Content
- 1 Organization and technology of milking cows
- 2 Types of equipment for milking cows
- 3 Modern cow milking technologies
- 4 Pros and cons of cow milking devices
- 5 How to make a machine for milking cows with your own hands
- 6 Rules for milking cows using machines
- 7 Maintenance of cow milking equipment
- 8 Conclusion
A machine for milking cows helps to mechanize the process and speed up the procedure for servicing a large herd. You can't live without equipment on a farm. Recently, pens have become in demand among private owners with more than two cows. Milking machines are commercially available, and experienced craftsmen sometimes assemble them themselves.
Organization and technology of milking cows
The efficiency of a dairy farm depends on the technology of milking cows. There are two ways:
- Manual milking is not used on modern farms. The method has been preserved in private farmsteads where 1-2 cows are kept. The manual process requires a lot of time and the presence of milkmaids.
- Mechanical milking speeds up the process of obtaining milk by 70%. Milk yield increases by 16%. One operator with a milking machine can serve several cows.
The correct approach to organizing milking increases the milk productivity of cows, prevents mastitis, and improves working conditions for service personnel.
On large farms it is customary to milk twice a day.It is important to maintain an equal interval between processes. Each milking is carried out at the same time. The herd is prepared in advance. Cows are formed into groups, each of which includes animals of approximately the same calving dates. They live in separate sections and receive a specialized diet of food.
Depending on the conditions of keeping the cows, the organization of milking varies. On a farm, the animals may be served by a team, or several heads may be assigned to the milkmaids. One or two shifts are established for working personnel. The milking process depends on the machines used and the method of keeping cattle. Most farms use linear milking using stationary milking machines. The cows are tied at this time.
Types of equipment for milking cows
There are many models of milking machines. The equipment differs in performance, design, and price, but operates on the same principle. The machines are equipped with a vacuum pump that generates low pressure. It is connected by hoses to the milking cups. During operation, the pulsating air pressure in the glasses compresses and releases the elastic inserts that encircle the cow's udder teats. The milking process begins. Milk is discharged from the glasses through other hoses into the container.
It is economically feasible to use machines on large farms or private farms with more than three cows. It is not profitable to buy a device for one animal because of its high cost. The machines differ in several parameters:
- Milk is collected in a container, but it can be stationary or portable. To serve a small number of cows, mobile machines with a can are used. On large farms, the devices are connected by pipeline to a stationary tank.
- Each machine is capable of simultaneously serving a certain number of cows. In private yards and small farms, they use machines 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 simultaneously connected.
- There are three types of vacuum pumps used. Membrane models are the cheapest, but low-performance. Piston models are powerful, but noisy and large in size. The most popular are rotary models. There are dry and oil pumps.
- Machines have two or three milking cycles. The first option creates squeezing and unclenching of the cow's teat. The second option has a third rest phase between squeezing and unclenching the nipple.
- The machines differ in two ways of milking. The high-quality process is based on sucking milk with a vacuum created by a pulsator and a centrifugal pump. Cheap equipment creates pressure surges due to the operation of a piston-type pump.
- Milking equipment can be mobile or 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 pipeline to a large tank for collecting milk.
The appropriate type of equipment is selected so that it pays for itself and copes with the assigned tasks.
Modern cow milking technologies
Manual milking is a thing of the past; it remains 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 occurs according to several schemes:
- Milking is carried out inside the barns using mobile devices transported on carts. The cows are kept on a tether.
- The place of milking and the type of housing of cows is 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 rooms. Free-stall housing is used for animals.
- If a stall-pasture system for keeping cattle is chosen, milking in winter is carried out in the barn. In the summer, for milking, the cows are placed in a specially equipped stationary camp. Milking is performed using machines with parallel passage milking cups.
- Robots are considered the newest installations for milking cows, with the help of which they create a system of voluntary milking.
The choice of technology is carried out taking into account the relationship of the devices 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 work. Productivity increases, milk yield increases, and milk quality improves. Machine milking is less irritating to the nipples, as the process is closer to feeding a calf.
The disadvantage is cases of nipple trauma. 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 the cow - mastitis.
The video shows the mechanized process:
How to make a machine for milking cows with your own hands
To manufacture the device, you will need to buy ready-made components. You cannot do them yourself. Additionally, you will need a lot of knowledge about the operating principle of the equipment. Mistakes made 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.
- A belt for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump.
- Hoses for vacuum and for transporting milk.
- Receiver or vacuum cylinder. The unit smooths out air pressure surges in the system.
- Vacuum gauge. The device helps control pressure and maintain the parameter at 50 kPa.
- Attachments. The unit consists of a collector, milking cups, and a pulsator.
- Can made of aluminum or stainless steel for collecting milk.
- Pressure adjustment regulator.
- A valve for releasing air into the can.
All machine components are placed on a trolley with wheels. You can choose a ready-made version or weld it from a profile pipe.
The machine assembly procedure consists of several steps:
- The trolley acts as a bed for all units. First, the pump and motor are bolted. The pulleys are connected by a belt. To tension the belt drive, the motor mount is made adjustable.
- A vacuum hose connects the pump to a vacuum cylinder. A vacuum gauge is installed on the line, as well as a vacuum regulator. The units are rigidly fixed to the pipe coming from the vacuum cylinder.
- A hose is led from the vacuum line to the pulsator. Another hose from the pulsator output is connected to the teat cups. A valve is placed on the lid of the can and the air tube is removed.
- The can lid is equipped with a pipe and 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 and the pump is turned on. The liquid should be pumped into the can. It is important to measure the pulsation frequency and bring it to normal. After setting up the equipment, glasses, milk hoses, and cans are washed with soap and then with clean water.
Rules for milking cows using machines
Using machines for milking requires compliance with a number of rules:
- before each procedure, check the condition of the udder and nipples, wash with clean water;
- quickly attach milking cups;
- The first to be milked are the cows that have calved, the next in line are young cows with high milk yield, and finally the animals with poor milk yield are left;
- with the arrival of the first portions of milk, they look for any admixtures of blood or flakes;
- during milking, check the vacuum in the glasses;
- milking is carried out at one time, repeating the procedure is unacceptable;
- Once the milk has finished flowing in, immediately turn off the machine and carefully remove the milking units;
- after completion of the process, the nipples are disinfected and the equipment is washed;
- The resulting milk is cooled and its quality is controlled.
The machine is regularly checked and technically inspected. At the time of milking, the equipment must be in good working order.
Maintenance of cow milking equipment
Timely maintenance of the machine will extend its service life. Well-maintained equipment will not harm the cow's health. Any machine is provided with daily and periodic maintenance.
Daily maintenance includes washing the system, as well as the surfaces of the machine components themselves. The system is washed before milking with water heated to a temperature of 90 OC. Complete disinfection occurs, glasses are warmed up.During the procedure, the functionality of the equipment and pulsation frequency are checked. After milking is completed, a second wash is carried out. First, clean warm water is run through, then a detergent solution and clean water again.
The circulation method of washing the machine is considered the best. It is commonly used on the farm. The process is based on alternately passing water of different temperatures. At home, to flush the system, simply lower the glasses into a container of water and turn on the pumping. For disinfection, use a 0.1% chlorine solution.
Periodic care is carried out once a week. All removable components of the machine are disassembled and washed manually with detergents.
If the machine is equipped with an oil-type pump, then periodic maintenance is complicated by timely topping up (once a week) and complete replacement (once a month) of the oil.
Conclusion
It is better to buy a factory-made machine for milking cows. Assembly from store units is not economically justified. In addition, the homemade product may not work correctly.
