WO2017051403A1

WO2017051403A1 - A milking system and a method for operating a milking system

Info

Publication number: WO2017051403A1
Application number: PCT/IE2016/000016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edmond Patrick Harty; John Gerard DALY
Original assignee: Dairymaster
Priority date: 2015-09-21
Filing date: 2016-09-21
Publication date: 2017-03-30

Abstract

A milking system (1) comprises a bailing system (2) which defines a plurality of animal accommodating locations (5) for accommodating animals during milking. A microprocessor (32) controls the operation of the milking system (1), and reads signals from a plurality of voice recognition modules (36) which are configured to monitor for spoken messages spoken by an operative which indicate the identity of an animal accommodating location (5) in which an animal is located, and for which an action is to be taken by the milking system. The microprocessor (32) on detecting such a spoken message identifies the animal accommodating location and the action to be taken by the milking system, which may, for example, be an instruction to operate a diverting valve (22) for diverting milk from a milking cluster (20) of the identified animal accommodating location to a secondary milk holding tank (25), or may be an instruction to operate a diverting gate (12) for diverting an identified animal into a holding pen for subsequent treatment or inspection.

Description

"A milking system and a method for operating a milking system"

The present invention relates to a milking system and to a method for operating a milking system. Milking systems for milking animals, for example, cows, goats, sheep and the like are known. Many such milking systems are computer controlled, and may comprise a rotary milking platform located in a milking parlour, or a herringbone type system in which bails are arranged in a herringbone configuration, or a half herringbone configuration in a milking parlour, and animal accommodating locations are defined between the bails. A rotary milking platform also comprise bails, which define radially arranged animal accommodating locations adjacent the periphery of the rotary platform. In both rotary milking parlour milking systems and herringbone milking systems, the animals are directed to the animal accommodating locations sequentially.

The identities of the animals are detected by a code reader, typically, a radio frequency code reader which reads identity codes indicative of the identity of the respective animals from a code carrier located on or in the animals, as the animals enter the milking system sequentially. The animals are directed sequentially to the animal accommodating locations, so that the identity¾f each animal and the identity of the corresponding animal accommodating location are known. The computer prepares a look-up table which is stored in electronic memory in which the identity of the animals is cross-referenced with the identities of the corresponding animal accommodating locations in which the animals are located. Once the look-up table has been prepared, the identity of an animal can be readily identified from the identity of the animal accommodating location, and vice versa.

In general certain animals may produce milk, which for various reasons is unsuitable for supplying to a creamery, and in which case, it is desirable that the milk from those animals is directed to a milk holding tank which is independent and separate from the milk holding tank to which the milk from the majority of the animals is delivered. Additionally, in certain cases, an animal may require inspection or treatment as a result of an illness or an injury. On completion of milking, it is desirable that such animals can be separated from the remainder of the animals for subsequent inspection or treatment as the case may be.

The majority of computerised milking systems are configured to allow these matters to be attended to. However, in general in order to input special instructions regarding the destination of milk from an animal or the separation of an animal after milking from the remainder of the animals requires an operative to input the relevant instructions to the computer controlling the milking system through a keyboard. Such a keyboard typically is housed in an office located in or just off the milking parlour. This requires an operative firstly to identify the animal or the animal accommodating location in which the relevant animal is located, and then to go to the office and input the identity of the animal or the identity of the animal accommodating location and the special instruction through the keyboard. This, it will be readily apparent is a time consuming task, and also is prone to error, since the operative may on reaching the computer keyboard have either forgotten or confused the identity of the animal or the identity of the animal accommodating location. Alternatively, a plurality of keyboards may be provided connected to the computer controlling the milking system, one keyboard being provided adjacent each animal accommodating location to allow the relevant data regarding the identity of the animal or the identity of the relevant animal accommodating location, and the action to be taken, to be entered.

There is therefore a need for a milking system and a method which addresses at least some of these issues.

The present invention is directed towards providing such a milking system and a method. According to the invention there is provided a milking system comprising a plurality of animal accommodating locations for accommodating respective animals during milking thereof, an animal identifying means for identifying the animals, a means for cross-referencing the identity of the animals with the identity of the respective animal accommodating locations in which the animals are accommodated, and a monitoring means configured to detect a human producible signal indicative of an action to be taken in the milking system in connection with an animal identified by one of the identity of the animal and the identity of the animal accommodating location in which the animal is located.

In one aspect of the invention the monitoring means is configured to detect a human producible signal indicative of the identity of the animal with which the action is to be taken in the milking system.

In another aspect of the invention the monitoring means is configured to detect a human producible signal indicative of the identity of the animal accommodating location in which the animal, in connection with which the action is to be taken in the milking system, is located. In another aspect of the invention, the monitoring means is configured to detect the human producible signal in the form of an orally produced signal. Preferably, the monitoring means is configured to detect the human producible signal in the form of speech. Advantageously, the monitoring means is configured to detect the human producible signal in the form of a voice command. In one aspect of the invention, the monitoring means comprises a voice recognition means.

In another aspect of the invention, the monitoring means comprises a speech recognition means.

