Milking machines simplify the milking process and increase the amount of milk production. There are a large number of milking machines on the market. Let's see how milking of cows takes place with the help of an electric milking machine and how to choose a machine for milking cows.
Milking machine and its device
The milking machine is quite simple. It consists of the following components:
- Four teat cups
- Milk and air ducts
- Capacity for collecting milk
- Pump
- Collector
- Pulsator (available in apparatuses with a pulsator. If a milking machine for cows with a piston pump, it does not have a pulsator, since the pump and valves in the can and the pump play the role of the pulsator. They open and close due to the direction of movement of the piston).
Two tubes are attached to the glass. One tube connects the glass to the spout (inner) chamber. This tube is needed for sucking milk. The second tube is connected to the interwall chamber. This tube is needed in order to create a pulsating vacuum.The milking machine works on this principle:
- Vacuum (low pressure) is stably maintained in the underflow chamber.
- Compression of the nipple occurs with the help of vacuum pulsation in the interstitial chamber.
- During the period when the same low pressure is created in these two chambers, milk flows from the nipple.
- Milk enters the collector, and then into a can or other prepared container.
- During the period when the pressure in the interwall chamber rises to atmospheric pressure, the rubber tube is compressed, the nipple is compressed and the milk stops flowing.
Did you know? Modern milking machines allow you to milk up to 100 cows per hour; an experienced milkmaid can milk only five cows by hand at the same time.This principle of operation is typical for two-stroke units. The frequency of pulsations during milking ranges from 45 to 60 cycles per minute. The ratio of the duration of the suction stroke to the compression process varies from 50 to 50 to 85 to 15, and in modern equipment it is 60 to 40.
Kinds
Classification of milking machines can be made only on the technical characteristics. Most of them are vacuum. In such installations, the same principle of operation, the only difference is in the details.
Milking method
Depending on the milking method, the machine may be suction or release.
Vacuum pumps are used in suction type installations. Such equipment is manufactured on an industrial scale and has several advantages:
- Without nipple rubber
- More careful to udders and nipples
In the milking machines of the release type, an overpressure is added to the vacuum. These types of equipment are produced individually.
Intermittent milking
Depending on the method of milking, they distinguish between permanent, two-and three-stroke installations.
Permanent milking machines operate continuously - the process of milk suction takes place under its constant outflow from the udder. In such equipment there is no standby mode (rest phase). Such devices are not physiologically convenient for cows. 
Two-stroke devices operate in two modes - sucking and compression. In the three-act there is also a third mode - rest.
Modern devices mainly two-act. Three-act is more powerful, but two-act is easier. And if the device is not stationary and will need to be worn, then it is better to choose a two-act setup.
Transportation of milk
Also, depending on the type of milking machine, milk can be collected in a can or via pipelines. If it is a compact machine, then the milk enters the can. Such devices are well suited for small farms. Devices that are connected to pipelines are used on farms with large populations.
How to choose a milking machine
There is a large number of milking machines, because more than one farm can not do without automating the process of milk production. All cars differ from each other in a complete set, capacity, dimensions and not a new category.
However, all devices operate on the same principle, contain a vacuum pump with pressure. The choice depends on many individual requirements. An important criterion is how milk is collected and how many cows can be milked at a time. 
Necessary indicators
Should take into account the technical characteristics of the machine and on the basis of this to carry out the classification of equipment. Breeders divide milking machines into main types: individual and group.
In milking machines there are three types of vacuum pumps:
- Diaphragm pump is the cheapest option, it is not designed for heavy loads. Milk at a time will be no more than three cows. Such a vacuum pump would be appropriate in machines on small farms.
- Piston pump somewhat more powerful than the previous one, but also has drawbacks. Animals can be adversely affected by the fact that this type of pump is very noisy and heats up quickly. It should also be noted that the apparatus equipped with such a pump has a large size.
- Rotary pump works quieter than the previous ones. This option is ideal if your animals are frightened by loud noises and you fear that the milking machine might scare them. Rotary pump is dry and oil type.
By the type of milk collection, the equipment differs on machines that collect milk through pipes or into a can. A small milking machine is suitable for collecting milk in a can, respectively, is used for a small number of cows. Large stationary installations collect milk through pipes, such equipment is used on large farms, where the amount of collected milk is much higher. 
Did you know? Due to the fact that cow's milk proteins are combined with toxins in the body, it is recommended to employees of chemical plants, because it effectively removes toxins. Milk will also remove harmful substances from the body after drinking alcohol.You can choose the machine and the principle of possible movement. Machines can be mobile and stationary. For large farms suitable mobile, which resemble in appearance a cart with wheels, support, milking buckets and a pump.
Convenience of movement of the device consists in an opportunity to serve much more cows. To move such equipment, it takes several minutes and does not have to put a lot of effort.
What you can not pay attention
Regardless of the type of installation chosen, the speed and quality of the milking will increase by an order of magnitude compared with manual mileage. Any device will be ideal for your cows.
The main thing in keeping cows is a properly combined ration - it should contain both rough dry food (hay, straw), juicy (silage, apple cake) and root crops (potatoes, beets, carrots, Jerusalem artichoke), and sunflower additives that increase the quality of milk cake, meal, oats, barley, wheat.Also, do not pay attention to the complexity of mastering different types of plants, since modern milking machines, regardless of type and manufacturer, are fairly easy for even a non-specialist to master. You only need to read the instructions for use and follow the necessary rules of hygiene.
