Backflush

Backflushing the cluster between cows is a critical step in
controlling the spread of such contagious pathogens as
Staph. Aureus, Strep. Agalactiae, and Mycoplasma species.

Backflush, when used in conjunction with an effective disinfecting
agent, can sanitize the milking unit after removal from one cow
and before going on the next cow. This can dramatically effect the
spread of contagious pathogens being transmitted through the
milking machine.

Although backflush has been around for years, it has not been
widely adapted everywhere. This is mainly because systems that
were sold did not hold up well and the dairyman paid a high price
for maintaining and cleaning the system. Once those costs out
weighed the benefit, dairymen quit using their systems and many
people have not come back to the technology since.

Today, most companies have given up offering backflush systems
because of these problems. However, here at BECO our
backflush systems are going stronger than ever. That is mainly
because we are the one company that has mastered the
simplicity and reliability issues making backflushing a useful and
economically sound tool like it was originally perceived to be.

The key element to reliability and simplicity comes from the backflush valve itself.
After only a few short years following the development of the first systems, BECO admitted that the slide
valve concept just wasn't cutting it and further work on that design was not going to change it much. It is a
shame that other companies did not follow suit, but rather continued to sell those types of valves and
consequently gave backflush a bad reputation. Dairymen that are familiar with BECO have realized that our
system is very different and they have successfully implemented the BECO backflush as one of their tools
in fighting contagious mastitis.

One of the industries best kept secrets.
BECO backflush can be, and is, very simple and reliable. BECO has proven
this with hundreds of installations in all size of parlors. Lets face it, if the BECO
system can hold up on dairies like Quad D-75 parlors that milk each cow four
times a day and still be reliable, you can rest assured it is well tested and
proven. By the way.. on just this one dairy in mention that's 80,000 backflushes
each and every day!

Here is how it works
The illustrations on the right show the inside of the backflush
valve. The one on the left shows the valve in the milk position.
Looking closely you can see the rubber plunger inside is lifted
off of the bottom port of the valve that is connected to the milk
line. Upon lifting of this plunger, the valve turns on vacuum to
the port on the right side of the valve that is connected to the
milking claw. Vacuum is now available to milk the cow.

The valve on the right side shows the valve in the backflush
position. Looking closely you can see the rubber plunger is
moved to the down position closing off vacuum and the
backflush distribution line is now open for the backflush cycle
to start.

The complete system
A complete backflush system consists of a filter and
iodine distribution panel that cleans, preps and
regulates the water, iodine solution and air for the
backflush process. Those lines are then connected to
a series of distribution valves that control the cycles.
The first cycle is to run clear water through the claws to
remove any milk residue. The second cycle is to run
the iodine solution as a sanitizing medium. There is
then a pause to allow the iodine solution time to kill the
pathogens. The next cycle is with clear water to purge
the iodine solution from the system and lastly there is
an air dry cycle that removes any remaining water.
This process starts automatically, without operator
intervention, each time the exit gate is opened to exit
the cows. The process will then complete before the
next group of cows are ready whereas the units will be
cleaned and sanitized.

More than a backflush valve.
When this valve is used in conjunction with any of the BECO automatic take-offs, it can also be used as the
vacuum shut-off valve and milk sensor as well. Using the BECO Acu-Clean valve like this dramatically
cleans up the system making the system ultra simple. No need for multiple valves because milk will pass
through just one component before making its way from the claw to the pipeline. One valve with only one
moving part...It just doesn't get anymore simple and reliable than that!