking machine

1. CO-Z 25 Liter Portable Milking Machine

Rapid milking is very important in harvesting every drop of cow milk. CO-Z manufacturers know this better and have been the leading producers of rapid milking machines for decades. One of such milk machines is the classic CO-Z portable milking machine.

The portable CO-Z machine is fitted with a single milk bucket. This is the bucket that collects all the milk from dairy cows. The bucket is served by durable milking claws. These are vital in the facilitation of rapid dairy milking.

Product Specifications

  • Weight: 20.5 pounds
  • Capacity: 6.6 gallons (25 liters)
  • Material: stainless steel
  • Pulsation rate: 60/40
  • Pulsation times: 60-80 times per minute

Outstanding Product features

Ergonomic 240ML Claw

This is the muscle behind the milk machine’s high speed milking. It massages the cow teats gently resulting in minimal injuries. The high pulsation rate enables the incredible machine milk cow in about 10 minutes.

Stainless Bucket

Milk quality is paramount to any dairy farmer. One of the materials that have been known to maintain the milk in its fresh state is stainless steel. Stainless steel buckets have gained popularity in the past decade not only for their durability but also for milk quality.

The milk bucket has a capacity of 25 liters. This is enough to milk two cows but may not be able to milk a large herd out in the fields. For such endeavors, you need to have a larger storage to empty the milk after every milking session.

The Most Durable Portable Milking Machines

2. Popsport Electric Milking Machine

You definitely want to invest your money in a milk machine that will last long and give you value for money. The milk industry is slowly shifting towards automation. Electricity is a vital element in automation and an electric milking machine will not doubt be a treasure.

The popsport milk machine is a workhorse that is strong enough to drain cow milk efficiently. It is designed to secure all the milk harvested while taking great care of the dairy cows. This explains the purpose of the vacuum gauge. This is the gauge that ensures that the pressure is optimum and the teats aren’t wounded.

The power train is designed to ensure that the bucket sits securely on the barrow. This is very important in a portable milking machine. This guarantees smooth milk transportation.

Product Specifications

  • Size: 35x34x13 inches
  • Weight: 124 pounds
  • Capacity: 25 liters (25 kgs)
  • Material: stainless steel
  • Pulsation times: 64 per minute
  • Milking rate: 10-12 cows per hour

Unique Product Features

1440 RPM Motor

This is a strong and durable motor that has the capacity to draw 0.55KW of power. It gives the portable milk machine the capacity to milk up to 12 cows per hour.  This makes the machine very convenient for small dairy farms.

Large Sturdy Wheels

A portable milking machine is as good as its wheels. It’s the wheels that bring in portability and Popsport has ensured that their electric milk machine is fitted with the best barrow wheels. The wheels make it easy to push the machine around. They are easy to clean and maintain.

Best Fuel Efficient Portable Milk Machine

3. Rechargeable Cow, Sheep And Goat Milking Machine

Dairy milk profitability can only be achieved with efficient production. One of the major costs dairy farms have to contend with is fuel costs. The cost of running a milking machine should be manageable.

Some sections of the countries are faced with power supply challenges. Such are the areas that farmers need to have a milking machine that can run on different sources of power. Hybrid and rechargeable milking machines qualify as the best options.

Dansha Farms had all types of farmers in mind when they developed the rechargeable goats, cows and sheep milking machine. This is an efficient milking machine that will serve different purposes and doesn’t necessarily require you to have power source when milking your animals.

Product Specifications

  • Size: 12x9x6 inches
  • Weight: 5 pounds
  • Capacity: ½ gallon

Special Product features

The Rechargeable batteries

A milk machine with rechargeable batteries guarantees the farmer all time milking. This eliminated the dependency on electricity power supply. The Dasha farms rechargeable milker hosts six rechargeable batteries.

To facilitate efficient battery charging, this machine comes ready with two chargers. One charger can be plugged into a 220 Volt outlet while the other can be plugged in a 120 Voltage power outlet.

Polyurethane Cement

Milk machines achieve excellent milking results in the presence of a vacuum. This vacuum is maintained by tight seals. The polyurethane makes it possible to maintain the desirable seal. It attaches the connectors to the bottle milker. This provides and air-tight connection that delivers the desired vacuum.

