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.