Short Communication: Effect of Vacuum and Ratio on the Performance of a Monoblock Silicone Milking Liner

The vacuum and teat-cup chamber ratio are important operating parameters that affect milking performance by milking machines. In addition, the design and composition of materials are major elements affecting the performance characteristics of (teat-cup) milking machine liners. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of vacuum and teat-cup chamber ratio on the performance of a unique mono-block silicone milking machine liner that is round in the open position and triangular in the collapsed position. System vacuum settings (set at receiver) were 40.6, 43.9, and 47.3 kPa, whereas teat-cup chamber ratios were 60:40, 65:35, and 70:30. Milk yield was greatest at a vacuum of 43.9 kPa. Manual adjustments and kickoffs were very low (<2%) at all vacuum levels and for all ratios. The interaction of vacuum level and ratio was significant for milking duration, peak flow rate, and average flow rate, but not for milk yield. Average and peak milk flow rates increased at each increasing vacuum level and each wider ratio, whereas milking duration decreased.