A rotary milking platform (3) comprises a plurality of stalls (5) and an RFID animal identifying system (9) for identifying animals entering the stalls (5) of the platform (3). A microprocessor (14) reads signals from an image capturing device (15) and computes a feature vector from the captured image of each animal. A plurality of reference feature vectors comprising respective matrices of metrics already derived from images of the respective animals captured by the image capturing device (15) are stored and cross-referenced with the identity of the respective animals. The microprocessor (14) compares computed feature vectors of each animal with the stored reference feature vectors until a best match has been determined with one of the reference feature vectors. The identity of the animal of that matching reference feature vector is then determined as the identity of the animal of that computed feature vector. The determined identity of the animal in the relevant stall (5) is compared with the identity of the animal determined for that stall (5) by the RFID system (9). On a favourable comparison the identity of the animal determined from the captured image of that animal is confirmed as the identity of the animal. In the event of a conflict between the two identities being determined, a conflict alert signal is produced.

A rotary milking platform (3) comprises a plurality of stalls (5) and an RFID animal identifying system (9) for identifying animals entering the stalls (5) of the platform (3). A microprocessor (14) reads signals from an image capturing device (15) and computes a feature vector from the captured image of each animal. A plurality of reference feature vectors comprising respective matrices of metrics already derived from images of the respective animals captured by the image capturing device (15) are stored and cross-referenced with the identity of the respective animals. The microprocessor (14) compares computed feature vectors of each animal with the stored reference feature vectors until a best match has been determined with one of the reference feature vectors. The identity of the animal of that matching reference feature vector is then determined as the identity of the animal of that computed feature vector. The determined identity of the animal in the relevant stall (5) is compared with the identity of the animal determined for that stall (5) by the RFID system (9). On a favourable comparison the identity of the animal determined from the captured image of that animal is confirmed as the identity of the animal. In the event of a conflict between the two identities being determined, a conflict alert signal is produced.

Disclosed is a monitoring milk meter, which is able to monitor the livestock being milked, as well as general procedures performed in the milking farm, such as the CIP procedure.

A method of calibrating a sensors in a system for obtaining animal data from animals is described. The sensors are configured to obtain measurements of an animal related parameter during arbitrary visits by the animal to the sensors. For at least one of the animals, a first measurement associated with a first sensor of the sensors is obtained, and calculating one or more relations between the first measurement and one or more second measurements associated with the respective animal. Each of the second measurements is obtained using a further sensor, so as to obtain at least one representative relation for each combination of the first sensor and each one of the further sensors. The system calculates, based on the at least one representative relation, a correction factor associated with at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors.

A method of calibrating a sensors in a system for obtaining animal data from animals is described. The sensors are configured to obtain measurements of an animal related parameter during arbitrary visits by the animal to the sensors. For at least one of the animals, a first measurement associated with a first sensor of the sensors is obtained, and calculating one or more relations between the first measurement and one or more second measurements associated with the respective animal. Each of the second measurements is obtained using a further sensor, so as to obtain at least one representative relation for each combination of the first sensor and each one of the further sensors. The system calculates, based on the at least one representative relation, a correction factor associated with at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors.

The present disclosure is related to a free flow electronic meter, which is used in measuring the velocity and flow rate of a fluid, particularly in measuring milk yield of sheep, goat, buffalo and cattle during milking. The free flow electronic meter includes a measurement pipe wherein the velocity of the material that passes through it is measured by means of a flow rate measurement sensor. When the milk flows continuously through the measurement pipe, an air passage pipe and/or free air passage pipe prevents vacuum fluctuation that causes udder diseases. This result is reached by preventing a change of the vacuum level during milking due to increased milk flow at teat end by providing extra air passage.

The present disclosure is related to a free flow electronic meter, which is used in measuring the velocity and flow rate of a fluid, particularly in measuring milk yield of sheep, goat, buffalo and cattle during milking. The free flow electronic meter includes a measurement pipe wherein the velocity of the material that passes through it is measured by means of a flow rate measurement sensor. When the milk flows continuously through the measurement pipe, an air passage pipe and/or free air passage pipe prevents vacuum fluctuation that causes udder diseases. This result is reached by preventing a change of the vacuum level during milking due to increased milk flow at teat end by providing extra air passage.

A free dome range (FDR) where dairy animals have a free access to their stall to concurrently eat and to be milked. The FDR comprises a plurality of stalls; at least one of these stalls is characterized by a front side and rear opposite side into which a dairy animal is at least temporarily accommodated, head fronting the front side; a plurality of main living areas (MLAs); at least one of the MLAs is in connection with at least one of the stalls by a plurality of gates. The FDR further comprising a substantially horizontally positioned elevated rail system comprising a plurality of elevated rails, and a plurality of mobile milking units (MMUs), each of the MMUs is configured to transport on the elevated rail to a dairy animal at its stall, and milk the animal while it is eating.

A free dome range (FDR) where dairy animals have a free access to their stall to concurrently eat and to be milked. The FDR comprises a plurality of stalls; at least one of these stalls is characterized by a front side and rear opposite side into which a dairy animal is at least temporarily accommodated, head fronting the front side; a plurality of main living areas (MLAs); at least one of the MLAs is in connection with at least one of the stalls by a plurality of gates. The FDR further comprising a substantially horizontally positioned elevated rail system comprising a plurality of elevated rails, and a plurality of mobile milking units (MMUs), each of the MMUs is configured to transport on the elevated rail to a dairy animal at its stall, and milk the animal while it is eating.

A method and apparatus (3) for operating a rotary milking platform (1) to maximise the number of animals milked per unit time. The milking platform (1) is rotated about a central vertical axis (4) by a variable speed motor (6), and comprises a plurality of animal accommodating locations (5) for the animals being milked. An entry position (7) and an exit position (9) accommodate animals to and from the platform (1). A position sensor (10) monitors the angular position of the platform (1). An RFID sensor (12) reads the identity of animals entering the platform (1). Historical data relating to milking time per milking session and the milk yield per animal per session is stored in an electronic memory (17). A microprocessor (15) reads signals from flow meters (14) which monitor the milk flow from milking clusters of each animal accommodating location (5). The microprocessor (15) is configured as each animal enters the platform (1) to compute an optimum angular velocity for the platform (1) in order to maximise the number of animals milked per unit time. The optimum angular velocity is computed as a function of the historical data of each animal on the platform (1), and the current milk yield of each animal on the milking platform (1) determined from the flow meter (14).