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A cow milking machine helps to mechanize the process, speed up the procedure for servicing a large herd. Equipment is indispensable on the farm. Recently, machines have become in demand among private farmers who keep more than two cows. Milking machines are commercially available and can sometimes be folded by experienced craftsmen.
Organization and technology of milking cows
The efficiency of a dairy farm depends on the technology of milking the cows. There are two ways:
- Hand milking is not used on modern farms. The method has been preserved in private farmsteads where 1-2 cows are kept. The manual process is time consuming, the presence of milkmaids.
- Mechanical milking speeds up the milk production process by 70%. Milk yield increases by 16%. One operator with a milking parlor is capable of serving several cows.
The correct approach to milking organization increases the milk production of cows, prevents mastitis, and improves the working conditions of the attendants.
On large farms, milking is done twice a day. It is important to maintain an equal interval between processes. Each milking is carried out at a fixed time. The herd is prepared in advance. Cows are formed in groups, each of which includes animals of approximately the same calving time. They live in separate sections and receive a specialized feed ration.
The organization of milking is different depending on the conditions of keeping cows. On the farm, the animals can be served by a team or several heads are assigned to the milkmaids. One or two shifts are set for working personnel. The milking process depends on the machines used, the method of keeping cattle. Most farms use linear milking with stationary devices. The cows are tied at this time.
Types of equipment for milking cows
There are many models of milking parlors. The equipment differs in performance, design, price, but works according to the same principle. The machines are equipped with a low pressure vacuum pump. It is connected by hoses with teat cups. During operation, the pulsating air pressure in the cups compresses and expands the elastic inserts that wrap around the teats of the cow's udder. The milking process begins. Milk is discharged through other hoses from the glasses to the container.
It is economically justified to use machines on large farms or private farms where more than three cows are kept. It is not profitable to buy an apparatus for one animal because of its high cost. The machines differ in several ways:
- Milk is collected in a container, but it can be stationary and portable. To service a small number of cows, mobile machines with a can is used. On large farms, the devices are piped to a stationary tank.
- Each machine is capable of simultaneously serving a certain number of cows. In private yards and small farms, machines are used that are designed for milking one or a maximum of two animals at once.For large farms, equipment is in demand, to which more than 10 cows are connected at the same time.
- There are three types of vacuum pumps. Membrane models are the cheapest, but not efficient. The piston models are powerful but noisy and large in size. The most popular are rotary models. Pumps are dry and oil-lubricated.
- The machines have two or three milking strokes. The first option creates squeezing and unclenching of the cow's teat. The second option has a third resting phase between squeezing and unclenching the nipple.
- The stalls differ in two ways of milking. The quality process is based on the suction of milk by a vacuum created by a pulsator and a centrifugal pump. In cheap equipment, pressure surges are created due to the operation of a piston-type pump.
- Milking equipment can be mobile and stationary. The first type resembles a cart on wheels that is rolled around a farm. Stationary machines are installed in a permanent place, connected by pipelines to a large milk collection tank.
The appropriate type of equipment is selected so that it pays for itself, copes with the tasks.
Modern technologies for milking cows
Manual milking is a thing of the past long ago, it has remained only in private yards where 1-2 cows are kept. Modern milking technologies are based on the use of equipment. In addition, the process itself follows several schemes:
- Milking is carried out inside the barns by mobile devices transported on trolleys. The cows are kept on a leash.
- The milking place and the type of cows are similar, only milk is collected in portable buckets or milk pipelines, for example, UDM - 200.
- Milking is carried out when the cows are in specially equipped halls. For animals, loose housing is used.
- If a stall-pasture system for keeping cattle is selected, milking is carried out in the barn in winter. In summer, the cows are placed in a specially equipped stationary camp for milking. Milking is carried out by devices with parallel passing teat cups.
- Robots are considered the latest in cow milking machines to create voluntary milking systems.
The choice of technology is carried out taking into account the relationship of the apparatus with the sequence of the milking procedure, as well as the initial processing of milk.
Pros and cons of cow milking devices
The advantage of using machines is the simplification of the milkmaid's labor. Productivity increases, milk yield increases, milk quality improves. Machine milking is less irritating to the nipples, as the process is more similar to feeding the calf.
