The choice of liner to use in your shed depends on what type of teatcup shells you have and the teat shape of the cows in your herd. To avoid problems, make a careful choice of the best liner to suit your set-up.

Don’t be swayed by what’s on ‘special’ or what looks roughly similar to the one you are already using. There are nearly 100 liners available on the Australian market and the differences between many of them can be subtle but important.

Correctly fitting liners should:

• Have an airtight seal at both ends of the teatcup shell

• Allow for quick and complete milk out without causing discomfort or damage to the teats

• Be easy to clean.

Consequences of having liners and shells that are poorly matched include ineffective pulsation and the cups slipping and falling too frequently. Poor pulsation damages teat end health and increases the risk of mastitis.

Some quick checks to see how your liners match with your shells include:

• Looking to see that the size and shape of the mouthpiece lip does not change substantially as the liner is mounted in the shell.

• Checking whether the stem sits firmly in the shell without allowing air leaks or easy twisting of the shell within the liner.

• Removing some liners from the shells and looking for signs of rubbing and wear along the outer surface of the liner barrel.

If you are uncertain about what is right, get advice from a local milking machine technician who is confident in interpreting specifications published by AMMTA, or from the manufacturers of the teatcup shells.

Although choosing the best liner for your shed and herd may take a bit of research, it usually only needs to be done once!

Image and caption
“Seek professional advice for which liner best suits your shed and herd”

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Farm Guideline 6.3

Keywords
teatcup shells, liners, teat end health

Word length
295