CLEANING MILKING MACHINES

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14406, 13 July 1912, Page 14

CLEANING MILKING MACHINES

Wo have already published an interview with a wen-known dairyman of Canterbury giving lib views as to the proper method ot keeping a . milking machine-clean, anu thy following paper gives the ideas of Mr C. Stevoitson, a tlairv inspector. He says: - '•While carrying out my work of instruction at dairy farms'and factories during the past si-asun. 1 was much impressed with the fact that a large percentage of the interior, badly-flavoured milk delivered to tho factories was directly due to the unsatisfactory condition in which milking-tnachiisos are maintained. On several occasions 1 wan specially called to factories in order, if possible, to arrive at tho causa of deterioration in the quality of the milk supply; and in almost every case I was able, with little difficulty, to trace the trouble to unclean, badlvkept milking-machines. ''Tho position in regard to poorquality milk is serious for all concerned. Whether the mnk is returned to tho supplier, or is accepted at tho factory and manufactured into butter or cheese, the result must be a loss to tho ■farmer, to tho company he supplies, and to tho industry generally. Again, when wo consider that the milk drawn through ono of these neglected or ini-perfectly-<*leaned machines is quite sufficient to contaminate- tho whole- of the milk in a cheese factory vat —as much as 80001b in quantity—'tho injustice to thoso farmers supplying good milk is at evident.

"As the ono remedy wheroby the great loss referred to may be obviated js tho proper cleansing of milkingmachine parts, ,as, indeed, of all utensils used m connection with milk, it is well that a,practical understanding of tho position, specially of tho best means of cleansing tho rubber parts ot mechanical milkers, should bo brought homo to those concerned.

'The first essential in nil cleansing work is a plentiful supply of good water. Provision should be mado for this at evory milking-shed, more especially where milking-machines are installed. Some menus of heating water is also necessary. The practice often followed of taking homo sufficient hot water from the factory for washing purposes is not advisable, and this for various reasons. • In the first place, such water is generally practically cold on arrival at the farm. Again, a milking-inachino should bo ■washed immediately after tho -work of milking is completed, and this cannot bo done unless really Ijot water is on tho spot. To leave the tubes and parts unwashed until the return of tho milk-waggon from the factory permits the milk to dry on the inside of the tubes. Effective jcleansing is thereby made almost impossible. Two tubs or troughs should be provided. The machines should be washed in one, and soaked, after washing, in the other. These tubs should be about 3ft Bin long, 12in vrido at the bottom, and 15in deep. I have' seen a man endevouring to wash a milking-machine m a bucket of water —an almost impossible task. "Immediately milking is finished the tubes should be rinsed by having cold water drawn through them. AH tubes, inflations, etc., should then be taken apart and placed in a tub of fairly hot water, to which should be added a quantity of any reputable cleansing E reparation. These parts should then s thoroughly cleansed. The brushes supplied ior this purpose by the makers of the machines are quite suitable, but care should be taken not to keep them in use too long. I have seen some brushes in use when quit© worn out, being little more than a piece of wire to which the brush had been attachoo. A stock of these brushes should be always on hand. "After the parte in question have been thoroughly washed they should be placed in the second tub and comploterv covered with clean, cold water to -which has been added a handful of lime. The parts should be left to soak in this nntil just prior to the |nest milking, when they should be rinsed with cold -water before being put together

"It is advisable to hava. a separate room attached to the shed 'in which the machines can be washed and where the tub uecd for soaking can be kept. . If no separate room, be available tho tub in which the parts are soaking should be placed outside the milking shed.

"The machines should bo washed as described above every morning. Tho water used for soaking purposes should be renewed daily. After tho evening milking all parts with which tho miJk has been in contact should be well rinsed, first with cold and finally with warm -water.

"In addition to the above treatment all tubes and other rubber parts should be well boiled at least twice a -week. For this purpose, as well as for providing a supply of hot water, I would again emphasise the necessity of having a boiler of some sort at or near tho milking ehed. "Much difference of opinion exists among users of milking machines regarding tho effect of boiling upon the rubber. Many contend it is injurious. I am convinced, however, that if the treatment is commenced when the parts aro_ncw and in good order, the tendency is for the boiling to preserve, rather than to injure, the rubber. From the point of view of cleanliness, there can bo no question regarding tho advantages of toiling.

"A common mistake in regard to the rubber parts of milking machines is' that they are kept in use altogether too long. I have seen some parts, particularly milk tubes and inflations, co badly perished and impregnated with stale milk as to render thorough cleaning an impossibility. The only remedy in such caees is, of course, to provido new parts. "Vacuum tanks and pipes which, have boon allowed to become dirty have been frequently a cause of bad milk. In order to keej> these clean a strong solution of warm water and soda should bo drawn* through the pipes and into tho vacuum tank daily. This solution should then bo immediately drawn from the tank. - The tank should bo left open between milkings, in order to permit the admission of fresh air to it.

"In the case of milking machines having automatic releases attached, tho pipes convoying the milk should be taken down and thoroughly cleansed daily with a, brush.

"The milk buckeie should bo thoroughly washed and then 6calded with either steam or boiling water. They should then be placed on a rack erected for tho purpose, outside the milking shed, in such a position that any water remaining in them may drain away, and that froeh air and sunlight may bo freely admitted. "This method of "cleaning milking machines, while being thoroughly effective, is very simple, and will. I feel sure, if generally adopted, do a great deal towards imnroving the quality of the milk supply at many factories."