Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of managing a group of dairy animals. More particularly, the invention relates to measuring one or more milk parameters, comparing this parameter to a criterion, and allowing an animal access to a pasture based on this comparison. The milk parameter is related to the composition of milk obtained from a dairy animal in as far as the composition is defined by at least one of the amount of protein and the energy intake of the dairy animal. The measured milk parameter is, for example, urea. Access to the pasture will be completely or partly blocked for a dairy animal having a high content of urea. This dairy animal is thus prevented from taking in an undesirably large amount of protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of managing a group of dairy animals. More particularly, the invention relates to measuring one or more milk parameters, comparing this parameter to a criterion, and allowing an animal access to a pasture based on this comparison. The milk parameter is related to the composition of milk obtained from a dairy animal in as far as the composition is defined by at least one of the amount of protein and the energy intake of the dairy animal. The measured milk parameter is, for example, urea. Access to the pasture will be completely or partly blocked for a dairy animal having a high content of urea. This dairy animal is thus prevented from taking in an undesirably large amount of protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of managing a group of dairy animals. More particularly, the invention relates to measuring one or more milk parameters, comparing this parameter to a criterion, and allowing an animal access to a pasture based on this comparison. The milk parameter is related to the composition of milk obtained from a dairy animal in as far as the composition is defined by at least one of the amount of protein and the energy intake of the dairy animal. The measured milk parameter is, for example, urea. Access to the pasture will be completely or partly blocked for a dairy animal having a high content of urea. This dairy animal is thus prevented from taking in an undesirably large amount of protein.

Abstract: A system and method for producing milk is disclosed in which the milk from a single animal is handled and processed separately from milk produced by other animals. On packaging the processed product, an indication specific to that animal may be included on the package.

Abstract: An assembly for performing an agricultural operation, in particular crop processing. The assembly is provided with an autonomous agricultural machine that is movable over a parcel for performing the agricultural operation, the agricultural machine includes a machine container detachably disposed on the agricultural machine for containing an amount of the product required for performing the agricultural operation. A container for containing a stock of a product required for performing the agricultural operation is also provided and a control-unit automatically moves the agricultural machine to the container where a conveying device automatically exchanges the container with the machine container. Due to the fact that the machine container can be exchanged automatically and quickly with an exchange container, the assembly is relatively efficient in use.

Abstract: A management system for domesticated animals, such as cows, which comprises an animal identification system, a central unit provided with a computer which has a memory. The memory contains for each animal of the herd data which relates to the animal's position or status in the hierarchic order of the herd. The memory also contains data for each animal relating to its jostling behavior. This management is used in an automated system wherein procedures such as feeding and milking are performed on animals of the herd. The position or status of each animal in the hierarchic order of the herd is determined and the data thereof are stored in the memory. At least one of the procedures affecting each animal in the herd is governed, at least in part, by data in the memory relating to the animal's status or position in the hierarchic order of the herd and also by data concerning the animal's jostling behavior.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling an animal in a place such as a milking stall or feeding stall wherein an artificial climate is created. The artificial climate disclosed comprises wetting the animal with a water vapor and causing an air flow over the wetted area of the animal. Water vapor is sprayed and rubbed onto the back of the animal while shields protect areas to remain dry. During the process the animal is monitored for signs of thermal stress using a variety of methods and the wetting and cooling process are discontinued if the artificial climate adversely affects the animal.

Abstract: A vehicle for automatically milking dairy farm animals which carries a milk reservoir having milk lines which connect to a set of teat cups that are automatically connected to animals' teats by a milking robot. The vehicle is supported from the underlying surface by wheels, caterpillar tracks, or an air cushion, and includes navigational equipment which controls the vehicle so that it positions itself under the animals' teats whereupon the teat cups automatically placed on the relevant animals' teats one by one or in pairs. The vehicle also has its own propulsion power source. The vehicle including all its components is movable and displaceable as a whole. A gripping mechanism for connecting the vehicle to an animal may be included. In a variation, a central station carries a milk reservoir and a plurality of satellite milking units as described above seek out and milk the dairy farm animals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for milking an animal, in particular a cow, that uses a stress measuring device for determining the animal's degree of stress and to supply stress measurement data to a memory that stores the stress measurement data. Stress measurement data are obtained before, during and preferably after milking. The stress measuring device comprises at least one instrument selected from a group consisting of an infrared meter for measuring the animal's infrared image, a hygrometer for determining the humidity of the animal's fur or nose, and iris scanner for determining the animal's eye characteristics, and an odor meter for determining the animal's breath or body odor, a muscular tension measuring instrument for determining the animal's muscular tension, an excrement analyzing instrument for determining the characteristics of the animal's excrement, and a muscle vibration meter for determining the animal's muscle vibrations.

Abstract: A system for performing a first and a second agricultural operation on an agricultural parcel. The system is provided with a first autonomous agricultural machine for performing the first agricultural operation, with a second autonomous agricultural machine for performing the second agricultural operation, a control-unit for controlling the agricultural operations to be performed, the control-unit being suitable for subdividing the agricultural parcel into at least a first and a second parcel portion, and for first performing the first and the second agricultural operations on the first parcel portion, and subsequently on the second parcel portion.

