Abstract: A method and device for milking using a milking system with a control unit and an adjustable stimulator, including stimulating for a stimulus time and subsequently milking a dairy animal, measuring and evaluating the milk flow profile in order to determine if the milk flow profile is bimodal. If it is, then the control unit automatically adjusts the stimulating operation by extending the stimulating operation by an extension value. If it is not, then the control unit may, optionally automatically, shorten the stimulating operation. As a result, the milking system is able to reduce the strain on the teats caused by unnecessary stimulation or by milking in an efficient way during a bimodal part of the milking operation and also to adjust this during the entire lactation, if necessary. In this way, changes in the dairy animal itself are also compensated for.

Abstract: A rotary milking platform (1) comprises a platform (3) having a circular carrier beam (7) secured to the underside of the platform (3). The carrier beam (7) is supported on a plurality of support elements (10), each of which comprise a freely rotatable roller (35) which is configured to rollably engage an under surface (38) of the carrier beam (7). Each support element (10) comprises an anchor plate (27) adjustably mounted on a corresponding ground engaging element (20) which is secured to the ground. A carrier plate (40) is carried on four guide bolts (50) extending upwardly from the anchor plate (27). Side members (41) extending downwardly from the carrier plate (40) rotatably carry the roller (35). Compression springs (59) acting between abutment washers (55) secured to the guide bolts (50) and the carrier plate (40) urge the carrier plate (40) against heads (53) of the guide bolts (50).

Abstract: An automatic milking system controlled by receiving a parameter representing a measured flow of milk extracted from at least one teat of an udder of an animal being milked in a milking operation via at least one teatcup of the milking system, wherein the milking system is controlled to stop the milking operation based on a first criterion indicating that the flow has reached a decline phase, and a second criterion indicating that the flow decreases faster than a threshold slope, the milking operation being stopped in response to fulfillment of the second criterion on or after a point in time when the first criterion has been fulfilled. As a result, a particular amount of milk is left in the udder of the animal, irrespective of an overall milking time for the animal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses, inter alia, a free dome range system (FDR) comprising at least one front elevated rail (FER); at least one rear elevated rail (RER); a plurality of mobile units, each of the plurality of mobile units movable along a member of a group consisting of: the at least one FER, the least one RER and any combination thereof. The invention also discloses a method of positioning at least one of a plurality of mobile units in an FDR comprising steps of providing a free dome range system (FDR) comprising at least one front elevated rail (FER); at least one rear elevated rail (RER); and the plurality of mobile units, each of the plurality of mobile units movable along a member of a group consisting of: the at least one FER, the least one RER and any combination thereof. The present invention further discloses a dairy farm characterized by (a) an array of n stalls side-by-side along an X axis on the dairy animal's level.

Abstract: A robot comprises a plurality of sensors on a mobile chassis and may move about an environment in which people may be expected to follow particular cultural conventions. Movement of the robot may be constrained to honor these cultural conventions that are appropriate for the people in the environment. For example, when the robot is used within the United States, the robot tends to move along the right-hand side of a hallway. In comparison, when the robot is used within Japan the robot tends to move along the left-hand side of the hallway. The cultural conventions may be implemented as one-way gates present at specified locations in an occupancy map of the environment. The gates have no physical presence in the environment, but have the effect of placing a constraint on where the robot is permitted to move.

Abstract: An approach for maintaining industrial livestock infrastructure is disclosed. The approach utilizes digital twin computing to create a digital copy of biological and non-biological assets of a livestock production unit/facility (e.g., aquaculture, sericulture, dairy industry, meat industry, etc.) to improve the efficiency and reduce cost associated with the production of livestock. The usage of digital twins removes fundamental constraints concerning place, time, and human observation. Instead of control based on direct observation of physical objects, which requires physical proximity, digital twins enable remote control of livestock operations coupled with IoT sensors. This allows for the decoupling of physical flows from information aspects of farm operations.

Abstract: A control unit that controls an automatic milking machine to operate in accordance with control commands and/or parameter settings received from either of a local user interface fixedly arranged at the milking machine or a remote terminal, where the control unit, in response to receiving a lock command from one of the local user interface or the remote terminal, causes the automatic milking machine to operate in a single-control mode in which it operates exclusively to commands and/or parameter settings received from the one of the local user interface or the remote terminal that generated the lock command, in order to ensure predictable and safer operation of the milking machine particularly in view of personnel located in proximity of the milking machine.

