Abstract: A method and device are provided for generating an attention indication for a dairy animal that is kept in an environment with a freely accessible robotic milking system, including measuring a plurality of visit intervals, milking intervals, respectively of said dairy animal, determining a value of a statistical parameter regarding the measured plurality of intervals from the measured intervals, generating the attention indication, in particular a mastitis alarm signal, if the value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Valuable information can be derived from the spread of, or change in, the values.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining the emission of greenhouse gas, in particular methane, by ruminants, in particular dairy animals includes counting eructations (“belches”) of the animal. This is done by measuring a signal linked to the eructations, for example sound with a microphone. Given that the methane content of an eructation of this type is more or less constant, the total methane emission can be derived therefrom by counting.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for generating an attention indication for a dairy animal that is kept in an environment with a freely accessible robotic milking system, including measuring a plurality of visit intervals, milking intervals, respectively of said dairy animal, determining a value of a statistical parameter regarding the measured plurality of intervals from the measured intervals, generating the attention indication, in particular a mastitis alarm signal, if the value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Precious information can be derived from the spread of or change in the values.

Abstract: The invention provides a device and method for milking a dairy animal, comprising at least two sensors for measuring milking parameters. Usually, an alarm is generated if a specific number of parameters each are outside a given range. According to the invention, now an alarm is also generated if said specific number of exceedings is not achieved, but if another, and usually greater, number of parameters each are within a larger, more flexible, range. As a result thereof, the actual alarm parameters with ‘hard’ limits can be selected, in order that false-positive messages are prevented to a considerable extent. In the grey area of almost exceeding, an alarm can still be generated if sufficient parameters are in dubious areas.

Abstract: A system and method for managing an agricultural device, including connecting the agricultural device to a network, collecting operational data relating to the agricultural device, granting an access right in respect of the collected operational data to an entity connected to the network, receiving data from the entity in response to the access right, and managing the agricultural device on the basis of the collected operational data and the data from the entity. The method may be implemented for managing multiple agricultural devices, and may be implemented in a computer readable medium. In one embodiment, the operational data relates to clinical mastitis detection.

Abstract: A method for estimating a greenhouse gas emission from a ruminant in a loose housing environment, and in a predetermined time period from T0 to Tdesired, the method including: determining a model emission rate function EM(t) for the ruminant determining the moments of eating feed by the ruminant, at least during the predetermined time period, as a series of points in time {T1, T2, T3, . . . , Tn} constructing the estimated real emission rate function ER(t) on the basis of the model emission rate function and the moments of eating feed, and integrating ER(t) from T0 to Tdesired. Also provided is a greenhouse gas emission estimation device, arranged to perform this method. In the device and method, use is made of the insight that knowing the eating moments can fine-tune calculations for establishing greenhouse gas emissions from the animals.

Abstract: The invention provides a milking device having at least one teat cup connectable to a teat of a dairy animal, and a method of controlling the milking device. A measuring sensor measures the amount of milk secreted. Data regarding the dairy animal are collected in a control unit. The method includes the steps of: providing a milking frequency determined in a first manner at a first lactation phase and a milking frequency determined in a second, different manner at a later, second lactation phase, for example, the stimulation phase and the stable phase, respectively, wherein the first manner results in a higher milking frequency than the second manner in the same circumstances; identifying a dairy animal and determining the associated milking frequency; milking the dairy animal dependent on the milking frequency; determining the milk production; and switching from the first to the second lactation phase, dependent on the milk production.

Abstract: Monitoring activity of an animal in a system for housing freely moving animals including a plurality of animal ID stations, includes the steps of a) recording a first visit of said animal at a first of said animal ID stations, b) recording a subsequent second visit of said animal at a second of said animal ID stations, and c) determining a distance covered by said animal as the distance between said first animal ID station at said first visit and said second animal ID station at said second visit. With such simple means, parts of which are already present in e.g. most robot dairy stables, important information about activity of animals can easily be gathered.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for generating an attention indication for a dairy animal that is kept in an environment with a freely accessible robotic milking system, including measuring a plurality of visit intervals, milking intervals, respectively of said dairy animal, determining a value of a statistical parameter regarding the measured plurality of intervals from the measured intervals, generating the attention indication, in particular a mastitis alarm signal, if the value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Precious information can be derived from the spread of or change in the values.

Abstract: The invention provides a device (10) and method for milking a dairy animal, comprising at least two sensors (12, 13) for measuring milking parameters. Usually, an alarm is generated if a specific number of parameters each are outside a given range. According to the invention, now an alarm is also generated if said specific number (A1) of exceedings is not achieved, but if another, and usually greater, number (A2) of parameters each are within a larger, more flexible, range. As a result thereof, the actual alarm parameters with ‘hard’ limits can be selected, in order that false-positive messages are prevented to a considerable extent. In the grey area of almost exceeding, an alarm can still be generated if sufficient parameters are in dubious areas.