The polyurethane is non-porous and becomes inert while in use. This ensures that now odor transfer occurs in the milk thus maintaining its freshness.

Most Powerful Portable Milking Machine

4. 1440 RPM Vevor Milking Machine

A large cow herd needs a strong milking machine. It’s not every machine that will relentlessly deliver the kick needed to milk hundreds of cows all year round. Vevor portable milking machine is possible one of the few machines that will not disappoint.

Vevor is a renowned appliance manufacturer and have gone an extra mile to design the incredible 1440 RPM milking machine. This is a machine that has stood the test of time. It has proven to be a reliable milking machine.

The Vevor consists of a 25 liter bucket mounted on a strong and sturdy barrow. Its outstanding power is delivered by the 0.55KW motor. This gives it the power to milk up to 12 cows per hour.

Product Specifications

  • Power: 0.55KW (1440RPM)
  • Capacity: 25 liters
  • Milking Speed: 10-12 cows per hour
  • Voltage: 60Hz (110Volts)
  • Pulsation: 64 per minute

Main Product features

25 liter Bucket

A portable milking machine serves many purposes. The portable appliances are best suited for dairy hers on the move. Farmers whose cows graze in the wild and paddocks find portable milking machines to be valuable assets.

These machines eliminate the need to have a centralized milking parlor. The cows can be milked at any part of the farm. The Vevor portable milker has the capacity to hold up to 25 liters of milk. This is huge enough to let the farmer milk several cows at a go.

Powerful 0.55 KW motor

A milk machine’s motor delivers the power needed to maintain the vacuum that eventually draw milk from cow teats. A good milker needs a strong motor and a 0.55KW is more like it. This is a strong motor that can run for hours without overheating or breaking down.

Most Versatile Portable Milking Machine

5. Single Bucket Electric Pulsation Portable Milking Machine For Cows Cattle, Goat Or Sheep

Having a milking machine in the farm increases your chances of gaining dairy milk profitability. Well, if your farm plays host to goats and sheep, you may need to think of having a versatile portable milking machine.

There are a number of milking machines that will milk your cows as well the goats. One of such machines is the bucket piston electric pulsation portable milking machine.

This portable milking machine is fitted with a high power electric pump that gives it the capacity to operate continuously for more than 24 hours. The engine is easily cooled. It has exhaust holes that facilitate heat dissipation. The exhaust holes also come in handy in protecting the engine from short circuit.

The single bucket milk machine is designed to be eco-friendly, comfortable and efficient. Its silicon milk lining feel comfortable to the cow teats and deliver the much needed massage effect. The animal will feel comfortable and will hardly get hurt.

Product Specifications

  • Size: 13.9×9.5×7.3 inches
  • Weight: 6.38 pounds
  • Material: Stainless steel and aluminum alloy
  • Voltage: 110V/220V

Product Features

The Pulsation function

Pulsation in a milking machine makes all the difference. It determines the rate at which the milk is drawn and cow comfort. The electric pulsation in this milk machine simulates hand milking. It ensures that the cow is comfortable during and after milking.

After the milking session, the animal feels relaxed and feels no pain. This is very important in machine milking. You need to test the machine’s pulsation before introducing it to the animals. This can be done using the thumb as the dummy teat.

Anti-negative Pressure milk storage talk

A lot of animal milk is lost after milking. Most of the time, it is the storage that goes wrong. To ensure that you are getting quality milk hours after milking, the easy to clean storage tank gives you reliable milk storage.

You just need to ensure that the tank isn’t full to the brim. Filling the bucket/bottle to the brim may result in short circuits. This will damage the motor rendering it useless.

The Science Behind Portable Milking Machines

Having looked at some of the best portable milking machines, it’s important to understand how these appliances work. Well, the magic in the milking machine is best experienced at the teats. This happens when the teat squeezes the teats and draw milk from the cow.

A milking machine teat cup has two sides. It has the milking side and the pulsate side. The two are separated by a membrane. This membrane pulsates to create teat suction. When the cup is attached, the teat fits in the cup chamber.

Once the vacuum pump is turned on, a pressure difference sets in. this creates a vacuum in the teat chamber. Consequently, milk is drawn out of the teat.

