How to care for the milking machine?

Modern technologies that are being introduced into the agricultural sector have led to the fact that almost every cattle owner strives to accustom a cow to a milking machine. With the advent of special equipment, the process of milk extraction has become significantly faster and easier. The equipment costs quickly pay off, which is why the device instantly gained popularity among farmers.

Methods of machine milking of cows

There are 3 main ways of producing milk:

natural;
machine;
manual.

In the natural method, when the calf sucks the udder on its own, milk is released due to the vacuum that forms in the calf’s mouth. For the manual method, this process is due to the squeezing of milk from the teat tank directly by hand by a worker or the owner of the animal. And the machine method involves artificial suction or squeezing using a special milking machine.

The process of milk ejection itself occurs quickly. It is important that the cow is milked as much as possible - the amount of residual fluid in the udder should be minimal. To fulfill this main requirement, there are a number of rules for machine and manual milking, which consist of:

preparatory;
basic;
additional procedures.

Preliminary preparation consists of treating the udder with clean warm water, followed by wiping and massage, milking a small amount of milk into a special container, connecting and setting up the apparatus and putting milking cups on the animal’s teats. Professional milking operators perform the entire list of procedures in less than a minute.

The main part is the direct extraction of milk. Machine milking is the process of extracting milk from the udder using special equipment. The whole process takes on average 4-6 minutes, including machine dodoing.

The final stage consists of a series of final procedures - turning off the equipment, removing the glasses from the udder and final treatment of the teats with an antiseptic.

When machine milking occurs, milk is extracted from the udder teat using a milking cup. In this case, he performs the function of a calf sucking milk or a milkman who mechanically acts on him. There are two types of milking cups:

single-chamber - an outdated type that is still used in production;
two-chamber – modern glasses with high efficiency and minimal trauma.

Regardless of the chosen method of obtaining milk, the product is released in cycles in separate portions. This is explained by the physiology of the animal. The time period during which one portion of milk comes out is called the milking cycle or pulse by experts. It is divided into beats. They are defined as the period during which one interaction of an animal with a machine takes place.

Principles of machine milking of cows

The principle of hardware milk production is based on the various physiological characteristics of the cow. The principle of stimulation for the milk letdown reflex has been known for thousands of years.

In the process of milking milk with special glasses, exactly as with the natural sucking of the udder by a calf, the nerve cells and receptors that are located on the nipples are activated. They are most sensitive to pressure, and when it is present, an impulse is transmitted to the brain to release oxytocin. After a few seconds, it enters the animal’s udder through the circulatory system.

Technologies for machine milking of cows must comply with the following zootechnical requirements:

they do not start milking if the cow has not let in milk;
the preparatory stage should last no longer than 60 seconds;
milking takes a little more than 4 minutes, but no longer than 6 minutes;
the optimal speed of milking a cow is 2-3 liters per minute;
during the period of maximum milk production, milk comes out of the nipples completely;
the process should be adjusted so that there is no need for manual milking;
Proper machine milking of cows does not cause any harmful effects on the udder and health of the cow in principle, which is an inevitable consequence of overexposure to glasses on the teats.

The operating principle of all milking machines is as follows: rarefied air from a vacuum wire enters the pulsator through a special hose, after which it then moves into the inter-wall space. This completes one stroke of sucking. However, in the chamber under the teats at the teat cup, the vacuum is constantly exposed.

To produce cow's milk use:

push-pull devices based on the compression-sucking principle;
three-stroke with an additional rest period.

When compressed, air from the atmosphere enters the chambers between the walls of the milking cups, which leads to compression of the teats. During the sucking stroke, the pressure in the chambers stabilizes and milk comes out of the nipple.

Also, due to high pressure and vacuum, blood, lymph and various gases enter the udder, which causes the nipples to become significantly larger. This is a rather painful process that can lead to pathological changes in cells. That is why the third step was introduced - rest - to reduce the negative impact on tissue. Detailed machine milking of cows is presented in the video at the end of the article.

Preparing the milking machine for operation

A milking machine is a special technical device that comes into direct contact with the animal and products. Therefore, it requires special care and preliminary preparation before each milking.

