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Comfort for Cows
05 Jun 2007
Spare a thought next time you put that set of cups on the cow, it can be an uncomfortable experience. This is especially the case when liners and milking equipment are not properly maintained.
Soon after the liner is applied to the teat it stretches down into the barrel, in fact it increases in length by roughly 50% and on diameter by 2-3mm.
The milking vacuum causes blood and other fluids to rush to the end of the teat making it turn red as it becomes congested.
This is where the liner and pulsation plays its part in maintaining a balance by closing against the teat, applying a pressure and pushing the blood and fluids back up the teat and relieving this clogging.
So what if the liner is not sized correctly or pulsation is poor? In simple terms the teat starts to swell and becomes red.
Swelling on the outside means swelling on the inside where the teat canal and passageways allows milk to flow. This is when milking becomes slow, cows become agitated and teat damage can occur.
If the liner is sized correctly this agitation is minimised and the process of relieving pressure is efficient and the cows are happy. Some swelling of teats at milking time cannot be avoided given these pressures being applied, just put your thumb in a teatcup to see for yourself.
However, we can do our part in making milking time a bit more comfortable for the girls. Always make sure that the liner is right for the teatcup. Your milking machine professional can provide you with the best advice.
When liners are fitted they are stretched to create the necessary tension for effective milking, reducing as soon as they are used.
Liners flexing open and closed roughly once per second along with the material being attacked by chemical, fat, water and sunlight means that the liners need to be replaced regularly.
Most liner manufacturers recommend a timeframe of 2000-2500 cow milkings or six months.
Some liners have an extra notch and there is a common perception in the industry that they can be “pulled up” to create more tension when the liner is getting a bit tired. This practice should be avoided.
The extra notch is designed to suit different teatcup lengths and overtensioning can create more teat health problems by applying extreme pressures to the sides of the teats making them look purple and “wedged”.
Whatever your maintenance routine, make sure you are using the best liner for your machine and herd type. Trial new liners if you are not sure. Program the replacement in line with the manufacturers recommendations or when it is practical. Generally twice a year is normal. You will be rewarded with healthier teats, better production, reduced milking times and most important of all, happier cows.
Jamie Mikkelson is managing director of Milfos. His regular columns are published in Dairying Today and posted on www.ruralnews.co.nz
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