Abstract: A system and method for managing an agricultural device, including connecting the agricultural device to a network, collecting operational data relating to the agricultural device, granting an access right in respect of the collected operational data to an entity connected to the network, receiving data from the entity in response to the access right, and managing the agricultural device on the basis of the collected operational data and the data from the entity. The method may be implemented for managing multiple agricultural devices, and may be implemented in a computer readable medium. In one embodiment, the operational data relates to clinical mastitis detection.

Abstract: The invention provides a milking device having at least one teat cup connectable to a teat of a dairy animal, and a method of controlling the milking device. A measuring sensor measures the amount of milk secreted. Data regarding the dairy animal are collected in a control unit. The method includes the steps of: providing a milking frequency determined in a first manner at a first lactation phase and a milking frequency determined in a second, different manner at a later, second lactation phase, for example, the stimulation phase and the stable phase, respectively, wherein the first manner results in a higher milking frequency than the second manner in the same circumstances; identifying a dairy animal and determining the associated milking frequency; milking the dairy animal dependent on the milking frequency; determining the milk production; and switching from the first to the second lactation phase, dependent on the milk production.

Abstract: A method for controlling a robot arm arranged to bring animal operation device to a specific position relative to an animal body part, the robot arm being controlled to maintain a certain position relative to the animal body part during the animal-related operation, the robot arm being controlled not to perform a movement unless the body part lies outside a tolerance range around a current position of the robot arm, wherein the boundaries of the tolerance range are determined repeatedly in dependence on at least the current position and the current speed of the animal body part. Hence, the tolerance range is dynamic, and dependent on the measured movement of the body part or body part reference point. By taking such movement into account, it has proved possible to reduce robot arm movements, both in number and in covered distance. The invention also provides an implement arranged to perform the method.

Abstract: A network comprises an arrangement of regular structures and merged structures, in which the regular structures each comprise one or more mutually identical fixed elements and an equal number of adjustable elements of equal value, and the adjustable elements each comprising two or more adjustable units. The regular structures may comprise one or more mutually identical fixed elements and an equal number of adjustable elements of equal value. The adjustable elements each comprise two or more adjustable units, and the merged structures comprise N mutually identical fixed elements and one merged adjustable element. The merged adjustable elements have substantially the same value as that of N adjustable elements, where N is an integer equal to or greater than 2, and the merged elements each may comprise one or more adjustable units. The network accordingly is trimmable in a manner that uses minimum area and consumes minimum time during manufacture.

Abstract: An improved digital-to-analog converter comprises a reference node, switches providing an input digital signal, and an output stage including at least one resistive element. A resistance ladder, coupled to the switches, includes branches corresponding respectively to bit positions, in which selective operation of the switches in response to the input digital signal produces a corresponding analog output signal from the output stage. The ladder includes a first trim structure coupled to the most significant bit position (MSB) and a second trim structure in the output stage resistive element or elements. The first trim structure is configured to adjust the gain of the converter without affecting the relative bit weights of the bit positions, and wherein the resistances of the first and second trim structures are substantially of a prescribed ratio prior to any trimming.

Abstract: In the case of an internal combustion engine (1) arranged transversely in a motor vehicle and having in-line cylinders, the exhaust gases are passed forwards in the direction of travel around the internal combustion engine from that side of the latter which is opposite to the direction of travel and, from there, pass to a catalytic converter (8) arranged in the rear area of the motor vehicle. To ensure rapid heating of the catalytic converter when cold-starting, the exhaust manifold (2) of the internal combustion engine is connected to the inlet of the catalytic converter (8) by a short feed line (5) with a small cross section. An exhaust-gas recirculation line (15) which opens into line (4) close to the catalytic converter is provided.

Abstract: A cylinder head has an intake port with an intake valve for selectively closing the intake port at an end thereof at an intake valve seat. The intake port has a substantially circular cross section in an area adjacent the intake valve seat. The intake port cross section transitions from the substantially circular cross-section at the intake valve seat, into a substantially oblong cross-section.

Abstract: A flush control system, for releasing different amounts of water from the holding tank of a toilet into a discharge pipe, includes an auxiliary tank mounted in the toilet holding tank. The auxiliary tank has a volume which is less than the volume of the holding tank, and has one end wall assembly with a flapper valve communicating with the interior of the auxiliary tank and another flapper valve in a different wall communicating with the interior wall of the holding tank. A chamber is formed between the two walls in which the flapper valves are located. The bottom of this chamber has an opening which is placed over the discharge pipe opening in the bottom of the holding tank. A balancing aperture is formed through one of the other walls of the holding tank to permit water flow to take place between the auxiliary tank and the holding tank.

Abstract: A camshaft (16) is described for operating the primary and secondary inlet or exhaust valves (12) of an internal combustion engine having multiple valves in each cylinder, the camshaft having cams (18a, 18b) of substantially the same cam profile and phase for operating the primary and secondary valves of each cylinder. In accordance with the invention, in order to reduce valve train noise at least the trailing ramps of the cams (18a, 18b) are offset by between 1.degree. and 3.degree. relative to one another.