CLAIMS FOR MILK STIMULATOR

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32588, 23 April 1971, Page 14

CLAIMS FOR MILK STIMULATOR

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, April 22.

An automatic milking stimulator, which, it is claimed, could increase production of milk in New Zealand by millions of gallons, has been invented by two young Otorohanga dairy farmers.

The farmers, Messrs J. H. and W. F. Abrahamson, consider their device, which has taken two years to perfect, could be the greatest development in dairying since the introduction of the milking machine. “Judging by the results in our own herd so far, we believe our gadget will boost New Zealand’s overseas earnings through dairy products considerably,” said Mr J. Abrahamson. Hie brothers hope to have their stimulators mass produced in time for next season. They plan to enter the stimulators, and another device which they are not yet ready to reveal, at the forthcoming National Field Days in June. With the two they claim to have achieved almost complete automation in the milk shed. The stimulator, a brush device on the end of a robot arm, is simple and reasonably cheap to manufacture. It needs no additional power, working on the existing vacuum and water section of the milking plant. It can be installed in any type of shed and cuts milking time down by nearly half. After an initial trial of 14 days, milk production has been boosted considerably. “Working on Ruakura scientists’ findings on the value of maximum stimulation before milking, we set out to achieve this and at the same time maintain the speed of milking,” Mr Abrahamson said. “We succeeded beyond our greatest hopes. “It used to take us 15 seconds to give the cow 15

seconds of hand stimulation. Now, by the mechanical method, we can give each cow up to two minutes of stimulation by an operation that only takes five seconds,” he said. “The extra stimulation has had wonderful results.” Using only eight sets of cups in their 20-a-side herringbone shed, the brothers are milking their herd as fast as they did with 16 sets before the eight automatic stimulators were installed. “Nearly all the work has been taken out of milking and the cows are getting twice as much attention, he said. Other advantages are that cows seem to be much more contented because of the longer period of stimulation and the full milk flow begins as soon as the cups are applied. "We have not had one set of cups kicked off since we started using the stimulator, whereas we used to have at least five sets kicked off at every milking,” the brothers said. Cattle lice session Ivon Watkins-Dow will be holding a cattle lice control field day at Mr R. G. Hurnm’s property, Wards Road, Tai Tapu, beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday and concluding at mid-day. During this session the firm will be demonstrating and discussing the new pour-on technique, the use of Dursban 10E and Spray rite equipment.