Animal husbandry – Milkers – With mechanical compression
Patent
1995-10-31
1998-11-10
Burr, Edgar S.
Animal husbandry
Milkers
With mechanical compression
119 1414, A01J 300
Patent
active
058328688
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for surveying animal functions by means of an animal manipulating apparatus such as a milking device, in particular a milking robot, provided with animal guiding members, animal contacting means and/or animal nursing means, wherein a programmable control system is used to control said means in order to subject the animal to a predetermined sequence of operations, that is for instance, positioning, applying of teat cups, milking and subsequent or simultaneous feeding, checking the specific animal behaviour and removing the animal.
It has become increasingly usual in the cattle farming industry to use program-controlled machines to manipulate animals. Particular reference can be made here to a milking robot, wherein the animal is guided wholly unattended via fence-like guide means to a manipulation location, making use of the Pavlovian behaviour of the animal, namely that a reward is provided in the form of feed. The animals herein display a type of behaviour which proceeds according to the same pattern during each operation, so that the device can be pre-programmed on the basis thereof. Such devices further have the possibility of checking particular occurring functions of the animal, whereby for instance a picture of the health of the animal can be established. It is for instance usual in the case of cows to detect draughtiness and diseases by means of a temperature sensor in milking systems.
The invention has for its object however to extend surveying to all animal functions, whereby it becomes possible using the programmed device to establish abnormal functions of the animal and to respond thereto. These malfunctions or abnormal functions can for instance be non-appearance at the programmed device as a result of external causes, for example breaking a leg. Other possibilities are the animal becoming entangled in the device, wherein the device can function per se normally.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has for its object to provide a device wherein the above stated surveying can be performed in a simple manner. The device according to the invention is distinguished in that the operations to which the animal is subjected are programmed in respect of time and that at least one warning signal is generated by the control system if a time determined in the program for an operation is exceeded or not attained, in order to detect non-function or aberrant functions of the animal.
The invention is based on the idea that each operation on the animal requires a predetermined time, which time can per se differ per type of or per individual animal. Should the predetermined time be exceeded in the sequence of operations, the device, which can function per se well, then detects that there is something wrong with the function of the animal. Non-attainment of the predetermined time can also be an indication that something is wrong. This can happen when the milk production of the animal is too small, wherein the effective milking time is shorter than normal. Since such programmed devices are usually embodied with animal recognition means the supervisor, who does not have to be permanently present at the device, can be warned, whereafter he can take action.
A further improvement is obtained by a multiple signalling system for the supervisor, such as for instance a semaphone or a telephone paging device, wherein the supervisor is informed of the urgency of the call. Thus in the case of non-appearance of the animal the supervisor can still delay, while in the case of a break or the like he can take immediate action.
The invention is further elucidated in the figure description hereinbelow of an embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
An embodiment of a device according to the invention is shown in the accompanying DRAWING of a milking system for cows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The FIGURE shows schematically the-control of the system. Therein 6 is the central control system which is operated by means of terminal 9. The control s
REFERENCES:
patent: 4034713 (1977-07-01), Umbaugh
patent: 5042428 (1991-08-01), Van Der Lely et al.
patent: 5596945 (1997-01-01), Van Der Lely
Burr Edgar S.
Nguyen Anthony H.
Prolion B.V.
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