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Machine cleaning systems maintain milk quality by aiming to remove all milk residues from the plant and destroying any resident bacteria.
The benefits of selecting the right cleaning system include:
Machine cleaning requirements
An easy-to-operate method of cleaning the pit and milking platform is essential. Some larger dairies are installing automatic washing systems on their milking platforms. This is especially useful if the dairy is used for long periods of time.
Features of a cleaning system
A cleaning system should have the following features:
Cause minimal liner stretch and distortion
This type of system is recommended for all dairies.
At the completion of milking, the clusters are connected to 'jetters' that are in turn connected to a wash line.
When the milking plant is turned on the vacuum created by the plant draws water from the wash tub through the wash line.
When hot washing, the water should be circulated through the plant for 5-7 minutes, or until it reaches the minimum dump temperature (about 55°C). This is done by connecting a recycle line from the delivery line to the wash tub.
To ensure effective cleaning a minimum water flow of 3 L/min is required through each cluster.
To clean the milk line effectively a flushing pulsator/air injector is normally needed. The flushing pulsator injects air and water into the milk line every 30-45 secs. This injection of water and air creates a turbulent flow of wash water through the milk line which helps to effectively clean the milk line.
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