CELLCHECK TIP OF THE MONTH

Is your milking machine good to go?!

A new year, a new lactation…..is your milking machine good to go? Did you have it serviced during the dry period? If not, how can you be sure that you are heading into a new season with a perfectly functioning milking machine? To ensure it runs smoothly, most people will service their tractors after 500 hours of work, or their cars after about 250 hours of driving…..so why should your milking machine be any different? In fact, the milking machine earns you your money, by safely and efficiently harvesting the milk from your most important asset, your cows; shouldn’t you make sure that it’s running smoothly too and not contributing to a mastitis problem in your herd?

REMEMBER

CellCheck recommends that all milking machines are serviced twice a year by a IMQCS-registered technician. This equates to about 550 hours of work between services. If you haven’t done this yet, get it done now before spring calving and milking start again. A list of registered technicians in your local area is available click here.    
Get the service technician to go through the report fully with you – it is important to have an understanding of how the machine is functioning, and why certain recommendations may have been made.
Carry out any repairs needed immediately.
Start the season with a new set of liners, and change them after 2000 milkings or 6 months, whichever comes first. Remember that your cows’ teats will spend an average of 60-80 hours every lactation in contact with the liners-making sure that the liners are in top condition will maximise productivity, and reduce the risk spreading bacteria and damaging teats

More information is available online www.cellcheck.ie and in the
CellCheck Farm Guidelines for Mastitis Control