In a further aspect of the invention, the monitoring means comprises a voice recognition module.

Preferably, the monitoring means comprises a microphone for detecting an orally produced signal.

In another aspect of the invention, the monitoring means is configured to detect the human producible signal in the form of a visual signal.

In one aspect of the invention, the monitoring means is configured to detect the human producible signal in the form of one of movement of a part of a human body, a configuration of a part of a human body, and a gesture of a part of a human body.

In another aspect of the invention, the monitoring means is configured to detect one of movement of a limb of a human body, and the configuration of a limb of a human body.

In a further aspect of the invention, the monitoring means is configured to detect one of a movement of a hand of a human body, a configuration of a hand of a human body, and a gesture of a hand of a human body.

In a still further aspect of the invention, the monitoring means is configured to detect one or both of movement and the configuration of a hand of a human body. In another aspect of the invention, the monitoring means is configured to detect one of movement and the configuration of an arm of a human body.

In one aspect of the invention, the monitoring means comprises a camera. Preferably, the monitoring means comprises a video camera. Advantageously, the monitoring means comprises one of a digital camera and a digital video camera.

In another aspect of the invention, the monitoring means comprises one of a two dimensional video camera and a three dimensional video camera.

In one aspect of the invention, the monitoring means is configured to detect a human producible signal indicative of one or both of the identity of an animal and the identity of the animal accommodating location in which the identified animal is located. Preferably, the animal identifying means comprises a reading means for reading an identity code carried on a code carrier located on or in an animal. Advantageously, the animal identifying means comprises a radio frequency identity code reader.

In another aspect of the invention, the animal identifying means is located at an entrance to the milking system.

In one aspect of the invention, the milking system is configured to direct animals sequentially into the animal accommodating locations. In another aspect of the invention, the monitoring means is configured to form the animal identifying means and is configured to detect the identity of respective ones of a plurality of animals from a plurality of detected human producible signals. Preferably, the milking system comprises a signal processing means. Advantageously, the signal processing means is configured to read signals from the monitoring means.

In another aspect of the invention, the signal processing means is responsive to signals read from the monitoring means to produce an output signal indicative of the action to be taken by the milking system in response to a human producible signal detected by the monitoring means.

Preferably, the signal processing means comprises the means for cross-referencing the identity of the animals with the identity of the respective animal accommodating locations. Advantageously, the signal processing means is programmed to cross-reference the identity of the animals with the respective animal accommodating locations in a look-up table. Ideally, the look-up table is stored in an electronic memory.

In one aspect of the invention, the signal processing means comprises a programmable signal processor. Preferably, the signal processing means comprises a programmable microprocessor. In another aspect of the invention, an interface means is provided, the interface means being configured for inputting a signal indicative of the identity of an animal in connection with which an action is to be taken in the milking system to the signal processing means. Preferably, the interface means is configured to identify the animal by the animal accommodating location in which the animal is located.

Advantageously, the interface means comprises one of a manual interface and an electrical interface. Preferably, the interface means comprises a button operated switch. Advantageously, a plurality of interface means are provided, one interface means being located adjacent each animal accommodating location.

In another aspect of the invention, a control means is provided for controlling the operation of at least some of the milking system, the control means being responsive to the output signal produced by the signal processing means for operating the milking system to take the action in response to the detected human producible signal. Preferably, the control means is operated under the control of the signal processing means.

Advantageously, the control means is configured to control one or more diverting valves of the milking system for diverting milk from an identified one of the animals or an animal in an identified one of the animal accommodating locations to a predefined milk holding location.

In one aspect of the invention, the control means is configured for operating a diverting element for diverting an identified one of the animals or an animal in an identified one of the animal accommodating locations to a predefined animal holding location. In another aspect of the invention, an animal accommodating entrance passageway is provided for guiding the animal sequentially into the animal accommodating locations.

In another aspect of the invention, an animal accommodating exit passageway is provided for sequentially accommodating the animals from the animal accommodating locations. Preferably, a diverting element is provided for diverting a selected one of the animals from the exit passageway into an animal holding location. Advantageously, a diverting element operating element is provided for operating the diverting element for diverting an animal from the exit passageway into the animal holding location. Ideally, the diverting element operating element for operating the diverting element is operable under the control of the control means.

In one aspect of the invention, the animal identifying means is located adjacent an entrance to the animal accommodating entrance passageway.

In another aspect of the invention, the milking system comprises a main milk holding tank, and a secondary milk holding tank, and a plurality of milking clusters located in the respective animal accommodating locations for attaching to the teats of respective animals, and each milking cluster is connected through a corresponding diverting valve to the main milk holding tank. Preferably, each diverting valve is configured for selectively diverting milk from the corresponding milking cluster to the secondary milk holding tank. Advantageously, a diverting valve operating element is provided for each diverting valve for selectively switching the diverting valve from the main milk holding tank to the secondary milk holding tank. Ideally, the diverting valve operating elements are operated under the control of the control means.

In another aspect of the invention, the signal processing means is programmed to carry out the functions of the control means.