The disadvantage is the incidence of nipple injuries. In addition, not all cows are suitable for machine milking. The problem is related to the structure of the nipples. If the technology is violated, then the use of the device increases the risk of a dangerous disease in a cow - mastitis.
The video shows a mechanized process:
How to make a do-it-yourself cow milking machine
For the manufacture of the device, you will need to buy ready-made units. You cannot do them yourself. Additionally, you will need a lot of knowledge about the principle of operation of the equipment. Mistakes will negatively affect the health of the cow.
For a homemade machine, you need to purchase:
- Electric motor driving the pump.
- Dry or oil vacuum pump.
- Belt for transferring torque from the motor to the pump.
- Vacuum hoses and hoses for milk transportation.
- Receiver or vacuum bottle. The unit smooths out air pressure surges in the system.
- Vacuum gauge. The device helps to control the pressure, to maintain the parameter at the level of 50 kPa.
- Attached equipment. The unit consists of a collector, teat cups, pulsator.
- Aluminum or stainless steel can for milk collection.
- Pressure adjustment regulator.
- The valve for starting the air inside the can.
All units of the machine are placed on a trolley with wheels.You can pick up a ready-made version or weld from a profile pipe.
The assembly procedure of the machine consists of several steps:
- The trolley acts as a bed for all units. First, the pump and motor are bolted. The pulleys are connected with a belt. To tighten the belt drive, the motor mount is made adjustable.
- A vacuum hose is used to connect the pump to a vacuum cylinder. A vacuum gauge is cut into the line, as well as a vacuum regulator. The assemblies are rigidly fixed to the branch pipe coming from the vacuum cylinder.
- A hose is taken from the vacuum line to the pulsator. Another hose from the pulsator outlet is led to the teat cups. A valve is placed on the lid of the can, an air tube is removed.
- The lid of the can is equipped with a branch pipe, a milk hose is put on. Its second end is brought to the collector.
The finished machine is tested before use. Check the operation of the nodes. The glasses are placed in a bucket of water, the pump is turned on. The liquid must be pumped into the can. It is important to measure the pulsation frequency, bring it to normal. After setting up the equipment, glasses, milk hoses, and a can is washed with soapy water and then with clean water.
Rules for milking cows using machines
The use of machines for milking requires compliance with a number of rules:
- before each procedure, check the condition of the udder and teats, wash with clean water;
- quickly attach teat cups;
- the first to milk the calving cows, the next in turn are the young, high-milk cows, and in the end they leave the animals with a poor milk yield;
- with the arrival of the first portions of milk, they look for blood impurities or flakes;
- during milking, check the vacuum in the glasses;
- milking is carried out at a time, repeating the procedure is unacceptable;
- at the end of the milk supply, the machine is immediately turned off, the milking stalls are carefully removed;
- after the completion of the process, the nipples are disinfected, the equipment is washed;
- the resulting milk is cooled, its quality is monitored.
The machine is regularly checked and inspected. At the time of milking, the equipment must be in good working order.
Caring for cow milking equipment
Timely maintenance of the machine will extend its service life. Well-maintained equipment will not harm the cow's health. Every machine is provided with daily and periodic maintenance.
Daily maintenance includes flushing the system as well as the surfaces of the machine parts themselves. The system is washed before milking with water heated to a temperature of 90 aboutC. Complete disinfection takes place, glasses are warmed up. During the procedure, they check the operability of the equipment, the frequency of the pulsations. After milking is complete, a second wash is carried out. First, they run clean warm water, then a solution of detergent and again clean water.
The best is the circulating method of washing the machine. It is commonly used on the farm. The process is based on the alternate running of water at different temperatures. At home, to flush the system, the glasses are simply lowered into a container with water, pumping is turned on. A 0.1% chlorine solution is used for disinfection.
Periodic care is carried out once a week. All detachable units of the machine are disassembled, they are manually washed with detergents.
If the machine is equipped with an oil-type pump, then periodic maintenance is complicated by timely refilling (once a week) and complete replacement (once a month) of the oil.
Conclusion
It is better to buy a factory-made milking machine for cows. Build-from-store assemblies are economically unfeasible. In addition, a homemade product can work incorrectly.