The sucking effect is followed by a resting stage. At this stage, pressure is withdrawn from the teat chamber. The pressure withdrawal increase pressure in the chamber. The liner collapses easing pressure on the teat. Subsequently, a massaging effect is felt on the teat.

The massaging effect encourages increased blood flow. It is quite vital in keeping the milk flowing and ensuring that the cow’s teats aren’t hurt.

Conclusion

Portable milking machines come in different shapes and sizes. Some have buckets as small as 0.5 liter while others will go beyond 25 liters capacity. Some are electric while others are battery powered. All these different types of machines will work differently for different types of dairy farms.

When choosing a portable milking machine, you need to ensure that it is the milking machine that your farm needs. Get a machine that will boost your milk production and profitability. We hope that our review of the top five portable milking machines will help you settle on the best milking machine.

Facts About Electric Cow Milking Machines And Their Profitability

Electric cow milking was introduced in the 1970s. Their introduction was an upgrade of the then ‘modern milking machines’ which were mostly mechanically powered. Electric cow milking machines brought about automation which was a major turning point in the dairy industry.

Automatic milking systems (AMS) basically refers to the process of extracting milk from cows without human labor. Most of the milking machines used in such systems are electric cow milking machines.

Different Types Of Electric Milking Machines

Barrow Type Electric Machines

Having an electric milking machine that can be moved from one point to the other is an added advantage. Barrow type electric milkers make it possible to milk cows in different sections of the farm.

Barrow type electric milk machines are also known as trolley milking machines. This name is coined from the trolley carriage that hosts the milking unit. The trolley has wheels that aid in the locomotion of the machine. It can either be electric powered or manual.

There are number of barrow milking machines that are electricity powered. The main advantage of using these machines is their efficiency. They are not only swift but are also economical. Running the machines on electric power is cheaper than other sources of power.

Best Barrow Type Electric Milking Machine

Vevor 25 L1440 RPM Electric Milking Machine

The electric Vevor milking machine is one of the most reliable milking machines. It is easy to use making it friendly for all types of dairy farms. This is a plug and use machine that can be used in 110-240V electric outlets.

The presence of a easy and simple piston makes this vevor milker easy to operate and maintain. The piston needs to be lubricated once per week. Gear oil (#20) or edible oil may be used to lubricate the piston.

Product Specifications
  • Size: 25 liters
  • Weight: 128 pounds
  • Power: 0.55KW
  • Milking capacity: 10-12 cows per hour
Prominent Features
  • Large bucket (25 L)
  • High milking speed
  • Stainless steel body

High Speed Milking

A huge dairy farm deserves a high speed milking machine. The electric vevor milker has the capacity to milk up to 12 cows very hour. This is considerably high and will be very effective in milking a huge herd of cattle.

The milker can comfortably work at 0.04 to 0.05 MPa pulsation. This is very friendly to the animal and delivers milk without hurting the animal. The 0.55 KW motor delivers the kick needed to get the work done. It makes 1440 revolutions per minute ranking it among the fastest milking machines.

Stainless Body

Dairy profitability is pegged in milk quality. The presence of a stainless steel milk bucket is a major step towards milk quality maintenance. Stainless steel is known to hold milk for long without any contamination. The material doesn’t react with milk thus guarantees the farmer of high quality milk delivery.

Pros
  • Fast and efficient
  • Easy to clean and maintain
  • Heavy duty caster wheels
  • Easy to operate
  • Well balanced (even when full)
Cons
  • Can be noisy
  • It’s a high end product

Portable Electric Milkers

Portability brings along efficiency and versatility. Portable electric milking machines make it possible to milk dairy cows at every corner of the farm. the cows can thus be milked without necessary being driven to the milking parlor.

A reliable portable milker is one that doesn’t compromise on the quality of milk collected. It should preferably consist of a tank/bucket made from a reliable material such as stainless steel.

Most of the portable electric machines are small in size. They can be carried by hand from one point to the other. Their capacity is thus low and shouldn’t be expected to serve a huge her of cattle.

Top Rate Portable Electric Milking Machine

Hantop 2-Teats 7 L Stainless Bucket Electric Milking Machine

The hantop electric milker is a simple yet efficient machine that delivers the guarantee of high quality milk at all times. This is a machine that observes high milk hygiene. Once sealed, no dirt, urine or hair can get into the milk.

