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TESTING AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF AN IMPORTED MOBILE BUCKET MILKING MACHINE FOR WATER BUFFALOES

Jandool Khan
Farm Machinery Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan


ABSTRACT
An imported mobile bucket milking machine was used for milking water buffaloes. The experiment was conducted at Livestock Research Station (LRS), National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad. A herd of 12 animals (water buffaloes) were milked for more than one year. Machine milking of buffaloes was the first experience of its kind in Pakistan. The results were encouraging. Type and length of stimulation phase, size of teat cup liner, suited vacuum level, weight of milking cluster, milk capacity of claw piece, way of attachment of cluster and milking with single and double clusters were included as variables. The best suited size of teat cup liner for the milked animals was 25mm in diameter among the liners used. The 2.1kg cluster which was having light teat cup shells and stainless steel claw piece proved to be superior for the smooth and sponge like teats. The vacuum level 46-48kPa and 44-46kPa gave maximum milk yield (0.807 and 1.086 liters per minute) for single and double clusters, respectively.