Abstract: A milking system includes a device to sample and analyse a milk sample, a sample supply line connected to the milk line, a pump to control the sample flow, an optical radiation source, and an optical sensor device to detect and analyse optical radiation coming from the reagent pad with said sample, to provide an indication of a substance in the sample, a tape mover to move and unwind the tape from the tape reel, and a pump drive releasably operably connected to the pump device for driving the pump device. The sampling and analysis device also includes a cassette with a sample receiving line to receive the sample from the sample supply line, a tape reel with a tape that includes a base tape layer and a series of separate reagent pads, and a dosing device to provide a droplet of the sample onto a reagent pad.

Abstract: A milking system for milking a milking animal includes a teatcup for fitting on a teat of the milking animal, and a measuring chamber connected directly and rigidly thereto. The teatcup has a longitudinal direction, and a first milk outflow orifice for milk outflow parallel to the longitudinal direction. The measuring chamber has a peripheral wall, a milk inlet in fluid communication therewith, a second milk outflow orifice to a milk tube, a vacuum outlet, and a sensor device for determining a property of the milk in the measuring chamber. In a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the measuring chamber has a first inside diameter in a first direction, and a smaller second diameter in a perpendicular second direction.

Abstract: A milking device has milking means, a controller, a milk line for transporting the milk from the milking means to a milk tank, a milk filter for filtering the milk passing through the milk line, and a cleaning device for cleaning the milk filter with cleaning fluid. The milk filter comprises a housing which surrounds a filter volume and has a milk inlet and a milk outlet, and a circumferential filter body. The filter body comprises filter holes and divides the filter volume into an inner filter volume and an outer filter volume. The milk filter is configured to be flushed during use. The cleaning device is configured to clean the milk filter. The filter holes are grouped into a first group and a second group. The diameter of the holes in the first group is greater than that of the second group.

Abstract: A milking system including a milking means, a milk line, and a sampling and analysis device, that includes an analysis tape, with a carrier layer and a reagent tape layer with a reagent that provides a detectable response in the presence of a substance in the sample, a dosing device, an optical radiation source, and an optical sensor device to detect optical response radiation emitted by the reagent tape layer and to analyse the detected optical response radiation to provide an indication of a presence or concentration of the substance in the droplet. The reagent tape layer includes, or is, a material with an asymmetrical porosity, having the largest pore size at a first side where the sample is provided, and the smallest pore size at the opposite side.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for automatically monitoring a ruminant animal. The system comprises a 3D camera system that obtains images from a region of interest, in particular the paralumbar fossa. An image processor determines the surface curvature in the region of interest, as a function of time. Based on the frequency with which this function attains local maxima, a health indication for the animal is generated.

Abstract: A milking device is provided with milking device, a control unit, a milk line for transporting the milk from the milking device to a milk tank, a milk filter for filtering the milk passing through the milk line, and a cleaning device for the milk filter with cleaning liquid. The milk filter includes a housing surrounding a filter volume and has a milk inlet and a milk outlet, and a filter component in the filter volume. The filter component includes a circumferential plate part with filter holes, and divides the filter volume into a central inner filter volume and an outer filter volume surrounding the latter. The milk filter is configured to be flushed, in use, with the milk to be filtered from the milk inlet to the milk outlet.

Abstract: A milking system includes a device to sample and analyse a milk sample, including a control unit, a sample supply line connected to the milk line, a pump to control the sample flow, an optical radiation source, and an optical sensor device to detect and analyse optical radiation coming from the reagent pad with said sample, to provide an indication of a substance in the sample, a tape mover to move and unwind the tape from the tape reel, and a pump drive, external to the cassette, and releasably operably connected to the pump device for driving the pump device. The sampling and analysis device also includes a cassette with a sample receiving line, releasably connected to the sample supply line by a liquid connector, and arranged to receive the sample from the sample supply line, a tape reel with a tape that includes a base tape layer and a series of separate reagent pads, and a dosing device to provide a droplet of the sample onto a reagent pad.