Abstract: A safety valve arrangement and method, having an upstream block valve, a downstream block valve, and a pressure monitored galley between the upstream valve and the downstream valve.

Abstract: A voluntary milking system and method for treating dairy livestock having fore legs and hind legs, wherein the system comprises milking stalls voluntarily accessible to animals that are milked by mobile units configured to travel between the fore and hind legs of the animal.

Abstract: Milking clusters for a milking installation have four teat cups, each teat cup having a cup housing and a teat cup liner with a top region and a suction region. A connection for a milk tube is arranged at the cup bottom or at the end of the suction region of the teat cup liner. A mouth portion of a sterile air pressure line is arranged in the top region of the teat cup liner, through which pressure line sterile air is introduced at a volumetric flow rate greater than a fluid aspiration volumetric flow rate at the milk tube, such that a sterile air blanket is established in the top region of the teat cup liner. The milking clusters with the cup liner and sterile air blanket prevent milked milk from being contaminated by contaminants and microorganisms from the shed air, extending storage life for untreated raw milk.

Abstract: A space divider (4) of a milking parlor arrangement (1, 1?, 1?, 1??) for at least one milking parlor (3) for milking milk-producing animals (T), wherein the space divider (4) is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the animal (T) to be milked, has an arm device (6) having a milking cluster (5), which can be adjusted from a parking position to a working position and back. The arm device (6) is arranged with the milking cluster (5) in the parking position in the space divider (4) and can be adjusted into the working position laterally to the animal (T) to be milked between the front and rear legs thereof in fully automatic operation or semi-automatic operation. The space divider (4) is designed in such a way that no additional space is required between adjacent animals (T), so that many animals (T) can be milked in a milking parlor arrangement (1, 1?, 1?, 1??) while the smallest possible amount of space is required.

Abstract: A multi-pump control system includes a processing module, a communication interface, a storage module and a control module configured to ramp up a speed of k pumps in addition to a subset j of i pumps of a system comprising N pumps running at a speed ?j providing a total head ?p, wherein N?2, 1?k<N and 1?i<N, and to ramp down the i pumps of the subset j from the speed ?j to a lower speed ?m that is required for a subset m of i+k pumps to provide the total head ?p, and/or configured to ramp down the speed of k pumps of the subset j of i pumps and to ramp up the i-k pumps of a residual subset r from the speed ?j to a higher speed ?r that is required to provide the total head ?p.

Abstract: A multi-pump control system includes a control module, a processing module, a communication interface, and a storage module. The control module is configured to run a zero flow configuration cycle by either ramping up the speed of at least one pump in addition to a subset j of i pumps of a multi-pump system until the communication interface receives a signal change indicative of the at least one pump starting to contribute to the total flow, wherein the processing module is configured to determine an approximated pump characteristic or power consumption or ramping down the speed of at least one pump of a subset j of i pumps of a multi-pump system until the communication interface receives a signal change indicative of the at least one pump stopping to contribute to the total flow, wherein the processing module is configured to determine an approximated pump characteristic and/or power consumption.

Abstract: A milking device including at least one milking cup with a teat space and a pulsation space, a pulsator connected by a pulsation line to the pulsation space of the milking cup and provided with a vacuum source, a vacuum line provided with a first controllable valve between the vacuum source and the pulsation line, an aeration line provided with a second controllable valve between the pulsation line and a source of higher pressure, and a pulsator control system for the first and second valves. The pulsator control system includes a flushing mode for opening and holding open the first and second valves during at least a predefined flushing time which is at least as long as the pulsation period.

Abstract: A multi-pump control system includes a control module, a processing module, a communication interface, and a storage module. The control module runs n different subsets of i pumps of a multi-pump system including N pumps during n different configuration cycles at a speed ?j, wherein N?2, 2?n?2N?1 and 1?i?N. Each configuration cycle j?{1, . . . , n} is associated with a subset j?{1, . . . , n} and a speed ?j. The communication interface receives signals indicative of operational parameters from each subset j during the associated configuration cycle j. The processing module determines an approximated pump characteristic ?p=f(q, ?j) based on the received signals for each subset j and under an assumption that the i pumps of each subset j share the same part q/i of a reference flow q. The storage module stores the approximated pump characteristic ?p=f(q, ?j) or parameters indicative thereof.

