It pays to correctly set up your shed and perform regular maintenance checks to maximise efficiency. Now is an ideal time to check and renew your rubberware. Follow these useful tips to troubleshoot common issues in the dairy shed.
Avoid cup slip
Poor cluster alignment can lead to cup slip, check the cluster is sitting squarely under the udder during lactation.
Secondly, ensure you are using the right liner mouthpiece size to fit your herd. Skellerup milking liners are available in three mouthpiece sizes to comfortably fit the teats of New Zealand cow breeds to achieve an airtight seal for effective milk out.
Cluster alignment
Ensure the cluster weight is evenly distributed across the udder's four quarters. This is essential to provide a stable vacuum around the teat for even, fast, and complete milking.
- Our Technical Specialists often come across connecting hoses that are too long, too short, twisted, or poorly aligned in relation to the cow.
- Check your tubing is the correct length. Tubing should not be so long it sags, or so short that is pulls cluster out of alignment.
- The long air tube should be the same length as the long milk tube.
2,500 liner change
DairyNZ recommends changing your liners after 2,500 milkings. Liner shape, tension and inner surface condition deteriorate over time affecting their milking performance. The expectation that liners should last a full season does not consider the growth in farm sizes in recent years.
Skellerup have made it simple for you, check out their Liner Change Calculator to find out when your liners need changing and to set a calendar reminder.
Skellerup Liner Change Calculator ➔
Distorted liner mouthpieces
After plant washing procedures ensure clusters are removed from the jetters. A measure to safeguard the condition of your liners and prevent cup slip.
Rubberware care
Avoid rubberware degrading too quickly by following Skellerup recommendations and using approved chemicals. Wash rubberware with a strong, hot alkaline detergent twice weekly to remove milk fat deposits and rinse thoroughly. Regularly check the internal condition of milk tubing for rubber deterioration. For rotary sheds, remember to include the centre of the platform in routine maintenance checks.
For recommendations and expert advice on your rubberware requirements this season, contact your local Farm Source team.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Article supplied by Skellerup Industries Limited.