Milking machines have revolutionized the dairy industry, greatly enhancing dairy production. Machine milking occurs 2-3 times a day for more than 250 days a year. With the constant use of the machines, there are higher chances of infections if the product used is not up to the standards. Thus, it’s necessary to ensure that the machinery used is of top quality and should be adequately maintained. The components of the milking machines include the tubes, vacuum, tanks, and pulsation system.

Milk tubing is used to transfer the milk from one plant to the other in most cases and needs to be according to the government standards to be used in any company. This way, it’s ensured the milk quality is not hampered, there is no sign of any chemical contamination, and proper sanitation of the component is maintained. To understand the difference between a tube and a hose, you can look at it as a milk hose is used to transfer the milk, and the vacuum tube is used for the pulsation system, which means it holds the vacuum on the cluster. Here are a few features of milk hoses and tubes.

Milk tubes and hoses are developed to be resistant to acid or other typical cleaning agents. This implies that these tubings can be cleaned easily with an approved cleaning agent. Cleaning agents like alkaline or chlorine can be employed to dissolve the milk fat residue or proteins to clean the tube and hose. Acid agents can be used to remove the mineral residue from the tube. Cleaning them is very important as they can affect the quality of milk produced.

There are various types of milking tubes and hoses, like the plastic ones that have a more durable life and the black rubber ones that prevent contamination. There are metal tubes too, but they need extra care as there are chances of rust and chemicals mixing that can change the taste. Materials chosen to make the tubes and hoses are often required to be flexible. As the tube needs to move freely from the tank to the udder, the material used should support this need. Materials like stainless steel wire reinforced tubes, twin line clear plastic vacuum tubes, or rubber tubes are the most suitable options.

Many farmers prefer transparent plastic tubes and hoses as it offers more visibility than the other materials. The tubes offer flexibility, ease to use, and facilitate cleaning and thus ensure the standards by the government are maintained. They are also comparatively more affordable than rubber and silicone tubes and hoses.

Machine milking is different from hand milking. Milk tubing and other machine components should be cleaned and maintained correctly at all times for the machine to function properly. Following the guidelines helps keep the product’s quality intact and makes it a safer choice for the customers. While choosing the components, make sure to select the design and material based on the type of work they’ll be doing rather than focusing only on the cost.