Abstract: A method for sampling milk in a milking machine includes the steps of attaching teat cups to teats of an animal and starting to milk said teats; receiving a first amount of milk in a milk receiver while keeping an outlet valve device open; closing the outlet valve device; continuing the receiving of milk in the milk receiver; agitating the milk in the milk receiver using an agitation device of a milk sampling arrangement; taking a regular milk sample from the milk in an outlet portion of the milk receiver using a milk sample device of the milk sampling arrangement; and opening the outlet valve device so that the milk can be transferred to a milk tank.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for treating dairy livestock having fore legs and hind legs, wherein the system comprises a milking parlor ramp, livestock stalls positioned along at least part of the milking parlor ramp, wherein each stall is configured to contain one dairy livestock, at least one vertical upright teat cup holder comprising teat cups and a mobile unit. The mobile unit comprises equipment for treating livestock and a processor, where the mobile unit is configured to travel between the fore legs and hind legs of the dairy livestock on the milking parlor ramp and use the equipment to perform at least one action related to a treatment of the dairy livestock. Also disclosed is that the equipment includes an arm configured to withdraw the teat cups from the vertical upright teat cup holder and connect them to the dairy livestock.

Abstract: A system for milking a group of milking animals, in particular cows, comprises an accommodation space where the animals roam freely, and a plurality of fixed milking stations. The milking stations are each connected to the accommodation space by a walkable connection. Automatic milking systems, in the milking stations, automate milking of animals. The milking systems comprise connection systems for automatic connection of milking cups to the teats of the animal. The connection systems comprise a movable robot device that connects milking cups to the teats of the animal in said milking station. Expulsion means can be activated by a control system in each of the milking stations to give an expulsion stimulus for the animal to leave said milking station. The conditions for expulsion of the animal include the animal fulfilling a predefined expulsion criterion, and all other milking stations are occupied by other animals.

Abstract: A teat preparation liner comprising an inlet for fluid flow into the liner, an opening, a liner cavity and a spray ring. The liner cavity is positioned adjacent to the opening inside the liner and surrounds a portion of the liner. The spray ring has a hollow interior and a plurality of apertures. The spray ring is coupled to the inlet so that fluid flows from the inlet into the hollow interior of the spray ring and out of the spray ring through the plurality of apertures. The spray ring is positioned inside the liner cavity so that the plurality of apertures face the inside of the liner opening. The spray ring is operable to encircle a dairy animal teat that is positioned inside the liner via the liner opening to simultaneously direct fluid flow from the inlet onto multiple portions of the teat via the apertures.

Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for testing a milking point of a milking machine includes sensors for measuring fluid-transport related parameters, including various pressure levels and/or flow values relating to a set of teatcups includes a controllable valve and a set of test tubes. Each test tube is configured to be attached to one teatcup, where the controllable valve selectively arranges a particular one of the test tubes for measurement of at least one parameter via one of the sensors in response to a control signal. The measurements are performed while all the teatcups are simultaneously attached to the test tubes and an external vacuum pressure is applied either on a milk-line side of the controllable valve or on a side opposite to the milk-line side relative to the controllable valve.

Abstract: A system includes a robotic arm, a laser, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine whether a first teat of a diary livestock is found in a first scan of the dairy livestock by the laser, and if so, command the robotic arm to move to a location corresponding to the location of the first teat. The processor is further configured to increment a counter associated with the first teat and then determine whether the counter equals a predetermined number. If the counter equals the predetermined number, the processor commands the robotic arm to attach a teat cup to the first teat. If the counter does not equal the predetermined number, the processor determines whether the first teat is found in a second scan by the laser. If the first teat is found in the second scan, the processor commands the robotic arm to attach the teat cup to the first teat.

Abstract: A system comprising a teat preparation cup coupled to a vacuum pump. A first pressure sensor measures the vacuum level of the vacuum pump. A second pressure sensor measures vacuum level inside the preparation cup. The system further comprises a controller comprising an interface, a memory, and a processor. The processor determines if the vacuum pump has sufficient vacuum level and communicates instructions to induce a partial vacuum in the teat preparation cup. The processor determines if the teat preparation cup has a vacuum level greater than a vacuum threshold value and when this condition is achieved, communicates instructions to initiate a teat preparation cycle comprising allowing fluid flowing from a fluid source container through the teat preparation cup into a fluid disposal container.