In another aspect of the invention, a feeding system is located in each animal accommodating location. In a further aspect of the invention, the monitoring means is configured to detect a human producible signal indicative of the size of a ration of feed to be dispensed by the feeding system in an identified one of the animal accommodating locations.

Additionally, the invention provides a method for operating a milking system comprising a plurality of animal accommodating locations for accommodating respective animals during milking thereof, the method comprising identifying the animals and cross-referencing the identity of the animals with the identities of the respective animal accommodating locations in which the animals are accommodated and monitoring for a detectable human producible signal indicative of an action to be taken in the milking system in connection with an animal identified by one of the identity of the animal and the identity of the animal accommodating location in which the animal is located.

In one aspect of the invention, the human producible signal is indicative of the identity of the animal in connection with which the action is to be taken in the milking system.

In another aspect of the invention, the human producible signal is indicative of the identity of the animal accommodating location in which the animal, in connection with which the action is to be taken in the milking system, is located.

In a further aspect of the invention, the detectable human producible signal for which monitoring is carried out is an orally produced signal.

Preferably, monitoring for the orally produced signal is carried out by a voice recognition means. Advantageously, monitoring for the orally produced signal is carried out by a speech recognition means. Ideally, monitoring for the orally produced signal is carried out by a voice recognition module. In another aspect of the invention, the human producible signal for which monitoring is carried out is a visual signal.

In one aspect of the invention, the human producible signal for which monitoring is carried out is a signal created by one of movement of a part of a human body, a configuration of a part of a human body, and a gesture of a part of a human body.

In another aspect of the invention, the human producible signal for which monitoring is carried out is a signal created by one of movement of a limb of a human body, a configuration of a limb of a human body, and a gesture of a limb of a human body.

In a further aspect of the invention, the human producible signal for which monitoring is carried out is a signal created by one of a movement of a hand of a human body, and a configuration of a hand of a human body, and a gesture of a hand of a human body. In another aspect of the invention, the human producible signal for which monitoring is carried out is a signal created by one of a movement of an arm of a human body, a configuration of an arm of a human body, and a gesture of an arm of a human body. In one aspect of the invention, monitoring for the detectable human producible signal is carried out by a camera.

In another aspect of the invention, monitoring for the detectable human producible signal is carried out by a video camera. Preferably, monitoring for the human producible signal is carried out by one of a digital camera and a digital video camera. Advantageously, monitoring for the human producible signal is carried out by one of a two dimensional video camera and a three dimensional video camera.

In another aspect of the invention, the method includes monitoring for a detectable human producible signal indicative of the identity of the animal. In another aspect of the invention, the identity of the animal is detected by reading an identity code from an identity code carrier located on or in the animal.

Preferably, the identity of the animal is read by a radio frequency identity code reader. Advantageously, the identity codes of the animals are read adjacent an entrance to the milking system. Ideally, the identity codes of the animals are read sequentially from the animals.

In one aspect of the invention, signals read by the monitoring means and the identity code reader means are processed by a signal processing means.

In another aspect of the invention, the signal processing means comprises a programmable signal processor. Preferably, the signal processing means comprises a programmable microprocessor.

In another aspect of the invention, the identity of the animal in connection with which the action is to be taken is inputted to the signal processing means through an interface means. Preferably, the interface means comprises one of a manual interface and an electrical interface. Advantageously, the interface means comprises a button operated switch. Ideally, a plurality of interface means are provided, one interface means being located adjacent each animal accommodating location.

In one aspect of the invention, the cross-referencing of the identities of the animals with the identities of the respective animal accommodating locations is carried out by the signal processing means.

Preferably, the identities of the animals cross-referenced with the identities of the respective animal accommodating locations are cross-referenced in a look-up table. Advantageously, the look-up table is stored in an electronic memory. In another aspect of the invention, the signal processing means is configured to control the milking system to take the action of which a detected human producible signal is indicative in connection with an identified one of the animals or an identified one of the animal accommodating locations.

In another aspect of the invention, the action taken by the signal processing means comprises one of diverting milk from an identified one of the animals or an animal in an identified one of the animal accommodating locations to a predefined milk holding location, and diverting an identified one of the animals or an animal in an identified one of the animal accommodating locations to a predefined animal holding location. In one aspect of the invention, the signal processing means is configured to store a look-up table with the identities of animals to be milked cross-referenced with corresponding sizes of animal feed rations to be fed to the animals. In another aspect of the invention, the human producible signal is indicative of the size of a ration of animal feed to be fed to an identified animal.

