Open access publications in the SLU publication database

Abstract

The equipment described in this paper is being used in an introductory research program at the Department Of Agricultural Engineering, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). A measuring method had to be developed since there was nothing directly available that satisfied our needs. New and better techniques were gradually developed as the research program progressed. An improved equipment design was normally used directly after it had been tested in the laboratory. Two principally dissimilar measurement techniques were used, a Doppler device and a orifice measuring device. The Doppler device is described in sections 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3. Three different versions were developed. Firstly a Doppler device directly attached to the cow’s teat, Secondly a contact-free Doppler device and thirdly a shunted contact-free Doppler device. In sections 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7 and 5.8 the various versions of the orifice measurement system are described. Three different experimental teat cups are listed in this paper. One was used in the non contact-free measuring system, i.e. the Doppler device was directly attached to the teat. The other two teat cups made it possible to apply a contact-free measuring method. The two latter cups were basically equivalent to one another. A regulation system needed when using contact-free milk flow rate measuring techniques is described in Section 5.2.3. Other equipment not strictly used for measuring milk flow rate has also been developed. These are devices not actually used for milk flow rate measurements but are of the utmost importance for accurate measurements. The description and explanation of the different measuring techniques is preceded by a short review of literature dealing with the physiology of the cow’s teat. Views and research results of various scientists are also listed.