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Arrange for the milking machine to be serviced.
This is one of the most important machines on the farm. Without it functioning correctly, you won’t be able to harvest milk to sell on.
It is also important that it is working correctly, as it is one of the few machines on the farm that comes in direct contact with the cow.
The important thing to watch for when getting your milking machine serviced is vacuum, pulsation and liners.
Vacuum should be maximum 48kpa. Higher vacuum than this can cause teat-end damage. Teat-end damage is one of the main causes of mastitis.
The pulsation ratio should be 65:35, with a rest phase of greater than 20 milliseconds.
Over time, liners lose their shape, which results in longer milkings. These should be changed every 2,000 milkings and at the start of every new season.
Rubber bends and pipes
The other thing to watch for are rubber bends and rubber pipes.
Bacteria can harbour in cracks and crevices in rubber ware and release into the milk during milking, causing elevated TBC levels. These should be checked for quality and changed accordingly.
Short pulse tubes should also be changed every year too.
The other thing that should be done is to check meal feeders. These should be calibrated, as settings can change over time.
The bulk tank should be checked also. Sometimes seals in motors can deteriorate and need to be replaced.
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