Abstract: The invention provides a method of managing a group of dairy animals including individually recognizing each animal by an animal identification system, milking the animals to give actual milk yields for each animal, and feeding the animals with an predetermined individual ration, collecting data regarding the group of dairy animals, which data comprise for each animal at least the actual milk yield and an amount of the individual ration consumed by the animal, wherein subsequent individual milk yields are estimated using a model on the basis of said data, and wherein, for one or more animals, at least one of the individual ration and the milking of individual dairy animals is adjusted in a regulatory step of the model using a precondition. The invention also provides a device and a computer program product, arranged to perform such a method.

Abstract: A system for and method of managing a group of animals include a control system, a camera operatively connected to it for forming a depth-image of at least one animal, and an animal management or actuator mechanism operatively connected to the control system. The control system compares information regarding the depth-image formed by the camera with reference information regarding the animal, generates control information on this basis, and sends the control information to the animal management or actuator mechanism. The camera includes an emitting source of electromagnetic radiation, a matrix with a plurality of rows and columns of receivers for receiving radiation reflected from the animal, a lens for displaying the reflected radiation on the receivers, and a sensor controller operatively connected to the source of radiation in order to modulate the radiation and determine for each of the receivers a phase difference between the emitted and the reflected radiation.

Abstract: A device for milking animals includes a milking robot for automatically connecting at least two teat cups to the teats of an animal to be milked. The milk yielded is collected in a milk container. In each milk line, between a respective teat cup and the milk container, there is provided an auxiliary reservoir for collecting milk obtained at the beginning of the milking process. The auxiliary reservoir has an outlet aperture with a closing device. Each auxiliary reservoir is disposed in a respective mounting block, the various mounting blocks being arranged side by side, and the device is provided with an arrangement for simultaneously operating the closing devices.

Abstract: A method of milking an animal involves admitting the animal into a milking box and expelling the animal from the milking box, the milking box comprising a connecting device, such as a robot arm, for automatically connecting a teat cup to a teat of the animal. The step of expelling the animal from the milking box is carried out using the robot arm. An installation for milking an animal is also described, the installation being provided with a milking box for the animal; a robot arm for automatically connecting a teat cup to a teat of the animal; and a device for expelling the animal from the milking box. The device for expelling the animal from the milking box comprises part of the robot arm.

Abstract: A system for demarcating an area comprises a movable demarcating element, and a control system for determining the magnitude and/or the moment of a next move of the movable demarcating element. The system furthermore comprises one or more observation devices for observing an entity near the movable demarcating element, such as a position of a dairy animal or an amount of grass in the area. The observation devices are operatively connected to the control system for transmitting a signal from the observation means to the control system. The control system is designed to receive and process the signal from the observation means to determine the magnitude and/or the moment of the next move of the movable demarcating element.

Abstract: A mobile support for supporting a wire-shaped terrain demarcation on an area of ground, having a plurality of segments rotatable about an axis. Each segment comprises a spoke having a free end, wherein at least one segment has a greater flexibility in an axial direction than in a direction tangential to the axial direction.

Abstract: A system for demarcating an area comprises a first vehicle, an attachment point, a demarcating element, a motor and a vehicle control unit. The demarcating element extends from the first vehicle to the attachment point. The system furthermore comprises a camera, which camera is operatively connected to the vehicle control unit.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for gripping and displacing material, provided with a gripper, comprising controller for the gripper and a sensor for forming an image of an observation area, which sensor is connected to the controller, wherein the sensor comprises a source of radiation for modulated electromagnetic radiation, a receiver device for radiation reflected by an object, comprising a matrix of receivers, an optical device for displaying the reflected radiation on the receiver device, and sensor image processor in order to determine for each receiver a phase difference between the electromagnetic radiation emitted and the electromagnetic radiation reflected in order to calculate a distance from the receiver to the object. A device equipped with such a sensor is capable of functioning in a very reliable, safe and multifunctional manner, because it is capable of processing spatial images during operation.

Abstract: A system for managing a group of dairy animals to be milked fully automatically, where the dairy animals go through a lactation cycle comprising phases of calving, inmilking, producing milk, and being dry. The system includes a computer executing program instructions for recording information and processing data indicating a division of the group of dairy animals into subgroups of a plurality of dairy animals, an insemination period determined per subgroup within which the dairy animals of the subgroup concerned are to be inseminated, which insemination period is so short that substantially all dairy animals in the subgroup concerned go simultaneously through the lactation cycle, and a separation of pregnant dairy animals of at least one of the subgroups in a separate area, around the beginning of the being dry phase of the subgroup concerned.

Abstract: An unmanned vehicle for supplying feed to an animal, which is provided with a frame, with propulsion mechanism disposed thereon, feed supplier for supplying feed and navigator connected to the propulsion mechanism with a sensor for forming an image of an observation area, wherein the sensor comprises: a source of radiation for emitting modulated electromagnetic radiation, a receiver device for radiation reflected by an object, comprising a matrix with rows and columns of receivers, an optical device and sensor image processor configured to determine for the receivers a phase difference between the emitted electromagnetic radiation and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate a distance from the receiver to the object. Through use of the unmanned vehicle device an excellent and reliable navigation is possible, so that, for example, milk can be conveyed efficiently from a milking implement to a calf.

