SIMULATION MODELS OF TECHNOLOGICAL OPERATIONS IN MACHINE MILKING IN PARALLEL TYPE PARLOUR

Abstract

The hourly productivity of the milking parlour is significantly influenced by the organization of the technological process. Milkers perform a series of sequential operations (entry on the platforms, washing, drying, placing the milking units, removing them, disinfecting the teats, exiting the platforms of the milking parlour) the duration of which is a large part of the total milking time. The duration of the latent period from the release of oxytocin to its contact with the myoepithelial cells in the glandular part of the udder is from 30 s to 90 s (average 60 s). In this line of thought, the following questions arise: "in what time interval should the preparatory operations for milking be performed and what is their permissible duration". The aim of the present study is to develop methodologies (models) for simulating the work of milkers in "Parallel" type parlours. It was found that under the initially set working conditions of only two milkers in the milking parlour, all developed models are applicable for capacities up to 2x8. Models II, III and IV are unacceptable for capacities above 2x8, as the total duration of preparation of milking cows exceeds the time frame by between 30-80%. This finding proves that for a capacity over 2x8 it is necessary to perform technological operations with a larger number of milkers.