Systems and methods for analysing milk are described. A plurality of first type sensors are provided, each first type sensor associated with a respective one of a plurality of milking clusters of a milking system and configured to analyse milk extracted from an individual animal by the milking cluster to determine at least one first type sensor value of a parameter of the milk across an event period. At least one of a second type sensor associated with at least one of the plurality of milking clusters is configured to analyse the milk extracted from the individual animal by the milking cluster to determine at least one second type sensor value of the parameter of the milk within the event period, wherein the second type sensor is less susceptible to animal specific bias than the first type sensor. The number of the second type sensor in the system is less than the number of first type sensors. An animal specific bias correction is determined for the individual animal based on the at least one first type sensor value of the parameter and the at least one second type sensor value of the parameter determined for the individual animal. The animal specific bias correction is applied to first type sensor values of the parameter obtained from the first type sensors for milk extracted from the individual animal.
G01N 29/00 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'emploi d'ondes ultrasonores, sonores ou infrasonoresVisualisation de l'intérieur d'objets par transmission d'ondes ultrasonores ou sonores à travers l'objet
A01J 5/007 - Surveillance des procédés de traiteCommande ou régulation des machines à traire
An ultrasonic transducer is described, including a piezoelectric element, a fluid medium contact layer, a matching layer between the piezoelectric element and the fluid medium contact layer, and a backing layer. Ultrasound sensor devices utilising the ultrasonic transducer are also described, for use in systems for analysing a fluid such as milk.
B06B 1/06 - Procédés ou appareils pour produire des vibrations mécaniques de fréquence infrasonore, sonore ou ultrasonore utilisant l'énergie électrique fonctionnant par effet piézo-électrique ou par électrostriction
G01N 29/34 - Génération des ondes ultrasonores, sonores ou infrasonores
G01H 3/00 - Mesure des vibrations en utilisant un détecteur dans un fluide
G01H 11/08 - Mesure des vibrations mécaniques ou des ondes ultrasonores, sonores ou infrasonores par détection des changements dans les propriétés électriques ou magnétiques par des moyens électriques utilisant des dispositifs piézo-électriques
G01N 29/44 - Traitement du signal de réponse détecté
Systems and methods for analysing a fluid are disclosed, including a fluid sample delivery apparatus. The system includes a sensing element configured to respond to at least one analyte in a sample of fluid. A detector is provided, configured to sense the response to the analyte by the sensing element. The fluid sample delivery apparatus includes a dosage needle configured to deliver the sample of fluid to the sensing element, at least one pump configured to control flow of fluid through the dosage needle, and at least one actuator configured to move the dosage needle relative to the sensing element. At least one controller is provided, configured to control the at least one pump and the at least one actuator.
Systems, devices, and methods for use in a milking facility having a plurality of milking clusters, each configured to be connected to a milking animal to extract milk therefrom, are described herein. The system includes at least one orientation detection device positioned on one of the milking clusters, the orientation detection device including at least one orientation sensor configured to output orientation data. The orientation detection device includes at least one processor configured to receive the orientation data, determine a current orientation of the milking cluster using the orientation data, and output a signal indicative of the current orientation. The system includes at least one processor configured to receive the signal from the orientation detection device indicative of the current orientation of the milking cluster, and determine a milking position associated with the milking cluster based on the current orientation.
A system for analysing a fluid is described, including an in-line sensor configured to analyse a fluid flowing past the in-line sensor to determine at least one in-line value of a fluid parameter of the fluid across an event period, and a sample sensor configured to analyse a sample of fluid extracted from the flow of fluid during the event period, to determine a sample value of the fluid parameter for the sample. At least one processor is provided, configured to determine a representative in-line value of the fluid parameter across the event period based at least in part on the at least one in-line value, and determine an overall representative value of the fluid parameter across the event period based on the representative in-line value, the sample value for the sample, and one or more of the in-line values corresponding to the time of extracting the sample, wherein determination of the overall representative value is based on an error correction value determined for the in-line sensor during the event period.