Abstract: A system includes a robotic arm, a laser, and a processor. The processor is configured to command the robotic arm to move to a location of an expected teat position of a dairy livestock and to command the laser to perform two scans of the dairy livestock. The processor is further configured to determine whether a first teat is found in both of the scans, and if so, determine whether locations of the first teat in the two scans are within a predetermined distance of each other. The processor is further configured to, in response to determining that locations of the first teat in the two scans are within the predetermined distance of each other, command the robotic arm to move to a location corresponding to the location of the first teat and to command the robotic arm to attach a teat cup to the first teat.

Abstract: A system includes a robotic arm, a laser, and a processor. The processor is configured to command the robotic arm to move to a first location corresponding to an expected teat position of a first teat. The processor is further configured to determine whether the first teat is found in a first scan by the laser, and if so, command the robotic arm to move to a second location corresponding to the location in the scan. The processor is further configured to determine whether the first teat is found in a second scan by the laser, and if so, determine whether the first teat is within a predetermined distance from a current location of the robotic arm. If the first teat is within the predetermined distance from the current location of the robotic arm, the processor commands the robotic arm to attach a teat cup to the first teat.

Abstract: A device for automatically milking an animal in an animal space is provided with a robot arm for automatically performing an action on a teat of the animal, a teat sensor, and an animal position sensor for determining the animal position in the animal space. The animal position sensor is movable in a longitudinal direction of the animal space. The animal position sensor is mounted so as to be movable or shiftable in a longitudinal direction of the animal space. This has the advantage that the range of the sensor becomes considerably larger while the sensor can be the same as in a known device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, computer program product, and a computer system for automated deployment of autonomous devices performing localized environment altering actions. A set of weather conditions for a region is received. Based on the weather conditions predicting the weather in the region is likely to have a negative effect on at least one living organism in the region. Then dispatching, one or more autonomous devices to the region, wherein the one or more autonomous devices comprise a set of sensors and at least one temperature altering element. The autonomous devices is directed to a first location of the first living organism, based, at least in part on a set of data received from the set of sensors. The autonomous devices is directed to alleviate at least a portion of the negative effect of the temperature to the first living organism.

Abstract: A control arrangement for controlling movement of animals, with at least two smart gate arrangements and a same number of enclosed transit areas, wherein smart gate arrangement includes an entrance through which animals can enter, an animal identifier identifies each animal entering the smart gate arrangement, and three separate exits, through which each animal can be selectively guided to exit the smart gate arrangement after having been identified, and wherein each transit area is provided with a first one of the exits of a first one of the smart gate arrangements and an entrance of a neighboring second one of the smart gate arrangements with an unobstructed pathway therebetween contained within the transit area, the plurality of enclosed transit areas being interconnected via the smart gate arrangements such that an animal can be guided through the at least two smart gate arrangements via the transit areas in a circulating manner.

Abstract: An electrical breast pump may include a permanently unobstructed continuous passageway across the diaphragm and a rolling diaphragm that is movable between a vent orientation and a vacuum orientation, or a vent piston configured to actuate a closure between a vent orientation and a vacuum orientation so that a pressure chamber is selectively in direct communication with atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for generating an attention indication for a dairy animal that is kept in an environment with a freely accessible robotic milking system, including measuring a plurality of visit intervals, milking intervals, respectively of said dairy animal, determining a value of a statistical parameter regarding the measured plurality of intervals from the measured intervals, generating the attention indication, in particular a mastitis alarm signal, if the value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Valuable information can be derived from the spread of, or change in, the values.

Abstract: A claw (C) for a milking machine includes an enclosure having an upper part (1) and a lower part (2) and enclosing an inner space (3) for a milk flow during a milking operation. The lower part includes a bottom surface (4) facing the inner space. An outlet nipple (12), connected to a long milk conduit (13), extends outwardly from the upper part. A suction tube (20) connects the inner space to the outlet nipple, and includes a lower tube section close to the bottom surface. Three support legs extend from the lower tube section and abut the bottom surface, thereby forming a gap between the lower tube section and the bottom surface. Each support leg has an end point, which end points are located in a common lower plane. The common lower plane is inclined to the center axis.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for connecting a teat cup to a teat, and a teat cup of this type. A teat cup of this type includes an optical sensor which looks from the inside outwards through the opening of the teat cup. An image of, for example, a teat can thus be produced, and said image can be used very simply to assist a robot arm in guiding the teat cup to the teat.

