Abstract: A milking parlor for animals comprising at least one milking stall arranged to receive an animal in a predetermined milking position, teat cups arranged to be used in milking the animal in the milking stall, a teat cup carrier arranged to store the teat cups in the milking stall when they are not used, and at least one robot arm provided with at least one gripping member arranged to grip a teat cup in the teat cup carrier and attach the teat cup on the teat of an animal in the milking stall. The teat cup carrier stores the teat cups in a storing area located at least partly in front of the front legs of the animal with respect to the direction of the animal when it stands in the predetermined milking position in the milking stall.

Abstract: A monitoring unit (100) that determines parameters (p1, p2) of an attribute (P) of a liquid substance flowing (F) through a dielectric conduit (110) includes plural coil members (121, 122) encircling the dielectric conduit (110) that subjects a flow of the liquid substance to plural different electromagnetic fields (B(f)), and under influence thereof measuring circuitry registers corresponding impedance measures (z(f)) of the liquid substance. A processor (130) derives the parameters (p1, p2) of the attribute (P) based on the registered impedance measures (z(f)).

Abstract: An animal treating arrangement includes a carrying device beside a milking platform rotating with a velocity and having animal places housing animals. The carrying device includes a fundament, a first bearing device (12) provided on the fundament, an arm (13) connected to the first bearing device permitting the arm to rotate in relation to the fundament around a first axis, a support platform (15) connected to the arm (13). A drive arrangement moves the support platform and includes a first drive member (31) rotating the arm around the first axis. A sensor (37) communicates with a control unit (36) and senses an instantaneous value of the velocity. The control unit controls the first drive member to move the support platform to follow the milking platform from a start position to an end position during a part of the rotation of the milking platform.

Abstract: A bolus for use in a ruminant animal's reticulum includes a cavity (100) configured to receive ruminal fluids present in the stomach. The cavity has walls (110) of a dielectric material and is encircled by a coil member (120), which is configured to subject the ruminal fluids to an electro-magnetic field. A Sensor element (310) measures the electromag-netic field's influence on the ruminal fluids and thus register an electromagnetic property representative of an acidity level of said fluids. A transmitter (410) transmits a wireless output signal (SD) reflecting the acidity measure.

Abstract: A milking parlour for animals comprising at least one milking stall arranged to receive an animal in a predetermined milking position, teat cups arranged to be used in milking the animal in the milking stall, a teat cup carrier arranged to store the teat cups in the milking stall when they are not used, and at least one robot arm provided with at least one gripping member arranged to grip a teat cup in the teat cup carrier and attach the teat cup on the teat of an animal in the milking stall. The teat cup carrier stores the teat cups in a storing area located at least partly in front of the front legs of the animal with respect to the direction of the animal when it stands in the predetermined milking position in the milking stall.

Abstract: A portable apparatus (1) for milking of animals (11-16) which are permitted to go loose is described. The apparatus (1) comprises a plurality of stalls (2) with at least one local milk tank (4) in each stall. The apparatus (1) comprises at least two separate lines (19, 20) arranged to receive the milk from the local milk tanks (4) in dependence of the quality of the milk.

Abstract: A monitoring unit (100) that determines parameters (p1, p2) of an attribute (P) of a liquid substance flowing (F) through a dielectric conduit (110) includes plural coil members (121, 122) encircling the dielectric conduit (110) that subjects a flow of the liquid substance to plural different electromagnetic fields (B(f)), and under influence thereof measuring circuitry registers corresponding impedance measures (z(f)) of the liquid substance. A processor (130) derives the parameters (p1, p2) of the attribute (P) based on the registered impedance measures (z(f)).

Abstract: A bolus, for introduction into a ruminant animal's reticulum to register pressure signals transmitted through fluids therein, has a case unit adapted for immersion in the fluids. A mechanical amplifier element extends out from the case unit and is adapted to be surrounded by the fluids in the reticulum and absorb mechanical energy from the pressure signals. A guide part conveys mechanical energy from the mechanical amplifier element to a sensor module in the interior of the case unit. The sensor module transduces the pressure signals into electric signals from which a processing module extracts data representing body movements, a heart beat rate, a respiratory rate, a respiratory depth and/or stomach activity of the animal. A communication module in the case unit receives the data and transmits output radio signals reflecting the data.

Abstract: An animal treating arrangement includes a carrying device beside a milking platform rotating with a velocity and having animal places housing animals. The carrying device includes a fundament, a first bearing device (12) provided on the fundament, an arm (13) connected to the first bearing device permitting the arm to rotate in relation to the fundament around a first axis, a support platform (15) connected to the arm (13). A drive arrangement moves the support platform and includes a first drive member (31) rotating the arm around the first axis. A sensor (37) communicates with a control unit (36) and senses an instantaneous value of the velocity. The control unit controls the first drive member to move the support platform to follow the milking platform from a start position to an end position during a part of the rotation of the milking platform.

