Milk quality is a top priority for every dairy farmer. Yet managing bacterial grades and somatic cell count (SCC) can be challenging.
One factor that’s often overlooked is the condition of your dairy rubberware. Poor hygiene and worn components can lead to bacterial contamination, mastitis, and costly milk grade penalties. Ensuring your rubberware is in top shape not only protects udder health but also optimises milking efficiency.
2,500 Liner Change
Prolonged use of worn milking liners can have a serious impact on both udder health and milk quality. DairyNZ estimates that faulty milking equipment contributes to up to 50% of clinical mastitis cases in New Zealand dairy herds. To mitigate these risks, it’s essential to replace liners after every 2,500 milkings.
Regular liner replacement helps prevent mastitis and maintains milking efficiency. Key areas to monitor include:
- Teat damage and infection risk: Worn liners can cause teat injuries, increasing the likelihood of infections and raising SCC grades.
- Flex cracks: Aging liners are prone to splitting, creating ideal conditions for bacterial growth, which can spread mastitis between cows.
- Mineral deposit build-up: This creates an abrasive surface that damages teats and elevates mastitis risk.
- Distorted mouthpieces and barrels: Swelling from milk fat and chemical absorption can affect liner mounting tension, essential for proper pulsation and milk flow. Over time, this can cause cup slip, prolonged milking durations, and higher infection risks from incomplete milk-out.
- Inadequate massage pressure: Inelastic, swollen, or cracked liners can’t provide the necessary massage pressure to stimulate milk letdown, reducing overall milk production.
Rubberware Renewal
Timely replacement of rubberware is crucial for maintaining milk quality. Conducting routine inspections daily, weekly, and monthly helps detect issues early and guides preventative action. Poor plant hygiene is a leading cause of bacterial grades, so regular maintenance is essential to preserving udder health.
Replacement recommendations:
- Replace milking liners every 2,500 milkings.
- Replace all other milk-contact rubberware each season, or immediately if signs of perishing, cracking, or damage appear.
- Inspect milk tubing regularly; if scraping inside reveals black residue, it’s time to replace it.
Liner Type and Milking Performance
Recent research from Lincoln University found that square liners improve milk flow rates and shorten milking times1. Cows milked with square liners showed no signs of discomfort in behavioural observations, unlike those milked with round liners. For improved efficiency and cow comfort, consider switching to Skellerup VacPlus square milking liners.
Talk to your local Technical Sales Rep or drop into a Farm Source store to organise a rubberware review on your farm.
Milk Filtration
Reliable milk filtration is essential to maintaining quality. Skellerup single-use milk filters offer consistent performance. Reusing filters can compromise integrity and increase the risk of splits. Always use a fresh filter for each milking to protect milk quality.
Expert Support for Your Farm
If you’re looking to improve milk quality or want to ensure your dairy rubberware is performing at its best, Skellerup offers a free rubberware review with certified NZMPTA specialists through your local Farm Source store. Your local Skellerup Technical Specialist will inspect your equipment, troubleshoot any issues, and provide tailored recommendations to optimise milk production and enhance milk quality.
