A milk meter operably coupled to a controller, the milk meter comprising an inlet, an outlet, an inner column coupled to an opening of the outlet. The milk meter further comprises a conductivity sensor comprising a first conductive strip positioned at a first portion of the milk meter and a second conductive strip positioned substantially parallel to the first conductive strip wherein the conductivity sensor measures a change in resistance between the first and second conductive strips as fluid collects inside the milk meter before the fluid exits the milk meter through the outlet opening. The controller is operable to receive data about the fluid from the conductivity sensor and calculate a total quantity of fluid flow through the milk meter over a period of time.

An automatic cleaning system for teats is designed to apply at least two different process fluids to the teats so that, in advantageous embodiments, a cleaning treatment can be performed in an automated manner before and after the milking process.

An automatic cleaning system for teats is designed to apply at least two different process fluids to the teats so that, in advantageous embodiments, a cleaning treatment can be performed in an automated manner before and after the milking process.

A robotic attacher retrieves a preparation cup from an equipment area located behind a dairy livestock and attaches and detaches the preparation cup to the teats of the dairy livestock in sequence. The sequence comprises attaching and detaching the preparation cup to the left front teat, the right front teat, the right rear teat, and the left rear teat.

A robotic attacher retrieves a preparation cup from an equipment area located behind a dairy livestock and attaches and detaches the preparation cup to the teats of the dairy livestock in sequence. The sequence comprises attaching and detaching the preparation cup to the left front teat, the right front teat, the right rear teat, and the left rear teat.

A system includes a three-dimensional camera and a processor communicatively coupled to the three-dimensional camera. The processor is operable to determine a first and second edge of a dairy livestock. The first edge includes an inner portion of a first hind leg and a first portion of an udder of the dairy livestock. The second edge includes an inner portion of a second hind leg and a second portion of the udder of the dairy livestock. The processor calculates a reference point associated with the udder of the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the first edge and the second edge. A robotic attacher moves toward the udder of the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the calculated reference point.

A system includes a three-dimensional camera and a processor communicatively coupled to the three-dimensional camera. The processor is operable to determine a first and second edge of a dairy livestock. The first edge includes an inner portion of a first hind leg and a first portion of an udder of the dairy livestock. The second edge includes an inner portion of a second hind leg and a second portion of the udder of the dairy livestock. The processor calculates a reference point associated with the udder of the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the first edge and the second edge. A robotic attacher moves toward the udder of the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the calculated reference point.

Agricultural structures for housing livestock and/or agricultural commodity, the structure having a floor that is inclined between first and second walls and a roof that is substantially parallel to the floor. In some aspects, the floor is configured such that a bottom of the first wall is vertically higher than a bottom of the second wall with the bottoms of the first and second walls being level with the underlying ground. In some aspects, a first portion of the floor adjacent to the first wall is at a first elevation, a second portion of the floor adjacent to the second wall is at a second elevation that is vertically lower than the first elevation, and a bottom of the first wall is at a third elevation that is equal to or lower than the first elevation.

Agricultural structures for housing livestock and/or agricultural commodity, the structure having a floor that is inclined between first and second walls and a roof that is substantially parallel to the floor. In some aspects, the floor is configured such that a bottom of the first wall is vertically higher than a bottom of the second wall with the bottoms of the first and second walls being level with the underlying ground. In some aspects, a first portion of the floor adjacent to the first wall is at a first elevation, a second portion of the floor adjacent to the second wall is at a second elevation that is vertically lower than the first elevation, and a bottom of the first wall is at a third elevation that is equal to or lower than the first elevation.

An expelling device is provided that is configured to incite an animal to exit from of a milking stable in which the animal is standing during a milking session. The milking stable has a front wall element and lateral wall elements and is configured to house an animal that is being milked in the milking stable with the head directed to and close to the front wall element. The expelling device includes a sheet configured to move vertically from an elevated position to a position adjacent to a front end of the milking stable and adjacent to a lateral wall element of the milking stable.