Main Technical Conditions for Connecting Integrated Measuring Modules to the Milking System

Abstract

The paper shows that upgrading milking machines with integrated measuring modules can increase the technological supply and dairy farm management efficiency, as well as allow for the primary analysis of quality parameters and milk sorting according to fat content. (Research purpose) To determine the main technical conditions for connecting integrated measuring modules to the milk hose of the milking system. (Materials and methods) For the research purposes, an experimental stand was created based on the widespread milking system “Herringbone”. The milk-air mixture flows in the milk hose of the experimental stand with incomplete and uneven filling, which corresponds to the actual farm milking process. For upgrading the milking system, it is necessary to use integrated measuring modules with a 14-millimeter internal diameter. (Results and discussion) In the experimental stand, the technical feasibility of the integrated measuring module was studied in terms of its connecting to three specific sections of the milk hose. The calculations were made to obtain the length of the milk hose between the collector and the milk meter sufficient to connect integrated measuring modules, and to ensure the hose itself has an extended section in a vertical position. An integrated measuring module was successfully connected to the hose with a two-clamp fixation. (Conclusions) The main technical conditions determined for connecting integrated measuring modules to the milking system are as follows: a milk hose with a 14-millimeter inner diameter, the availability of a milk hose vertical section with the length of over 30 centimeters, and the possibility of fixing the module with clamps.