Arrangement for and a method of managing a herd of animals
First Claim
1. An arrangement for managing a herd of domesticated animals which comprises an animal identification system, at least one feeding trough which is disposed and dimensioned so it can only feed one of said animals at a time, said feeding trough including closure means for selectively precluding said animals from consuming feed therefrom, a central unit provided with a computer having a memory, hierarchy order determining means for determining data as to the status of each said animal in said herd, said hierarchy order determining means supplying said data so determined to said memory, said memory storing said data, said data supplied by said hierarchy order determining means being continuously updated in said memory that stores said data, said memory containing said data for each animal of the herd relating to the status of each said animal in the hierarchy order of the herd, said data being utilized to aid in the management of the accessibility of each animal of said herd to said feeding trough.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A management system for domesticated animals, such as cows, which comprises an animal identification system, a central unit provided with a computer which has a memory. The memory contains for each animal of the herd data which relates to the animal'"'"'s position or status in the hierarchic order of the herd. The memory also contains data for each animal relating to its jostling behavior. This management is used in an automated system wherein procedures such as feeding and milking are performed on animals of the herd. The position or status of each animal in the hierarchic order of the herd is determined and the data thereof are stored in the memory. At least one of the procedures affecting each animal in the herd is governed, at least in part, by data in the memory relating to the animal'"'"'s status or position in the hierarchic order of the herd and also by data concerning the animal'"'"'s jostling behavior.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An arrangement for managing a herd of domesticated animals which comprises an animal identification system, at least one feeding trough which is disposed and dimensioned so it can only feed one of said animals at a time, said feeding trough including closure means for selectively precluding said animals from consuming feed therefrom, a central unit provided with a computer having a memory, hierarchy order determining means for determining data as to the status of each said animal in said herd, said hierarchy order determining means supplying said data so determined to said memory, said memory storing said data, said data supplied by said hierarchy order determining means being continuously updated in said memory that stores said data, said memory containing said data for each animal of the herd relating to the status of each said animal in the hierarchy order of the herd, said data being utilized to aid in the management of the accessibility of each animal of said herd to said feeding trough.
- 2. An arrangement for managing a herd of domesticated animals which comprises an animal identification system, at least one feeding trough which is disposed and dimensioned so it can only feed one of said animals at a time, said feeding trough including closure means for selectively precluding said animals from consuming feed therefrom, a central unit provided with a computer having a memory, said memory containing data for each animal of the herd relating to the status of each said animal in the hierarchy order of the herd, said data being utilized to aid in the management of the accessibility of each animal of said herd in said feeding trough, an area being provided for containing animals of said herd, said area having an entrance gate and an exit gate, the operation of at least one of said gates being controlled with the aid of said data in said memory.
- 8. An arrangement for managing a herd of domesticated animals which comprises an animal identification system, at least one feeding trough which is disposed and dimensioned so it can only feed one of said animals at a time, said feeding trough including closure means for selectively precluding said animals from consuming feed therefrom, a central unit provided with a computer having a memory, said memory containing data for each animal of the herd relating to the status of each said animal in the hierarchy order of the herd, said data being utilized to aid in the management of the accessibility of each animal of said herd to said feeding trough, a feeding station is provided in said area, said feeding station including said one feeding trough and said closure means, said closure means adapted to be closed with the aid of data in said memory.
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22. An arrangement for managing a herd of domesticated animals which comprises an animal identification system, at least one feeding trough which is disposed and dimensioned so it can only feed one of said animals at a time, said feeding trough including closure means for selectively precluding said animals from consuming feed therefrom, a central unit provided with a computer having a memory, said memory containing data for each animal of the herd relating to the status of each said animal in the hierarchy order of the herd, said data being utilized to aid in the management of the accessibility of each animal of said herd to said feeding trough, and a camera for observing the behavior of animals in said herd.
- 23. An arrangement for managing a herd of domesticated animals which comprises an animal identification system, at least one feeding trough which is disposed and dimensioned so it can only feed one of said animals at a time, said feeding trough including closure means for selectively precluding said animals from consuming feed therefrom, a central unit provided with a computer having a memory, said memory containing data for each animal of the herd relating to the status of each said animal in the hierarchy order of the herd, said data being utilized to aid in the management of the accessibility of each animal of said herd to said feeding trough, and discipline means for disciplining animals impeding the management of the herd.
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34. An arrangement for managing a herd of domesticated animals which comprises an animal identification system, at least one feeding trough which is disposed and dimensioned so it can only feed one of said animals at a time, said feeding trough including closure means for selectively precluding said animals from consuming feed therefrom, a central unit provided with a computer having a memory, said memory containing data for each animal of the herd relating to the status of each said animal in the hierarchy order of the herd, said data being utilized to aid in the management of the accessibility of each animal of said herd to said feeding trough, said means for determining the hierarchy order of each animal of said herd comprises a camera.
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35. An arrangement for managing a herd of domesticated animals which comprises an animal identification system, at least one feeding trough which is disposed and dimensioned so it can only feed one of said animals at a time, said feeding trough including closure means for selectively precluding said animals from consuming feed therefrom, a central unit provided with a computer having a memory, said memory containing data for each animal of the herd relating to the status of each said animal in the hierarchy order of the herd, said data being utilized to aid in the management of the accessibility of each animal of said herd to said feeding trough, and means for determining the order in which animals enter or leave an area for determining the hierarchy order of animals in said herd.
Specification