The fact that this milking machine is portable makes it very friendly. It can suit any kind of dairy setting. It may however fail to meet the needs of huge dairy farms. Such farms would need to invest in a larger milking machine or a portable milking parlor.

Product Specifiations
  • Size: 10.2×10.2×9.8 inches
  • Weight: 6.1 pounds
  • Capacity: 7 liters
  • Material: Stainless steel
Product Features
  • Adjustable vacuum pump
  • 7L bucket
  • Small milking unit(kit)
  • Universal adapter

Adjustable Vacuum Pump

A vacuum pump delivers the vacuum necessary in milking cattle. The efficiency of the pump also determines the efficiency of the entire machine. The presence of an adjustable vacuum pump raises the bar quite high for this milking machine’s competitors.

The adjustable vacuum pump is simply designed making it easy to use and operate. It may be used by any class of farmer as it doesn’t require sophisticated training. This is not to mention that it delivers sufficient power to the milking machine.

7 Liter Stainless Steel Bucket

Portable milking machines are known to be small. However, Hantop milking machine is not your ordinary milker. This is a machine that can hold a whopping 7 liters. This is incredible capacity that will make you forget that you were using portable milking equipment.

Pros
  • Vacuum can be adjusted
  • Huge milk capacity
  • May be used for goat milking
  • Fast and efficient
Cons
  • The bucket is flimsy
  • Sanitization may be challenging

Components Of Electric Milking Machines

An electric milker has a lot of similarities with other milkers. The only major difference is the power source. Some of the outstanding components of these machines include;

Vacuum Pump

Milk extraction from cows requires the existence of a vacuum. This is the pressure difference that makes milk to flow from the teats into the teat cup. This pressure difference is created by a vacuum pump that should have a capacity to produce at least 6 CFM of vacuum.

The Bucket

This is the tank that collects the milk. It is attached to the milking claws. Different milkers have different types and sizes of milking buckets. While some may have small buckets, some will have huge ones.

Every type of bucket has its advantages. The small buckets are portable and are easy to transport from one end to the other. On the other hand, the huge buckets may not be portable but they will hold a large amount of milk. You therefore do not need to empty the bucket every now and then.

Inflations And Shells

These are the parts of the milking machine that replace the hands. In hand milking, it is the hands (fingers) that get in direct contact with the teat. When it comes to automated milking, shells and inflations get the direct contact with the teats.

The shells and inflations come in different shapes and sizes. The size is not determined by the size of the animal but the size of the teats. Just like the bra, you need to select the inflations that are fitting and comfortable.

Milking Pulsator

These are the vacuum regulators. They turn the vacuum on and off. This ensures that the teats are not on constant vacuum. This not only ensures efficient milking but also protects the teats from damage and injuries.

Claws Or Elbows

This is the part of the milking machine that goes in the bottom of the inflations. It connects the milking lines to the inflations. In milking machines that use buckets, they will connect the inflations to the bucket.

Vacuum Gauge

Vacuum observation and management is vital in milking machines. Too low pressure may not draw any milk while too much pressure will hurt the animals.

Normally, the vacuum needs to be maintained at 12-13 hg. This is the most favorable vacuum for any type of pulsator. Maintain this vacuum level on the gauge and your milking will be comfortable and efficient.

Regulator

While the vacuum gauge indicates the vacuum level, the regulator does the actual job of regulating the vacuum level. This is the device that will make it possible to regulate and maintain the desired vacuum.

An Adapter

Adapters aren’t found in every milking machine. The presence or absence of one will be determined by the type of milking bucket in use. Surge bucket milkers with a lid that has a surge pulsator do not require an adapter.

Conclusion

Robotic/ automatic milking is here to stay. One of the best ways of making the best of modern milking equipment and techniques is investing in a milking machine. Electric milking machines stand out in the milking industry.

Electric milkers are not only fast but also very efficient. They can be used is all dairy farm setups. They deliver high quality milk and are easy to use and maintain. We hope that our review of some of the top ranking electric milking machines will help you select a machine that will transform your dairy farm.

 

Portable Milking Machines And Their Features

In this era of automated milking, having a milking machine is paramount. These are machines that make it easy to draw milk from animals. They bring in speed, quality and efficiency that lacked in hand milking. Portable milking machines rank among some of the popular milking machines in use today.

