Patent ID: 6814025
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: A01J,A01K,G01N

Abstract:
An automated or semi-automated system for optimizing the production performance of a milk producing animal herd comprising a plurality of individual herd members each assigned a unique identification code that is recognizable by the system, the system comprising the following interconnected means:(a) means for collecting a milk sample from an individual member of said herd, said means for collecting a milk sample being connectable to a herd milking system, (b) means for recognizing the identification code of the individual herd member, (c) means for storing data for a physiological condition, a nutritional condition or a combination of the physiological nutritional conditions of said each individual herd member, (d) means for analyzing a plurality of compounds or parameters in a milk sample being collected, said means for analyzing a plurality of compounds or parameters comprising: (i) separate means for analyzing individual compounds or parameters in the milk sample, each of said separate means for analyzing individual compounds or parameters being capable of generating a detectable signal in the presence of an individual milk compound or parameter, (ii) means for directing a part of the milk sample to each separate analyzing means, said directing means being controlled in response to at least one change for at least one parameter in at least one individual herd member recorded by said means for storing data for the physiological state condition, a nutritional condition or a combination of physiological and nutritional conditions of each individual herd member relative to previously-stored data in said means for storing data for said individual herd member such that the directing means is only activated at pre-selected points in time or at pre-selected time intervals in the reproduction or lactation cycles, or said directing means being controlled in response to a signal from said means for storing data such that the directing means is only activated at pre-selected points in time or at pre-selected time intervals in the reproduction or lactation cycles, (iii) means for detecting signals generated in the presence of a compound or parameter being analyzed, (e) means for converting the detected signals to a set of data that is indicative of the physiological condition, the nutritional condition or a combination of the physiological and nutritional conditions of said individual herd member, (f) means for storage of said set of data descriptive of the physiological condition, the nutritional condition or a combination of the physiological and nutritional conditions for said individual herd members, and (g) data output means for producing data output.