Why should liners be changed regularly?

Most rubber liners are designed to last around 2500 milkings as they deteriorate with time and usage. Check out the information below on the importance replacing liners and why delaying this can affect the health of your herd and your bottom-line!

• Liners are the only part of the milking plant to come into contact with the cow's teats, so they can have a direct impact on the health of your cows.
• Liners are subject to a lot of wear and tear, opening and closing over 2.5 million times during its use, as they slacken the forces on the cow's teat increases along with the chance of liner slip.
• Liners are also exposed to harsh cleaning chemicals at high temperature, which over time can break down the rubber and milk deposits can be left on the surface.
• To the naked eye, a liner at 3000 milkings may look clean, but examination under microscope can show build-up and damage to the surface of the rubber.
• Studies show time and again that between 2000 - 3000 milkings the levels of reddening and damage to the teat increase significantly. This form of damage to the cow's teat means it loses its natural resistance to bacteria and pathogens, leader to higher somatic cell count and incidents of mastitis.

So, it's easy to see that a disciplined approach to changing liners will help to ensure the health of your herd and quality of your milk and that trying to make liners stretch to a few more milkings is truly a false economy.

If you have any questions about liners or would like to order liners for your shed contact Nind Dairy Services on 0800 50 22 50 or email dairy@nind.co.nz.