Mobile milking machines come with loads of benefits. These machines are not only portable but also facilitate easy quality milk collection.

The industry has seen the introduction of different types of portable milk machines. All these machines have been introduced to meet the different needs in the farms. This makes it important to understand the different types of portable milking machines.

The Different Types Of Portable Milking Machines

Portable milking machines have numerous variances. The differences will be brought about by the different needs met by these machines. Some of the major reasons why these machines may be different include; the type of animal milked, fuels used to run the machine, size of the machine, price of the milker and the bucket/bottle capacity.

Now that there are hundreds of different types of portable milking machines, we may not be able to review all these machines. However, we have reviewed the best portable milking machines in each of the above categories.

We have also gone an extra mile to help you use(operate), maintain, clean and repair the portable milking machines. You can learn how to efficiently operate your portable milk machine and boost your dairy cow milk profitability at minimal cost.

Features Of A Portable Milking Machine

Pulsator

Pulsators are designed with the cow in mind. Manufacturers ensure that the cow feels comfortable. The pulsator adopts a streamlined design and is designed to provide top of the range operation.

Pulsators can either be electric powered or pneumatic (vacuum operated). The vacuum operated ones depend on air to move the slide valve and the plunge. The plunge and slide valve are housed in oil to facilitate smooth movement.

The pulsator comes in handy in controlling the machine’s pulsation. The pulsation is regulated by a needle valve. This valve may be factory set or adjustable.

Vacuum operated pulsators tend to be affected by temperature change. There’s need to be keen on temperature changes in the dairy farm.

Electric powered pulsators are operated by master control. The master control sends commands through electric current for the pulsator to adjust pulsation ratio and rate. Unlike vacuum pulsators, electric pulsators aren’t affected by temperature changes.

Milk Receptors

Milk receptors are quite vital in milking machines. They can either be classified as claw type or suspension. Most portable milking machines tend to have the claw type receptors.

Claw type receptors are attached to the milker pail/bucket. The receptors facilitate delivery of milk to the milk buckets. Claw type receptors have an air inlet that may be in the claw or the teat cup liners. The inlet facilitates admission of air that aids in lifting the milk into the pail.

When using claw type receptors, it’s important to have a keen eye on the air admission hole. The hole should always be clean to avoid excess ignition that could cause milk rancidity.

Vacuum Gauge

Milking machines that rely on air to milk are entirely dependent on the existence of a vacuum. Vacuum levels have a dramatic effect on milking machine operation. This makes it necessary to have a reliable system to measure and monitor vacuum levels.

Most dairy farms adopt vacuum gauges or mercury manometers to measure vacuum levels. Both types of gauges can give inaccurate results but mercury manometers tend to be more accurate. If the gauge you are using gives the same readings when the vacuum pump is on and off, it needs replacement.

Vacuum Tank

The vacuum tank only serves its purpose if the vacuum levels are regulated. Milk lines as well as balance tanks play a major role in ensuring that the rig milking vacuum is maintained.

What’s The Role Of Vacuum Tanks/ Balance Tanks?

Some decades ago, vacuum pumps were quite small. This made many dairy farmers assume that vacuum tanks were reserve tanks. This tank served as the trap to stop milk and cleaning solutions from entering the vacuum pump.

Modern milking machines have large vacuum pumps and normally have a reserve tank whose capacity is 50 gallons. This tank can either be made of plastic, galvanized metal of stainless steel.

Teat Cup Liners And Shells

Teat cup liners (inflations) and shells facilitate effective milking. For the efficiency to be achieved, they need to be compatible. Compatible shells and liners will ensure that they is enough room for full collapse without hitting inner walls.

The liners should be carefully selected. This is vital in preventing ridding up and downward slippage. Narrow and immediate bore liners are known to be very reliable. These are the recommended liners.

If you have been using wide bore liners and wish to change to narrow bore liners, its important to know that;

  • You should expect more drop-offs. This will be experienced until when you learn how to handle the milking unit. Less tension is necessary with narrow bore liners.
  • The milking speed may drop at first.
  • Some cows may never adapt to the narrow bore liners. These are mainly the long and flabby-teated cows.