The advantages of the invention are many. A particularly important advantage of the invention is that by virtue of the fact that the identity of the animal, in connection with which the action in the milking system is to be taken, is inputted by a human producible signal indicative of either the identity of the animal or the identity of the animal accommodating location in which the animal is located, and the action which is to be taken in the milking system is also inputted by way of a human producible signal, and the human producible signal may be produced by way of an orally produced signal or a visual signal produced, for example, by a movement, configuration or a gesture of a part of a human body, by appropriately locating appropriate monitoring means in the milking parlour, an operative can by merely speaking or moving a part of his or her body input the identity of the animal and/or the identity of the animal accommodating location, and the action to be taken in the milking system in connection with the animal, without the need to manually enter this data through, for example, a keyboard of a computer which controls the milking system which may be located a distance away from the animal accommodating locations. This, in turn, significantly improves the efficiency of the operation of the milking system, and in particular, minimises and in general, avoids the inputting of an incorrect identity of an animal accommodating location, or an incorrect action to be taken. By providing one or more monitoring means appropriately located in the milking parlour, an operative can readily, by merely standing beside the animal accommodating location, speak both the identity of the animal accommodating location and the action to be taken, which is immediately detected by the monitoring means, and appropriate action is taken. This significantly increases the efficiency of operation of the milking system, and furthermore, avoids manual entry of data through a keyboard which may be located a distance away from the animal accommodating locations. Additionally, as well as minimising the risk of errors which would result from an animal being incorrectly identified, or an animal accommodating location being incorrectly identified, or an action to be taken in the milking system in connection with an animal being incorrectly entered, the milking system according to the invention also minimises and in general, avoids the risk of an action which should be taken not being taken.

A further advantage of the invention is that by virtue of the fact that the identity of the animal, and/or the identity of the animal accommodating location in which the animal to be identified is located, and the action to be taken in the milking system in connection with the relevant animal may be inputted to the signal processor orally by way of an orally producible signal, or visually by way of a visually producible signal, the need to provide a plurality of keyboards adjacent the respective animal accommodating locations connected to a computer controlling the milking system in order to allow an operative to input the identity of an animal or the relevant animal accommodating location and the action to be taken in the milking system in connection with the identified animal, the costs of such milking systems and the complexity of the milking systems can be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, by virtue of the fact that the monitoring system is configured to receive human producible signals, such as for example, oral or visual signals, corrections to inputted data to the signal processor controlling the milking system can be inputted by way of such a human producible signal, for example, the identity of an animal or animals in a specific animal accommodating location or specific animal accommodating locations, as the case may be, may be readily corrected by inputting the correct identity of the animal through the monitoring system by a human orally producible signal when the monitoring means comprises a voice recognition means. The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is block representation of a milking system according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a bailing system of the milking system of Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a milking system according to another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a bailing system of the milking system of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a milking system according to another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a bailing system of the milking system of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a milking system according to a further embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a bailing system of the milking system of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Fig. 1 and 2 thereof, there is illustrated a milking system according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, which comprises a half a herringbone bailing system 2 within which animals, for example, cows are milked. Such bailing systems will be well known to those skilled in the art. Typical bailing systems are disclosed in British Patent Specification No. 2,386,815 and PCT Specification No. WO 2008/111036. Briefly, the bailing system 2 defines a plurality of animal accommodating locations 5, which are sequentially entered by the animals through an animal accommodating entrance passageway 6 in the direction of the arrow A, in the order in which the animal pass through the entrance passageway 6, from the animal accommodating location 5a to the animal accommodating location 5d. The width of the entrance passageway 6 is such that the animals can only pass through the entrance passageway 6 in single file. Although only four animal accommodating locations 5 are illustrated in the bailing system 2 of Fig. 2, the bailing system 2 typically will comprise many more animal accommodating locations than four, and this will be well understood by those skilled in art.

Each of the animal accommodating locations 5b to 5d is closed by a gate 7, which is spring urged into a closed state closing the animal accommodating location 5. An end gate 8 of the animal accommodating location 5a is operable by an operating element, namely, a servomotor 9 between a closed state illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 2 and an open state illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2. In the open state of the end gate 8 the first of the animals approaching the animal accommodating locations 5 through the entrance passageway 6 is directed into the animal accommodating location 5a. In the closed state of the end gate 8, the animals can exit the bailing system 2 through an animal accommodating exit passageway 10. The exit passageway 10 is of width such that the animals must exit the milking system 1 in single file.

Each of the gates 7 of the animal accommodating locations 5b to 5d comprise a tail portion 11 which is engageable by an animal entering the preceding animal accommodating location 5 for urging the gate 7 of the succeeding animal accommodating location 5 into the open state for directing the next following animal into that succeeding animal accommodating location 5. Initially, the end gate 8 of the animal accommodating location 5a is operated into the open state by the servomotor 9, and as the animals pass through the entrance passageway 6 in single file, the first of the animals enters the animal

accommodating location 5a, and in so doing operates the gate 7 of the animal accommodating location 5b into the open state so that the next following animal enters the animal accommodating location 5b, and so on.

On completion of milking of the animals, the animals reverse out of the animal accommodating locations 5. On the animal in the animal accommodating location 5a reversing out of the animal accommodating location 5a, the end gate 8 of the animal accommodating location 5a is operated into the closed state by the servomotor 9, thereby closing the animal accommodating location 5a and communicating the exit passageway 10 with the animal accommodating locations 5. As the animals reverse out of the animal accommodating locations 5b to 5d, the respective gates 7 of the animal accommodating locations 5b to 5d are spring urged into the closed state. The animals then sequentially exit the bailing system 2 through the exit passageway 10 in single file.

