Methods of estimating liner compression

The aim of this study was to compare 2 methods of measuring overpressure (OP) using a new test device designed to make OP measurements more quickly and accurately. Overpressure was measured with no pulsation (OP<inf>np</inf>) and with limited pulsation (OP<inf>lp</inf>) repeatedly on the same cow during a single milking. Each of the 6 liners (3 round liners and 3 triangular liners) used in this study were tested on the same 6 experimental cows. Both OP<inf>np</inf> and OP<inf>lp</inf> were measured on all 4 teats of each experimental cow twice for each liner. The order of OP<inf>np</inf> and OP<inf>lp</inf> alternated sequentially for each cow test. The OP results for the 6 liners were also compared with liner compression estimated on the same liners with a novel artificial teat sensor (ATS). The OP<inf>lp</inf> method showed small but significantly higher values than the OP<inf>np</inf> method (13.9 vs. 13.4kPa). The OP<inf>lp</inf> method is recommended as the preferred method as it more closely approximates normal milking condition. Overpressure values decreased significantly between the first and the following measurements, (from 15.0 to 12.4kPa). We recommend performing the OP test at a consistent time, 1min after attaching the teatcup to a well-stimulated teat, to reduce the variability produced by OP changing during the peak flow period. The new test device had several advantages over previously published methods of measuring OP. A high correlation between OP and liner compression estimated by the ATS was found, but difficulties were noted when using the ATS with triangular liners.