Cows are attached to machines for 50-100 hours each lactation so there is plenty of opportunity for teat damage if there is any problem with the milking system.

In the same way that tyres are the point of connection between cars and the road, the teatcup liner is the connection between the machine and the cow. In fact the liner is the most important part of the milking machine as far as the cow is concerned. Her comfort and milking characteristics depend on the forces that are applied through the teatcup liner to the teat.

During milking, milk is drawn from the teat under vacuum like the sucking action of a vacuum cleaner. This same force also draws blood and tissue fluids into the teat tissues.

The collapsing action of the liners is used to massage teats – which prevents teat congestion and swelling. The liner collapses about 60 times a minute as pulsators ‘switch’ the vacuum off, giving the fluids a chance to distribute throughout the teat tissue and relieve pressure at the teat end.

Ideally teats should be soft and supple after milking. They should not be hard or bluish when the cups come off. This type of change at the teat end or lower teat barrel often indicates ineffective pulsation.

To achieve effective pulsation:

• Liners must be in good condition (elastic and flexible)

• Liners must match both the teatcup shell and suit the teat conformation in your herd

• There must be a sufficient ‘collapse’ phase in the pulsation cycle.

Good performance can only be expected if the cars (milking machines) are serviced regularly, the right tyres (liners) are chosen, and the mode of driving (milking routine) is appropriate for the road conditions (dairy shed and herd).

Image and caption
“Where the rubber meets the teat”

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Farm Guideline 6.1

Keywords
pulsation, teat condition, teat end health

Word length
291