Abstract: A system for automated milk quality monitoring using inline sensors is provided, the system comprising: milking stations each associated with a respective milk line; inline sensors, each configured to measure milk composition information of milk flowing through one of the milk lines, wherein a first subset of the milk lines are equipped with one of the inline sensors and generate milk composition information for milk flowing through the first subset of milk lines during milking, and a second subset of the milk lines are not equipped with one of the inline sensors; and a processor configured to: receive, from each inline sensor, data indicative of milk composition information of milk flowing through that inline sensor; associate the received data with an animal; store milk composition information for the milk from the animal; and determine milk quality information using milk composition information for multiple milking sessions of the animal.

Abstract: A system for automated detection of metabolic condition of dairy livestock is provided, comprising: milking stations associated with milk lines; inline sensors each configured to measure milk composition information of milk flowing through an associated milk line; and a processor configured to: receive, from each inline sensor, milk data indicative of milk composition information of milk flowing through that inline sensor during a milking session; associate the received milk data with a particular animal that produced the milk; store milk composition information for milk from the particular animal during the milking session; determine metabolic condition information for the particular animal using stored milk composition information for at least one milking session; and determine, based on the metabolic condition information, that the particular animal is experiencing a subclinical negative energy balance.

Abstract: An air fork for directing vacuum gas flow in a milking cluster includes two main tubes that each terminate in a respective one of two air divider tubes. The air divider tubes are each configured to connect the vacuum gas flow diagonally across the udder, with a first air divider tube connecting vacuum pulsation of the front right teat and the rear left teat together, and a second air divider tube connecting vacuum pulsation of the front left teat and the rear right teat together. The air divider tubes are configured to restrict air flow to the front teat cups compared to the rear teat cups so that the front teats are milked more slowly than the rear teats.