Types of milking machines

The choice of milking machines depends on the scale of production. Conventionally, they are divided into industrial and household. Industrial equipment can operate in automatic and semi-automatic modes. These are entire milking complexes with an automatic control system. They are installed on large farms with more than 100 head of cattle.

For milking a small herd, there are special mini-devices that can be easily carried or transported on a special trolley. It is quite possible to make a milking machine for cows at home, but to do this you need to purchase ready-made components: a hanging unit, a pulsator, a collector, a bucket. When assembling it yourself, you can save money and get a good quality structure.

Milking machines differ in the following parameters:

according to working strokes - two-, three-stroke and continuous suction;
according to the principle of operation - squeezing or vacuum;
by synchronicity or change of beats;
stationary, mobile, portable (at the milking place);
by the method of collecting milk;
by degree of automation.

The most common today are push-pull vacuum devices. Continuous milking is more often used for adult animals with an established milking process.

How to properly milk a cow with a milking machine

When using automatic devices, you must follow the following rules for machine milking of cows:

Before starting the process, you need to inspect the animal's udder for any problems - diseases or damage. It is also advisable to regularly conduct tests to ensure that milk meets sanitary and epidemiological standards.
If several cows are served by one milking machine at once, then it is necessary to draw up a special calendar and the order of their processing. A certain sequence must be followed. First of all, those cows that have recently calved are milked, then the young and healthy ones are milked, and the old and “problem” cows are the last to be milked.
Before placing glasses on the cow's teats, 2-3 streams are manually milked from each udder. All milk must be collected in a special container. Leaving it on the floor is strictly prohibited, as this can lead to an outbreak of diseases and the rapid spread of harmful bacteria. A person who works with a cow must be able to visually assess the quality of milk - check for the presence of clots, inclusions or any other deviations in color and texture.
To prevent the cow from developing mastitis and to keep the milk clean, the teats are washed and then wiped dry with each milking. To do this, it is advisable to use disposable paper towels or an individual fabric cloth after the milking machine, which is washed after each use.
After turning off the unit, you need to wait until the vacuum drops inside the glasses. There is no need to forcefully pull on the cow's udder to remove the equipment. This can cause mastitis.

Attention! To prevent cows from transmitting diseases to each other, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the rules of the procedure, hygiene standards and thoroughly wash the unit after each use.

Why do you need a milking machine?

The girl in the video shares her experience of how she milked by hand for 3 years, and with the appearance of her fifth cow, she decided to make her work easier. Moreover, two of them were slow-moving.
Gives advice on how to prepare a barn, because it requires a hard floor, electricity and maintaining the temperature in winter above +5 degrees.
Describes how to accustom a cow to a milking machine.
Share your experience on how to correctly put glasses on your nipples the first time without losing the vacuum.

General rules for mechanical milking

Before each milking, regularly check the udder for damage. It would be a good idea to regularly test the quality of milk for compliance with sanitary standards.
If you have more than one cow, make a milking order and always stick to it. Cows that have just or recently calved are milked first, then the young and healthy ones are milked, and then all the rest. Sick cows should always be milked last, after which the entire system must be disinfected with a special solution.
Before putting on the teats, hand milk 2-3 streams from each udder. To do this, keep a special container on hand to collect this milk. Under no circumstances should it be left on the floor, otherwise a severe bacterial outbreak may soon occur. Carefully visually evaluate the quality: are there any clots, inclusions, deviations in color or texture. This method of milking greatly stimulates the cow to start producing milk.
To avoid mastitis and to obtain pure milk, you need to rinse and then wipe the teats dry at each milking. Each cow should have its own cloth or paper towel. It must be washed before next use.
Turn on the milking unit and wait a few minutes until the pump reaches the required speed and the required amount of vacuum begins to form. Watch the vacuum gauge, otherwise you may cause irreparable damage to the udder of a cow or goat. Make sure that the pulsator is operating correctly and that its frequency is not impaired.
Once you have prepared the teats and about 2 minutes have passed, place the teat cups on them. Make sure that the rubber is tight to the skin. The collector should be located directly under the udder with an even distribution of force.
It is better to under-milk the machine a little than to over-milk. The latter leads to the appearance of hyperkeratosis. Therefore, it is highly recommended to constantly monitor the process; as soon as the milk level begins to noticeably decrease, it is time to disconnect the milking cups. Do the last few milkings by hand.
Do not forcefully pull the teat cups after finishing work. Wait until the vacuum drops after turning off the unit. This will protect the milking machine, as well as the cow from mastitis.
For some livestock, after removing the hanging part, treat each teat with a solution with antiseptic properties. This will reduce the risk of transmitting possible diseases from one cow to another and simply for preventive purposes. Mastitis is easily treated in the early stages, and compliance with hygiene standards will significantly reduce the risk of inflammatory processes.
It is highly recommended to wash the entire system with acceptable detergents after each use, especially if for some reason the device will not be used for some time. Milk residues are an excellent environment for the development of all kinds of bacteria, which can subsequently cause damage to human health. Wipe off dirt from the entire surface of the milking machine, especially in areas in contact with your hands.
Replace nipple rubber and hoses according to the regulations, as prescribed by the manufacturer. Do not forget to replace all rubber seals with new ones.

