The Rotolactor is a largely automatic machine used for milking a large number of cows successively using a rotating platform. It was developed by the Borden Company in 1930, and is known as the "rotary milking parlor".

History

The Rotolactor was the first invention for milking a large number of cows using a rotating platform. It was invented by Henry W. Jeffers. The Rotolactor was initially installed in Plainsboro, New Jersey. The rotating mechanical milking machine was first used by the Walker-Gordon Laboratories dairy and was put into operation on November 13, 1930.

Description

The Abstract of the 1930 Cow Milking Apparatus (Rotolactor) patent states:

"The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whereby an indefinitely large number of cows may be milked successively and largely automatically..."

The Rotolactor held 50 cows and could produce 26,000 quarts of milk. After each cow received a bath, their

udder An udder is an organ formed of two or four mammary glands on the females of dairy animals and ruminants such as cattle, goats, and sheep. An udder is equivalent to the breast in primates, elephantine pachyderms and other mammals. The udder is ...

s and flanks were cleaned. The August 1931 issue of the ''American Journal of Public Health and the Nation's Health'' described the Rotolactor as an advance in cleanliness and

hygiene Hygiene is a set of practices performed to preserve health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases." Personal hygiene refer ...

for milk production.

Legacy

The Rotolactor was featured at the

1939 New York World's Fair The 1939 New York World's Fair (also known as the 1939–1940 New York World's Fair) was an world's fair, international exposition at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City, New York, United States. The fair included exhibitio ...

in the Borden's exhibit. The Walker-Gordon farm in Plainsboro later became a museum. The farm building in Plainsboro containing the Rotolactor had an observation room to accommodate visitors, including large groups of school children. A 1930 film was titled: "New Jersey. 'The Rotolactor' - hygiene's latest - automatically washing and milking 50 cows at one time in 12 1/2 minutes - inaugurated by Mr.

Thomas Edison Thomas Alva Edison (February11, 1847October18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. These inventions, ...

." The Walker-Gordon farm stopped producing dairy products on June 18, 1971.

References

Bibliography

* * Kane, Joseph Nathan (1997), ''Famous First Facts, A Record of First Happenings, Discoveries, and Inventions in American History'' (Fifth Edition), The H.W. Wilson Company, *

External links

Rotolactor - "Rotary milking parlor" demonstration
YouTube American inventions Industrial history of the United States Dairy farming in the United States 1930 establishments in New Jersey Plainsboro Township, New Jersey