Mechanics of machine milking: II. The flow-rate pattern within single pulsation cycles

Abstract

Summary: The milk flowing during a single pulsation cycle was collected in a circle of contiguous cups which rotated in a chamber at 1 rev/pulsation cycle just below the end of the teatcup liner. The mean flow rate during the time taken for each collecting cup to pass under the milk stream was calculated and the flow-rate curve for the milkflow period of the pulsation cycle plotted. Flow rates were measured at 130, 97, 65, 32 and 16 c/min, and also after the pulsator had been stopped with the liner open for 0·5 min (0 pulsation).It was concluded from the series of flow-rate curves at the different pulsation rates that flow rate from the teat increased in about 0·05 sec to a steady value which continued for 0·5 sec or so, and then declined over a period of about 1·5 sec to a new constant value approximately equal to that shown after milk had flowed continuously from the teat for 0·5 min.These results suggest that once the pressure difference across the streak canal during milking forces the teat sphincter open a considerable time elapses before the muscle control system responds, and that a further much longer period elapses before the full closing force of the sphincter is exerted. Thus, it would appear that at pulsation rates of about 50 c/min and above, the streak canal is closed by pressure exerted on the teat by the closing liner, the sphincter muscle playing no active part because its response rate is slow compared with the pulsation rate. At lower pulsation rates the flow rate declines during each cycle because the sphincter muscle has time to exert a closing force to a greater or lesser extent depending on the duration of the milkflow period.