ABSTRACT
"Fashions" differ among countries; for example, individual pneumatic pulsators are used almost exclusively in some countries, while relay pulsators are used almost exclusively in other countries. Dairy farmers need properly functioning, simple, milking equipment, and attempts are being made to achieve this objective in Ireland by means of a combination of some interdependent factors. Vacuum pumps should be capable of extracting their rated capacity for a test period of at least 6,000 hours. Vacuum regulators are tested for broad conformity to an Irish Standard. Regulators then are mounted on or adjacent to a vacuum pipeline in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations, and simulated wear is begun. Pulsators have been performance tested in Moorepark on several occasions. Satisfactory pulsation requires air pipelines of adequate size. Milking pipeline machines are recommended rather than recorder plants. Tests on liners should be done on a regional basis because of differences between breeds of cows and teat sizes.
