The embodiments are directed to a hand-held applicator (126) for cleaning a teat of a milk-producing animal. The hand-held applicator comprises: a first housing having housing section (209) including a first end through which a disinfectant delivery line (140) extends or an electrical line (198) extends; and second housing (205) coupled to the housing section and having a sealed gear chamber (216) for supporting gears (186A, 186B and 186C) and bearings. The second housing comprises a first portion (213) and a second portion (215) configured to be removably affixed in abutting contact to the first portion. The second housing has an external delivery port (579) centered between a pair of side-by-side gears. The applicator comprises a switch (232) positioned on the underside of the housing section. The second portion may include a motor mount (680) for coupling a motor (238) in the housing section.

The embodiments are directed to a hand-held applicator (126) for cleaning a teat of a milk-producing animal. The hand-held applicator comprises: a first housing having housing section (209) including a first end through which a disinfectant delivery line (140) extends or an electrical line (198) extends; and second housing (205) coupled to the housing section and having a sealed gear chamber (216) for supporting gears (186A, 186B and 186C) and bearings. The second housing comprises a first portion (213) and a second portion (215) configured to be removably affixed in abutting contact to the first portion. The second housing has an external delivery port (579) centered between a pair of side-by-side gears. The applicator comprises a switch (232) positioned on the underside of the housing section. The second portion may include a motor mount (680) for coupling a motor (238) in the housing section.

A safety valve arrangement and method, having an upstream block valve, a downstream block valve, and a pressure monitored galley between the upstream valve and the downstream valve.

A safety valve arrangement and method, having an upstream block valve, a downstream block valve, and a pressure monitored galley between the upstream valve and the downstream valve.

A system and method for automatically drying-off a machine-milked dairy animal by controlling milk production during a gradual drying-off period. During the gradual drying-off period, the dairy animal is not milked out. For each milking during this period, an amount of milk to be removed is determined, which is less than the amount removed at a previous milking. When the amount of milk for the current milking has been removed from the dairy animal, milking is stopped. The start of the gradual drying-off period is calculated from the dry-off date, the desired date of cessation of milking for this lactation, and from a predetermined drying-off period.

A system and method for automatically drying-off a machine-milked dairy animal by controlling milk production during a gradual drying-off period. During the gradual drying-off period, the dairy animal is not milked out. For each milking during this period, an amount of milk to be removed is determined, which is less than the amount removed at a previous milking. When the amount of milk for the current milking has been removed from the dairy animal, milking is stopped. The start of the gradual drying-off period is calculated from the dry-off date, the desired date of cessation of milking for this lactation, and from a predetermined drying-off period.

A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.

A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.

The present invention provides an application auxiliary tool that enables easy and quick application of a protective patch to a teat of a domestic animal, and a method of easily and quickly applying a protective patch to a teat of a domestic animal using the application auxiliary tool. An application auxiliary tool (2) for applying a protective patch (54) to a teat (64) of a domestic animal so as to protect a teat orifice (66) of the domestic animal includes: paired operation pieces (4a, 4b) that are rotatably connected to each other at their base ends (10a, 10b); and an elastic member (6) located between free ends (12a, 12b) of the paired operation pieces (4a, 4b).

The present invention provides an application auxiliary tool that enables easy and quick application of a protective patch to a teat of a domestic animal, and a method of easily and quickly applying a protective patch to a teat of a domestic animal using the application auxiliary tool. An application auxiliary tool (2) for applying a protective patch (54) to a teat (64) of a domestic animal so as to protect a teat orifice (66) of the domestic animal includes: paired operation pieces (4a, 4b) that are rotatably connected to each other at their base ends (10a, 10b); and an elastic member (6) located between free ends (12a, 12b) of the paired operation pieces (4a, 4b).