Abstract: Method of managing dairy animals in a free housing including a voluntary automatic milking system, and including determining TLM as the time since the last milking of an animal, determining AVMF as an average daily voluntary milking frequency for the animal, setting a desired milking interval DMI for the animal, marking the animal for manual collection if TLM and/or DMI fulfill a collecting criterion, making a list of marked animals, collecting and milking the marked animals, wherein the collecting criterion is fulfilled if TLM is above a first interval threshold, or if TLM is at least equal to the value of a mathematical function applied to the DMI, or if AVMF is below a frequency threshold, and TLM is above a second, shorter interval threshold MRI. Also a milking arrangement is disclosed with a milking robot having a control device arranged to perform the method.

Abstract: A human operated control device for assisting a plurality of milking robots includes a controller adapted for controlling communication with a plurality of milking robots operated substantially simultaneously, graphical user interface (GUI) adapted for displaying information received from at least one milking robot and for receiving input from a human supervisor for operating the at least one milking robot based on the displayed information, and a processor adapted to convert the input received from the human supervisor into a command for operating the at least one milking robot from which the information was received. A milking robot for operating milking equipment is adapted to operate in one of an automated mode of operation and a human assisted mode of operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to preparing dairy animal teats for being milked, and more particularly to teat preparation, rinsing, and milking that all take place in a milking machine teat cup liner. Such a method includes: applying a teat sanitizer to the teat; injecting air into the liner to force the teat sanitizer toward a waste milk line connected to the liner; pulsating the liner at a first pulsation rate; drawing a rinsing milk from the teat; directing the teat sanitizer, the air, and the rinsing fluid to the waste milk line; pulsating the liner at a second pulsation rate to draw additional milk from the teat; and directing the additional milk to a good milk line.

Abstract: A system comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores information about a milking stall where a dairy livestock is located at a first time, and a coordinate location of the dairy livestock at a second time. The processor is communicatively coupled to the memory and determines if the coordinate location of the dairy livestock at the second time is different than the milking stall where the dairy livestock is located at the first time. If the coordinate location where the dairy livestock is located at the second time is not the milking stall, the processor generates an error flag associated with the dairy livestock.

Abstract: A combined teat position and breeding rating determining arrangement for a milking system having a milking stall, a movable robot arm for automatically attaching teat cups to the teats of the milking animal, and a control device for controlling the movement of the robot arm based on determined positions of the teats of the milking animal. The arrangement includes a three-dimensional camera directed towards the udder of the milking animal that repeatedly records three-dimensional images of the udder, and a processing unit that repeatedly detects the udder or teats of the milking animal, determines their positions based on the recorded three-dimensional images, automatically determines the shapes of the udder or teats based on the repeatedly recorded three-dimensional images, and automatically calculates a breeding rating based on the determined shapes of the udder or teats of the milking animal.

Abstract: A system and method for treating livestock may include a ramp for containing dairy livestock and one or more mobile units configured to travel on the ramp, below the dairy livestock, and perform at least one action related to a treatment of the livestock. A mobile unit may be adapted to travel to a predefined location within a stall, and attach a milking equipment unit to a cow in the stall. A plurality of mobile units and a central management unit may be configured to dynamically cause at least some of the plurality of mobile units to each perform a portion of a treatment or task.

Abstract: There is provided a distributor device (22) for distributing treatment fluid to the teat cups of a milking cluster. The distributor device has at least one distributer inlet (18) for treatment fluid, at least one distributor outlet (20) for connection to a teat cup, and a safety valve The safety valve is selectively operable to permit flow between the at least one inlet (18) and the at least one outlet (20) and, in a rest position, to shut off flow between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet and vent the at least one inlet to atmosphere.

Abstract: A system comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores information about a milking stall where a dairy livestock is located at a first time, and a coordinate location of the dairy livestock at a second time. The processor is communicatively coupled to the memory and determines if the coordinate location of the dairy livestock at the second time is different than the milking stall where the dairy livestock is located at the first time. If the coordinate location where the dairy livestock is located at the second time is not the milking stall, the processor generates an error flag associated with the dairy livestock.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modular apparatuses for manipulation of animals and to methods of manipulating animals with the modular apparatuses of the invention. A modular apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: (a) a main support fixed to a stationary point, (b) a number of arms, each of said arms comprising a proximal end and a distal end, each changeable arm having a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, wherein said proximal end is pivotally mounted to the main support for rotation thereof about a first pivot axis substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and (c) one or more end of arm changeable tools, wherein said one or more end of arm changeable tools are pivotally coupled to the distal ends of each arm for rotation thereof about a second pivot axis, wherein the second pivot axis is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis.

