Livestock Farm Practice

MACHINE MILKING

• Machine milking in modern dairy management is most common in the west. However, elite cattle breeders and well organised modern dairies in the country are now increasingly switching over to machine milking. More than 500 milking machines from single one-can cluster to complex six can-cluster are in operation in different parts of the country.
• The first milking parlour set up in India is functioning in Nasik, Maharashtra where above 100 buffaloes are being milked with much com­fort and ease.
• The progressive increase in cattle improvement programme and high milk producing crossbred animals have necessitated the use of machine milking.
• The efficiency of machine milking is associated with the efficiency of milker as well as type of machine milking unit.