A milking arrangement with a plurality of milk stations connected to the milk transport line, a receiver connected to the transport line that receives milk transported from the milk stations via the transport line, and a vacuum system that supplies a vacuum in the transport line via the receiver, with a cleaning liquid source connected to the transport line, a controllable injector that introduces an amount of gas into the transport line to produce a temporary pressure increase therein that causes a slug of a cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid source to be formed and forwarded through the transport line, and a control system configured to control the operation of the injector, wherein the control system is configured to control characteristics of the slug by controlling the vacuum level supplied by the vacuum system and/or the amount of gas introduced via the controllable injector.

A system that includes a three-dimensional (3D) camera configured to capture 3D images of a dairy livestock. The system further includes a memory operable to store a thigh gap detection rule set and a processor operably coupled to the 3D camera and the memory. The processor is configured to obtain the 3D image, to identify one or more regions within the 3D image comprising depth values greater than a depth value threshold, and to apply the thigh gap detection rule set to the one or more regions to identify a thigh gap region. The processor is further configured to demarcate an access region within the thigh gap region. The processor is configured to reduce the width of the access region by shifting a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge of the access region and to determine position information for the first vertical edge and the second vertical edge.

A system that includes a three-dimensional (3D) camera configured to capture 3D images of a dairy livestock. The system further includes a memory operable to store a thigh gap detection rule set and a processor operably coupled to the 3D camera and the memory. The processor is configured to obtain the 3D image, to identify one or more regions within the 3D image comprising depth values greater than a depth value threshold, and to apply the thigh gap detection rule set to the one or more regions to identify a thigh gap region. The processor is further configured to demarcate an access region within the thigh gap region. The processor is configured to reduce the width of the access region by shifting a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge of the access region and to determine position information for the first vertical edge and the second vertical edge.

A farm system comprising a plurality of smart tags which are each configured to be worn by an animal, a transmitter and receiver unit for wireless communication with the smart tag, one control unit which is communicatively connected to the transmitter and receiver unit and a farm unit which can be controlled by the control unit. Each smart tag comprises at least one sensor and is configured for wirelessly transmitting information obtained by one of the sensors to the transmitter and receiver unit, wherein the transmitter and receiver unit is configured for supplying the received information to the control unit and wherein the control unit is configured for processing the received information and, at least on the basis of this processed information, controlling at least a farm unit and/or generating a report signal for indicating to a user of the system that an activity is to be carried out.

A farm system comprising a plurality of smart tags which are each configured to be worn by an animal, a transmitter and receiver unit for wireless communication with the smart tag, one control unit which is communicatively connected to the transmitter and receiver unit and a farm unit which can be controlled by the control unit. Each smart tag comprises at least one sensor and is configured for wirelessly transmitting information obtained by one of the sensors to the transmitter and receiver unit, wherein the transmitter and receiver unit is configured for supplying the received information to the control unit and wherein the control unit is configured for processing the received information and, at least on the basis of this processed information, controlling at least a farm unit and/or generating a report signal for indicating to a user of the system that an activity is to be carried out.

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 fluid measurement device and methods of manufacturing and using the same are disclosed. The fluid measurement device includes a conduit configured to transport a fluid, a conductivity sensor in the conduit, and a voltage sensor in the conduit and having first and second rings, probes, or plates. The conductivity sensor is configured to determine the conductivity of the fluid. The voltage sensor is configured to receive a first voltage on the first ring, probe, or plate and detect a capacitance or a second voltage on the second ring, probe, or plate. A value of the capacitance or second voltage corresponds to the amount of fluid in the voltage sensor. The total amount of fluid through the conduit may be determined from amount of fluid in the voltage sensor, the fluid flow rate, the fluid velocity, and the number of samples or the sampling rate.

A fluid measurement device and methods of manufacturing and using the same are disclosed. The fluid measurement device includes a conduit configured to transport a fluid, a conductivity sensor in the conduit, and a voltage sensor in the conduit and having first and second rings, probes, or plates. The conductivity sensor is configured to determine the conductivity of the fluid. The voltage sensor is configured to receive a first voltage on the first ring, probe, or plate and detect a capacitance or a second voltage on the second ring, probe, or plate. A value of the capacitance or second voltage corresponds to the amount of fluid in the voltage sensor. The total amount of fluid through the conduit may be determined from amount of fluid in the voltage sensor, the fluid flow rate, the fluid velocity, and the number of samples or the sampling rate.

A milking system includes one or more milking devices and a control unit. The system is provided with a plurality of milking cups, a first milk jar for receiving the milking, a first pumping device for pumping the milking, a second milk jar for receiving the milking from the first milk jar, a second pumping device for pumping at least a part of the milking, and at least one storage tank for storing at least a part of the milking. The second pumping device pumps the milking at a lower flow rate than that at which the first pumping device pumps the milking. As a result, the milk is for the most part moved with low mechanical load and little admixture with air which improves milk quality. In the case of a plurality of milking devices in the milking system, various milkings can be moved and treated separately.