Abstract: Apparatus for use in the machine milking of animals including a chamber wh is connectable to the teat cups of a milking machine. A sensing arrangement associated with the chamber permits the volume of milk within the chamber to be sensed and control equipment is coupled with the sensing arrangement so as to be operable in response to a determined volume of milk within the chamber being sensed. A valve is operable in response to the control equipment. Accordingly, the apparatus can be connected to a milk transport system to enable milk to pass from the chamber through the valve and into the milk transport system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for measuring milk yield from an animal which has been machine milked using milking machinery in which a valve is operative to extract milk, with minimal entrained air from the milking claw at a substantially constant pressure differential across the seat of the valve. The apparatus includes a detection and timing mechanism in which in use of the apparatus deects the periods during which the valve is open and records the total time during milking of the animal. The apparatus further includes a mechanism which translate the total time the valve is open into a measurement which indicates the yield of milk from the animal.

Abstract: A micro-sample of semen is exposed to a beam of light from an inexpensive and small laser device. Light scattered by the sample is detected by a photodetector. The photodetector signal is analyzed in the frequency domain to provide a measure of the amplitude of the signal components having frequencies above about 100 Hz. This measure is representative of the numbers of motile sperm in the sample. A motile/immotile percentage is obtained by dividing the motile measurement by a value representative of the amplitude of the full-frequency photodetector signal. In a preferred embodiment frequency-amplitude analysis is carried out in the time domain using frequency splitting filters and integrating the filtered signals. The light receiving aperture for the photodetector is made annular or part-annular in shape to overcome sample orientation or polarization effects.