Regular maintenance of your milking system is essential for herd udder health, to preserve milk quality and help avoid significant issues such as incomplete milk out, cup slip and teat damage. Systematic checks identify rubberware issues early and guide preventive measures.
Prolonged use of worn milking liners can damage teats, increase infection risk and lead to somatic cell count (SCC) grades. DairyNZ estimates defective milking equipment causes up to 50 percent of clinical mastitis cases in New Zealand dairy herds. To mitigate this, replace liners after every 2,500 milkings.
Selecting the right rubberware for your milking system is important. Recurring problems such as liner tailpiece splits, cup slip, longer milking time, or cow discomfort often indicate unsuitable rubberware is being used.
- Regularly inspect milk tubing for rubber deterioration and replace any rubberware in contact with milk on at least a seasonal basis. Assess the internal condition of milk tubing by scraping the inside. If residue leaves a black mark on your hand, it is time for replacement.
- Routine inspections of rubberware, conducted on a daily, weekly and monthly basis help detect deterioration and address emerging issues promptly. For rotary sheds, remember to include the centre of the platform in routine maintenance checks.
- After plant washing, ensure clusters are removed from the jetters to safeguard liner condition and prevent cup slip.
- When installing milking liners, align indicator marks on the liner head and short milk tube to prevent twisting in the shell. Check liners are fully pulled through to the tension ring with a quick, sharp pull.
Schedule a free rubberware review with Skellerup’s qualified NZMPTA specialists through your local PGG Wrightson store to ensure your dairy operation is running optimally.
