Book excerpt: Milking Machines: A Comprehensive Guide for Farmers, Herdsmen and Students is a comprehensive guide on milking machines and covers topics ranging from milk recording and milk transport to circulation cleaning and work routines practiced on a particular farm. The components of a milking machine are also described, including the power unit, belt drive, vacuum pump, vacuum line, and the interceptor trap. Comprised of 20 chapters, this book begins with an overview of some basic facts about a milking machine, followed by a discussion on the parts and components of a milking machine such as the power unit, belt drive, vacuum pump, vacuum controller, and the pulsation system. Subsequent chapters focus on milk recording and milk transport as well as rubberware, along with automation of milking efficiency and cow throughput. The book also describes parlor layout and design before concluding with an evaluation of the ISO Standards for milking machines in the the European Economic Community. This monograph is designed to be read by farmers, herdsmen, and agricultural college students, who all have an interest either directly or indirectly in milking machines.