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Question: what have nearly all of the gas masks purchased by the main allied armies, Hovercraft skirts, large round rubber tanks and First Milk’s chosen brand of teat liners for our unique Cluster Exchange Scheme, got in common? The answer – they’re all made by the same firm – Avon.

The firm is the expert in its chosen field of specialist rubber products, not least because of its significant investment in Research and Development – much of it done here in the UK. The research facility has an annual R&D spend of between £2.5 to £3m, with milking liner technology around a third of that. As the biggest manufacturer of liners in the world, the firm makes around 6m liners in the UK and another 16m in the US under the brand name Milk-Rite – and business is growing significantly.

All aspects of liner technology are put through the R&D microscope on a regular basis to come up with better performing liners which reduce the damage to teats ends and improves milk quality, says Pat Grace, Business Manager. And if you thought one liner was much the same as another then think again – Avon makes 90 different types.

The most recent liner innovation was the triangular Impulse range, which has its own unique closing mechanism and a gentler milking action, with reduced forces around the teat end. The next innovation will be to introduce vented liners, he says, which introduces air into the system from the mouthpiece of the liner, rather than at the claw. This helps to take the milk away from the teat end much more efficiently and reduces the risk of cross-contamination between one teat and another. It also reduces milk turbulence and frothing, so improving the quality of the milk.

On the service front, Avon manages the First Milk Cluster Exchange Scheme, which saves farmers much needed time by supplying the cluster and new liners every 2,500 milkings – the recommended period of time between liner changes. It takes around two to three hours for one man to change the liners on a 16:16 parlour, but around 20 minutes to replace the new claw and liner units supplied on the exchange scheme, estimates Mr Grace. But the firm, in association with its partners Chambers Bros, not only replaces the liners, it also hygienically cleans and reconditions the claw unit, and supplies a complete analysis of the internal surface of the liner to help determine the effectiveness of the cleaning regime.

“We don’t just replace the liners, we use our expertise and R&D knowledge in the whole field of milking technology to provide advice that can minimise teat end damage, improve the health of the cow and improve milk quality,” explained Pat.

Here are some key points about First Milk’s Cluster Exchange Scheme:
• We’ve got farms all over the UK of all sizes taking part in this scheme;
• Farmers using the scheme are reporting fewer cases of clinical mastitis, because the triangular liner has a very gentle action on the teat ends, with less damage incurred;
• We’ve recently introduced a greater range of claws;
• All spare parts are covered on the scheme, so if you break the claw we’ll replace it for nothing;
• We can tell if you are using too much acid, or other chemicals or using excessively hot water through our EXCLUSIVE analytical service on the liners you return;
• It only costs £52 for the first exchange per point, and £27 per exchange thereafter.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Cluster Exchange Scheme, call Fiona Fraser on 0141 847 6817.