Abstract: A method, computer program, and arrangement for controlling milking by a milking device, wherein probability values are associated with different milking parameter settings capable of being used for the milking of a milk producing animal, a milking parameter setting is drawn from among the different milking parameter settings based on the probability values for the different milking parameter settings, a milking of the milk producing animal is controlled using the drawn milking parameter setting, a milk flow is sensed from the milk producing animal during the milking, the probability values for the different milking parameter settings are updated based on the sensed milk flow, a further milking parameter setting among the different milking parameter settings is drawn based on the updated probability values for the different milking parameter settings, and the further milking parameter setting is used to control a following milking of the milk producing animal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for milking animals wherein a negative pressure is periodically built up in a teat cup gap in an evacuation phase (a), maintained over a predetermined suction phase (b), and relieved in a ventilation phase (c), and a ventilation is maintained over a predetermined rest phase (d). The ratio between the suction phase (b) and the rest phase (d) changes at least once during the milking operation.

Abstract: A method, comprises receiving a flow of milk at an inlet of a manifold. The inlet comprises a first end coupled to a hose that receives a flow of milk from a teat cup and a second end terminating in a chamber of the manifold. The manifold comprises one or more other inlets and a plurality of outlets. The plurality of outlets includes one or more milk collector outlets and one or more drain outlets. The method proceeds by causing the flow of milk to be directed to a corresponding milk collector outlet by causing a shut-off valve corresponding to the inlet to open, and by causing a drain valve corresponding to the inlet to close. The method concludes by causing the flow of milk to be directed to a corresponding drain outlet by causing the shut-off valve corresponding to the inlet to close, and by causing the drain valve corresponding to the inlet to open.

Abstract: A method of milking an animal comprises determining the identity of the animal and discharging the milk obtained by milking the identified animal to a storage container. The identity of the animal is determined after connecting a teat cup to a teat of the animal or after confining the animal in a milking place and before discharging the milk to the storage container. An installation for milking an animal is provided with a determination device for determining the identity of the animal, a transport arrangement for transporting milk to a storage container for storing the milk and with a control unit for controlling the determination device and the transport arrangements. The control unit is programmed for additionally determining the identity of the animal after connecting a teat cup to a teat of the animal or after confining the animal in a milking place and before discharging the milk to the storage container.

Abstract: Breastpumps and methods for use in extracting breastmilk, which can be used to generate, among other things, both a letdown or stimulation phase and a milk expression phase, are disclosed.

Abstract: An early alert system and a related method for livestock disease detection are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, an activity measurement zone (AMZ) is defined near an incentive device (e.g. food or water dispensing system) with an RFID tag reader, and an animal's entrance into or out of the AMZ is tracked and counted with an RFID tag attached to the animal. If the animals' activity relative to the AMZ drops to an alarmingly low level (e.g. dropping below an alert trigger point) over a period of time, then a user of the alert system is informed of a potential health problem with the animal and may also be encouraged to inspect the animal in person for further determination of its current health and potential medical issues.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a breastpump that can be operated to generate milk expression sequences or curves with some irregularity or randomness in the course of a session.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for generating an attention indication for a dairy animal that is kept in an environment with a freely accessible robotic milking system, including measuring a plurality of visit intervals, milking intervals, respectively of said dairy animal, determining a value of a statistical parameter regarding the measured plurality of intervals from the measured intervals, generating the attention indication, in particular a mastitis alarm signal, if the value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Precious information can be derived from the spread of or change in the values.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for and method of milking dairy animals, in particular cows. The device and method have been improved in order to enhance the efficiency of use. In one embodiment, for the milking, teat cups are connected by means of a robot arm to respective teats of the dairy animal. This makes it possible to start the milking of the teats of the dairy animal. A milk flow from the respective teat can be measured. The milking can be ended by means of a control unit in dependence on a comparison value which is calculated on the basis of a milking parameter representative of a milk flow from the respective teat and in dependence on a deactivation threshold. According to the invention, the milking of the last teat is ended in dependence on a last-teat period to be calculated.

Abstract: An apparatus for milking an animal and provides a milking parlor includes first and second robotic manipulation devices and a plurality of milking stalls provided on a platform moveable relative to the robotic manipulation devices. The robotic manipulation devices are positioned so that each of the robotic manipulation devices is able to simultaneously service two neighboring milking stalls on the platform.