Based just outside Monmouth on the edge of the Forest of Dean Vaccar have a wealth of experience when it comes to milking parlour design and technology. This is due not least to the fact that they have always maintained a practical approach to both running the company and dealing with their clients. Today the company design milking parlours as well as offering probably the most comprehensive range of spare parts for milking equipment. Via their nationwide network of dealers they provide a one stop shop for parlour spares.
Vaccar employ a team of expert sales personnel who design and specify the requirements for individual parlours which is then passed onto the local dealer to install and fit. By working closely with the dealers the company ensures it maintains a local image so important in today's working environment.
Although the bulk of the work involves milking systems for cows, in recent years they have seen an increase in demand for milking technology for the commercial production of goat's milk. To this end the company has designed equipment for those with large herds as well as being able to provide a simple go anywhere mini-milker unit which can be used wherever there is a power source. A similar unit was developed for use with cattle for use in such circumstances when milk from individual animals needs to be kept separate such as is the case when a cow has mastitis.
At the heart of every Vaccar system is parlour hygiene. Dairy farmers are said to be loosing in excess of £20 million a year off the milk price as a result not meeting hygiene thresholds. This loss is due in no little part to cross contamination of milk due to poor hygiene in particular cluster hygiene.
Introduced last year Clusterflush is an automated cluster flush system which can be fitted to any existing parlour with an automatic cluster removal (ACR) or milk meter system. When the cluster is removed by the ACR system this triggers the Clusterflush into operation. Firstly vacuum is re-applied for 2 seconds sweeping any residual milk from the cluster and milk tube. Water or sanitising solution is then introduced into the milk tube and cluster followed by a blast of compressed air. This is repeated followed by a further blast of compressed air, which removes any residue water or sanitising solution the whole process taking just over 30 seconds. The effect of the system is to reduce the risk of cross contamination by 95% while when a sanitising solution is used the risk is reduced by up to 99.8%!
Another major contribution to dairy hygiene is the award winning Vaccar "Hysil" silicone milk tube and teat cup liner. Pioneered by the company silicone is a truly clean material which does not deteriorate, contaminate milk or support bacteria.
Vaccar milking systems
Parlours:
• Herringbone
• Tandem
• Rotary
• Abreast
Specialist equipment
• Milk meters
• Automatic cluster removal
• Cluster flushing
• Range of feeding options
• Automated sorting gates
Milk Management
- Vaccar Farm Control
- Conductivity Measuring
- Feeding
- Identification
- Selection
- Activity Measuring
- Computerised Feeding
Full details of the company's products and services can be accessed via www.vaccar.com