Abstract: A system for automatically milking animals is provided with a milking robot and a computer which is capable of being connected to a plurality of measuring instruments for a plurality of functions of the system and physiological conditions of the animals being milked. Monitoring programs for the functions and conditions are installed in a computer which, based on comparison reference data, determines that one or more components of the system is likely to fail or otherwise malfunction and reports on abnormal physiological conditions of animals being milked by the system. As a result of the computer determinations, diagnoses of the likelihood of failure or other malfunction of one or more of the system's components, and of abnormal conditions of the animals being milked, are transmitted to interested parties including a user and a service mechanic together with the appropriate actions to be taken.

Abstract: A device for automatically milking dairy animals. The device has a teat cup for drawing milk from a dairy animal and for generating a milk-air mixture, a robot arm for automatically connecting the teat cup to a teat of the dairy animal, a single milk-collecting vessel provided with a vacuum connection connected to a vacuum source, a milk outlet for discharging the milk to milk-processing means, such as a milk-cooling tank and at least one milk inlet for letting the milk-air mixture in, at least one milk connection device between a teat cup and the milk inlet for conveying the milk-air mixture, and a vessel-cooling device for cooling the contents of a milk-collecting vessel, which vessel-cooling device comprises a cooling surface having a milk side for contact with the milk and having a cooling medium side for contact with a cooling medium.

Abstract: An assembly for performing a crop harvesting operation. The device is provided with an autonomous harvesting machine that is movable over a parcel for performing the crop harvesting operation, the autonomous harvesting machine being provided with a machine container for containing a first amount of harvested product, and with a harvest container for containing the harvested product. The assembly is provided with a measuring device for measuring the amount of product in the machine container and with a control unit for automatically moving the harvesting machine to the harvest container with the aid of data from the measuring device. A device for baling. The device is an autonomous baler that is movable over a parcel. A device for chopping crop. The device is an autonomous chopper that is movable over a parcel.

Abstract: A system for performing a first and a second agricultural operation on an agricultural parcel. The system is provided with a first autonomous agricultural machine for performing the first agricultural operation, with a second autonomous agricultural machine for performing the second agricultural operation, a control-unit for controlling the agricultural operations to be performed, the control-unit being suitable for subdividing the agricultural parcel into at least a first and a second parcel portion, and for first performing the first and the second agricultural operations on the first parcel portion, and subsequently on the second parcel portion.

Abstract: A device for crop processing. The device is autonomously movable, and is provided with a mowing unit for mowing the crop, with a rake unit for raking mown crop, and with a tedder unit for tedding mown crop. The device is further provided with a position-determining system for determining the position of the device, with a boundary-detecting system for detecting a boundary of mown crop, and with a control device for controlling the device with the aid of data from the position-determining system and/or the boundary-detecting system.

Abstract: An assembly for performing an agricultural operation, in particular crop processing. The assembly is provided with an autonomous agricultural machine that is movable over a parcel for performing the agricultural operation, the agricultural machine includes a machine container detachably disposed on the agricultural machine for containing an amount of the product required for performing the agricultural operation. A container for containing a stock of a product required for performing the agricultural operation is also provided and a control-unit automatically moves the agricultural machine to the container where a conveying device automatically exchanges the container with the machine container. Due to the fact that the machine container can be exchanged automatically and quickly with an exchange container, the assembly is relatively efficient in use.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method and a device for performing an animal related action on an animal. The device comprises a machine arranged to permit milking of the animal according to a process being determined by a number of adjustable parameters defining the nature of the process. The value of a variable related to one or more animals is determined for said animal by determining means. The animal related action is performed on the animal during a current animal related action by means of the machine, wherein at least one of said parameters is adjusted in response to said determined value by control means.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automated milking of animals, such as cows, which comprises a milking compartment and a milking robot associated with the milking compartment. The milking robot is provided with a controllable robot arm that connects and disconnects teat cups to and from the teats of an animal being milked. In one embodiment, the robot arm is suspended from a ball joint so that control of the robot arm is relatively simple, reliable and accurate. In another embodiment the robot arm is suspended from a rail disposed near the top of the milking compartment wherein the rail is pivotably connected to a further rail on top of the milking compartment so that it can be pivoted upwardly and downwardly by a piston and cylinder arrangement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (3) for taking a milk sample, which device (3) is provided with a first milk sampling unit (4) and at least one further milk sampling unit (5), the device (3) comprising switch means (6) with the aid of which the supply of a sample liquid to the first milk sampling unit (4) can be switched over automatically or manually to a further milk sampling unit (5) or vice versa.

Abstract: A system to be employed in a automated method and apparatus for milking animals such as cows wherein the milking apparatus is computer controlled to apply and remove teat cups from the teats of the animals being milked. The apparatus includes an animal recognition system which is communication with the computer whereby it is determined whether or not an animal that approaches or enters a milking compartment will be milked. This determination depended on the number of animals that have been milked after the latest milking turn of an animal that has reported to a milking compartment to be milked. Unless the number of interim milkings exceeds a predetermined numerical value, that animal would not again be milked. The herd of animals to be milked are divided into groups based on their currently expected milk yields as stored in the computer.