Abstract: A feeding system for feeding animals, in particular cows, at a feeding place feed from a feed supply including at least one autonomous feeding device having a container for accommodating a batch of feed from the feed supply. The autonomous feeding takes feed held in the container to the feeding place and dispenses it. The feeding system further includes a feed-quantity measuring device for repeatedly measuring a feed-quantity value for the quantity of feed for consumption by the animals at the feeding place, and a control system which receives feed-quantity values from the feed-quantity measuring device measured different measurement instants. The control system stores a plurality of the feed-quantity values in a memory. The control system calculates at least one value of a feed variable at at least one point in time after the last measurement instant, on the basis of the feed-quantity values stored in the memory.

Abstract: A milking system for milking a dairy animal includes a milking cup for obtaining milk, a measuring chamber which is in flow communication with the milking cup for at least temporarily containing the obtained milk, and having a sensor device for measuring at least one property of the milk. The sensor device comprises at least three mutually separate electrodes for measuring values of a first milk property using an electrical and/or electromagnetic variable, and a sensor control unit for actuating the sensor device and for processing the measured values. The sensor control unit is configured to repeatedly select a pair of the electrodes in a targeted manner, the pair comprising a first electrode and a second electrode which differs from the first electrode. The sensor device is configured to measure the value of the variable between the electrodes, and to determine the value of the at least one milk property.

Abstract: A milking system for milking of a milk animal, including a milking cup for obtaining the milk, the milking cup having a teat space with a first milk outflow opening, and a measuring chamber directly and rigidly connected to the milking cup for at least temporarily containing the obtained milk. The measuring chamber is provided with a milk inflow opening which is in flow communication with the first milk outflow opening, a second milk outflow opening, a vacuum outlet, and a sensor device for measuring a property of the milk in the measuring chamber. The sensor device includes an optical sensor device having a plurality of optical sensor elements, at least one light source, and a control unit which is configured to process sensor signals into values of at least two parameters of the milk in the measuring chamber.

Abstract: A feed control system, a feeding system and a method for feeding animals comprises an autonomous feed displacer which displaces animal feed and subsequently measures the height of the displaced animal feed using a feed level meter. Since the displaced, pushed back animal feed results in heaps of surprisingly constant shape, it is possible to obtain a reliable indication of the quantity using only the feed level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system to carry out a floor related action. The system comprises an animal enclosure for detaining at least one animal and provided with an enclosure floor surface, a first autonomous vehicle configured to navigate over the floor surface to carry out the floor related action, and a feed providing device to provide feed to the animal. The system comprises a communication signal configured to transmit a communication signal representative for an actual or planned feeding action of the feed providing device to the first vehicle, which action influences the position of animals with the animal enclosure. In order to move the first vehicle more efficiently over the stable floor, in particular to avoid interference with animals on the stable floor, the first vehicle is capable to adapt its navigation based on the communication signal representative for the actual or planned feeding action.

Abstract: A manure-removal vehicle and an assembly thereof having a manure-discharging location. The vehicle comprises a pump and a tank having an air discharge. The vehicle collects manure by means of a scraper and this is subsequently suctioned up via a manure extraction opening in the tank. The pump works at low power and in particular at low pressure, due to the fact that a constant stream of manure is collected in front of the opening, in particular if a sealing plate is provided.

Abstract: A milking system including: at least one milking device; a milk storage vessel storing milk obtained with the milking device; a milk line system with a milk line with a first end connected to the milking device and with a second end connected to the milk storage vessel; and a monitoring system including: a sensor configured to measure a fluid parameter value of a fluid in the milk line, and a control system actively connected to the sensor and configured to process the measured fluid parameter value and generate a transition signal on fulfilment of a predefined transition criterion. The milk line includes a substantially vertical line portion, and a proposed discharge direction of milk runs through the milk line from the milking device to the milk storage vessel and is raised through the line portion, wherein the sensor is placed in or on the substantially vertical line portion.

Abstract: Milking robot device for automatically milking a dairy animal, comprising a milking box having milking cups and a robot arm having an end effector for applying the milking cups to the teats of the dairy animal, on which milking box the robot arm is suspended above the dairy animal to be milked. The robot arm comprises a first arm part connected to the milking box by a first joint, and a second arm part connected to the first arm part by a second joint and provided with an end effector. The first and second arm part, respectively, is pivotable in a vertical plane with respect to the milking box and the first arm part, respectively, by a first and second actuator, respectively. The end effector is movable within an operating range by the robot arm. The milking robot comprises a weight compensation device having a spring device between the milking box and the robot arm.

Abstract: A milking system for milking of a milk animal, including a milking cup for obtaining the milk, the milking cup having a teat space with a first milk outflow opening, and a measuring chamber directly and rigidly connected to the milking cup for at least temporarily containing the obtained milk. The measuring chamber is provided with a milk inflow opening which is in flow communication with the first milk outflow opening, a second milk outflow opening, a vacuum outlet, and a sensor device for measuring a property of the milk in the measuring chamber. The sensor device includes an optical sensor device having a plurality of optical sensor elements, at least one light source, and a control unit which is configured to process sensor signals into values of at least two parameters of the milk in the measuring chamber.

