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Lactalign mounted on a rapid exit parlour in Dorset, UK.
Designed to counter the often-costly impact of uneven weight and vacuum distribution of a milking cluster, Lactalign is a cleverly sculpted, pivoting support plate that is mounted on the frame of the milking plant.
Initial tests in rotary set-ups since 2020 showed a 59% reduction in liner slip, a 47% reduction in kick-offs, a 65% reduction in re-attachments and a 50% reduction in mastitis cases in front quarters.
More recent independent tests over a six-month period have shown that Lactalign also brings significant benefits when used in a rapid exit parlour, substantially reduces liner slippage, kick-offs, and reattachments.
In November last year, Lactalign was fitted in a rapid exit parlour in Dorset, UK. As part of that, an independent study was carried out by Ian Ohnstad, an internationally recognised specialist in milking technology who works with dairy farm clients across the globe. Ian undertook a pre-installation and two post-installation visits to assess the difference Lactalign made over six months.
The study that was carried out at Pilsdon Dairy Farm in Dorset UK, a herd of 800 cows milked three times per day in 40/40 Boumatic Rapid Exit parlour. Over six months, the assessment showed that Lactalign has brought a 57.4% reduction in liner slippage, a 56% reduction in the number of kick-offs and a 42% reduction in reattachment, with the overall conclusion was that Lactalign is a simple and robust device for smoother, more efficient milking.
While visual observations did not detect a measurable difference in cow behaviour, the study states that the reduction in both kick-offs and re-attachments would strongly indicate there is an improvement in milking comfort.
There is widespread consensus that even milking can only be achieved when a milking cluster is presented squarely under the cow with equal weight distribution on all quarters. This can be difficult to achieve in many commercial milking systems.
Poor cluster presentation and excessive liner slippage had been on-going issues at Pilsdon Dairy Farm, an issue that can be particularly problematic on parlour configurations where the cow is presented at 90 degrees to the kerb, as is the case in rapid exit parlours.
Operators need to ensure the length of long milk and pulse tubes are correct, fully extending the ACR cord and taking time to present the milking cluster without twisting can all help but achieving satisfactory cluster position can still prove challenging.
Ian Ohnstad says, “the Lactalign devices have produced a measurable reduction in liner slippage, kick-offs and manual re-attachments. All these factors will lead to smoother, more efficient milking.
“The robustness and simplicity of the device is attractive with no reported breakages or failures during the evaluation. On-going maintenance and service costs appear to be minimal. The farm owner and milking staff all commented how much milking has improved with less slippage and unit kick offs.
“Initial concern at how easily the devices would be adopted by milking staff has proven unfounded.”
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