Dynamic Milking Machine Testing: Sustainable Veterinary Practice in Action!

Control and prevention of mastitis involves much more than bacteriology and antimicrobials. While it is often too easy for vets to focus on the ‘animal-centric’ portion  of the aetiology, milking machines can be a significant part of a complex picture. Milking parlour service and maintenance should always be an important part of mastitis prevention and cell count control, with one estimate that 20% of mastitis issues arising from the parlour [1].

Static parlour testing is the easiest and most common type of machine testing employed but this doesn’t allow a look at what is happening when the parlour is operational and the cows are being milked. The static test is a Red Tractor requirement whereas milking time testing is a recommendation once a year. The static test is a mandatory requirement under the Red Tractor scheme and is recommended on an annual basis. Milking time testing (dynamic testing) looks in greater detail at the interaction between the cow, operator and milking machine during the milking. When comparing the two testing types, it’s a little like having an MOT (or WOF in New Zealand!) on a vehicle, compared to a full service.

Milking time testing can be performed in different ways. Traditionally a flow meter with a needle was introduced into tubing at different points and times in the parlour to show vacuum for that particular area at that set time. VaDia meters [2] now exist which monitor vacuum at four different points throughout milking giving a more complete picture of what is going on, with different cows at different clusters. It also allows  pulsators to be tested and vacuum reserve can be assessed, as well as investigating issues that might be contributing to reduced milk quality.VaDia kits are available to trained personnel which includes parlour engineers and vets. Practices like Torch Farm Vets [3] performing milking time testing since 2018.

Milking time testing often reveals a narrow range of common problems, including:-ACR settings need adjustment

• pulsator settings require a change to rate or rhythm (or new tubing!!)

• biphasic milking (caused by attachment too early or too late post teat preparation)

• teat end damage

• teat wedging

• discolouration of teats (purple or red when clusters come off)

• poor liner fit

As well as interpreting information from the VaDia meters it is important to review parlour milking routine. This includes what pre and post milking treatments are being used and the accuracy of their application, teat scores, attachment times for units and cow comfort in the parlour. This can then be useful to review, with the data from the meters and mastitis pattern analysis, cow comfort: poor liner fit, the unit staying on too long or inadequate milk let down can all be linked to machine issues and will all contribute to rising cell counts or clinical cases.

Below are a series of photographs which, when observed, should lead to suspicion about milking machine performance. Whilst parlour testing can help identify issues like these which are causing cell count and mastitis issues, there will also be changes that can be made which means cows are milked out more completely or cow comfort can be improved,  which in turn can pay back in increased yield. 

At VetSalus we encourage dairy vets to become involved in milking management. A procedure like milking time testing is a great example of holistic medicine, which ultimately can improve animal welfare and reduce farm carbon footprints. In the broadest sense, testing and improvements to milking routines are sustainable veterinary practice in action!