Milk Indicator Only 'Gadget'

Northern Advocate, 6 September 1947, Page 2

Milk Indicator Only 'Gadget'

The only influence of pulsation was to keep the cow comfortable, by their massaging effect on the teats, he continued. For this reason the “snappiness” ot pulsation was not important. A squeeze to release ratio of from 10-90 to 50-50 was advocated. A popular ration was SC-70. He recommended 35 to 45 pulsations per minute, stating the use of more than 45 lowered the efficiency ol the vacuum pump by admitting more air to the machine.

Commenting on relief valves, he said there were three types—ball, spring poppet and weighted. The'ball type was not satisfactory in practise. The spring poppet type, covered for preference to keep out dust, was a much better proposition, but the best type of all was the weighted relief valve.

The Dairy Board, in conjunction with the research station at Ruakura, was taking steps to make more of these valves available.

On single pipeline machines, the relief valve should be either on the vacuum tank or between the vacuum tank and the vacuum pump. It should not be on a rubber tube extension to the milk pipe because of the danger of contamination.

On dual pipeline machines. the valve could be anywhere in the airline. Relief valves should be dismantled and cleaned in the off season.

Dealing with the vacuum gauge, ho said this should be checked twice a year and cleaned and oiled once each year during the off season.

It should be mounted on single pipeline machines alongside the relief valve, and on dual pipeline machines it should be on the air line above the bails where the farmer could see it at all times.

Milk indicators were the only gadgets necessary on a milking machine, he said. These were essential for efficient milking, particularly where nonstripping was practised. Air admission holes should be inspected daily to ensure that they were open, Mr Ellis concluded.