Abstract: A milking system includes two or more milking devices for extracting a milking from a dairy animal; a central utility system connected with each milking device in the milking system, and a cleaning unit for cleaning the milking devices and milk-carrying parts of the central utility system. The cleaning unit includes a fluid transporting line for transport of cleaning fluid where each of the milking devices is in fluid connection with the fluid transport line, a buffer unit for receiving and temporarily storing extracted milk where the buffer unit is in fluid connection with each of the milking devices through a milk line, and a control unit for controlling the central utility unit. The cleaning unit cleans each milking device and milk line during a cleaning cycle, and at least one of the milking devices is available for extracting milk from a dairy animal during the cleaning cycle.

Abstract: An automatic feeding system includes an autonomously moveable feeding device for feeding animals. The feeding device includes a feed container for accommodating feed, a feed dispensing device for dispensing feed from the teed container, and a safety device suitable for halting the autonomously moveable feeding device in case of collision with an obstacle. The safety device includes a bumper for establishing a first contact with such an obstacle. The bumper defines an outer safety contour of the autonomously moveable feeding device. The safety device further includes a partition opener configured to open a partition provided in a door opening for enabling the autonomously moveable feeding device to pass through the door opening. The door opening provided with partition may be provided in a barn for housing animals. The opening device is provided separately and independently from and is not directly, connected to the safety device.

Abstract: A milking system includes a milking device, a sampling device and an analyser for analysing a milk sample, with a housing for a first holder with a reagent carrier with indicator pads, and a second holder for used reagent carrier, a metering system, a first optical radiation source for optical imaging radiation, a sensor device for detecting and analysing response radiation derived from the active indicator pad, for supplying an indication of a presence or concentration of said at least one substance in the sample. The analyser further includes a temperature control system for keeping the active indicator pad at temperature, with a second optical radiation source for emitting optical heating radiation, and a source control device to control the second optical radiation source.

Abstract: A method for milking a dairy animal with a robot milking device including a teat position determination system and a controller. The method includes allowing the robot milking device, with the help of the teat position determination system, to make one or more connection attempts for connecting at least one milking cup to a teat of the dairy animal, and milking with all connected milking cups where the controller records a number of failed connection attempts. The number of failed connection attempts #MA in a predefined number of milkings, which number of milkings is at least equal to a predefined number #MB, fulfils a predefined criterion, automatically adapting the milking criterion by means of the controller.

Abstract: A milking device is provided with milking means, a control unit, a milk line for transporting the milk from the milking means to a milk tank, a milk filter for filtering the milk passing through the milk line, and a cleaning device for the milk filter with cleaning liquid. The milk filter includes a housing which surrounds a filter volume and has a milk inlet and a milk outlet, and a filter component in the filter volume. The filter component includes a circumferential plate part with filter openings, and divides the filter volume into a central inner filter volume and an outer filter volume surrounding the latter. The filter component includes wire with a unilaterally tapering cross-sectional profile and a frame. The wire is provided in a spiral shape with a plurality of windings or in a series of individual parallel rings or rods.

Abstract: An automatically cleanable milk filter includes a cylindrical housing with a longitudinal direction and with a cylindrical outer wall, a first end with a first liquid connection, and a second end with a second liquid connection, wherein, during use of the filter, the second end is situated above the first end. A concentric cylindrical filter plate containing a plurality of filter holes with a smallest diameter of between 60 and 100 um and a cylindrical core which is placed concentrically within the filter plate are accommodated in the housing. The filter plate divides the filter volume into a first volume part which is directly connected to the first liquid connection, and a second volume part which is directly connected to the second liquid connection. The second volume part includes a cylindrical part, as well as a top part which narrows at a transition to the second liquid connection.

Abstract: A milking system with a milking device, a milking control, a milk line in fluid connection with the milking device, and a sampling and analysis device to take a sample of the milk from the milk line and to analyse milk from the sample are disclosed. The milking control is arranged to control the milking device on the basis of the analysis. The sampling and analysis device includes a control unit, a tape reel provided with a tape that is lengthwise provided with a series of consecutive reagent pads that provide a detectable response in the presence of a substance in the sample, a tape mover to move the tape, a dosing device to supply a part of the sample onto a reagent pad on the tape, and a camera to obtain an image of the reagent pad supplied with the droplet, and an analysis device to analyse the obtained images to provide to the milking control device an indication of a presence or concentration of said substance.

