Method for milking a female animal.

Abstract: This method of cleaning a teat (3) of a female animal makes use of a cup (1) provided with an opening (7) for flushing washing and/or rinsing agent along said teat (3). Preferably this method is included in automatic milking equipment.

Description: The present invention relates to a method for milking a female animal, comprising the following steps: fitting a cup, comprising an outer casing, an inner casing of flexible material, arranged in the outer casing for accommodation of a teat, and an outlet, around a teat of a female animal; washing a washing and/or rinsing agent downwardly from the proximity of the upper part of said cup towards the under part of said cup, along the teat of said female animal; milking said teat by a pulsating pressure variation over the inner casing. Such a method is known from GB-A-918.766. A disadvantage of such known method relates to a practice wherein a set of cups is carried by straps over the back of a female animal, whereby said cups can not easily be fitted and/or loosened from the teat of a female animal. An object of the present invention is to obviate the above mentioned problem and/or to ensure a meticulous wet cleaning of a teat of a female animal. The present invention is characterized in that the washing step is performed between the fitting step and the milking step and in that during the washing step a pulsating pressure is generated over the inner casing. By the pulsating pressure over the inner casing a movement is performed on a teat of a female animal, which results in the washing agent combined with a simultaneous movement making an optimal contact with the teat. Any dirt that may be adhering to the teat will come loose as a result. From DE-A-26.22.794 it is known to perform the washing step between fitting and milking. In this known method, however, a washing and/or rinsing agent is upwardly sprayed towards the upper part of the cup, whereby dirt moving downwardly in said cup will be sprayed upwardly again e.g. into the orifice of the teat of the female animal. Preferred features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims. Further features, details and advantages of the current invention will become apparent with reference to a drawing, in which: fig. 1 shows partly in section a first embodiment of a cup for implementing a method according to the invention for cleaning a teat of a female animal; fig. 2 shows schematically a second embodiment of a cup for implementing a method according to this invention; fig. 3 shows perspectively a milking set provided with four cups for implementing a method according to the invention. A cup 1 (fig. 1) is placed on a handle 2 by a farmer under a teat 3 of a cow, whereby a flexible wall 4 of an inner casing 5 is accommodated for instance in an outer casing 6, e.g. of metal. Supplied (arrow S) via a connection 7 to the upper part of teat 3 is a washing agent, for example water, which may or may not be provided with disinfectent agent or soap. In order to improve the washing action a pulsating pressure variation is preferably applied via arrow V over the wall of the inner casing 4, whereby the teat is massaged and the washing agent will make good contact with teat 3. The passage to an outlet 8 of the cup could if desired be pressed virtually shut beneath teat 3 so that a turbulent driving action is caused, which will improve cleaning still further. The washing agent will leave cup 1 via outlet 8. Underpressure is preferably connected to outlet 8 so that the washing agent will be drawn off easily and the teat 3 can be placed easily in cup 1. The upper piece 9 of inner casing 5 has a sealing action against the udder 10 of the cow. Cleaning using cup 1 can take place both before and after milking. Prior to milking the washing will usually be done with water - rinsing -; only after milking will soap or disinfecting agent usually be added to the washing agent, so that they will not get into the milk. In another embodiment of the method according to the invention (fig. 2) a cup 23 for cleaning is likewise suitable for milking. Cup 23 is provided with an outer casing 24, e.g. of metal, and a inner casing 25 of flexible material, between which a milking movement for a teat 27 of a cow can be generated via a conduit 26 by a milking machine (not shown). Cup 23 is provided with a cushion 28 for sealing against the udder and with conduits 29 for supply of a washing agent, for instance water, extending into the openings 61 as well as through outer casing 23 and inner casing 25. Line(s) 29 are preferably situated equidistantly around the periphery of cup 23 and ensure a good washing around the teat 27. It is of course possible to arrange only one line 29. Lines 29 are connected onto a ring line 30 around the outer casing, from which ring line another line 31 leads to a pump 32. The washing agent moves via a discharge 33, which is also suitable for the discharge of milk and which is held under underpressure, to a four-way valve 34 which in the situation drawn leads to line 35 for discharge of wasing agent. Valve 34 can also be switched via control member 36 to a line 60 for discharge of milk. The four-way valve 34 can likewise place the cup in contact with the ambient pressure via bleed opening 19, which will result in cup 23 dropping off the teat. To improve liquid transport in the discharge lines a small orifice (diameter 0.1-0.5 mm) is arranged in line 33 for leakage of ambient air. After switching off of pump 32 and at a moment in time t that is later than this switching off, control member 36 will switch the four-way valve 34 over to the position in which milk can be carried to the line 60 and the milk discharge can take place. Shown schematically is the link between pump 32 and control member 36 via lines 37, timing element 38 and line 39. In another method according to the invention (not shown) a milk quality meter is applied which is arranged on the conduit 33 and which measures the conductivity of milk or washing agent for discharge, as a result of which a regulating member can determine into which position control member must actuate the four-way valve 34. Teat 27 will thus be washed, whereby washing is performed optimally by way of a pulsating via conduit 26 and milking is simultaneously started up; it will take 5-15 secs. before milk will flow fully out of teat 27 after generating of a pulsating movement, this period of time usually being sufficient for complete cleaning of teat 27. The pulsating movement or pulse frequency during cleaning and milking are different so as to loose as little milk as possible during the washing phase. The regulating member - determines on the basis of the milk quality measured by the milk quality meter at which precise moment the control member 36 must switch over the four-way valve 34. In order to prevent any disinfectant agent or soap becoming mixed in with the milk it is recommended that a first washing of teat 27 prior to milking is caried outusing only water as washing agent, while a washing performed subsequent to milking is carried out using soap or disinfecting agent in the washing agent. If a teat of a cow is infected - mastitis - a milk quality meter (not shown) can be incorporated which in addition to measuring the difference between milk and washing agent also measures the difference between milk suitable for consumption and milk not suitable for that purpose (mastitis milk). The milking set 43 (fig.3 ) is further provided with a central feed line 45 and a central connection 72 for supply of pulsating underpressure. The central member 44 is provided with a line 70 for discharge of milk suitable for consumption and a line 71 for discharge of milk not suitable for consumption and for washing agent discharge. It is noted finally that the above described milking method is preferably employed in a automatically operating milking system, as described in the EP-A-213 660, the EP-A-232 568 and the NL-A-86.02942 from the same applicant, the content of which must be considered as interpolated herein.

