Analysis and evaluation of the teat-end vacuum condition in different automatic milking systems

peer-reviewedThe number of automatic milking systems (AMSs) installed worldwide shows an increasing trend. In comparison to the preliminary models, new versions employ more sophisticated sensor technology than ever before. The originally developed AMSs were characterised by larger vacuum fluctuations and vacuum reductions than conventional milking systems. The objective of this study was to find out whether this situation still holds or if an improvement has occurred. The vacuum behaviour at the teat end of an artificial teat during simulated milking was measured in a study that involved different AMS types (AMS A, B and C). Each system was tested over a range of flow rates (0.8 to 8.0 L/min). The wet-test method was used and teat-end vacuum behaviour was recorded. At a flow rate of 4.8 L/min, the lowest vacuum fluctuation (6.4 kPa in b-phase) was recorded for AMS A, while the lowest vacuum reduction (3.5 kPa in the b-phase) was obtained for AMS B. AMS C yielded higher values for vacuum reduction and vacuum fluctuation. Consequently, it was concluded that AMS A and B, in terms of construction and operational setting (vacuum level), are more appropriate than AMS C. Nevertheless, high values for vacuum reduction or fluctuation have a negative effect on the teat tissue. Hence, one of the future challenges in milk science is to develop a control system that is able to allow fine adjustments to the vacuum curve at the teat end

Reduction of forces on the teats by single tube guiding in conventional milking

Udder health considerably affects the economics of dairy farming. There are different reasons for poor udder health; one of them is the milking technique. In earlier studies it was shown that automatic milking systems (AMS) have advantages over conventional milking systems (CMS). Quarter individual milking and automation are therefore possibilities to improve the milking process. Single tube guiding allows controlling each quarter individually to measure cell count or end the process according to the cows needs. This study evaluates the effect of a single tube milking system used in a conventional milking parlour. Forces on the teats regarding different udder formations and vacuum behaviour were recorded. The investigated single tube milking system MultiLactor ® is produced by the company Siliconform GmbH, Türkheim, Germany. Balanced allocation of vertical force for all teats is important for proper and gentle milk withdrawal and to maintain udder health. Measurements of force distribution in AMS and MultiLactor® systems proved their superiority to conventional milking clusters. Furthermore, all the other force directions were reduced to nearly zero in AMS and MultiLactor®. Higher adaptability to irregular udder formations is also expected. In conclusion "wrong" positioning of the teat cups is expected to be solved by implementing clawless milking clusters

Comparison of the vacuum dynamics of conventional and quarter individual milking systems [Geleneksel ve pençesiz sag¨i{dotless}m sistemlerinin vakum dinamiklerinin karsi{dotless}lasti{dotless}ri{dotless}lmasi{dotless}]

The effect of machine milking on udder health has been recognized for the past 100 years. Among different milking systems, a new quarter individual milking system called the Multilactor® (MULTI) has been developed to eliminate some detrimental effects of conventional milking systems (CON) and conventional systems with periodic air ingress (BIO) on udder health. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of milk flow on average liner vacuum during the b and d phases of pulsation in all systems by using a wet-test method defined in ISO 6690 (2007). Measurements were conducted in three different milking parlours where CON, BIO and MULTI were installed separately. It was found that, at an average flow rate of 4.8 l min-1, the average vacuum in the liner during the bphase was 35.0 kPa in CON, 32.6 kPa in BIO and 31.1 kPa in the MULTI system, compliant with the desired average vacuum in the liner of 32-42 kPa mentioned in ISO 5707 (2007). The average liner vacuum values during the d-phase differs from one system to another and these values were calculated to be 34.2 kPa, 12.3 kPa and 14.8 kPa for CON, MULTI and BIO, respectively. The reason why CON differs as compared to MULTI and BIO can be attributed to the fact that both, MULTI and BIO use the BioMilker system that allows periodic air ingress under the teat. © Ankara Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi

Sensor-based detection of the severity of hyperkeratosis in the teats of dairy cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the severity of hyperkeratosis (HK) in the teats of dairy cows can be assessed by a dielectric measurement. The study focused on surveying the occurrence of hyperkeratosis in a total of 241 teats of lactating dairy cows. A scoring system consisting of four categories was used to macroscopically assess the severity of HK. Additionally, the dielectric constant (DC) of all teats with milkability was measured in a double iteration with the MoistureMeterD (Delfin Technologies, Kuopio, Finland) on four different days. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient revealed a negative correlation between the DC and HK score (rs = −0.55 to −0.36). The results of the regression analysis showed that the DC values differed significantly between healthy teat ends (≤2) and teat ends with HK (≥3). Thus, the non-invasive measurement of DC provides a promising method of objectively assessing the occurrence and severity of HK

Development of a control system for the teat-end vacuum in individual quarter milking systems

Progress in sensor technique and electronics has led to a decrease in the costs of electronic and sensor components. In modern dairy farms, having udders in good condition, a lower frequency of udder disease and an extended service life of dairy cows will help ensure competitiveness. The objective of this study was to develop a teat-end vacuum control system with individual quarter actor reaction. Based on a review of the literature, this system is assumed to protect the teat tissue. It reduces the mean teat-end vacuum in the maximum vacuum phase (b) to a level of 20 kPa at a flow rate of 0.25 L/min per quarter. At flow rates higher than 1.50 L/min per quarter, the teat-end vacuum can be controlled to a level of 30 kPa, because in this case it is desirable to have a higher vacuum for the transportation of the milk to the receiver. With this system it is possible for the first time to supply the teat end with low vacuum at low flow rates and with higher vacuum at increasing flow rates in a continuous process with a three second reaction-rate on individual quarter level. This system is completely automated. © 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Milking-time tests in conventional and quarter-individual milking systems

The effect of machine milking on udder health has been recognized for the past 100 years and many studies have been conducted in order to show the detrimental effects of conventional clusters since these systems result in permanent deformation of udders and scarred teat canals. Due to these unwanted effects of conventional systems (CON), a new quarter-individual milking system called the Multilactor® (MULTI) (Siliconform GmbH, Türkheim, Germany) has been developed in the last five years. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of milk flow on average liner vacuum during the b- and d-phase of pulsation in both systems by using the milking-time test defined by International Dairy Federation (IDF, 1999). Measurements were conducted in two different milking parlours where a conventional milking system (CON) and MULTI were installed separately. The vacuum data during milking were examined and the milk flow curve was recorded using a LactoCorder®(WMB, Balgach, Switzerland). It was found out that, at an average flow rate of approximately 5.0 l/ udder/min, the average vacuum in the liner during the bphase was 30.2 kPa in CON and 27.7 kPa in MULTI system which was not significantly different. In contrast the average liner vacuum during the d-phase was significantly different between the systems. It was 28.5 kPa for CON and 16.3 kPa for MULTI. This big difference is caused by the Multilactor* using the BioMilker® system (Siliconform GmbH, Türkheim, Germany) that allows periodic air ingress to the pulsation chamber. It is shown that introduction of periodic air inlet to the teat cups in quarter individual systems can be useful. The Multilactor® system offers this combination