Electric shocks during machine milking

Authors: Mullord MM, Whittlestone WG, Kilgour R, Cate LR
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 23, Issue 6, pp 105-108, Jun 1975
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Animal production/wastage, Animal welfare, Behaviour, Mammary gland/udder, Milk, Harvesting/processing, Stress
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: When electrically driven milking machines were first introduced, one of the problems they presented was due to the leakage of electricity into the teat cups. Some early machines had a chain drive from the motor to the vacuum pump. These were particularly liable to carry a volltage on the milk pipe, and in many cases this could be eliminated by the use of an insulated V-belt drive. Despite improvements in machine and shed design, electrical voltages on milking machines continue. Phillips (1962) reported finding plant voltages from, 0 to 20, with the majority in the range 3 to 10 volts in the Waikato and Taranaki. A similar study carried out in New South Wales (Whittlestone and Harper, 1962) showed voltages ranging from 0 to 16. Earlier studies at the Ruakura Animal Research Station (Whittlestone, 1951) showed that electric shocks applied to a cow before milking will produce a substantial change in the nature of the milk ejection curve…

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