A conduit having a flexible tubular body having a first end connectable to a manifold or claw 14 and a free end connectable to a teatcup. Disposed partway along its length are disposed two integrally formed ribs capable of moving about an elbow joint. Each rib consists of two arms connected by an elbow joint about which the arms may move relative to one another. The arms of each rib are substantially planar and meet at a pivot point or elbow to form a substantially inverted V-shape when viewed along its the horizontal axis. The ribs encourage downward movement 5 in the vertical plane about its lateral axis at and away from the apex of each of the inverted V-shaped ribs whilst also resisting lateral movement or even upward movement.

A system comprising a teat preparation cup coupled to a vacuum pump. A first pressure sensor measures the vacuum level of the vacuum pump. A second pressure sensor measures vacuum level inside the preparation cup. The system further comprises a controller comprising an interface, a memory, and a processor.

The processor determines if the vacuum pump has sufficient vacuum level and communicates instructions to induce a partial vacuum in the teat preparation cup. The processor determines if the teat preparation cup has a vacuum level greater than a vacuum threshold value and when this condition is achieved, communicates instructions to initiate a teat preparation cycle comprising allowing fluid flowing from a fluid source container through the teat preparation cup into a fluid disposal container.

Disclosed is a mechanical manifold valve for robotic milking that is designed to operate at varying pressures, and which is operated automatically according to the pressure in at least one of the teat cups, such that the pressure in that teat cup influences the operation of the manifold valve, thereby controlling the pressure in at least one additional teat cup.

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.

A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.

A connector configured for receiving a cartridge for forming a teatcup where the cartridge includes an elongated sleeve and a barrel pre-mounted in the elongated sleeve and having an inner space for receiving a teat and the connector includes a lower base member and a shell extending from the lower base member and surrounding a receiving space for receiving the cartridge, the lower base member and the shell foringm one piece of a plastic material, and the shell being configured to extend along an axial length of the elongated sleeve at least to the upper end of the sleeve when the cartridge is received in the connector.

A milker unit short milk tube having a downstream milk claw connection end; a position and release device joined to and extending away from the downstream milk claw connection end; a controlled flexible portion disposed in an upstream direction from the position and release device; a reinforced portion disposed in upstream direction from the controlled flexible portion; and an interior milking claw inlet sealing surface.

A milker unit short milk tube having a downstream milk claw connection end having a position and release device joined to and extending away from the downstream milk claw connection end; a controlled flexible portion disposed in an upstream direction from the position and release device; a reinforced portion disposed in upstream direction from the controlled flexible portion; and an interior milking claw inlet sealing surface.

A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.