Also in modern installations you should not pay attention to the manufacturer, because domestic developers produce cars no worse than foreign ones.
How to milk a cow apparatus
To obtain high milk yield at low physical costs, machine milking is widely used. For the success of such milking, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions on how to milk a cow with a milking machine, as well as the rules for handling cows. Ensure that milking machines are in good condition.
The milking machine works on the following principle: the rarefied air enters through a special hose from the vacuum line to the pulsator, then through the variable vacuum hose directly into the interstitial space. The result is a sucking stroke, the vacuum is always in effect in the podsoskovo chamber of the teat cup.
Before you transfer cows to machine milking, you need to inspect the cow and her udder. It is necessary to check the presence of mastitis on the udder and nipples, as cows with the disease are milked by hand. Starting the machine milking only after the complete recovery of the animal.
The speed and completeness of the issuance of animals depends on the correct operation of the apparatus. Before starting, check the serviceability of the equipment, the entire installation, pay attention to how the pulsator and the collector work. Look at the number of pulsations, in a three-stroke machine they should be 50 in 1 minute, in a two-stroke one - 90. Also check the vacuum gauge operation, whether the vacuum unit is working correctly and whether a constant vacuum is maintained.
Important! Before milk yield, you should manually milk a small portion of milk and make sure that there are no blood clots, lymph inclusions, etc. In addition, giving the first portion of milk manually gives the animal a powerful incentive to return all milk yield.
Before milking cows in stalls raise an hour - wash udder clean, warm water or a special solution, clean the stall. It is not recommended to wash the udder with cold or too hot water, as this will slow down the milk yield.At the same time spend udder massageto prepare it for machine milking. To do this, the udder is stroked with fingers in circular motions, slightly pushing upward the individual parts of the udder, as it does when sucking a calf.
The operation of the preparation for machine milking needs to be done very carefully, accurately and quickly. During this time the reflex milk flow will come, and you can proceed to the issuance of milk.
The productivity of cows depends not only on the conditions of housing and feeding, but also on the breed - Kholmogory, shorthorn, brown Latvian, Yaroslavl, Highland, Kazakh white-headed, Kalmyk, red steppe, black-and-white, Aberdeen-Angus, Jersey, Ayrshire, Holstein, Dutch , Simmental, - have completely different characteristics.
Before opening the vacuum valve of the milking machine, you need to put on the teat cups immediately after preparing the udder. The milkmaid should take the collector from the bottom with one hand, bring it to the udder, with the other hand you should alternately put the teat cups on the nipples starting from the rear.
If necessary, the milkmaid guides her nipples into the teat cups with her forefinger and thumb. If you need to raise the teat cup up, you must first hold down the milk tube.
The glasses should fit snugly to the nipples; there should be no hiss of air when the machine is running. Only go to the next cow after you put the teat cups on correctly and the milk delivery started.
Milking control carried out through the transparent cone of the teat cup or transparent milk hoses. If for some reason milk delivery has slowed down or stopped, it is necessary, without taking off the equipment, to massage the udder before resuming the process. 
If the teat cups fell off the nipples, turn off the machine, rinse the glasses with clean water, massage the udder and put them on the udder again. In order for the cow not to overturn the machine, it should be placed closer to the animal's front hooves.
If cows are accustomed to machine milking, they are given out quickly and do not require manual milking. It should be done on a signal from the device, which happens on some types of devices and after the cessation of milk production.
To finish off the cow, the milkmaid takes the collector with one hand and pulls it down along with the teat cups down and forward. Massage (final) udder is carried out with the other hand. The energy and time of the massage depend on the individual characteristics of the cow.
To properly remove the teat cups, one should take the collector or milk tubes with one hand and squeeze them. The other is to close the valve on the manifold or the clamp on the hose. After this, the rubber suction cups of the glass are squeezed with a finger from the nipple to let in air, at the same time you need to smoothly remove all the glasses. Then connect the collector with a vacuum and suck the remaining milk in the teat cups.
Important! After milking, the cow's nipples must be wiped with a clean, dry towel, smeared with petroleum jelly or an emulsion that has an antiseptic effect.
After the process, the milking machines are washed with warm water using a vacuum, first water is passed through the apparatus, and then disinfectant. Washed milking machines are stored in a specially designated room.
Pros and cons of the method
The main advantage of machine milking is the simplification of the work of the milkmaids, a significant increase in productivity, a significant increase in the quality of the milk produced. It should also be noted that during machine milking, irritation of the nipples and the udder occurs less, the method is more close to the natural feeding of calves.
There are also disadvantages of the mechanized process: this is primarily the fact that the nipples during manual milking are not injured at all. In contrast to machine milking, all cows are suitable for manual milking regardless of the size and type of nipples, while only certain cows are suitable for machine milking.
A big lack of milking apparatus is the high risk of animal mastitis - the risk increases to 30 percent. Despite this, farm mechanization is more than 90%.
So, if the farm consists of a large number of cows, it is recommended to purchase a milking machine, as this will speed up and simplify the milking process, as well as increase the amount of milk yield and the quality of milk.