A diverting element comprising a diverting gate 12 in the exit passageway 10 is operable by a diverting element operating element, namely, a servomotor 13 between a closed state illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2, and an open state illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 2. The diverting gate 12 in the closed state, allows animals to exit the bailing system 2 directly through the exit passageway 10. The diverting gate 12 in the open state, opens a diverting opening 14 from the exit passageway 10 to an animal holding location, namely, a holding pen 15 for accommodating one or more of the animals therein. The diverting gate 12 when in the open state diverts one or more animals into the holding pen 15, depending on the length of time the diverting gate 12 is held open by the servomotor 13.

Such bailing systems as the bailing system 2 and their use will be well known to and understood by those skilled in the art.

An animal identifying means, which in this embodiment of the invention comprises a radio frequency identity code reader 17 is located at an entrance 18 to the entrance passageway 6 for reading identity codes of the respective animals from radio frequency identity tags which are attached to the respective animals as they pass through the entrance 18. Such radio frequency identity tags will be well known to those skilled in the art, and in general, are secured to an ear of the animal.

Referring now to Fig. 1 in which the milking system 1 is illustrated in block representation, milking clusters, which are illustrated in block representation by blocks 20, each comprise four teat cups, and are provided in the respective animal accommodating locations 5 for coupling to the teats of the animals. The milking clusters 20 are connected into a main pipeline 21 through respective diverting values 22. The main pipeline 21 accommodates milk from the milking clusters 20 to a main milk holding tank 23, where milk is held at a chilled temperature for subsequent transfer to a creamery. The connection of milking clusters to such a milk holding tank as the main milk holding tank 23, and the vacuum systems required for operating the milking system 1 will be well known to those skilled in the art, and only those parts of the milking system which are relevant to the present invention are illustrated in Fig. 1. Each diverting valve 22 also selectively connects the corresponding milking cluster 20 through a secondary pipeline 24 to a secondary milk holding tank 25 where milk not destined for a creamery is held. The secondary milk holding tank 25 is separate from and independent of the main milk holding tank 23. Diverting value operating elements, in this case servomotors 26 coupled to the diverting valves 22 operate the diverting valves 22 for selectively communicating the corresponding milking clusters 20 with the secondary pipeline 24 when milk from an animal in a corresponding one of the animal accommodating location 5 is to be diverted to the secondary milk holding tank 25.

A control means, namely, a control system 30 controls the operation of the bailing system 2 and the milking system 1 , and comprises a signal processing means, which in this embodiment of the invention comprises a programmable signal processor, namely, a programmable microprocessor 32. The microprocessor 32 is programmed to read signals from the radio frequency identity code reader 17, which are indicative of the identity codes of the animals which are read by the radio frequency identity code reader 17 as the animals pass through the entrance 18 to the entrance passageway 6. The microprocessor 32 cross-references the identity codes of the animals with identities of the respective animal accommodating locations 5 of the bailing system 2 into which the animals enter and in which the animals are accommodated. The cross-referenced identity codes of the animals and the corresponding identity codes of the animal accommodating locations 5 are stored in a first electronic memory 33 in the form of a look-up table. The microprocessor 32 is configured to control the operation. of the servomotor 9 of the end gate 8, the servomotor 13 of the diverting gate 12 and the servomotors 26 of the diverting valves 22, and produces appropriate output signals for operating the respective servomotors 9 and 13, in a manner that will be described below.

A monitoring means, in this embodiment of the invention one or more voice recognition means, namely, one or more voice recognition modules 36 are appropriately located for detecting human producible signals, in this case orally produced voice signals, namely, voice commands in the form of voice messages, which are indicative of actions to be taken in the milking system 1 in connection with one or more animals in respective identified ones of the animal accommodating locations 5. A microphone 37 connected to each voice recognition module 36 picks up the voice messages, which are relayed to the corresponding voice recognition module 36. The microprocessor 32 is programmed to read signals from the voice recognition modules 36. A second electronic memory 38 stores a plurality of electrical signals in digital form indicative of valid voice messages cross-referenced with signals indicative of actions to be taken in response to receiving such valid voice messages.

In this embodiment of the invention three voice recognition modules 36 are provided. However, the number of voice recognition modules will depend on the size of the milking system, and the layout of the bailing system, in order to ensure that all the areas from which an operative may speak a voice message will be covered by the voice recognition modules and the corresponding microphones.

Typically, each valid voice message identifies the animal accommodating location 5 by a number, for example, "location no. 1", "location no. 2", etc., and the action to be taken in the milking system 1 in connection with the animal in the corresponding identified animal accommodating location 5. In this embodiment of the invention the microprocessor 32 is programmed to take one of two actions or no action, if no action is required.

