Animal husbandry – Milkers – With automatic control
Patent
1998-04-24
1999-11-09
Carone, Michael J.
Animal husbandry
Milkers
With automatic control
119 1401, 119 1414, A01J 5013, A01J 5007
Patent
active
059793597
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method and a device in animal breeding for recording information on individual animals and/or collectives of animals which are within a defined area of residence, one or more video cameras being used to record video signals containing image information from the animal or animals, and monitoring, position and/or positioning data being extracted from the recorded image information. The invention also relates to use of the method and the device according to the invention in connection with the supervising, foddering and milking of cows. Especially, the invention relates to a method and a device at a milking station for extracting position information on the teats of an animal for guiding an animal-related device.
BACKGROUND ART
In animal breeding, there is a general ambition to use technology for automation of various operations, such as foddering, milking, for the purpose of reducing the staff requirement and, consequently, keeping the costs down. At the same time, such technical equipment is required that the qualities in animal breeding can be maintained or improved. The technology used should also be possible to manufacture and service at costs that would make it applicable not only in large-scale breeding, but also in small and medium-size animal breeding plants.
A common requirement is that it should be possible to identify and/or determine the position of individual animals, collectives of animals, as well as defined parts of animals, e.g. to be able, when foddering, to portion the correct amount of fodder, correctly composed, or to be able to establish the position of the udder and teats of a cow at a milking station.
The problem in identifying cows in the first place has been solved by providing each individual with a so-called transponder which contains ID information on the cow and can be read as the cow passes defined interrogation stations. However, in a more general monitoring of stock of animals, there remains a wish to be able to determine the position as well as, where appropriate, identify both individual animals and collectives of animals without necessitating the provision of said transponders and the cows passing an interrogation station. For instance, this may involve the monitoring of animals moving freely in an enclosed pasture or cow-house.
In many applications, great accuracy is required at the same time as the sensing should be able to take place at a great or small distance. This has resulted in methods and systems that are based on image information from the animals, the animal or portions of the animal, which is recorded by one or more video cameras. These cameras can be of conventional type and the image information can be recorded in black and white, but preferably the recording takes place in colour to permit the most accurate evaluation. The video cameras can be of the type operating with an electronic tube, but are preferably of the CCD type, having, for instance, the advantage of a smaller weight and a construction which, generally seen, is more durable. By using standard-type video cameras, the costs can be kept down, at the same time as it is possible to work with a well-developed technology.
Regarding milking and foddering, there are several motives for automated milking. Thus, one wants to reduce the staff requirement in order to keep the costs down and at the same time eliminate the ergonomically unsuitable operations in connection with milking. An automated milking procedure also makes it possible to increase the number of milking occasions a day, and to perform milking independently of the time of the day, which has been found to result in a considerably increased milk production.
Milking stations of the type in question are intended for cattle moving freely and finding the milking station on their own. During milking, the cow is standing in a stall which is closed by an automatically operated gate or like means, which makes the cow take a reasonably well defined position in the stall. In order to eliminate the r
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Alfa Laval Agri AB
Carone Michael J.
Nguyen Son T.
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