Abstract: A growth monitoring system, and method, for livestock animals includes a barn environment that has a floor with bedding material, a 3D camera with a downward looking field-of-view, in which an animal may be present during a visit, to obtain repeatedly a 3D image of the field-of-view, and an image processor to extract a 3D point cloud representation. The image processor detects whether an animal is present in the point cloud representation, and if yes, selects the animal part point cloud of the point cloud representation, and determines a position dependent first height information, being a height above the floor of the animal part point cloud, and determines a position of the front legs and/or the hind legs of the animal, and if no, determines a position dependent second height information, being a height above the floor of the bedding material.

Abstract: A system for carrying out an animal-related operation, in particular removing manure from a floor in a barn for animals, such as cows, includes an autonomous vehicle, which is provided with a drive system for driving the vehicle. The drive system includes at least one electric drive motor. An electronic control system is connected to the drive system for control thereof. A battery system for storing electrical energy is connected to the drive system and the control system. The system includes a charging station for charging the vehicle's battery system. The charging station includes a transmitting body with a primary coil. The vehicle includes a receiving body with a secondary coil.

Abstract: A feeding system for feeding animals, in particular cows, includes a feed storage system for keeping feed for the animals in store, and a feed loading device for loading a batch of feed from the feed storage system into a receptacle of an autonomous feeding device in order to teed the animals. The feed loading device is provided with a feed grabber including two grab buckets which are hingeable between an open position and a closed position. The feed grabber includes an actuation device for actuating the grab buckets from the open position to the closed position. The actuation device includes a rotatably drivable winding-up body which is connected to one of the grab buckets and includes a winding circumference, and an arm which is connected between the winding-up body and the other grab bucket. The arm includes a plurality of mutually, hingeably connected arm sections which are made from stainless steel or a material having substantially the same strength and corrosion-resistant properties as stainless steel.

Abstract: An automatically cleanable milk filter includes a cylindrical housing with an outer wall, a first end with a first liquid connection, and above a second end with a second liquid connection. A concentric cylindrical filter part and a cylindrical core placed concentrically within the filter part are accommodated in the housing. The filter part includes wire having a tapered cross-sectional profile in a spiral shape or as a series of parallel rings or rods, and a frame for keeping them spaced apart, thereby forming a plurality of filter openings. The filter part divides the filter volume into a first volume part which is directly connected to the first liquid connection, and a second volume part which is directly connected to the second liquid connection. The second volume part includes a cylindrical part, as well as a top part which narrows at a transition to the second liquid connection.

Abstract: A system for removing manure from a floor in a barn, such as cows, includes an autonomous manure removing vehicle provided with a drive system for driving the manure removing vehicle. The drive system includes at least one electrical drive motor. An electronic control system is connected to the drive system for controlling the latter. A battery system for storing electrical energy is connected to the drive system and the control system. The manure removing vehicle includes a manure bounding device with a manure slider for moving manure over the floor while the manure removing vehicle travels across the floor. The manure bounding device is configured to at least partially bound the manure present on the floor in front of the manure slider. The system includes a charging station for charging the battery system of the manure removing vehicle when the manure removing vehicle is in the charging station in a charging position.

Abstract: A system for removing manure from a floor in a barn for animals, such as cows, includes an autonomous manure removing vehicle which is provided with a drive system. The drive system includes at least one electric drive motor. An electronic control system is connected to the drive system for control thereof. A battery system for storing electrical energy is connected to the drive system and the control system. The system includes a charging station for charging the battery system of the manure removing vehicle. The charging station includes a transmitting body with a primary coil. The manure removing vehicle includes a receiving body with a secondary coil. The receiving body is arranged on a top side of the manure removing vehicle.