Milking machines are frequently neglected, yet they have a significant influence on both mastitis and milk quality.

Here are some guidelines on ensuring your milking machine is running effectively:

• Ensure your milking machine is tested every six months by a qualified technician. This will ensure that teats are not damaged or quarter cross contaminated with mastitis whilst your cow is being milked
  
• Its best to do a hot wash after every milking to ensure mastitis causing bacteria are destroyed
  
• Old liners can harbour and aid the transfer of bacteria, cause teat damage and leave your cows open to mastitis infection. Rubber liners should be changed every 2,500 milking or six months, whichever comes first. Silicone liners have a much longer life of up to 10,000 milkings
  
• Inspect teats for black spots (bruising) or other damage, its likely to be a sign of poor pulsation/vacuum in the milking machine

Click on the link and take a look at our Milking Systems information