Abstract: A method for the computer-based identification of mastitis of milk-producing animals of a herd, wherein individual animals are automatically identified by an animal identification means of a herd management system, and a milk sample assigned to the animal is taken and analyzed for the identification of mastitis. The method takes into account the fact that different animals in a herd have an individual tendency to contract mastitis, so that not all the animals in said herd have to be examined with the same frequency for a possible case of mastitis, and the method according to the invention correspondingly proposes that after the animal identification process, the herd management system decides whether a milk sample is taken and/or analyzed, based on animal-specific information that is stored in the herd management system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a carousel milking facility (1) comprising a plurality of milking stations (3), which are arranged on a platform (2). According to said method, a positional modification of the platform (2) is determined in relation to a reference point and the position of at least one milking station (3) can be calculated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a milking parlor and a method for manufacturing same, said milking parlor comprising a work area for an operator and a platform elevated relative to said area, which forms a standing and walking area for the animals to be milked, said platform comprising a substructure on its side facing the work area where a utility space is left open beneath the standing and walking area, and wherein the substructure is formed by load-bearing elements positioned one after the other in the lengthwise direction and configured to be substantially identical.

Abstract: For the determination of the occupancy of a milking stall by an animal, in particular a cow, in a rotary milking parlor with a plurality of milking stalls which are disposed on a rotatable milking platform, a process is proposed in which the identification of the animal only takes place after it has entered the milking stall in which it is supposed to be milked.

Abstract: A method for milking animals in a group at a plurality of milking locations formed in a milking parlor, the method including the steps of manually applying, substantially successively, at each milking location a milking device to the udder of the animal to be milked and starting milking by a milking controller that controls the milking device. For adaptation to the individual needs of the milker, the present method suggests that a subsequent milking device of the milking parlor should be started in an automated manner in the order that corresponds to the order in which the milking device was attached and as a result of the starting of the preceding milking controller. The present method can be used for starting various milking phases, e.g.

Abstract: Teat cup (30) and method for bringing a fluid into contact with a teat, the teat cup (30) exhibiting a housing and a teat-cup liner (32) arranged in the housing (31), said teat-cup liner separating a teat chamber from a pulsation chamber and exhibiting a head region (33), a shaft region and an end region which communicates with a milk hose. A valve is provided, with which a fluidic connection from the teat chamber to a milk hose is capable of being tightly closed. The head region (33) exhibits at least one exit region (34) which is so designed that a fluid, in particular a disinfectant, leaving the exit region (34) is directed, at least partially, radially inwards.

Abstract: The invention relates to a milk collecting device and a method for operating a milk collecting device, comprising a milk collecting vessel with an inlet and a controllable outlet and a measuring device, said measuring device comprising a first electrode and a second electrode at a separation from the first electrode, a power supply electrically connected to both electrodes and a measuring device for recording an electrical parameter. The power supply is connected to two connection points on the first electrode at a separation from each other such as to be in parallel with relation to the first electrode and connected to the second electrode by the measuring device in order to determine a characteristic measure for the filling level of a liquid in the milk collecting vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring the mass flow, in particular of a foaming liquid, comprising a measuring device with two electrodes and at least one electrical means for generation of an electrical parameter and an analytical device. The electrical means is connected to the first electrode at two remote points, such as to be wired in parallel with the first electrode. The second electrode is connected to the first electrode by means of the analytical device.

Abstract: A milking station and a method of milking for improving hygiene at a milking station, including a device for removing contaminants stuck to the floor of an accommodating area, a device for producing a directed flow of the contaminants provided on the floor. The surface of the milking area is wetted by nozzles integrated in a region of the floor of the milking area before an animal is milked, dirt is washed away from the floor of the milking area after milking, and the floor is then automatically wetted once again.

Abstract: In order to improve the functionality of a cooling arrangement (4), the invention provides a method for providing data for a control system for a milk cooling arrangement (4), a method for cooling milk in a milk cooling arrangement, and a control system. Data, which are relevant to the cooling tank and which are at least specific to the milk at least two milking stations, are determined for the control system of a milk cooling arrangement of a milking system and are provided to said control system. At least one characteristic quantity is determined from this data, and the milk cooling arrangement is activated when at least one characteristic quantity lies outside a tolerance zone, particularly when it exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Shorter cooling times and an improved use of resources are achieved due to the interaction of the milking parlor control with the control system of a milk cooling arrangement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for machine milking an animal, particularly a cow, according to which a stimulation phase precedes a main milking phase, whereby during the entire stimulation phase, essentially no milk is withdrawn, and the duration of the stimulation phase is determined according to the amount of expected cisteral milk and/or alveolar milk.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for determining the volumetric flow rate of milk flowing during a milking process. A cross-sectional area (Ai) of the milk flow (2) is determined at a first measuring point (3) by means of a sensor (4) which is arranged outside the flowing milk. The time (ti) required by the milk flow (2) with the determined cross-sectional are (Ai), to go from the first measuring point (3) to a second measuring point (5) which is provided downstream from the first measuring point, is measured. The flow speed (vi) is derived from the measured time (ti) and the known distance (s) between the first and second measuring points (3, 5). The volumetric flow rate (V(t)) is determined on the basis of the determined cross-sectional area (Ai) and the flow speed (vi).

Abstract: For the determination of the occupancy of a milking stall by an animal, in particular a cow, in a rotary milking parlor with a plurality of milking stalls which are disposed on a rotatable milking platform, a process is proposed in which the identification of the animal only takes place after it has entered the milking stall in which it is supposed to be milked.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for milking milk residues to achieve the extraction of as much of the milk as possible that is preset in the udder. According to the method, a rubber teat element (10) in a teat cup (1) is displaced in a milking motion by a negative suction pressure caused by adjustable pulse phases consisting of alternating suction and pause phases and of a pulse intensity, in order to a volumetric flow of milk. The volumetric flow is continuously recorded and if it decreases, the motion of the rubber teat element is modified in a targeted manner.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for checking the teat rubber of a teat cup. The object of this invention is providing a simple and reliable method for checking the teat rubber and a device suitable for implementing the method. In this respect, this invention suggests that the behavior of the teat rubber is acquired with a pressure difference profile acting between the pulse cavity and the pressure cavity and this currently determined behavior is compared with a reference behavior. The device according to the invention comprises a device for the direct checking of the teat rubber behavior.

Abstract: The invention relates to the actuation of a carrying and withdrawing device for milking units, a process is proposed in which for the attachment of the milking unit a downwardly directed additional force acts on the counterweight during a primary milking phase no additional force acts on the counterweight, and, during at least one secondary milking phase, an upwardly directed additional force acts on the counterweight.