Abstract: A method, and milking system, for managing a herd of dairy animals including N groups, wherein N?2, and the method includes: A) determining a content of a substance in the milk for a group of dairy animals, and B) performing an animal-related operation for the group, based on the content of the determined substance.

Abstract: A milking system for milking a dairy animal includes a milking cup for obtaining milk, a measuring chamber which is in flow communication with the milking cup for at least temporarily containing the obtained milk, and having a sensor device for measuring at least one property of the milk. The sensor device comprises at least three mutually separate electrodes for measuring values of a first milk property using an electrical and/or electromagnetic variable, and a sensor control unit for actuating the sensor device and for processing the measured values. The sensor control unit is configured to repeatedly select a pair of the electrodes in a targeted manner, the pair comprising a first electrode and a second electrode which differs from the first electrode. The sensor device is configured to measure the value of the variable between the electrodes, and to determine the value of the at least one milk property.

Abstract: A method for monitoring oestrus of a cattle animal, for example a cow. The method includes: a) collecting activity data of the animal, b) computing a current activity level based on the activity data, c) deciding whether to generate an oestrus attention signal by comparing at least one current activity level to a corresponding baseline activity level. The computing b) further includes b1) detecting travelling movements of the animal and b2) correcting the baseline activity level for detected travelling movements.

Abstract: A mower system for mowing a field with a grass containing crop comprises a frame, a mowing device that is connected to the frame and has an adjustable mowing height, a sensor device arranged to sense a species composition related parameter, such as a ration grass-to-clover, of a part of the field, and to generate data based on the sensed parameter, and a control device that is operatively connected to the sensor device to receive the generated data, and is operatively connected to the mowing device and arranged to adjust the mowing height on the basis of the received data. This enables to adjust the mowing height dynamically, i.e. position dependently, based on the detected parameter. The mowing height influences the regrowth of e.g. grass and clover differently, so that the ratio can be influenced locally.

Abstract: An implement for keeping dairy animals, provided with a first and a second production unit and with a care unit having a plurality of subunits, wherein each production unit is provided with at least one accommodation area for a production group, which comprises a group of lactating dairy animals, and with a milking implement for milking the production group, wherein the subunits of the care unit at least include a calving unit for separately accommodating dairy animals in a calving period, and a milking implement for milking newly calved dairy animals, and an infirmary unit for separately accommodating sick animals, and wherein the care unit forms a connection between the production units. There is thus provided a compact disposition, comprising efficient and short distances, for dairy animals requiring care.

Abstract: Monitoring activity of an animal in a system for housing freely moving animals including a plurality of animal ID stations, includes the steps of a) recording a first visit of said animal at a first of said animal ID stations, b) recording a subsequent second visit of said animal at a second of said animal ID stations, and c) determining a distance covered by said animal as the distance between said first animal ID station at said first visit and said second animal ID station at said second visit. With such simple means, parts of which are already present in e.g. most robot dairy stables, important information about activity of animals can easily be gathered.

Abstract: A milk pump device, comprising a passage duct, a first one-way valve, a second one-way valve and a membrane pump. The first and second one-way valves are included in the passage duct and oriented in the same direction relative to each other. The membrane pump is positioned between the first one-way valve and the second one-way valve. The membrane pump forms a first milk meter for generating a first milk measurement with respect to a number of complete pumping strokes of the membrane pump. The milk pump device further comprises a second milk meter for carrying out a second milk measurement with respect to a residual pumping stroke.

Abstract: An automatic feeding system for preparing at least one feed ration from a plurality of feed types includes a feed kitchen with multiple feed storage places for storing a plurality of feed types, a feed distributing device for receiving feed from the feed kitchen, a feed loading device to load feed from each of the feed storage places into the feed distributing device, and a control system to control the automatic feeding system. The control system includes a graphical user interface with a display screen, including a floor plan with first representations of each of the feed storage places, which representations are formed based on at least the feed storage location data, and second representations of the feed types.

Abstract: Milking robot device for automatically milking a dairy animal, comprising a milking box having milking cups and a robot arm having an end effector for applying the milking cups to the teats of the dairy animal, on which milking box the robot arm is suspended above the dairy animal to be milked. The robot arm comprises a first arm part connected to the milking box by a first joint, and a second arm part connected to the first arm part by a second joint and provided with an end effector. The first and second arm part, respectively, is pivotable in a vertical plane with respect to the milking box and the first arm part, respectively, by a first and second actuator, respectively. The end effector is movable within an operating range by the robot arm. The milking robot comprises a weight compensation device having a spring device between the milking box and the robot arm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system to carry out a floor related action. The system comprises an animal enclosure for detaining at least one animal and provided with an enclosure floor surface, a first autonomous vehicle configured to navigate over the floor surface to carry out the floor related action, and a feed providing device to provide feed to the animal. The system comprises a communication signal configured to transmit a communication signal representative for an actual or planned feeding action of the feed providing device to the first vehicle, which action influences the position of animals with the animal enclosure. In order to move the first vehicle more efficiently over the stable floor, in particular to avoid interference with animals on the stable floor, the first vehicle is capable to adapt its navigation based on the communication signal representative for the actual or planned feeding action.

Abstract: A method, and milking system, for managing a herd of dairy animals including N groups, wherein N?2, and the method includes: A) determining a content of a substance in the milk for a group of dairy animals, and B) performing an animal-related operation for the group, based on the content of the determined substance.