There is provided a milking cluster (102) for milking an animal, the milking cluster comprising a plurality of teat cups (1) connected to a clawpiece (106). The clawpiece comprises a plurality of milk inlets that are connected to the plurality of teat cups via respective short milk tubes (11). A milk flow passageway begins at the barrel of the teat cup and ends at the clawbowl of the clawpiece, and a valve system is present within each milk flow passageway. The valve system comprises a first pressure-actuated valve through which milk flowing along the milk flow passageway must pass.

There is provided a milking cluster (102) for milking an animal, the milking cluster comprising a plurality of teat cups (1) connected to a clawpiece (106). The clawpiece comprises a plurality of milk inlets that are connected to the plurality of teat cups via respective short milk tubes (11). A milk flow passageway begins at the barrel of the teat cup and ends at the clawbowl of the clawpiece, and a valve system is present within each milk flow passageway. The valve system comprises a first pressure-actuated valve through which milk flowing along the milk flow passageway must pass.

Apparatuses for measuring a fluid, each apparatus including a (e.g., butterfly) valve in communication with the fluid and a (e.g., pressure) transducer that measures (e.g., volume of) the fluid, where the transducer is mounted on the valve. A valve for controlling a fluid, the valve having a transducer mounted on the valve. An apparatus for storing and measuring liquid, for instance, milk, the apparatus including a tank that holds the liquid or milk, a valve connected to the tank that controls flow from the tank, and a pressure transducer mounted on the valve, where the pressure transducer measures pressure of the liquid or milk in the tank; and the pressure in the tank is used to calculate quantity of the liquid or milk in the tank. The transducer may be mounted at, or parallel or concentric to, the axis of rotation of the valve, and the axis may be vertical. The transducer may be mounted on the bottom of the valve.

A milk meter for measuring a flow rate of a milk flow with an inlet and an outlet a liquid flow path from the inlet to the outlet, a stabilization chamber in the liquid flow path and a float in the stabilization chamber configured to float on milk the milk meter is configured so a level of milk in the stabilization chamber depends on the flow rate of the milk flow, and is provided with a magnetic unit in the stabilization chamber, the magnetic field varies in a height direction of the stabilization chamber, an electronic measuring unit is arranged in the float for measuring the strength of the magnetic field, the strength is a measure of the height within the stabilization chamber at which the float is floating on the milk and the strength of the magnetic field is a measure of the flow rate of the milk flow.

A milk meter for measuring a flow rate of a milk flow with an inlet and an outlet a liquid flow path from the inlet to the outlet, a stabilization chamber in the liquid flow path and a float in the stabilization chamber configured to float on milk the milk meter is configured so a level of milk in the stabilization chamber depends on the flow rate of the milk flow, and is provided with a magnetic unit in the stabilization chamber, the magnetic field varies in a height direction of the stabilization chamber, an electronic measuring unit is arranged in the float for measuring the strength of the magnetic field, the strength is a measure of the height within the stabilization chamber at which the float is floating on the milk and the strength of the magnetic field is a measure of the flow rate of the milk flow.

This disclosure generally relates milking systems and, in particular, automatic milking systems. The disclosure presents methods, apparatuses and computer program for providing a reference value to be used for controlling a calibration of at least one milk meter in a milking system. In accordance with one embodiment, a method may comprise obtaining (510) milk flow data for a plurality of milking animals to determine a milk flow profile for each milking animal of the plurality of milking animals; comparing (520) the determined milk flow profiles to establish a subset of milk flow profiles that meets a pre-defined selection criteria; determining (530) said reference value based on the established subset of milk flow profiles; and providing (540) the determined reference value for controlling a subsequent calibration of at least one milk meter in a milking system.

This disclosure generally relates milking systems and, in particular, automatic milking systems. The disclosure presents methods, apparatuses and computer program for providing a reference value to be used for controlling a calibration of at least one milk meter in a milking system. In accordance with one embodiment, a method may comprise obtaining (510) milk flow data for a plurality of milking animals to determine a milk flow profile for each milking animal of the plurality of milking animals; comparing (520) the determined milk flow profiles to establish a subset of milk flow profiles that meets a pre-defined selection criteria; determining (530) said reference value based on the established subset of milk flow profiles; and providing (540) the determined reference value for controlling a subsequent calibration of at least one milk meter in a milking system.

An automatic milking system controlled by receiving a parameter representing a measured flow of milk extracted from at least one teat of an udder of an animal being milked in a milking operation via at least one teatcup of the milking system, wherein the milking system is controlled to stop the milking operation based on a first criterion indicating that the flow has reached a decline phase, and a second criterion indicating that the flow decreases faster than a threshold slope, the milking operation being stopped in response to fulfillment of the second criterion on or after a point in time when the first criterion has been fulfilled. As a result, a particular amount of milk is left in the udder of the animal, irrespective of an overall milking time for the animal.

An automatic milking system controlled by receiving a parameter representing a measured flow of milk extracted from at least one teat of an udder of an animal being milked in a milking operation via at least one teatcup of the milking system, wherein the milking system is controlled to stop the milking operation based on a first criterion indicating that the flow has reached a decline phase, and a second criterion indicating that the flow decreases faster than a threshold slope, the milking operation being stopped in response to fulfillment of the second criterion on or after a point in time when the first criterion has been fulfilled. As a result, a particular amount of milk is left in the udder of the animal, irrespective of an overall milking time for the animal.

The present invention relates to preparing dairy animal teats for being milked, and more particularly to teat preparation, rinsing, and milking that all take place in a milking machine teat cup liner. Such a method includes: applying a teat sanitizer to the teat; injecting air into the liner to force the teat sanitizer toward a waste milk line connected to the liner; pulsating the liner at a first pulsation rate; drawing a rinsing milk from the teat; directing the teat sanitizer, the air, and the rinsing fluid to the waste milk line; pulsating the liner at a second pulsation rate to draw additional milk from the teat; and directing the additional milk to a good milk line.