Animal husbandry – Milkers – Combined
Patent
1996-04-16
1998-07-14
Swiatek, Robert P.
Animal husbandry
Milkers
Combined
119 1402, 119 5102, A01J 500
Patent
active
057788200
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus including a mechanism for milking animals, such as cows, equipped with a milking robot. In particular, it relates to a system in which the amount of and rate fodder is provided to a trough in the milking compartment to an animal being automatically milked therein is coordinated with the identity of the animal and the time it takes to milk the animal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, automatic milking apparatus one or a plurality of feeding troughs, in which fodder is automatically supplied to the animals to be milked. Supplying fodder is usually effected by means of a concentrate metering system on the basis of data supplied by an animal identification system, in which an animal reporting at the feeding trough receives a predetermined quantity of fodder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has for its object to provide apparatus of the type discussed above, wherein it is possible to control the quantity of fodder to be distributed to an animal.
According to the invention, this is achieved in that the apparatus comprises a metering device for dispensing fodder, such as concentrate, as well as a computer, with the aid of which a feeding period is determined, the arrangement being such that a quantity of fodder to be dispensed to the animal is distributed uniformly or at least substantially uniformly over the feeding period. Using the above measuring device, it is possible to provide that until the end of the milking period a cow can always eat concentrate at leisure, which stimulates the milk production. In addition, it can be ascertained whether the animal's health has deteriorated.
In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the measuring device comprises piezoelectric elements.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the implement comprises a feeding trough as well as one or more measuring devices for measuring the weight and/or the quantity of fodder in said feeding trough.
The invention still further relates to an apparatus including a mechanism for milking animals, such as cows, equipped with a milking robot, characterized in that the construction comprises a metering device for dispensing fodder, such as concentrate, as well as a computer, with the aid of which a feeding period is determined, the arrangement being such that a quantity of fodder to be dispensed to the animal is distributed uniformly or at least substantially uniformly over the feeding period.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the feeding period is approximately equal to the anticipated milking period for a relevant animal. By distributing the supply of concentrate uniformly over the anticipated milking period, the animal is more relaxed during milking.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, it is furthermore possible for the feeding period to be approximately of equal length as the anticipated time required in preparation to milking, such as, e.g., cleaning of the teats, the teat cups in the animals teat premilking, etc. In accordance with a still further feature of the invention, the feeding period may also be approximately equal to the anticipated time required for an after-treatment of the teats and/or udder after milking. In a preferred embodiment, however, the feeding period is equal to the time required for the pre-treatment, the milking period and the after-treatment.
To ensure that, if the feeding period for a given animal has not yet elapsed while the pre-treatment and/or the milking and/or the after-treatment of the animal has/have already been finished, the animal remains in the milking/feeding box, the implement comprises, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, means for enabling an animal to leave a milking/feeding box, such as e.g. a computer-controlled exit door and/or expelling device, which means are not activated at least until after the feeding period has ended.
In accordance with a still further feature of the invention, if it has been established by the computer
REFERENCES:
patent: 3111113 (1963-11-01), Jaquith
patent: 4508058 (1985-04-01), Jakobson et al.
patent: 4735171 (1988-04-01), Essex
International Search Report (PCT) for Netherlands Application No. 9401358, filed Aug. 23, 1994, which is in Dutch.
van den Berg Karel
van der Lely Cornelis
Albright Penrose Lucas
Swiatek Robert P.
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