A teat sprayer for use in dairy applications is described that uses an articulated arm and system to deliver a spray to a teat and move between multiple dairy animals. In one aspect the dairy animal teat treatment apparatus, comprises a spray inlet, a spray nozzle, a flow path extending between the spray inlet and the spray nozzle, and an articulated arm conveying the spray nozzle, movement of the articulated arm driven by an actuator. Articulated arm movement may be between a retracted position in which the spray nozzle and articulated arm are retracted and an extended position in which at least part of the articulated arm and spray nozzle thereon is extended, moving the spray nozzle to a position configured to be about an animal's udder. In a further aspect, the apparatus, comprises an animal sensor positioned generally above and behind an animal bail and directed generally downwards configured to sense the presence of an animal in the animal bail; and a controller configured to actuate spraying of the animal's teats from spray nozzle extension and retraction in response to a signal received from the sensor. The apparatus may act to reduce cost through reduced numbers of treatment apparatus and/or lower labour costs and expenses; increase accuracy/efficiency through automation and speed of treatment; address issues associated with the inconvenience/space constraints in dairy platform configurations; and minimise the number of sensors required and position these sensors away from the animal bail.

A teat sprayer for use in dairy applications is described that uses an articulated arm and system to deliver a spray to a teat and move between multiple dairy animals. In one aspect the dairy animal teat treatment apparatus, comprises a spray inlet, a spray nozzle, a flow path extending between the spray inlet and the spray nozzle, and an articulated arm conveying the spray nozzle, movement of the articulated arm driven by an actuator. Articulated arm movement may be between a retracted position in which the spray nozzle and articulated arm are retracted and an extended position in which at least part of the articulated arm and spray nozzle thereon is extended, moving the spray nozzle to a position configured to be about an animal's udder. In a further aspect, the apparatus, comprises an animal sensor positioned generally above and behind an animal bail and directed generally downwards configured to sense the presence of an animal in the animal bail; and a controller configured to actuate spraying of the animal's teats from spray nozzle extension and retraction in response to a signal received from the sensor. The apparatus may act to reduce cost through reduced numbers of treatment apparatus and/or lower labour costs and expenses; increase accuracy/efficiency through automation and speed of treatment; address issues associated with the inconvenience/space constraints in dairy platform configurations; and minimise the number of sensors required and position these sensors away from the animal bail.

A milking stall has a lift rail; an actuator for rotating the lift rail between neutral and maximum positions; a divider mounted on and extending rearward of the lift rail; and, an exit gate mounted on and depending downwardly from the lift rail. The exit gate has a head rail rotatably mounted on the lift rail and a shoulder bar connected to and depending downwardly from the head rail. The exit gate pivots with the lift rail, and the shoulder bar points more rearward in the maximum position than in the neutral position. The head rail is rotatably mounted on the lift rail through a torsion spring. The torsion spring biases rotation of the head rail relative to the lift rail and is pre-loaded on the lift rail to provide a rotational bias to the head rail so that the shoulder bar is urged rearward by the rotational bias.

A milking stall has a lift rail; an actuator for rotating the lift rail between neutral and maximum positions; a divider mounted on and extending rearward of the lift rail; and, an exit gate mounted on and depending downwardly from the lift rail. The exit gate has a head rail rotatably mounted on the lift rail and a shoulder bar connected to and depending downwardly from the head rail. The exit gate pivots with the lift rail, and the shoulder bar points more rearward in the maximum position than in the neutral position. The head rail is rotatably mounted on the lift rail through a torsion spring. The torsion spring biases rotation of the head rail relative to the lift rail and is pre-loaded on the lift rail to provide a rotational bias to the head rail so that the shoulder bar is urged rearward by the rotational bias.

Increasing milk production efficiency in pasture-based dairy farming depends greatly on diet optimization, especially during early lactation. The survival of small and mid-sized films strongly depends on the applicability of individualized precision feeding, being feeding systems limitations the unresolved key for both current profitability and future Digital Nutrition viability. The solution here proposed solves feeding systems limitations, at a relatively low-cost, by means of animal identification improvements (ISO 11784/5 included), safe supply of multiple food types and additives, measuring out of each animal's unconsumed food, recycling of unconsumed food and an adequate animal handling.

A urine collection device for a cow, comprising a positioner, a urine container coupled to positioner, a sensor for detecting a cow position, a stimulator for stimulating a stimulation region of a cow, wherein stimulation region is ventral with respect to a vulva of a cow, and a controller, wherein the controller is functionally coupled to the sensor for receiving a position of the cow. The controller is configured for controlling the position the stimulator at the stimulation region for stimulating the cow when a cow is positioned within a predefined range. When stimulation starts an urination, the positioner positions the urine container from a storage position to a working position for receiving a subsequent flow of urine from the stimulated cow.

A milk pump that is connected to, but electrically isolated from dairy lines, pipes, and other electrically conductive components using insulators in the milk pump between a motor and a pump.

A milk pump that is connected to, but electrically isolated from dairy lines, pipes, and other electrically conductive components using insulators in the milk pump between a motor and a pump.

A milk pump that is connected to, but electrically isolated from dairy lines, pipes, and other electrically conductive components using insulators in the milk pump between a motor and a pump.

A sensor arrangement measures a parameter (P) representing a position of a movable platform of a rotary parlor relative to a stationary reference point. Based on the parameter, in turn, a control unit influences the movement of the movable platform. A first transmitter unit with a first transmitter antenna is placed on the movable platform and thus moves along with the movable platform. A first radio signal emitted from the transmitter antenna contains a timing reference and uniquely identifies the first transmitter unit. At least three receiver stations are stationary placed with a respective receiver antenna located such that the first radio signal is received via line-of-sight propagation. Based on the first radio signal and respective propagation times derived from the timing reference in the first radio signal (SID), the receiver stations generate the parameter (P).