One of the actions in the milking system 1 which the microprocessor 32 is programmed to take is to activate the servomotor 26 of the corresponding one of the diverting valves 22 to operate the diverting valve 22 to divert milk from the animal in the corresponding identified animal accommodating location 5 to the secondary holding tank 25, for example, because of a condition of the animal, such as mastitis or the like, a newly calved cow, or if milk from the cow is of a higher quality than milk from most of the other cows, and is to be stored separately from the milk of the other cows. The other one of the actions which the microprocessor 32 is programmed to take is to operate the servomotor 13 of the diverting gate 12 for operating the diverting gate 12 from the closed state to the open state for diverting the animal from the identified animal accommodating location 5 into the holding pen 15 as the animal passes through the exit passageway 10, in the event that the animal in the identified animal accommodating location 5 suffers from an illness or an injury which requires inspection or treatment.

Accordingly, a typical voice message which would be spoken by a human operative operating the milking system 1 if milk from an animal in one of the animal accommodating locations 5 is to be diverted to the secondary milk holding tank 25 would be "location no. X, operate diverting valve", where "X" would be the number of the animal accommodating location 5 being identified. A typical message which would be spoken by a human operative operating the milking system 1 if an animal in one of the animal accommodating locations 5 were detected as having an illness or an injury would be "location no. X, operate diverting gate", where "X" would be the number of the animal accommodating location 5 being identified.

In use, the animals enter the entrance passageway 6 in single file through the entrance 18, and remain in single file as they pass through the entrance passageway 6 to sequentially enter the animal accommodating locations from the animal accommodating location 5a to the animal accommodating location 5d. The identity codes of the animals are sequentially read by the radio frequency identity code reader 17 as the animals pass through the entrance 18. The microprocessor 32 reads the identity codes of the animals from the radio frequency identity code reader 1 . The microprocessor 32 then prepares a look-up table in which the identity codes of the animals are cross-referenced with the identities of the animal accommodating locations 5 in which the respective animals are accommodated. The look-up table is stored in the first electronic memory 33. The animals are inspected by the operative who in turn attaches the milking clusters 20 to the teats of the animals sequentially. Prior to attaching the milking clusters 20 to each of the animals, if the milk from any of the animals is to be diverted to the secondary milk holding tank 25, the operative speaks the appropriate message, namely, "location no. X, operate diverting valve". If the milk from the animal in each animal accommodating location 5 is to be collected in the main milk holding tank 23, the operative merely attaches the milking clusters 20 to the animal without uttering any spoken message, and milking proceeds with the milk being delivered through the diverting valve 22 to the main holding tank 23. If during inspection of the animal the operative determines that an animal is suffering from an illness or an injury, which should be inspected or treated, and thus the animal should be diverted to the holding pen 15 after milking, the operative speaks the appropriate message, namely, "location no. X, operate diverting gate".

The spoken voice messages, which are picked up by the microphones 37 and which are relayed to the voice recognition module or modules 36, are converted to digital signals by the voice recognition module or modules 36. The microprocessor 32 reads the digital signals from the voice recognition modules 36. On a signal indicative of a voice message "location no. X, operate diverting valve" being read by the microprocessor 32 from one or more of the voice recognition modules 36, the servomotor 26 of the diverting valve 22 corresponding to the identified animal accommodation location 5 is activated by the microprocessor 32 for diverting the milk from the animal in the identified animal accommodating location 5 to the secondary milk holding tank 25. Similarly, on a signal read from one or more of the voice recognition modules 36 being indicative of a voice message "location no. X, operate diverting gate", the microprocessor 32 operates the servomotor 13 of the diverting gate 12 for operating the diverting gate 12 from the closed state to the open state just as the animal which is to be diverted into the holding pen 15 is arriving at the diverting gate 12, for in turn diverting the animal through the opening 14 into the holding pen 15. The diverting gate 12 is immediately operated by the servomotor 13 under the control of the microprocessor 32 into the closed state, to close behind the animal entering the holding pen 15, in order to prevent the next following animal following the preceding animal into the holding pen 15, unless both animals are to be diverted into the holding pen 15.

The advantages of the invention are many. A particularly important advantage of the invention is that by providing the voice recognition module 36 and programming the microprocessor 32 to read and interpret voice messages from an operative, actions can be taken within the milking system 1 and the bailing system 2 in response to various conditions of the animals in the respective animal accommodating locations 5 without the need for an operative to enter instructions to the microprocessor 32 through a keyboard or through other manual operable interface means. This significantly increases the efficiency of milking of the animals, and furthermore, avoids unnecessary walking of an operative between an animal accommodating location and a central manually operable interface means, for example, a keyboard in a milking parlour or an office off a milking parlour. This thereby significantly speeds up the milking process and provides an efficient milking process, and also avoids any danger of omitting to make an entry into the microprocessor 32 regarding an action to be taken in the milking system in connection with an animal in one of the animal accommodating locations 5, and also avoids an incorrect entry being entered through a keyboard to the microprocessor 32 regarding an action to be taken in connection with an animal in one of the animal accommodating locations 5.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 there is illustrated a milking system according to another embodiment of the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 40, which also comprises a half herringbone bailing system 41. The milking system 40 and the bailing system 41 are substantially similar to the milking system 1 and the bailing system 2 described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, and similar components are identified by the same reference numerals.