Teat Cup Liner Softness

Milking machine teat cup liners tend to harden with time. They are also prone to damages. Such liners should be replaced immediately. The recommended liner changes are;

Material Milkings
Synthetic Rubber 1,000 to 1,200
Natural Rubber 500-700
Silicone 5,000-10,000

 

Challenges To Expect With Portable Milking Machines

Portable milking machine benefits are numerous. However, there are some challenges that will be associated with portable milk machines. Some of these challenges include;

  1. An introduction of the machine to old herds may result in drop in production. The production may normalize with time but some herds may fail to recover.
  2. Most portable milking machines are power dependent. This means that you cannot use them if you do not have a power source.
  3. The portable machines increase the risk of teat and udder infections. Diseases such as mastitis in dairy cows may take some days to detect. These are the risky days when it can be transmitted from one cow to the other.
  4. Milk machine maintenance is not easy. It may also be costly. This means that you need to have provision for routine maintenance.

Conclusion

The market is awash with different types of portable milking machines. This makes it quite challenging to settle on the best milk machine. To settle on the right machine for your dairy farm, you need to check out different types of milk machines and appliances that draw milk from cows.

This post is aimed at helping you understand these portable milking appliances. The information detailed here should help you settle on the machine that meets your dairy farm milking needs. Have fun milking with these incredible machines.

Modern Efficient And Affordable Bucket Milking Machines

Hand milking is tedious and tiring. Mechanization began in 1850’s when the first bucket milkers were invented. These bucket milk machines were crude and posed a health hazard to the cows. This was until around 1900 when improved bucket milkers were introduced in U.S dairy farms.

The History Of Bucket Milking Machines

Back in the 1800’s, farmers dreamed of having a machine that could simplify their milking. These dreams came true in 1895 when the Thistle vacuum milker was introduced. The thistle had a number of challenges prompting more research. In 1898, the USDA granted a pulsator machine approval.

Most of the milk machines developed between 1900 and 1920 looked more like clones of each other. The machines had upright pails that were on the floor. The buckets were made of brass, tinned steel, aluminum or copper. These materials posed a challenge to maintenance of milk quality as they added flavor to the milk. The quality was also compromised by the long rubber milk.

Pine tree milker, which was developed by pine tree milking machine Company, was one of the earliest milking machines. This was built by the Babson brothers (Henry, Gus and Fred). This was a mailing company in Chicago. Henry made friends with Thomas Edison with whom they sold Edison phonography, Burlington watches, shoes, and clothing, Babson Records and farm supplies. Their first dairy item was a Mellote cream separator.

In 1922, The Surge Bucket milker was invented by Herbert McCornack. Its base was made from a family roasting pan. The milk machine was held in place under the cow by a steel spring rod attached to surcingle straps (leather). Herbert was also the brains behind the Sharples cream separator, can washer and numerous farm tools. He boasts of over 50 United State patents.

Advantages Of The Surge Milker

  • Better milking experience owing to the short pulsation tubes.
  • Parts and services were easily accessible (at least once per year)
  • Had a 3 year warrant
  • All parts were rust proof
  • Was easy to take apart and clean

A new surge milker was introduced by Babson Bros Co in 1950s. This milking machine features a steel bucket. It was developed in Belgium. The technology was adopted in Chicago where seamless steel bucket milking machines were produced in three different sizes.

The new surge milking machine had numerous improvements. It had a lid with slanted milk inlets. The slanting was vital in distribution of pull and tug on cow udder quarters. It also ensured that milk doesn’t go back in the pulsator.

In the 20th century, two milking machine brands dominated the market. First and foremost was the Surge belly milker. This was a specialized milker whose pulsator and claws were combined into one assembly. Its production was stopped in 1999. It’s however still in use by small scale farmers especially by goat farmers. It’s a very effective goat milking machine.

The second milking machine was one developed by Delaval. This was different from the Surge belly milker in that it sat on the floor. Its milking claws had a milk line that attached them to the bucket while the pulsator sat on the bucket lid. This machine is still in use to date with its production being across the globe after the expiry of the original Delaval patents.

