Every dairy farmer appreciates the service of a good milking machine. In fact, every farmer NEEDS only the best portable milking machine at the farm. Farmers who appreciate technology use milking machines for milking cows, goats, sheep and the other dairy animals they keep at the farm.
Machine milking has many advantages for the farmer including reducing the amount of labor required for hand milking. It cuts down the costs of operation and reduces the time required for milking.
Milk harvesting involves removal of milk from animals, transporting it to the storage chamber, and keeping it safe until such a time that the milk is ready for processing.
Even though the milk storage and cooling compartments are not part of the milking machine per se, they are essential for maintaining high quality of the product.
It makes no economic sense to have the best milking machine for milking high quality milk only to end up with a deteriorated quality due to poor storage.
Here is the list of the best portable milking machines from the industry's leading suppliers. Click on the link and you will be shown customer reviews for each machine.
This is one of the best portable milking machines out there. The vacuum power is strong enough to drain milk from the udder in record time.
The vacuum gauge lets you observe the pressure levels to avoid wounding the teats.
This milking machine has a simplistic design with the milk bucket held in place on the platform for easy transportation. It also has very durable teat cups.
You have to change the oil very often.
Handle the rubber parts with care. They need to be replaced as soon as they start to show signs of wear.
Tulsan manufactures some of the industry's best milking machines. They are compact and come with large wheels for easy pushing around in the milking shed.
Even though it has only one milk bucket on the platform, this milking machine comes with double milking claws for rapid milking.
The parts are durable and easily interchangeable in case you develop a mechanical problem.
The manufacturer is very responsive when it comes to addressing customer issues. You are assured of getting value for the money.
The machine does the work pretty fast but the singe bucket will be piece of work. You will have to empty it every so often when you are milking a larger herd or higher producers.
This Milking machine is the best for farmers who live in areas with unreliable supply of electricity.
It is perfect for farmers who practice mobile milking out in the field, as it has a gasoline powering option to take care of that mobility.
The double buckets mean that you can use it to milk several animals quickly without having to stop every often to empty the buckets.
It also comes with two milking claws to ensure that you can milk two cows simultaneously at any given time.
You have to contend with noise.
You are going to need some effort pushing the 90 kilos around, especially if you are going to be milking out in the fields.
Additionally, the buckets do not have a platform on the same machine, so, you are going to be carrying them around as well.
This milking machine is manufactured by Interplus, one of the leading dairy equipment manufacturers.
It has a single milk bucket on the platform and can only milk one cow at a time.
The motor generates enough vacuum to maintain a faster rate of milking for the herd.
It has larger wheels for easy movement across the milking shed. This machine has a simplistic design, which eliminates much maintenance work and makes it more durable as it is not prone to break downs.
If you are looking for the best portable milking machine that is also versatile, this is your choice.
This mini version of the Tulsan portable milking machine is perfect for all farm conditions.
It has a powerful motor that is typical of Tulsan milking machines and can comfortably milk up to 50 gallons per minute despite its small size.
It is simplistic making it easy to clean maintain.
Parts are available from almost all major stockists and online on Amazon, Ebay, and other related sites.
You can easily regulate the vacuum to make it more comfortable on the teats while milking.
This set of milking machine parts comes with the bucket, the hose, the pulsator and the milking unit.
It is compatible with majority of vacuum pumps in the market and makes the work of installing a working milking machine more fun.
You will have the parts and customize them the way you want to make the best portable milking machine to suit your farm needs.
You can weld the frame and bucket holding platform locally (which will significantly bring down the cost of the milking machine).
Furthermore, you can customize the frame the way you want to suit your needs.
Developed by Dansha Farms in Florida with a pending patent. It is perfect for milking goats and sheep.
Actually, this is the machine you should get if you are wondering how you will harvest milk from your goats.
The vacuum pump produces a stable vacuum for milking in a very short time.
It is simplistic and easy to clean and maintain. Your order will be shipped very fast.
Another one from Dansha Farms. This milking machine is perfect for milking the smaller stock like sheep and goats.
The vacuum pump builds sufficient pressure for speedy milking.
This brute milking kit is also small enough to facilitate easy handling and mobility at the farm.
It is easy to clean hence you can easily maintain high hygienic standards with this machine.
To understand how you can tell apart the qualities of the best milking machine, we should begin by dissecting the machine to know the features to focus on.
