A device for directed animal traffic, having at least three sectors and a loop path, which is connected to each of the sectors, by a segment of the loop path that forms a transition region from the sector into the loop path, and the segment comprises a swinging gate, which allows an animal to enter the loop path from a sector and allows only one walking direction of the animal in the loop path, and a selection unit arranged after the swinging gate as viewed in the walking direction of the animal, to direct the animal into the sector or further along the loop path.

A device for directed animal traffic, having at least three sectors and a loop path, which is connected to each of the sectors, by a segment of the loop path that forms a transition region from the sector into the loop path, and the segment comprises a swinging gate, which allows an animal to enter the loop path from a sector and allows only one walking direction of the animal in the loop path, and a selection unit arranged after the swinging gate as viewed in the walking direction of the animal, to direct the animal into the sector or further along the loop path.

An automatic milking installation controlled by a system including: a graphical user interface enabling user interaction with the automatic milking installation via at least one display view, an imaging unit recording image data representing at least one portion of a dairy animal, the imaging unit having a transparent cover surface configured to protect an optics section of the imaging unit and through which transparent cover surface the image data are recorded, and a control unit receiving the recorded image data, and based thereon, producing a control signal for controlling functions of the automatic milking installation. The control unit further processes the recorded image data to determine a parameter indicating an amount of dirt on the transparent cover surface, and generates graphics data for presentation to the user via the graphical user interface, which includes at least one graphical element reflecting the amount of dirt on the transparent cover surface.

An automatic milking installation controlled by a system including: a graphical user interface enabling user interaction with the automatic milking installation via at least one display view, an imaging unit recording image data representing at least one portion of a dairy animal, the imaging unit having a transparent cover surface configured to protect an optics section of the imaging unit and through which transparent cover surface the image data are recorded, and a control unit receiving the recorded image data, and based thereon, producing a control signal for controlling functions of the automatic milking installation. The control unit further processes the recorded image data to determine a parameter indicating an amount of dirt on the transparent cover surface, and generates graphics data for presentation to the user via the graphical user interface, which includes at least one graphical element reflecting the amount of dirt on the transparent cover surface.

The invention relates to a method for milking a milk-producing animal, in particular a cow. According to this method, a target milk quantity which is lower than a possible expected milk quantity is determined. The milking process is carried out. During milking, the milked quantity is determined. The milked quantity is compared with the target milk quantity. Milking is terminated when the milked quantity corresponds substantially to the target milk quantity.

The invention relates to a method for milking a milk-producing animal, in particular a cow. According to this method, a target milk quantity which is lower than a possible expected milk quantity is determined. The milking process is carried out. During milking, the milked quantity is determined. The milked quantity is compared with the target milk quantity. Milking is terminated when the milked quantity corresponds substantially to the target milk quantity.

A device suitable for attachment to a milking platform at a milking position has a strippings viewing area and a light source, which is operable to illuminate in a suitable manner the strippings viewing area to enhance the visibility to an operator of any mastitis symptoms in use and/or to illuminate the udder to facilitate inspection or treatment. The light source may also be operable to give continuous or intermittent colour signals to the operator and the device might also include an alpha-numeric area. The device might form part of a leg separator and/or sprayer and/or milk hose support. A milking platform with such a device is also claimed.

A device suitable for attachment to a milking platform at a milking position has a strippings viewing area and a light source, which is operable to illuminate in a suitable manner the strippings viewing area to enhance the visibility to an operator of any mastitis symptoms in use and/or to illuminate the udder to facilitate inspection or treatment. The light source may also be operable to give continuous or intermittent colour signals to the operator and the device might also include an alpha-numeric area. The device might form part of a leg separator and/or sprayer and/or milk hose support. A milking platform with such a device is also claimed.

An automated teat sanitation system to apply a disinfectant to teats of a dairy cow can include a vision system with a laser to identify a location of rear legs of the dairy cow. A controller can be coupled to the vision system to calculate a distance of the rear legs of the dairy cow, calculate a distance between the rear legs of the dairy cow, calculate a location of the udder based on the location of the rear legs of the dairy cow, and calculate an extension distance based on the location of the rear legs of the dairy cow and the location of the udder. A wand can be disposed in a spray station and can be extendable the extension distance to position a sprayer carried by the wand to spray the udder and teats thereof with disinfectant from the sprayer.

An automatic milking machine controlled by a control unit that, in response to a control request from a first remote user terminal that indicates an intention to initiate transmission of control commands and/or parameter settings, checks whether at least one control command and/or parameter setting from a second remote user terminal has been received within a particular interval preceding a point in time when the control request was received, and if so, returns status data to the first remote user terminal that indicate an identity of the second remote user terminal so that, based thereon, an operator of the first remote user terminal can decide whether or not to remote control the milking machine at the present point in time.