Abstract
Milking machine design and performance are directly related to the milkability of sheep and goats, with the aim of milking quickly, completely and gently. This leads to an increase in the milk yield with improved quality, and the maintenance of healthy udders. The aim of this study was to carry out laboratory tests to determine the optimal level of vacuum, pulsation rate and pulsation ratio of new milking machines in high and low milk lines for sheep and goats. This study was conducted at the Department of Research and Development, Siliconform, Germany. For this purpose, different levels of vacuum (32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 kPa), milk jet (2, 2.5, 3 and 4 mm), milk line (high line and low line) and pulsation ratio (50:50 and 60:40) were used. First minute water flow (1st WF/kg) was used as an indicator for assessing the best combination in the milking machine. In addition, the cyclic vacuum fluctuation was measured in the inner chamber of the teat cup during the 1st WF/kg with the aid of a Vacuscope device. Statistical analysis was conducted using the mixed procedure in SAS. Our results show that the vacuum level, the milk jet and the pulsation ratio had a significant influence (p < 0.05) on the 1st WF/kg in the two milking machines for goats and sheep. In conclusion, the ideal conditions for milking goats with air inlet teat cups in the milking machine are a vacuum level of 36–38 kPa (low line) and 38–40 kPa (high line), a pulsation rate of 90 cycles/min and a pulsation ratio of 60:40, while the ideal conditions in the sheep milking machines are a vacuum level of 35–36 kPa (low line) and 36–38 kPa (high line), a pulsation rate of 120 cycles/min and a pulsation ratio of 60:40 or 50:50.
Highlights
In many countries around the world, especially in Asia, Africa and Mediterranean regions, dairy farming of sheep and goats is economically very important
Our results show that the vacuum level, the milk jet and the pulsation ratio had a significant influence (p < 0.05) on the 1st WF/kg in the two milking machines for goats and sheep
An indicator of the appropriate sheep and goat milking machine is a low value of the somatic cell count (SCC) in the milk produced
Summary
In many countries around the world, especially in Asia, Africa and Mediterranean regions, dairy farming of sheep and goats is economically very important. An indicator of the appropriate sheep and goat milking machine is a low value of the somatic cell count (SCC) in the milk produced. Many authors use the SCC in the bulk tank as the main indicator of udder health in sheep and goats [1,2,3,4,5]. These cells can be strongly influenced by the milking system used [5] and the properties of the milking machine such as the vacuum level and pulsation rate and ratio [6,7,8]. The milkability of sheep and goats depends on the
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