The main difference between the milking system 40 of Figs. 3 and 4 and the milking system 1 of Figs. 1 and 2 is in the monitoring means for monitoring the human producible signal indicative of an action to be taken by the milking system 40 in connection with an animal in an identified one of the animal accommodating locations. In this embodiment of the invention the monitoring means comprises one or more digital video cameras 42 for monitoring a visual signal produced by a human operative. In this case the visual signal may be one of a movement, configuration and a gesture of a human body or a part thereof, and in this particular embodiment of the invention the human producible signal is a hand signal based on the configuration of a hand of the operative as will be described below.

In this embodiment of the invention four digital video cameras 42 are provided in order to cover the entire area of a milking parlour and the bailing system 41. Needless to say, the number of digital video cameras 42 will vary, depending on the size of the milking system 40 and the bailing system 41. The microprocessor 32 is programmed to analyse images captured by the video cameras 42 and compare the captured images with reference images digitally stored in the second electronic memory 38, in order to ascertain if the images captured by any of the video cameras 42 include a valid signal.

In this embodiment of the invention the microprocessor 32 is programmed to identify a signal made by a hand of an operative. Two reference hand signals are stored in the second memory 38, one which indicates if a diverting valve 22 is to be operated to divert milk from a milking cluster 20 of an animal accommodating location 5 to the secondary milk holding tank 25, and the other which indicates that the diverting gate 12 is to be operated to divert an animal from one of the animal accommodating locations 5 into the holding pen 15. In this embodiment of the invention the identity of the animal in connection with which an action is to be taken is indicated by the position of the operative in the bailing system 41. In order to identify the animal in connection with which the action is to be taken, the operative stand adjacent the animal accommodating location 5 in which the animal in connection with which the action is to be taken, is located.

One of the hand signals is presented by the operative with the thumb of the hand pointing upwardly, which indicates that the action to be taken in connection with the animal in the animal accommodating location 5 adjacent which the operative is standing requires the diverting valve 22 corresponding to the milking cluster 20 of that animal accommodating location 5 to be operated to divert the milk from the animal in that animal accommodating location 5 to the secondary milk holding tank 25. The other one of the hand signals is presented by the operative with the thumb of the hand pointing downwardly, which indicates that the diverting gate 12 is to be operated as the animal in the animal accommodating location 5, adjacent which the operative is standing, is to be diverted into the animal holding pen 15 as the animal is exiting through the exit passageway 10.

Otherwise the operation of the milking system 40 and the bailing system 41 is similar to the milking system 1 and the bailing system 2 already described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be appreciated that in the embodiment of the milking system 40 and the bailing system 41 , the monitoring means instead of being provided by digital video cameras may be provided by non-video cameras. However, by providing the monitoring means in the form of video cameras, continuous monitoring of the bailing system 41 is carried out, thereby minimising the actions which are required of the operative. Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, there is illustrated a milking system according to another embodiment of the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 50, which comprises a half herringbone bailing system 51. The milking system 50 and the bailing system 51 are substantially similar to the milking system 1 and the bailing system 2, and similar components are identified by the same reference numerals. The main difference between the milking and bailing systems 50 and 51 and the milking and bailing systems 1 and 2 lies in the bailing system 51. In this embodiment of the invention an interface means comprising a normally open push-button operated switch 52 is located adjacent each animal accommodating location 5 on a suitable part of the bailing system 51. Each push-button operated switch 52 is read by the microprocessor 32, so that an operative by pressing the push-button of the switch 52 and in turn operating the push-button operated switch 52 into the closed circuit state sends a signal to the microprocessor 32 in order to identify the animal accommodating location in which the animal is located, in connection with which an action is to be carried out in the milking system 50.

The operation of the milking system 50 and the bailing system 51 is similar to the operation of the milking system 1 and the bailing system 2 of Figs. 1 and 2, with the exception that only the action to be taken by the milking system is spoken in the form of a spoken voice message by the operative as already described with reference to the milking and bailing system of Figs. 1 and 2, and the identity of the animal, in connection with which the action is to be taken, is inputted to the microprocessor 32 by the operative operating the push-button operated switch 52, adjacent the corresponding animal accommodating location 5, in which the animal is located, into the closed circuit state.

It will be appreciated that the milking system 50 may be replaced by the milking system 40 of Figs. 3 and 4, and in which case the action to be taken in the milking system would be indicated by the operative making a visual signal, namely, by the operator configuring his or her hand with the thumb pointing upwardly or pointing downwardly, depending on the action to be taken, and the identity of the animal in connection with which the action is to be taken would be entered into the microprocessor 32 by operating the push-button operated switch 52 into the closed circuit state adjacent the animal accommodating location in which the animal, in connection with which the action is to be taken is located.