Abstract: An apparatus for milking an animal provides a milking parlor (1) with a robotic manipulation device (25) and a milking stall (5) provided on a platform (3) moveable relative to the robotic manipulation device (25). An electric control system is adapted to vary the movement of the platform in response to the performance of the robotic manipulation device (25) in servicing the milking stall (5).

Abstract: An apparatus for milking an animal provides a milking parlour (1) with a robotic manipulation device (25) and a milking stall (5) provided on a platform (3) moveable relative to the robotic manipulation device (25). An electric control system is adapted to vary the movement of the platform in response to the performance of the robotic manipulation device (25) in servicing the milking stall (5).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in which an animal is cooled and to apparatus for cooling an animal, in particular a cow. The method includes the step of determining the condition of the animal (5) and/or of the environment in which the animal (5) is located. The method is characterised by the further steps of selecting a method of cooling the animal (5), wherein the selected cooling method is chosen on the basis of the determined condition; and cooling the animal with the selected cooling method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a milking system comprising a first and at least a second animal area cluster, wherein each of the animal area cluster comprises at least one animal area and each animal area comprises at least one milking point, and where the first and at least second animal area cluster are arranged side by side characterised in a tunnel connecting each milking point in the first and second animal area cluster.

Abstract: A portable apparatus (1) for milking of animals (11-16) which are permitted to go loose is described. The apparatus (1) comprises a plurality of stalls (2) with at least one local milk tank (4) in each stall. The apparatus (1) comprises at least two separate lines (19, 20) arranged to receive the milk from the local milk tanks (4) in dependence of the quality of the milk.

Abstract: Example embodiments related to a method of automatically milking animals, wherein the animals are allowed to move in area intended therefore. The area may include a resting area and a feeding area housing a milking station, whereby the animals are allowed to visit individually and which a selected group of the animals have to visit in order to move from the resting area to the feeding area. The method may establish a condition for low utilization of the milking station; and feed the animals by a feeding device when the condition for low utilization of the automatic milking machine is met to thereby entice animals in the resting area to move to the feeding area and to therewith present themselves at the milking station.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring at least a part of an animal related space (18) comprises a controllable device (2, 22) and at least one image capturing device (14, 15) for generating and supplying captured image data regarding said animal related space. According to the invention, the image capturing device (14, 15) is associated with a communications port (24) connectible to a telecommunications network (26), a remote control device (28) is associated with a further communications port (30) connectible to said telecommunications network (26). The image capturing device (14, 15) is connectable to said remote control device (28) via said telecommunications network (26) and the remote control device (28) is adapted to receive said captured image data. The remote control device (28) is provided with a display unit (32) for allowing viewing of said captured image data. A data input means (34) is associated with said remote control device (28), for entering a control instruction.

Abstract: A method of automatically milking animals, which are allowed to move in an area (3, 5, 6) intended therefore, the area including a resting area (5) and a feeding area (6) and housing a milking station (9), which the animals are allowed to visit individually and which a selected group of said animals have to visit in order to move from the resting area to the feeding area, comprises the steps of establishing a condition for low utilization of the milking station; and feeding the animals by means of a feeding device (38) when the condition for low utilization of said automatic milking machine is met to thereby entice animals in the resting area to move to the feeding area and to therewith present themselves at the milking station.

Abstract: A method for serving animals, such as milking dairy animals, allowed to go loose in an enclosed area, with animal stalls with a robot. The stalls have entrance and exit gates that are controlled. A service area includes at least three stationary animals stalls around a robot to form a central robot inner area. The robot is associated with the controller for the gates and is capable of moving to and serving each one of the animal stalls. A strolling area is arranged between the outer border of the enclosed area and the central robot area with animal stalls that is divided into subareas in various ways by the use of separators that may include controlled one-way passing gates for the animals.

Abstract: For sensing presence of foremilk, in the separation of foremilk or for detecting incorrect premilking, the transparency of the milk to transmission of light therethrough is sensed by a sensor (4), and a control unit (12) which receives signals from the sensor operates a valve (7) so that foremilk is diverted to a waste container (10) whereas good quality milk passes to a storage container (3). The inverted peak in the transparency curve which is indicative of foremilk is detected and the control unit actuates the valve (7) to minimise loss of good quality milk with the foremilk.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detection of a deviating behaviour of a milking animal (101) during milking procedure comprising a sequence in an automatic milking system (100), comprising a robot (105) having a process for positioning teat cups (106). The method comprising the steps of: obtaining an identity of said animal (101), retrieving information related to said animal 101 from a memory (111), said information comprising a reference value derived from a previous milking procedure sequence, registering a value, related to said robot (105), from the present milking procedure sequence, comparing each reference value with the registered value in an analyser (112), and issuing of a warning signal if any of said registered values deviates from the corresponding reference value more than a predetermined deviation value, whereby the process for positioning the teat cups (106) is used for determining if the milking animal (101) deviates from a normal behaviour.