Claims: A method for milking a female animal, comprising the following steps: fitting a cup (1;23), comprising an outer casing (6;24), an inner casing (5;25) of flexible material, arranged in the outer casing for accommodation of a teat (3;27), and an outlet (8;33), around a teat of a female animal; washing a washing and/or rinsing agent downwardly from the proximity of the upper part of said cup (1;23) towards the under part of said cup (1;23), along the teat (3;27) of said female animal; milking said teat (3;27) by a pulsating pressure variation over the inner casing (5;25), characterized in that the washing step is performed between the fitting step and the milking step and in that during the washing step a pulsating pressure is generated over the inner casing (5;25). A milking method as claimed in claim 2, wherein via the outlet (8;33) a vacuum is generated in the inner casing (5;25) for drawing off the washing or rinsing agent. A milking method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the washing and/or rinsing agent comprises water, disinfecting agent and/or soap. A milking method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said washing and/or rinsing agent consists of water only. A milking method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, comprising a second washing step, according to the washing step as claimed in claim 1, after the milking step, wherein the washing and/or rinsing agent comprises disinfecting agent and/or soap. A milking method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which said cup (1;23) is provided with a cushion (28) for sealing against the udder (10) of said teat (3;27) and with conduits (29) for supply of said washing and/or rinsing agent which are disposed through said outer casing (6;24), said inner casing (5;25) and through said cushion (28). A milking method according to claim 6, wherein said cup (1;23) is provided with a ring-line (30) around the outer casing (6;24), to which said conduits (29) are equidistantly connected.

Inventors: BORGMAN,FOKKE PIETER, VERBRUGGE, JEROEN KLAASJAN
Applicants: PROLION B.V.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A01J7
IPC codes: A01J7, A01J5