Read also Leaf venation table with examples

Milking a cow with a milking machine

The quality of the video is quite amateur, but it contains a lot of tips on how to properly milk a cow with a milking machine.

If you found useful information in our article, we will be glad if you share it on your social networks or forums as a thank you. We are also waiting for your questions and additions in your reviews. We will add any new useful items to the appropriate section.

How to milk a cow with a milking machine? Is this a question? There is nothing simpler: connect, milk and be done with it. There is a chance that the man will say exactly that.

Guys, what do they want? Put a heavy load on your back, a sofa, for example, open a window to the world, turn on the TV, that is, and start discussing global world problems. And “minor” problems, that is, everything else, is left to women.

Almost the same with the milking machine, I supposedly bought it, and now you go and milk. What about the leadership role? Will we read the instructions when nothing else helps?

Let's look at how to properly milk a cow with a milking machine.

Why milk a cow with a milking machine?

Milking cows with a milking machine refers to machine milking. Machine milking has long been used in livestock farms with large numbers of cattle. On private farmsteads, where there are few cows, milking machines also have a good reputation. The devices increase the speed of milk collection, ensure the sterility of raw materials and, of course, reduce the load on the person doing the milking (let’s call him the machine milking operator). One milking machine can serve 7-10 cows in 1 hour. If you purchase a machine with 2 milking kits, then 2 animals are milked at the same time. The speed of milk production doubles.

In order to begin the milking process using milking equipment, you need to prepare everything, the main thing is to prepare the cow for milking.

Getting used to the device.

No matter how quietly the installation operates, it still produces enough noise (unless, of course, it is hidden in a noise-absorbing casing). And extraneous noise can frighten the cow and cause her stress. Stress will not make us or the cow happy. The lactation process decreases, the cow does not give milk. Therefore, a heifer or a cow that has not previously been milked using a machine must be accustomed to machine milking. Animals must get used to the noise.

Any animal senses affection very well, so you shouldn’t shout at a cow for no reason, much less hit it. If your cow is particularly shy, you need to approach her so that the animal can see you.

The easiest way to accustom a cow to the noise of a working machine comes down to the following. First, we turn on the milking machine at idle speed, pour feed into the feeder, then we bring the cow into the barn, maybe you have, of course, this structure is called a milking box, and we feed. It is advisable to do this procedure 2 times a day. After a week (according to scientists), the cow will get used to the noise of the running engine.

After calving, farmers recommend milking cows by hand to develop the udder. In addition, colostrum has a thick consistency and can clog the equipment: it will be difficult to rinse. On large farms, cows are milked using a machine immediately after calving. To do this, purchase installations that are recommended for this type of milk collection.

If the animal is accustomed to the process of manual milking and the noise of the equipment, a device is placed on the udder. In this case, the operator must always be nearby and watch the behavior of the cow. Animals respond well to their name; when they hear it, they calm down. The intonation with which the operator pronounces the words plays a big role. The cow gets used to the apparatus in 3-4 days.

All milking machines of our plant have a pulsation, which corresponds to the number of sucking movements of the calf when sucking milk from the udder, which brings the process of milk collection closer to the natural feeding of the calf.

Preparing animals for machine milking is usually not difficult. Adaptation happens quickly. It is only necessary to accustom the animal gradually, without violence.