A system is disclosed for use in a milking facility including a plurality of individual milking stations for milking animals. The system includes at least one performance sensor associated with at least one milking station, configured to output a signal indicative of a sensed performance measure. At least one processor is configured to receive the signal from the at least one performance sensor, determine whether the performance measure is to be associated with an identifier of an individual animal being milked at the milking station, and issue a notification alerting an operator as to which milking station the performance measure was obtained from. The processor is further configured to receive the identifier input into a user device by the operator, and associate the identifier with the performance measure in a database.
09 - Appareils et instruments scientifiques et électriques
35 - Publicité; Affaires commerciales
42 - Services scientifiques, technologiques et industriels, recherche et conception
Produits et services
Machines and machine tools for use in agriculture (not including pumps or transmission machinery); milking machines; farm machinery including, farm automation machinery; farm automation machinery for use during milking; electric door and gate openers; hydraulic door and gate openers; pneumatic door and gate openers; automatic feeders for livestock; parts and components for the foregoing; automatic gates. Farm automation data processing apparatus for livestock management and identification; computer software and hardware, including for hand held devices; computer applications for hand held devices (not including software or computer applications related to the travel industry); computer software and hardware for farm automation and farm information systems, farm mapping, farm management, land, pasture, shed and herd management; software, apparatus and instruments for capturing information on animal health and predicting the health status of animals, including handheld devices for same; control systems for automatic gates; electronic identification tags; radio-frequency identification [RFID] tags; electronic animal identification apparatus; heat detectors; heat detection devices and apparatus; databases; database management software; electronic publications [downloadable] provided on-line from databases or the Internet; electrical, weighing and measuring apparatus and equipment, including electronic apparatus and instruments for measuring and weighing animals; milk measurement and testing instruments and sensors; none of the foregoing goods used in the fields of travel, transportation, hospitality and logistics. Wholesale and retail services for agricultural apparatus and equipment, farm automation apparatus and equipment, agricultural goods; promotional services; advertising services; promotion and advertising of farm automation and farm information products and services; farm management services; maintaining databases including databases containing data relating to animals, farms, production and reproduction values; provision of information, advisory and consultancy services in relation to the foregoing; including all such services provided via the internet; none of the foregoing goods used in the fields of travel, transportation, hospitality and logistics. Software as a service [SaaS]; agricultural research services including farm performance analysis and research services; scientific and technological services; technical research services; design services; quality and material testing and analysis services; milk testing and analysis; agricultural research services; engineering; engineering research services; mechanical research services; technical research services; research and development services; technical testing services; laboratory research; laboratory testing; provision of information, advisory and consultancy services in relation to the foregoing; including all such services provided via the internet; none of the foregoing goods used in the fields of travel, transportation, hospitality and logistics.
An apparatus (100) for automatically detecting a status of an oestrus indicator associated with an animal is disclosed. The apparatus (100) comprises a structure having two substantially parallel barrier means (1) and moveable barrier means (2) for selectively preventing an animal from proceeding between the parallel barrier means (1). A camera (11) is provided for capturing an electronic image of an area of interest of the animal (A), the area of interest comprising an area of the animal (A) which the oestrus indicator is usually associated with or attached to. Processing means (300) determine a status of the oestrus indicator based on the image. Animal position sensing means (6) are also provided, wherein, in use, closing of the moveable barrier means (1) is dependent on the animal position sensing means (6) detecting that a required portion of the animal (A) has moved past the moveable barrier means (1). A method of automatically detecting a status of an oestrus indicator associated with an animal is also disclosed.
A61B 10/00 - Instruments pour le prélèvement d'échantillons corporels à des fins de diagnostic Autres procédés ou instruments pour le diagnostic, p. ex. pour le diagnostic de vaccination ou la détermination du sexe ou de la période d'ovulationInstruments pour gratter la gorge
