Abstract: A method of automatically milking animals, such as cows, which are allowed to move freely in an area (1) intended therefore and to visit individually a milking parlor (9) comprising a fully automatic milking machine or milking robot (14) and an animal identification system (20), comprises the steps of dynamically assigning a milking qualification parameter to each of the animals that are allowed to move freely in said area, the respective milking qualification parameter indicating the degree of suitability that the respective animal, to which the milking qualification parameter is assigned, shall be milked; dynamically ranking the animals in accordance with their respective milking qualification parameters; and milking an animal during a visit to the milking parlor only if said animal is identified as belonging to the X highest ranked animals, i.e. the X animals that are best suited to be milked from a milk production optimization viewpoint, X being a positive integer.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method and a device for milking an animal. The device comprises a milking machine arranged to permit milking of the animal according to a milking process being determined by a number of adjustable parameters defining the intensity of the milking process. The value of a variable related to the time period from at least one first milking operation to a following second milking operation is determined for the animal by determining means (31, 32). The animal is milked during the second milking operation by means of the milking machine, wherein at least one of said parameters is adjusted in response to said determined value by control means (30, 31).

Abstract: A method of automatically milking animals, such as cows, which are allowed to move freely in an area (1) intended therefore and to visit individually a milking parlor (9) comprising a fully automatic milking machine or milking robot (14) and an animal identification system (20), comprises the steps of dynamically assigning a milking qualification parameter to each of the animals that are allowed to move freely in said area, the respective milking qualification parameter indicating the degree of suitability that the respective animal, to which the milking qualification parameter is assigned, shall be milked; dynamically ranking the animals in accordance with their respective milking qualification parameters; and milking an animal during a visit to the milking parlor only if said animal is identified as belonging to the X highest ranked animals, i.e. the X animals that are best suited to be milked from a milk production optimization viewpoint, X being a positive integer.

Abstract: In a milking machine having a teatcup (3) with a teatcup liner (6) and a pulsation chamber (7), the abrupt movement of the teatcup liner (6) when the teatcup liner moves to an open or closed position is sensed. If the sensed movement does not fulfill a predetermined condition, a malfunction is signaled.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically moving at least one animal related item in relation to the body of an animal comprises a position indicator adapted to be applied to at least one teat of the udder, a sensor adapted to sense a position of the position indicator, a controller adapted to be responsive to a signal from the sensor regarding the position, and an actuator adapted to move the animal related item in relation to the body in response to a signal from the controller. The invention also relates to a method for automatically moving at least one animal related item in relation to the body of an animal.

Abstract: In a milking machine having a cluster (2) with a number of teatcups (3) each teatcup (3) having a teatcup liner (6) and a pulsation chamber (7), the abrupt movement of the teatcup liner (6) between an open and a closed position is sensed. This sensed movement which is an indication of the milk flow is used to control the milking intensity.

Abstract: A milking machine having a teatcup (3) with a teatcup liner (6) and a pulsation chamber (7), the pulsating vacuum level is determined when the teatcup liner (6) abruptly opens or closes. At least one of the milking vacuum and the pulsating vacuum is controlled such that the maximum level of the pulsating vacuum is lower than the milking vacuum level and at least as high as the determined level.

Abstract: In a process for milking animals and with the aid of teatcup liners, each teatcup liner is brought to be cyclicly partly opened during an initial milking phase (I), when the teat in the teatcup liner still is slack, so that the teatcup liner is prevented from crawling upwards on the teat and throttle the milk passage between udder and teat. During a subsequent main phase (II) of the milking, when the teat is extended, the teatcup liner is brought to be cyclicly opened at least substantially completely. The initial phase is ended and the main phase is started when at least one monitored milking variable reaches a predetermined value. According to the invention the milking variable is the milk quantity extracted from the animal. Alternatively, further milking variables may be monitored such as the milk flow and the time from the beginning of the initial phase (I). Hereby the initial phase can be adapted to individual animals, whereby the milking time is minimized.

Abstract: A milking machine (1) comprises at least one teatcup (2) having a teatcup liner (4) and a pulsation chamber (5), a first pressure source (14) for generating a first pressure, a second pressure source (9) for generating a sub-atmospheric second pressure, which is lower than the first pressure, and conduit means (12, 15, 13) for transmitting the first pressure and the second pressure, respectively to the pulsation chamber (5). A pulsator (11) is provided for alternately connecting the first pressure source (14) and the second pressure source (9) to the pulsation chamber (5).

Abstract: An apparatus for managing animals, having a stall, such as a milking stall with an automatic milking machine. The stall comprises an entrance and an exit and is provided for housing one single animal. One or more enticing devices are provided to entice the animal to approach or to leave the stall.

Abstract: A method of guiding a milking apparatus support towards at least one teat of a milk animal, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: moving a support to a fixed start position within a stall; illuminating a region expected to contain at least one udder with a sheet of light from the support; capturing images by viewing the region with a video camera; analyzing the captured images to identify possible teat candidates and selecting one of these teat candidates as a target teat; determining the position of the target teat and homing in the support and any supported milking apparatus to the target teat.

Abstract: An animal may be milked by the use of at least one milking apparatus by the following steps: operating first milking apparatus of the milking apparatus a normal mode during a first milking procedure, automatically determining by determining device when the milking of an animal during the first milking procedure does not succeed, and automatically operating second milking apparatus of the milking apparatus in a special mode during a following second milking procedure of the animal for which the milking did not succeed in the first milking procedure.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring an animal in a stall comprises a sound sensing device arranged to sense sounds in the vicinity of the animal. A control unit is adapted to control an animal related action device, such as an attachment means for automatically attaching teatcups to the teats of an animal, such that it performs an action in a predetermined manner in response to said sensed sound.

Abstract: In a milking process the animal is stimulated during a stimulation phase (I) for initiating the animal to let down milk in the udder, while a relatively small milk flow is achieved. During a subsequent main milking phase (II) the animal is treated to eject a relatively large milk flow. The stimulation phase is ended and the main milking phase is started when at least one monitored milking variable reaches a predetermined value. According to the invention the milking variable relates to the milk quantity extracted from the animal. Further milking variables may be monitored such as milk flow and the time of the stimulation phase, so that the stimulation phase is ended when any of the monitored milking variables reaches a predetermined value. Hereby the duration of the stimulation phase can be adapted to the individual needs of the animals.