Tips For Choosing The Perfect Bucket Milking Machine

Bucket milk machines come in different shapes and sizes. All these machines will work for you but you need to be keen when selecting milking machines. To be on the safe side, consider going for Delaval or surge style milking machines. These are the machines that will serve you for years without the need to modify or upgrade.

Well, there are some universal bucket milking machines that can be modified to accommodate modern pulsators. These machines are however hard to find. You do not want to end up with an obsolete collector item.

What Are The Features Of A Good Bucket Milking Machine?

Basically, bucket milking machines perform two functions;

  • Exposing cow teats to a partial vacuum thus causing milk to flow
  • Massaging the teats to relieve of continuous milking vacuum

Features Of A Bucket Milking Machine

Vacuum Pump

Modern milking machines depend on the existence of a partial vacuum to perform efficiently. This vacuum is created when air is moved from a confined section such as the milking machine pipes. The vacuum level is determined by the amount of air drawn from the space/section.

The vacuum level is measured by a vacuum gauge. It’s measured in Kilopascals (metric). It’s also measure in inches of mercury vacuum. For instance, the removal of one half of the air would give a reading of 15 inches mercury vacuum or 50 kilopascals.

The Milking Unit

The milking machine unit comprises of;

  1. Milk receptacle:
  2. Teat cup claw (attached to pipelines of floor pail)
  3. Bucket
  4. Pulsator
  5. Teat-cup liners (inflations) and shells

The milking unit operates by causing the chamber between the liner and the shell to alternate from air source to vacuum. The teat-cup liner is always a vacuum. When air is admitted between the liner and the shell, the line collapses. The collapse transfers pressure on the teat. This results in a massaging action. This is referred to as the massage or rest phase. During this phase, milk does not flow.

When the pulsator exposes the space between the shell and liner, the milk phase kicks in. the fact that there’s equal pressure on both sides results in an opening effect. The teat is exposed to the vacuum and internal milk pressure that forces milk out of the teat.

Understanding The Pulsator
Pulsator Rate

This refers to the number of cycles in a minute. Most pulsators’ rates range between 40 and 60  cyles in a minute.

Pulsation Ratio

This is the length of time in a cycle during which the pulsator is in the milking phase in comparison to the massage phase. E.g. 60:40. This means that in every cycle, the teat cup milks for 60% of the time and will be closed 40% of the time.

Pulsation Phase

This refers to the pulsation method popularly known as simultaneous (4×0) or (2×2) alternating pulsation.

Simultaneous Pulsation

This simply means that the machine is designed to control all the teat-cups in the same sequence. This is to mean that all the teats will be milked and massaged at the same time.

Alternating Pulsation

Just as the name suggests, these milking machines are designed in such a way that the teat-cups will operate in an alternating manner. While two teat cups milk, the other two will be massaging. Milk machines differ as some will have the alternating effect starting from the left half and others from the right half.

How Are Pulsators Activated?

Most bucket milking machines are vacuum operated. Their pulsators thus use air to move the slide valve or plunger which blocks and unblocks the air passage thus producing the pulsating action. The plunger is housed in oil for lubrication.

The pulsation rate is controlled by the needle valve. This may be manually adjustable of factory set. The pulsation rate in vacuum pulsators may be affected by temperature changes.

Electric operated pulsators can be operated by master controls. Such controls send commands to the pulsator. Electric controlled or operated pulsators aren’t affected by temperature changes. It therefore produces constant pulsation rate.

Some pulsators allow the farmer to customize their milking machine. This is only possible with pulsators with variable pulsation ratios and rates.

Milk Receptacle

Bucket milking machines can either be claw type of suspension type. The claw type comes with a floor pail. It may also have a pipeline system transferring milk through a hose.

The milk is lifted by air into the pail or hose. This air is introduced through an inlet. The inlet is located inside the claws. It may also be located inside individual teat cups liner. The admission hole should always be clean. Care needs to be taken to ensure that the admission hole is not enlarged as excessive agitation can result in rancidity problems.

Alternatively, air can be administered by use of a two vacuum level system. This system pushes the milk up the hose as a column into the pail or pipeline.

Teat Cup Liners (Inflations) And Shells

Teat liners and shells are available in different combinations. You need to be very keen when making your order. It’s not every shell that will be compatible with your liner. You need to be sure that the liner has ample space inside the shell to facilitate total collapse without hitting inside walls.

