A milking machine attached to the animal’s teats draws milk; it utilizes a partial vacuum that opens a streak canal that allows milk to flow out of a teat cistern through a line into a receiving container by massaging the animal’s teats to prevent blood as well as lymph congestion.
1. Number of animals
It is uneconomical to install a milking device for a low-yielding herd where manual labor could be applied. However, installation is advisable if the herd involved has more than five yielding animals since it is effective and cheaper compared to manual labor in the long run.
2. Infrastructure
The machine requires a power supply; hence, before installing, one should ensure that there is electricity to operate the device, or else there is the need to have an alternative way to provide electric power to the device, like installing solar panels, which may be costly.
3. Availability of spares
There are plenty of milking machines in Kenya from different companies. It is advisable to install a device so that spare parts are easy to get in case any repairs are required.
4. Cost and quantity of manual labor
In some cases, manual milkmen cannot milk all the milk, especially in high-yielding animals. This would cause diseases in the animals’ teats. A milking machine is effective since it draws all milk out.
Maintenance practices
- Check the vacuum level; teats can be damaged if incorrect. 40-44 Kpa is the recommended low level, while 44-48 Kpa is the recommended high level
- Listen to pulsators
- Check air admission hole clearance. If blocked, it causes large fluctuations in the vacuum
- Check the animals’ behavior. Animals should not be unsettled.
Types of milking machine
There are different types of milking devices, they include:
- Automatic/voluntary milking systems.
- Herringbone milking parlor
- Rapid exit milking parlor
- Rotary milking parlor
- swing over the milking parlor
Advantages of machine milking
- Routines That Are Consistent And Repeatable
Cows need a predictable and consistent environment and respond well to the machine’s predictable consistency. Machines that milk cows do so consistently, unlike humans, who milk animals by hand. Time of day, mood swings, or seasons have no impact on machines.
- Pure Milk
Bits of hay, hair, and flecks of manure fall into the milk bucket you worked so hard to earn when you hand milk a cow. The bucket is completely enclosed and sealed when using a milk machine. During the milking, there is no chance of contamination. A good filter is helpful on so many levels.
- Reduces Labor costs
The second benefit is straightforward since it saves money by avoiding labor costs. A large dairy farm requires many employees to work efficiently. Only a few will need milking machinery, even if milking machines for cows’ price is higher than hand-milking.
Conclusion
Milking machines help farmers save on labor expenses. It enables small-scale farmers in the rearing of more significant herd strength. It also leads to an increase in the milk yield and the quality of milk.
