THE MILKING MACHINE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2764, 19 August 1931, Page 2

THE MILKING MACHINE.

'USEFUL SUGGESTIONS. The purchasing of a milking machine is a sound investment, and if properly installed and cared for, it will assist in producing as good a quality of milk as hand milking. There are between 30 and 40 different makes of milking machines on the market • and some are better than others. ‘As all machines cost a good deal of money, careful inquiries will need to be made before the farmer decides which machine to instal. Every installed machine has.to comply with certain regulations lai .1 down by the Dairy Division. As regards piping, “only tinned brass is allowed in the milk system,” and drawn brass piping in the vacuum system. An airtight partition needs tO|be put up between the cowshed and the separating room, and the space required from the releaser to the vacuum pump need not be greater than 4ft. Gin. All milking machines whether new br re-erect-ed second-hand plants, have to be passed by an officer of the Dairy Division, and the onus is on the farmer and the milking machine agent or persor., to have this work carried out. In buying a second-hand milking machine the farmer takes a lot of and does not always make a good deal. Of eburse, if the purchaser is convctsant with milking machines and knows the plant as ‘ fit for sale or removal,” then’ he may be fortunate enough to purchase cheaply a second-hand plant. It is good policy to purchase a new milking machine 1 .' i Any milk.m.g machine needs to be thoroughly cicaned after‘each inilking, and the best thing is use to boiling 1 water and caustic soda, and flush'out with clean, boiling water. Seventyfive jer cent, of the troubles with, ing'• machines Sometimes it is, hard to find the cause of this trouble but when the Inspector gets on tbe job he not only looks into the milk system- ' but also probes, into the vacuum system, and more often this is where the trouble is found. ■ • " Milk or cream which has passed through a milking machine is just as glean as the dirtiest part of the plant, including the vacuum pump. Before tlie cows come in it is advisable to go carefully over the whole plant, attending to the mechanical parts' and removing all rubberware. ' Since June Ist,,all rubberware used in a milking machine has to be indelibly branded with the name and brand ; of the manufacturer. ■ Rubber companies have had twelve months to come into line with "this regulation, and the department is commendable' in their effort in protecting the dairy farmers’ interests.