Manual milking is a difficult, labor-intensive process. Automation will help simplify it and speed up milk collection. This is especially true if the farm contains several cows. In small farmsteads, farmers often do not know how to milk cows using milking machine. Ignorance breeds mistrust and fear. However, by automating the milking process, villagers receive great benefits, and their work is also made easier.
Pros and cons of the method
In addition to speeding up the process by up to two times, machine milking attracts farmers with several other positive aspects.
If you use the unit correctly, you can get significant benefits. The main thing is to follow the milking rules and prepare the cow.
How to get used to the device
Unfamiliar noises and rumbles frighten the cow. Therefore, the sound of the unit may frighten her, and she will not let you approach her. This can also lead to a decrease in milk volume or to its complete disappearance.
You need to let the cattle get used to the noise of the device. To do this, turn on the unit in the barn, and then bring in the animal. Pour in your favorite food and give it to the cow. It is important to complete these steps at the time you expect to be milking. If milk is collected 2-3 times a day, then the procedure will have to be carried out the same number of times. After 4-5 days, the cow will stop paying attention to the noise and will not be afraid.
During habituation, the cattle should be stroked and kind words spoken to it. After the cow has calmed down, you need to put glasses on her. She should take it calmly. The main thing is not to shout at the cattle at this time.During operation, the unit imitates the sucking of a calf, pulsating at the appropriate frequency.
Preparing the animal
Before milking, you need to assess the external condition of the animal and prepare the unit. This is done in the following sequence:
- Inspect the udder. There should be no wounds or symptoms of mastitis. If they are not there, then you need to wash the organ with a soapy solution. The water should have a temperature of 30-40 °C. Finally, rinse with clean water and wipe dry. You cannot wash several cows from one container, as this can lead to infection of all heads of cattle.
- Disinfect teats and parts of the unit attached to the cow.
- Manually milk 2-3 streams from each teat into a separate container to eliminate bacteria. If there are inclusions, inhomogeneities, or streaks of blood in the milk, then such a cow cannot be milked.
- Wipe the udder with a dry cloth or cloth.
- Put on glasses. Check for air leaks from underneath them.
It is necessary to take a responsible approach to preparation and complete all points correctly. The health of the cow and the amount of milk yield depend on this.
The procedure for milking with a milking machine at home
Milking with a unit is not a complicated process. The main thing is to accurately follow the sequence of the following actions:
- Turn on the device and wait until the pressure reaches 50 kPa, this takes from 5 to 7 minutes. The value varies from 46 to 50 kPa, it all depends on the manufacturer. A special regulator is used to accurately adjust the pressure.
- Next you need to pump the vacuum into 4 glasses. They are connected to the milk collecting container with transparent hoses. The vacuum comes from the manifold. To start the injection process, press the valve.
- After the vacuum has been pumped into the glasses, you need to turn off the hose for a while. To do this, clamp it with a suitable object, for example, a clothespin.
- Attach the glasses to the udders. Bring them to the nipples strictly vertically. The glass should fit tightly around each nipple.
- After hanging the glasses, unblock the transparent hose. Milking will start. The process usually takes 6 to 8 minutes.
You need to monitor the flow of milk in the hoses. If the streams become thin, then the cow needs to be milked. This can be done manually or again using a machine. For machine milking, you need to pull the collector and squeeze out the remaining milk from the udder with your hands.
After milk collection is completed, the pressure must be released. To do this, press the valve again and wait 2 minutes. Then carefully remove the glasses so as not to injure the udder. They should come out freely, without undue effort. Next, wipe the nipples and treat them with cream.
The time between the process of preparing the udder and the start of milking should not exceed 1.5 minutes. It is necessary to strictly follow the rules for machine milk collection. Otherwise, you can injure the animal and reduce the level of milk production. Setting up machine milking is not a very difficult task; care and accuracy are required when performing all steps.
