borne. All the equipment is centralized and the
the calf, in a way machine milking is different
stimulate higher milk yields it is not justi able to
cows come to the parlour for milking.
from hand milking or calf suckling. A constant
install them for a low yielding herd. Manual
vacuum is applied on the teat to create a
milking for cows that produce more than 10 litres
Basic components of milking machines
pressure difference across the teat canal and
per session is oen ineffective and milking
Vacuum system
keep the machine attached to the cow. e
machines should be considered.
is comprises of a vacuum pump and reserve tank, vacuum regulator, pipelines and long pulse tube(s) forming an enclosed space.
vacuum congests the teats and squeezes milk from the teat. Atmospheric air is allowed once per second to collapse and relieve congestion around the end of the teats creating a pulsation.
Pulsators ese alter the vacuum level around the teat so
Milking units or cluster e assembly of four teat cups connected to a
e cost of labour throughout Kenya is not high and this may not be a major consideration. Where
is pulsation is important as it massages,
the labour costs are high such as in developed
relieves and prevents damage to the teats.
countries, automation is necessary so as to cut
Factors to consider when installing milking
employed to milk do not do a good job, oen
machines
leaving milk in the udder. Farmers can solve this
Number of cows
problem by going for the milking machines.
that milking occurs without uid congestion and edema of the teat tissues.
e cost and quality of manual labour
costs. But skilled milkers are scarce. ose
Although you can install a milking machine
claw and mounted with a valve that admits and
for just one cow, it is not an economical
cuts off the vacuum to the unit.
undertaking. If the size of the herd ranges between 5 to 10 milking cows then the single
electricity so a source of power is important. But
Milk removal system
cow milking machine is suitable. A herd size
where there is no power other alternatives are
Infrastructure Most milking machines are powered by
above 10 animals will require bigger sized
available in which simple combustion engines or
milking unit toward a storage unit.
machines.
solar energy is used to drive the vacuum and milk
How milking machines work
e level of milk production
is transports the milk away from the
pumps. Although milking machines copy suckling by
Although milking machines can be used to
Bucket milking machine
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[35] FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA
January - February 2017