Abstract: An unmanned vehicle for displacing material, in particular dung, from the floor of a shed includes a frame, with disposed thereon a material displacer, propulsion mechanism and navigator with a sensor for forming an image of an observation area, the sensor including a source of radiation for modulated electromagnetic radiation, a receiver device for electromagnetic radiation reflected by an object in the observation area, and a sensor image processor, wherein the receiver device includes a matrix with a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of receivers, and the sensor image processor is configured to determine for each of the receivers a phase difference between the emitted and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate a distance from the receiver to the object. Such a vehicle is capable of detecting and displacing material in a very reliable manner by utilization of the depth image obtained by the sensor.

Abstract: An assembly of a gate for use in animal traffic, and an animal recognition device that is provided with a reading device disposed on the gate and an identification device worn by an animal, the gate comprising two swing doors, that are each pivotable about their own almost vertical axis. The lower side of one of the swing doors is situated at a higher level than the lower side of the other swing door.

Abstract: An apparatus for displacing objects. The apparatus comprises a displaceable support and a holding device for holding objects that is fastened to the support (1). The holding device is detachably fastened to the support (1). An assembly of such an apparatus and a stable with a lying area and a walking area for calves and with a treatment place for calves. The holding device is a gripper or a container for holding a calf.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning the floor of an accommodation of an animal. The apparatus is provided with an air-flow-generating device and with a control system for controlling the operation of the apparatus, the apparatus being movable over the floor controlled by the control system and the apparatus performing a cleaning of the floor controlled by the control system. The control system is programmed in such a way that the control system controls the cleaning of the floor in such a way that the control system first activates and subsequently deactivates the air-flow-generating device. A method of cleaning the floor of an accommodation for an animal, the method comprising, as a first cleaning step, first generating an air flow and directing the air flow to the floor for removing loose material lying thereon.

Abstract: A method of feeding an animal in a feeding box. The method comprises at least the following steps, the steps a-c not necessarily taking place in the given sequence: a) identifying the animal in the feeding box, b) closing the feeding box, in such a way that access to the feeding box is impeded for an animal outside the feeding box, c) supplying feed to the animal in the feeding box in a chosen eating period of time. An installation for feeding an animal, which installation is provided with a frame that encloses at any rate at least partially a frame area. A neutral position means for positioning a passage means into one particular neutral position.

Abstract: An unmanned autonomous vehicle for displacing feed lying on a floor is provided with two wheels that are separately drivable, a distance determining device for determining the distance from the vehicle to a wall portion, an orientation determining device for determining the orientation of the centre line of the vehicle relative to the wall portion, a torque difference determining device for determining the torque difference between the wheels, a control unit for controlling the vehicle and moving it in a direction of travel, and a feed displacing arrangement for displacing feed substantially sidewardly. The control unit may be programmed in such a way that during operation the vehicle will maintain a distance determined by the distance determining device to the wall portion, which distance is greater than or equal to a pre-adjusted minimum distance to the wall portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting a milk line system and for determining the extent to which a milk line system is rinsed with a cleaning fluid, whereby in one or more places in the milk line system the electric conductivity if the cleaning fluid is determined. More in particular, according to the invention, the electric conductivity is measured in places which are difficult for the cleaning fluid to reach or at places in the milk line system which are more likely to harbor undesirable microbes. The cleaning solutions may be an alkali, detergent, hydrogen peroxide, or acid including peracetic acid, ozone, an alcohol, an aldehyde including formaldehyde, phenol and ethylene oxide, to the extent that these substances do not adversely affect materials such as the compositions of the teat cups.

Abstract: A teat cup cleaning device having a heating chamber (2), provided with a discharge (3) which is closable by a valve (4), and arranged for connection to a teat cup. A filling device (20) is provided for filling the heating chamber (2) with an amount of cleaning liquid (11), and a heating arrangement is arranged to heat the contents of the heating chamber (2) to a temperature T higher than the boiling point Tk of the cleaning liquid at ambient pressure. The valve (4) opens in this situation to deliver the heated cleaning liquid to the teat cup. The teat cup cleaning device also comprising a connecting line (17) between a liquid supply and the discharge.

Abstract: A method of milking dairy animals, wherein the dairy animals are milked by a milking implement. An access device is provided for allowing or not allowing a dairy animal access to a waiting area for the milking implement. The access device has at least a first and a second access state, which access states have mutually different accesses for the dairy animals to the waiting area.

Abstract: A method of milking an animal having at least two teats. The method comprises a stimulation phase in which the teats of the animal are stimulated and a milking phase in which the animal is milked. The method comprises the steps of applying a stimulation phase and a milking phase to one of the teats of the animal and applying substantially only a milking phase to at least one of the other teats of the animal. The method further comprises a determination phase in which the teat with the shortest period of time in which the teat is milked out is determined, the stimulation phase and the milking phase being applied to the animal's teat with the shortest period of time, and the milking phase being applied substantially only to at least one of the other teats of the animal.