G. Dineva*, K. Peychev, D. Georgiev

Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

(Manuscript received 4 June 2021; accepted for publication 26 July 2021)

Abstract. Milking machines equipped with new and used milking liners with a round cross section were studied. The used milking membranes were operated for 3 months on a farm for rearing 60 cows (Holstein cattle) with double milking per day. The experiment involved recording the standard pulsation phases “a”, “b”, “c” and “d” (in absolute units) in the frequency range from 1 Hz to 2.5 Hz, in a vacuum mode of 40 kPa and 50 kPa and at a pulsation ratio of 50/50%. It was found that the transients (phase “a” and phase “c”) are faster and the established phases (phase “b” and phase “d”) are longer in milking units equipped with used milking liners. The conclusions are related to the service life of the milking liners.