The invention relates to a method for the production of milk with a high content of native vitamin D3, comprising the irradiation of one or more lactating animals in a roofed enclosure, having at least one luminaire with a lamp emitting UV-A and UV-B radiation, and the milking of animals. The method allows producing milk having a high content of native vitamin D. The method also leads to an improved milk yield per animal.

The invention relates to a method for the production of milk with a high content of native vitamin D3, comprising the irradiation of one or more lactating animals in a roofed enclosure, having at least one luminaire with a lamp emitting UV-A and UV-B radiation, and the milking of animals. The method allows producing milk having a high content of native vitamin D. The method also leads to an improved milk yield per animal.

An animal rear leg position control device includes a body having a lower side; a first lateral side; a second lateral side; a front end; a rear side, where a longitudinal direction is defined by a line extending from the front end to the rear side; a first transition area defines a first rear corner of said body; and a second transition area defines a second rear corner of said body, where the front end is configured to be turned towards a front part of a milking stable when the body is in an operative position, and the rear side is configured to be turned towards a rear part of a milking stable when said body is in the operative position in the milking stable. The first rear corner and the second rear corner are positioned at different longitudinal positions in the longitudinal direction of the body.

An animal rear leg position control device includes a body having a lower side; a first lateral side; a second lateral side; a front end; a rear side, where a longitudinal direction is defined by a line extending from the front end to the rear side; a first transition area defines a first rear corner of said body; and a second transition area defines a second rear corner of said body, where the front end is configured to be turned towards a front part of a milking stable when the body is in an operative position, and the rear side is configured to be turned towards a rear part of a milking stable when said body is in the operative position in the milking stable. The first rear corner and the second rear corner are positioned at different longitudinal positions in the longitudinal direction of the body.

A rotary milking platform (1) comprises a platform (3) having a circular carrier beam (7) secured to the underside of the platform (3). The carrier beam (7) is supported on a plurality of support elements (10), each of which comprise a freely rotatable roller (35) which is configured to rollably engage an under surface (38) of the carrier beam (7). Each support element (10) comprises an anchor plate (27) adjustably mounted on a corresponding ground engaging element (20) which is secured to the ground. A carrier plate (40) is carried on four guide bolts (50) extending upwardly from the anchor plate (27). Side members (41) extending downwardly from the carrier plate (40) rotatably carry the roller (35). Compression springs (59) acting between abutment washers (55) secured to the guide bolts (50) and the carrier plate (40) urge the carrier plate (40) against heads (53) of the guide bolts (50). The compression springs (59) accommodate downward and upward movement of the roller (35) in order to accommodate rising and falling of the under surface (38) of the beam (7). The compression springs (59) permit tilting movement of the roller (35) about a tilt axis (61) which extends in the direction of motion of the beam (7) in order to facilitate tilting of the roller (35) to follow any non-horizontality of the under surface (38) of the beam (7). The tilt axis is located just below a line of contact (67) of the roller (35) with the under surface (38) of the beam (7) to minimise lateral movement of the roller relative to the beam (7) as the roller (35) tilts about the tilt axis.

A rotary milking platform 1 has a deck 2, a circular upper beam 4 connected to and supporting the deck, a circular lower beam 6 and a series of carriages 5 connected end to end to form a ring between the beams. The platform is formed such that the upper beam 4 is arranged to rest and rotate on the ring of carriages 5 to rotate the deck 2. Each carriage has at least one carriage roller 10, and each roller 10 arranged to rotate on the lower beam 4. Each roller 10 also has a retention flange 11 at only one side. The flanges 11 of some of the rollers 10 are at or adjacent an inner side of the ring, and the flanges 11 of others of the rollers are at or adjacent an outer side of the ring. The rollers 10 of the ring are arranged such that at least one roller is oriented with its flange 11 on an opposite side to another of the flanged rollers immediately adjacent to it. The flanges prevent the carriages from moving off the lower beam 4 when the platform 1 is in use. Further, at least some of the carriages can be disconnected from the ring and swung laterally to be moved free of the beams 4, 6 for maintenance, repair or replacement.

A drive unit causes a rotating platform of a rotary milking parlor arrangement to move in a direction of rotation. The drive unit includes first and second drive motors arranged to engage a drive rail of the rotating platform and act on a respective side of the drive rail to cause the rotating platform to move. Each of the drive motors produces a respective pace signal indicating a rotational speed of the drive motor in question. A control unit receives the pace signals from each of the drive motors in each drive unit. The control unit compares the pace signal from the first drive motor with the pace signal from the second drive motor from each drive unit to establish a respective difference in the rotational speeds in the drive unit. If the difference exceeds a threshold value, the control unit triggers an alarm.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling devices within an agricultural network system via a network bus such as a physical network bus or a logical network bus, wherein the devices are controlled by means of control information which is transmitted to the devices by means of messages comprising a content and a header title, the method comprising steps for:—determining a function for performing thereof by a device in the network,—determining the content of a message to be transmitted,—compiling header title information for inclusion thereof in a header title for the message to be transmitted, wherein—the header title information comprises a predetermined number of data fields, such as preferably a network identifier, a device type designation, a function designation, a location designation and/or a group designation, for the purpose of determining on the basis of compliance with one or more of these data fields which device or devices receive(s) the message.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling devices within an agricultural network system via a network bus such as a physical network bus or a logical network bus, wherein the devices are controlled by means of control information which is transmitted to the devices by means of messages comprising a content and a header title, the method comprising steps for:—determining a function for performing thereof by a device in the network,—determining the content of a message to be transmitted,—compiling header title information for inclusion thereof in a header title for the message to be transmitted, wherein—the header title information comprises a predetermined number of data fields, such as preferably a network identifier, a device type designation, a function designation, a location designation and/or a group designation, for the purpose of determining on the basis of compliance with one or more of these data fields which device or devices receive(s) the message.

An animal feeding device is provided including at least one cassette including a frame including wall elements defining upper and lower compartments, side wall elements defining a width of the upper compartment, a food container housed in the upper compartment, supported by at least one wall element, and a food delivery device housed in the lower compartment. The food container communicates with the food delivery device through an opening provided in a bottom portion of the food container. The food container has front, end, and side walls. The side walls are parallel in a longitudinal direction, have a constant distance therebetween in the longitudinal direction, are opposite to each other, are connected to and separated by the front wall in one end, and are connected to and separated by the end wall in an opposite end. The end wall has an inclination towards the bottom portion of the food container.