Milking parlour technician Michael Hackett from Thurles, Co Tipperary, took me through some of the basics to check before milking starts.

Milking parlours should be started two to three weeks before calving for a parlour NCT after a winter of rest. Starting in the pump house, ensure that the vacuum pump is taking oil. If topping up the reservoir with oil, make sure that the can is clean because the smallest speck of dirt can cause a problem.

Clean filters in vacuum controller at least twice a year.

Milk pumps may need gear oil. Some pumps will have a dipstick, but if not, fill until the oil overflows behind the diaphragms.

Moving into the dairy, Michael said that many farmers will bypass the plate cooler during frost because it can be difficult to drain out in very cold weather.

Start up the bulk tank a week or two before cows begin calving. Throw a few buckets of water into the tank so that the agitator is covered and be careful not to let it turn into ice. At the start of the year, many farmers get a high TBC or two so ensure that you get a flash lamp and check the corners and the top of the tank where water might be struggling to clean properly. Also, a small amount of water when milk volumes are low can cause quality failures.

In terms of the machine itself, it is advisable to run a hot and cold water wash through the plant. A hot wash de-scaler will loosen and soften the dirt and a cold wash will then take that material away out of the plant. If the plant has automatic cluster removers, they need to be de-scaled regularly or the probes won’t work.

Electric pulsators are enclosed and should be alright, but many older pulsators may need a drop of lubricating oil to get them going after a winter of no work (see video). Short air tubes or milk tubes may need to be trimmed as they can be leaking air.

Make sure that long milk tubes have no water in them when the machine is off or it will freeze and damage the rubber.

1 Ensure that short air tubes and milk tubes entering the claw piece are not leaking air. You may need to cut a fresh end to make the seal properly. Replace if very worn or frayed.

2 Pulsators may be stuck – electric pulsators like these are enclosed, so can’t be opened, but old pulsators can be fixed with a drop of lubricating oil.

3 Plate coolers may be by-passed when milking in very frosty weather as often they don’t drain out properly.

4 Bulk tanks should be started up before calving commences. Throw a few buckets of water into the tank so that the agitator is covered and get a flash lamp and check the top of tank and the corners to ensure they are spotless.