A milking machine consists of several basic component groups that work together for an effective operation. They include:
Milk Cooling and storage systems are very instrumental accessories to the milking machine, as they will enhance quality preservation. However, they are not necessary for the functionality of the milking machine.
All the parts complement each other for the functionality of the machine. The milking unit does the actual extraction of milk from the teats.
The milking unit on its own also consists of several parts that enables it to imitate the hand to extract milk. Let's have a closer look to understand how it works.
The other supplementary components include regulators, balance tanks, and sanitary traps. They facilitate efficient operation of the milking unit and will help you produce clean and hygienic milk.
Understanding how the milking machine works requires a close attention of what happens at the teat cup. The teat cup has the pulsator side and the milking side. These two are separated by a membrane that ‘pulsates’ to create a suction at the teat end.
Inserting the teat into the teat cup fills the cup camber. When you switch the machine on, it creates a vacuum in the chamber. This vacuum causes milk to flow from the teat.
During the rest phase, air enters the pulsator chamber and the increased pressure causes the liner to collapse around the teat. This creates a massaging effect on the teats to promote blood flow and prevents injury to the teat end.
An animation of how the milking unit of the best portable milking machine works:
Video by Leedstone Inc
Different milking machines have different pulsation ratios but they are typically going for 60 pulses every minute. The ratios sum up to 100 percent no matter the combination.
Most pulsator ratios range between 50/50 and 70/30 combinations. In this ratio, the first number represents the number of times the pulsator draws milk while the second number is the number of times the atmospheric pressure massages the teat.
You can vary the working ratios to suit your operations. Here is an overview of the ratios and what they mean:
Some machines have dual pulsation, which allows for different ratios for hind and front quarters. 50/50 and 60/40 for front and hind quarters respectively, are preferred because the hind quarters hold more milk than the front quarters due to their larger sizes.
More details are filed under the maintenance section below.
From time to time, you will experience breakdowns, which can be very costly if you fail to fix. Once you have bought the best portable milking machine, it will experience wear and tear as you use it. Parts will need replacement to maintain high levels of performance.
Here is the list of the spare parts you will need to maintain your best milking machine in shape.
Note: Model TA350G has an inbuilt vacuum gauge.
If you are looking to derive value from your prized milking machine, you must ensure that you have a maintenance routine for it. Keeping it in a good working condition will go a long way in ensuring that you do not experience down time.
The best portable milking machine needs the best maintenance routine. Here are some handy tips you can implement to help you increase the service term of your milking machine:
Daily maintenance |
Weekly maintenance |
Monthly ~ annual service |
Wash the milking machine after every milking session |
Check for twisted liners and their conditions. |
Observe the regulator functions. |
Check teats as cups come off and take note of the cow’s behavior. Falling cups during milking may indicate problems with the vacuum. |
Clean all the air filters on the vacuum pump and the pulsators. Replace the clogged air filters. |
Check all the tubes for wear and tear. Replace all worn out tubes and liners. |
Inspect the pipelines and interceptor for any signs of milk or water. If you find any, drain and flush with chlorinated water (100 ppm) |
Stick your thumb into the cups and monitor the suction force for about 20 seconds. Adjust as appropriate. |
Strip the teats after machine milking to measure completeness of milking to avoid over-milking. Establish routine milking times. |
Check for any water behind the teat chamber and remove if you find any. Ensure there is not a single hole on the tubes |
Check the vacuum gauge to ensure that it is in a proper working condition. It should reach the working level in just five seconds. |
Check the functionality of the regulators and pipe work. |
Listen to the regulator to ensure that it is allowing air into the vacuum system during milking. |
Maintain the right level of oil in the vacuum pump |
Replace all bleeding tubes. Replace air cleaners and other faulty parts. |
Watch as the milk enters the reservoir to help you establish an even flow. |
Check for the air inlet on the claw and ensure there is no clogging on it |
Dismantle the machine according to your manufacturer’s instructions and clean at least once a year |
Read the vacuum gauge and keep a record of the results. |
Check filters on pulsators or on filtered air supply lines |
Consult your supplier for technical assistance and regular maintenance. |
Another video to illustrate how the best portable milking machine works:
Video by ENKA TARIM
There is no way we're going to wind up this article without talking about the advantages and disadvantages of milking machines.
By following the maintenance procedure shared previously, you will be able to eliminate these disadvantages and prolong the service term of your best portable milking machine.
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