Will EzyCups™ handle wide uddered cows?

YES, by dropping the units further down the Short Milk Tube (SMT) there can be a balance between cup control and flexibility. In soft and narrow diameter SMTs there is a lot of flexibility, allowing splaying of the cups even if the EzyCupsTM are attached very close to the shell.

In most cases however EzyCups™ need to be attached 2cm down from the shell in front units. Back ones however can be attached flush with the shell, producing a very upright presentation during cupping.  If need be, we have a quick release mechanism, whereby you simply squeeze the SMT below the EzyCups™ and pop/pull the unit off in one quick movement.  We recommend that after milking, you simply re adjust the EzyCups™ with a handy “cowside” Phillips Screwdriver.   

What about 3 Titters?

Most 3 titters are on the front teats. If using EzyCups™ on the front teats only (the most common at present), most 3 titters are on the back, so there is no change in practice. However if a front teat is involved, the EzyCups™ can straddle the “diagonal” from the healthy front teat to one of the back teats, freeing one of the back cups for twisting off.

If using EzyCups™ on all four cups it is essential to have a supply of EzyPlugs™ on hand. These can be kept in a convenient place (eg a small bucket of disinfectant on a rotary, or on small clips or other handy places. The plugs are placed in the required cup and prevent vacuum loss. They are easier on rubberware than twisting. 

What about Vacuum Loss?

Vacuum loss may or may not be noticeable when working with EzyCups™; typically there is some increased noise in the back cups. Some liners are simply very noisy, but despite this it is uncommon to have much loss of functionality due to vacuum loss, as most modern plants have plenty of vacuum reserve.

Nevertheless in the learning stage some Users may experience a drop in claw vacuum with cups occasionally falling off. This is due primarily to slow handling of the front cups combined with back cups sitting upright and sucking air.

Reverse impacts from vacuum loss will not be a concern, as there is no milk in the bowl at the time of cupping.

For the most part, while there is double the sound of vacuum loss, the period of vacuum loss should be halved once technique is fluent, resulting in no net difference on vacuum load overall. The gains from reduced cupslip also reduce the demand on reserve vacuum.

Most sheds operate on a Low Level Vacuum Range of 41 to 43 KPA.  If your Vacuum settings are above or below these recommended settings, please adjust accordingly.  By using EzyCups™ some farms enjoy reducing their vacuum settings, resulting in better teat condition than at higher levels of vacuum. EzyCups™ allows for this adjustment to be made without compromising potential greater Cup Slip issues as a result.

Techniques to avoid vacuum loss during cup changing (in order of importance) are:

• Tilting the cluster to one side, allowing the back cups to fall freely to one side of your wrist. The cups can then be “gathered” easily with either springboard or sweep method

• Using the Springboard technique both front and back to kink hoses.

• Rapid front cupping (ably supported by EzyCups™) which minimises vacuum loss

Is there any risk to hygiene or mastitis?

NO, in fact chances are they reduce these issues. Having installed EzyCups™ in dozens of farm dairies we have not heard of any increase in mastitis, and anecdotally there may be a reduction in Somatic Cell Count where cupslip problems have been reduced.

Hygiene wise, EzyCups™ reduce the likelihood of cups falling to the floor and sucking up dung. EzyCups™ wash off easily and do not normally impede jetter function. Occasionally some adjustment may be required to hang cups neatly or fit conveniently on jetters. EzyPlugs™ should be kept clean, possibly in a bucket of disinfectant between uses.