borne. All the equipment is centralized and the cows come to the parlour for milking.
Basic components of milking machines Vacuum system
�is comprises of a vacuum pump and reserve tank, vacuum regulator, pipelines and long pulse tube( s) forming an enclosed space.
Pulsators
�ese alter the vacuum level around the teat so that milking occurs without uid congestion and edema of the teat tissues.
Milking units or cluster
�e assembly of four teat cups connected to a claw and mounted with a valve that admits and cuts off the vacuum to the unit.
Milk removal system
�is transports the milk away from the milking unit toward a storage unit.
How milking machines work Although milking machines copy suckling by the calf, in a way machine milking is different from hand milking or calf suckling. A constant vacuum is applied on the teat to create a pressure difference across the teat canal and keep the machine attached to the cow. �e vacuum congests the teats and squeezes milk from the teat. Atmospheric air is allowed once per second to collapse and relieve congestion around the end of the teats creating a pulsation. �is pulsation is important as it massages, relieves and prevents damage to the teats.
Factors to consider when installing milking machines Number of cows
Although you can install a milking machine for just one cow, it is not an economical undertaking. If the size of the herd ranges between 5 to 10 milking cows then the single cow milking machine is suitable. A herd size above 10 animals will require bigger sized machines.
�e level of milk production Although milking machines can be used to stimulate higher milk yields it is not justi able to install them for a low yielding herd. Manual milking for cows that produce more than 10 litres per session is o�en ineffective and milking machines should be considered.
�e cost and quality of manual labour
�e cost of labour throughout Kenya is not high and this may not be a major consideration. Where the labour costs are high such as in developed countries, automation is necessary so as to cut costs. But skilled milkers are scarce. �ose employed to milk do not do a good job, o�en leaving milk in the udder. Farmers can solve this problem by going for the milking machines.
Infrastructure
Most milking machines are powered by electricity so a source of power is important. But where there is no power other alternatives are available in which simple combustion engines or solar energy is used to drive the vacuum and milk pumps.
Bucket milking machine
www. farmersreviewafrica. com January- February 2017
FARMERS
[ 35 ] REVIEW AFRICA