A milking arrangement includes a milking machine for milking an animal and an analysing unit configured to determine a value of haptoglobin quantity in a milk sample taken from milk harvest by the milking machine. The analysing unit includes a blood detection sensor device configured to detect the presence of blood in said milk harvest by the milking machine, and a haptoglobin sensor device configured to provide a value of haptoglobin quantity in the milk sample.

A milking system with a milking device, a milking control, a milk line in fluid connection with the milking device, and a sampling and analysis device to take a sample of the milk from the milk line and to analyse milk from the sample are disclosed. The milking control is arranged to control the milking device on the basis of the analysis. The sampling and analysis device includes a control unit, a tape reel provided with a tape that is lengthwise provided with a series of consecutive reagent pads that provide a detectable response in the presence of a substance in the sample, a tape mover to move the tape, a dosing device to supply a part of the sample onto a reagent pad on the tape, and a camera to obtain an image of the reagent pad supplied with the droplet, and an analysis device to analyse the obtained images to provide to the milking control device an indication of a presence or concentration of said substance. The camera has a field of view that contains a plurality of reagent pads of the series of consecutive reagent pads. This allows to observe the reaction in the reagent pad for a much longer time. In turn, this allows to use much less reagent material, such as expensive enzymes, in the pads. It is particularly useful when observing double layer reagent types.

A milking system includes a device to sample and analyse a milk sample, including a control unit, a sample supply line connected to the milk line, a pump to control the sample flow, an optical radiation source, and an optical sensor device to detect and analyse optical radiation coming from the reagent pad with said sample, to provide an indication of a substance in the sample, a tape mover to move and unwind the tape from the tape reel, and a pump drive, external to the cassette, and releasably operably connected to the pump device for driving the pump device. The sampling and analysis device also includes a cassette with a sample receiving line, releasably connected to the sample supply line by a liquid connector, and arranged to receive the sample from the sample supply line, a tape reel with a tape that includes a base tape layer and a series of separate reagent pads, and a dosing device to provide a droplet of the sample onto a reagent pad. The dosing device includes a nozzle in fluid connection with the sample receiving line, and a nozzle mover arranged to move the nozzle in at least a longitudinal direction. The cassette is replaceably received in the milking system. Hereby, a large number of parts that are subject to wear and contamination by milk residues are exchanged regularly, which improves measurement reliability and accuracy.

A milking system including a milking means, a milk line, and a sampling and analysis device, that includes an analysis tape, with a carrier layer and a reagent tape layer with a reagent that provides a detectable response in the presence of a substance in the sample, a dosing device, an optical radiation source, and an optical sensor device to detect optical response radiation emitted by the reagent tape layer and to analyse the detected optical response radiation to provide an indication of a presence or concentration of the substance in the droplet. The reagent tape layer includes, or is, a material with an asymmetrical porosity, having the largest pore size at a first side where the sample is provided, and the smallest pore size at the opposite side.

A method, and milking system, for managing a herd of dairy animals including N groups, wherein N2, and the method includes: A) determining a content of a substance in the milk for a group of dairy animals, and B) performing an animal-related operation for the group, based on the content of the determined substance.

A milking system includes a device to sample and analyse a milk sample, a sample supply line connected to the milk line, a pump to control the sample flow, an optical radiation source, and an optical sensor device to detect and analyse optical radiation coming from the reagent pad with said sample, to provide an indication of a substance in the sample, a tape mover to move and unwind the tape from the tape reel, and a pump drive releasably operably connected to the pump device for driving the pump device. The sampling and analysis device also includes a cassette with a sample receiving line to receive the sample from the sample supply line, a tape reel with a tape that includes a base tape layer and a series of separate reagent pads, and a dosing device to provide a droplet of the sample onto a reagent pad.

A method of producing a reagent tape, that includes a base tape layer and a series of consecutive and separate reagent pads of a reagent, is provided for use in a milk sampling device. The milk sampling device is arranged to supply a droplet of a milk sample onto one of the reagent pads on the tape in order to produce a response in the reagent to detect a presence or concentration of a substance in the milk sample. The method includes providing the base tape layer of the reagent tape, applying onto the base tape layer a continuous layer of the reagent, dividing the supplied continuous reagent layer into separate reagent pads by providing a hydrophobic barrier line between said pads. This may be done by laser ablating thin lines of reagent material, or by providing additional hydrophobic material into the layer. Thus, a simple and fast way of providing a tape with pads is obtained, in which a narrow spacing between pads is possible. A tape made by the method, and a milking device with a sampling device with such a tape are disclosed.

A milking system with a milking device, a milk line, and a sampling and analysis device to sample and analyse the milk are disclosed. The sampling and analysis device includes a control unit, a tape wound on a tape reel, and including a base material with a series of reagent pads arranged to provide a detectable response in the presence of a substance in the sample, a tape mover to move and unwind the tape, a dosing device to provide a part of the sample onto one of the reagent pads, and an optical sensor device to detect optical radiation from said reagent pad with said sample, and to analyse the detected optical radiation to provide an indication of a presence or concentration of said substance. The dosing device includes a displaceable nozzle with a supply line for supplying the sample to the nozzle. The nozzle is arranged for supplying the sample upwardly to the reagent pad. The dosing device further includes a nozzle mover to move the displaceable nozzle towards and away from the tape, and an overflow device, or cup, including a wall that surrounds the nozzle. An overflow space is provided between the wall and the nozzle, and further includes a discharge. The overflow device can collect excess fluid, both when sampling and certainly when flushing. Herein, gravity helps in collecting fluid, but importantly, also in supplying the sample, since the sample droplet cannot break off the nozzle unexpectedly.

A dairy farming system comprises at least one milking device for obtaining milk from dairy animals by means of a milking process, a control unit for controlling the at least one milking device, and a data input for automatically receiving data relating to milk which was obtained earlier and supplied to an external party. The data comprises at least one content of a substance in the milk and/or at least one physical or chemical property of the milk, and a quantity value of the milk, the milking device has at least one adjustable parameter relating to the milking process, the control unit automatically processes at least part of the received data to obtain at least one control parameter value, and the control unit automatically adjusts at least one of the at least one parameter of the milking device on the basis of the at least one control parameter value.

A milking arrangement comprising a milking machine for milking an animal, wherein the milking arrangement comprises a control unit that is configured to obtain identity of the animal in connection with milking of the animal, obtain a reference point in time of a lactation cycle of the identified animal, determine to take at least one milk sample of the animal, when a predetermined time period has passed from the reference point in time; obtain a Haptoglobin level from the milk sample, compare the obtained Haptoglobin level with a Haptoglobin reference limit, and indicate health condition of the animal, based on the made comparison.