Preparing for milking.

Before milking a cow using a machine or manually, it is necessary to prepare the udder. It is cleaned of dirt, washed, disinfected and dried. In milking parlors (on farms) there are special passages for cleaning the udder, where the legs, belly and udder of animals are washed. Lucky are those who work on the farm.

In private farms, everything is done the old fashioned way, that is, manually, since automation in this case is unlikely to justify itself.

Before milking, it is necessary to check the operation of the equipment. If the device operates with a hissing sound, the pump is leaking air. The installation is turned off and the fault is eliminated. A ringing sound indicates a problem with the motor or pump. If the pump is oil, then moving parts may need lubrication.

First of all, prepare a warm soap solution (temperature, approximately 35-40 degrees Celsius), by diluting water with laundry soap.
Then the udder is washed (during washing, the cow receives an udder massage, as well as stimulation of the milk ejection reflex). Knead all 4 lobes of the mammary gland. The procedure is especially important for heifers and for cows with high milk production. Residues of milk can become stale and cause mastitis.
After which the udder is rinsed with clean water.
The next operation sounds like this: “Applying disinfectant to the cow’s teats.” This operation is easiest to do using a conventional sprayer. Immediately after treating the teats, you can also treat the milking cups.
After this procedure, it is necessary to massage the nipples and milk a little milk, which allows you to remove the bacterial plug and detect signs of the initial stage of mastitis.
The subsequent operation consists of drying the nipples with a disposable towel.
All that remains is to put the milking cups on the dry nipples.

Immediately before milking, you need to tie the tail to the hind leg; the animal will try to ward off insects with it, and may accidentally hit the operator with it. They tie it with a special thin rope or with the hair itself at the tip of the tail. However, if the cow’s udder allows it, then you can do without tying; it’s enough to just tuck the tail between the leg and the udder.

How to properly milk a cow with a milking machine ">

Milking procedure.

According to research by scientists:

After calving, cows are milked every 3 hours. This will increase lactation. After six months they switch to morning and evening milking. It is better to collect milk at the same time so that the animal’s body gets used to full milk production.

There should be no more than 60 seconds between processing the udder and putting the milking machine on the teats. The glasses are attached quickly, one by one to each nipple.

If the milking machine provides for the simultaneous milking of 2 cows, then first put glasses on both animals, then start milking.

How to accustom a cow to a milking machine

Preparation for automatic milking of cows occurs in several stages:

Prepare the udder and room.
The cow is gradually adapted to the noise from the apparatus.

Preparation of the animal's udder includes treatment before and after the procedure, and also protects in every possible way from the formation of mechanical damage.

Comment! It is worth paying attention to the preparation of the room for milking and the psychological state of the animal.

Experts recommend:

Always collect milk at the same time;
carry out the procedure in the same place (then the cow itself will enter its box out of habit), adaptation takes an average of 5-7 days;
the first days in the box, the cow is milked by hand until she gets used to the environment, and then they begin to accustom her to the milking machine;
accustom the animal to noise - cows are very timid and can experience stress from any excess noise; loud sounds from the milking machine can completely stop lactation.

Advice! It is advisable to purchase a milking machine that has a muffler. If this is not possible, the device must be operated continuously so that the animal becomes completely accustomed to it.

Experts are confident that it is not at all difficult to accustom an animal to machine milking. The owner must be patient and understanding with the cow, and not show aggression or use physical force. This way he will achieve success in a short period of time.

How to wash the milking machine

Milk residues and fatty film are a substrate for bacterial growth. They cause the milk to sour faster and can cause inflammation of the cow’s udder. To prevent this from happening, the device is washed after each use.

The operating principle of the milking machine allows this to be done quickly and without difficulty. Warm water is poured into a bucket, soda or detergent is added. The milking cups are lowered into the solution and the pump is turned on.

Water passes through the milk system and enters the can, washing away any remaining milk. To ensure that there are no drops left anywhere, the vacuum regulator is set to the maximum value before starting. Afterwards the water is drained.

The hoses should be straightened to avoid kinks. Wash the milk container with a sponge.

There is no need to clean the milk system tubes with brushes after each milking. It is enough to carry out such cleaning once a week.