Go for liners whose mouth piece has the capability of preventing downward spillage. Such liners will be effective in avoiding ridding up action on the udder. Narrow to intermediate bore liners are recommended. These liners result in less irritation to the udder.

Liner Softness

Liners (inflations) need to be replaced twice a year. Manufacturers have recommended replacement durations depending on the type of liner and milkings. They should however be replaced immediately if damaged.

Here Are The Recommended Replacements

Type (material) Milkings (Cows)
Synthetic rubber 1000-1200
Natural rubber 500-700
Silicone 5000-10,000

 

Using A Bucket Milking Machine With Ease

Generally, cows are terrified of milking machines. Their first experience with the machines may be nasty. Understand the machine and its operations before introducing it to the cows. Use your hands as test teats. Basically, have fun with the machine.

Once comfortable with the machine, introduce it to the barn. Stick to the basics. Ensure that the vacuum gauge reads between 11 and 15 inches. Normally, veterinaries will recommend 13 inches. Its pulsation should be 60 pulsations per minute. Each pulsation contains a pair of beats (upbeat and downbeat).

Most bucket machines will have an Allen screw. This crew is fixed at the back of the pulsator. It comes in handy in adjusting the pulsation. Always be keen when turning the screw. Listen to the pulsation rate as you do so.

The vacuum pump shouldn’t come in contact with the cow. Place it as far as possible. If possible, have it in a different room. This will be facilitated by increasing the length of the vacuum line. A long line has increased benefits as it caters for more vacuum reserve. While working with a long vacuum line, ensure that you have a vacuum gauge on the line. This makes it easy to monitor the line and vacuum levels.

Having the vacuum pump away from the cows lets the cow relax throughout the milking session. It also makes milking quiet. In areas prone to freezing, the vacuum pump should be located in a dry room. The temperatures should be controlled to avoid freezing.

Effective Way Of Introducing Milking Machine To A Cow

A cow may take off on the first sighting of a milking machine. Others will not run but will drastically reduce their production. The initial introduction determines the cow’s response. Bring the bucket milking machine to the barn but do not turn it on. Let the cow get used to it and feel comfortable around the machine.

Put the claws under the cow without turning it on. This lets the cow get accustomed to the machine and the feeling of claws on the teats. Do not be in a rush.

The learning process becomes easy if the cow has growing hearing and seeing the milking machine. Introduce the claws by starting with the furthest rear quarter. The final claw should be that of the closest quarter of the front teats.

Avoid sucking in too much air or losing the claw vacuum. If the pulsator isn’t beating, close the claw and wait for it to start beating. Remember that machine milking is similar to learning how to drive a car. At first, it will seem difficult with so much to remember but as soon as it becomes routine it will be very easy.

Ensure that the bucket has the capacity to hold the milk. Empty the bucket after milking every cow if you aren’t sure whether it can hold the milk from two or more cows. Too much milk in the bucket may see the milk getting sucked up by the vacuum pump. You have better be safe than sorry.

Maintaining Your Bucket Milker

Many people do not enjoy the milking machine cleaning process. Neither do I. I have been cleaning bucket milkers since childhood and it has always been tiring. Back then, the buckets would be broken down, scrubbed and left to dry. Nowadays, people have adopted some shortcuts. The claws are no longer broken down. Instead, it is put in a pail of water and left to suck water into the bucket. The bucket is then scrubbed with a brush. This becomes easy and saves a lot of time. Sanitizing solutions may be used to disinfect the milking machine.

It’s important that the machine is disassembled once a week. This allows complete cleaning. Milk residue may be hard to clean and needs lots of scrubbing.

Rubber inflations also need to get some attention. These inflations should be replaced after 1200 milking. It’s safer to replace them before they hit the 1200 milking mark. You may schedule to replace them twice a year even if they aren’t damaged.

Conclusion

Bucket milking evidently has more benefits over hand milking. It not only offers efficient milking but also guarantees milk-out consistency. It also gives the farmer the ability to engage in other chores as the cow milks.

Though the argument against bucket machines in regards to cow safety still stands, research has shown that properly fitted and maintained machines are no threat to cow health. The milking technology has been evolving over the past decade and the bucket milking machine hasn’t yet seen its best.