Otherwise, use and operation of the milking system 50 and the bailing system 51 according to this embodiment of the invention is similar to that described with reference to the milking system 1 and the bailing system 2 of Figs. 1 and 2. Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8 there is illustrated a milking system according to another embodiment of the invention indicated herein by the reference numeral 60 which comprises a half herringbone bailing system 61. The milking and bailing systems 60 and 61 are substantially similar to the milking and bailing systems 1 and 2 described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, and similar components are identified by the same reference numerals. In the bailing system 61 each animal accommodating location 5 is provided with an animal feeding system 62 for dispensing animal feed to the animal located in the corresponding animal accommodating location 5. In this embodiment of the invention the microprocessor 32 stores a look-up table which includes the identities of all the animals to be milked in the milking system 60 cross- referenced with the sizes of the feed rations to be dispensed to the respective animals. Since as the animals are entering the bailing system 61 , the identities of the animals are detected by the radio frequency identity code reader 17, and the microprocessor 32 stores the identities of the animals cross- referenced with the respective animal accommodating locations 5 in the look-up table in the first electronic memory 33, the identity of each animal in each animal accommodating location 5 can be readily identified by the microprocessor 32. The microprocessor 32 is programmed to operate the animal feeding systems 62 in the respective animal accommodating locations 5 when the animals are located in the animal accommodating locations 5 in order to dispense the appropriate ration sizes of the animal feed to the respective animals in the animal accommodating locations 5.

Additionally, the microprocessor 32 is programmed to receive an additional message which may be spoken by an operative and picked up by the voice recognition module 36 which would indicate that the ration of feed to an animal at an identified animal accommodating location 5 is to be altered. Typically, the message which would be spoken by the operative would be "location X increase feed ration by Y per cent" or "location X decrease feed ration by Y per cent", where "X" is the identity of the animal accommodating location 5 in which the animal is located, and "Y" is the percentage value by which the size of the feed ration to be dispensed to that animal is to be altered. The microprocessor 32 on reading data from one or more of the voice recognition modules 36 indicative of such a message operates the animal feeding system 62 in the identified animal accommodating location 5 to increase or decrease as the case may be, the size of the ration of animal feed dispensed to the animal in that identified animal accommodating location 5.

Otherwise the operation of the milking and bailing systems 60 and 61 is similar to the milking and bailing systems 1 and 2 already described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

Of course it will be appreciated that the milking system 60 associated with the bailing system 61 may be any of the milking systems described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, 3 and 4 and 5 or 6.

While in the embodiments of the invention described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8, the actions to be taken in connection with an animal in an identified animal accommodating location are indicated by the spoken word or by the configuration of a hand of an operative, it is envisaged in some embodiments of the invention as, for example, the embodiment of the invention of Figs. 5 and 6, that only the action to be taken in connection with an identified animal would be given by way of spoken words or the configuration of a hand or other visual signal. It is envisaged in such cases any suitable interface means, instead of a push-button operated switch as in the case of the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6, may be located adjacent each animal accommodating location, and the identity of the animal with respect to the animal accommodating location in which the animal is located would be entered through such interface means associated with the animal accommodating location of the animal with which the action contained in a spoken message or the hand or other visual signal is to be taken. Such interface means may for example, comprise a sensor adjacent each animal accommodating location for detecting the presence of an operative adjacent a specific one of the animal accommodating locations, and the signal processor would be programmed to associate the read human producible signal with the animal located in the animal accommodating location, adjacent which the operative who is producing the human producible signal is detected. It is also envisaged that a monitoring means may be located adjacent each animal accommodating location for detecting a human producible signal produced by an operative adjacent a specific one of the animal accommodating locations, this would be particularly so in cases where the monitoring means comprises a camera or a video camera.

It will also be appreciated that where the identity of the animal is manually inputted by a push-button switch or other suitable interface means located adjacent each animal accommodating location, or where the animal is identified by other suitable means, the action to be taken in connection with the identified animal may be indicated by any human producible signal which would be indicative of the action to be taken.

While the monitoring means of the embodiment of the invention described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4, has been described as comprising video cameras for monitoring a hand signal, it is envisaged that the milking system could be configured for monitoring any other human producible signal, for example, a signal produced by waving of a hand or an arm of an operative, or the direction in which an arm or a hand of an operative is pointing. It is also envisaged that the monitoring means may comprise a combination of both a voice recognition module and a digital video camera or a digital camera.

It is also envisaged that gestures, for example, gestures produced by the configuration of a finger, or a thumb, or a finger and thumb, or a combination of fingers and thumbs may be used to indicate either or both the identity of the animal and the action to be taken. Needless to say the microprocessor may be programmed to accept any desired hand gesture, movement of a limb or the like to identify a command as a visual signal.

It is also envisaged that each of the milking systems according to the invention which have been described may comprise an automatic feeding system of the type described with reference to Figs 7 and 8, which on an animal entering an animal accommodating location would dispense animal feed, a concentrate or any other suitable feed or liquid for consumption by the animal. It is envisaged that in some embodiments of the invention the automatic feeding system may be controlled by the

microprocessor in response to a human producible signal indicative of the identity of an animal accommodating location or the identity of an animal, which would be spoken by an operative to be picked up by one of the voice recognition modules or could be provided by a visual signal, such as a hand signal or the like. It is also envisaged that a request for an additional ration of the feed, concentrate or liquid could be delivered to an identified animal accommodating location through the automatic feeding system on request produced by a suitable human producible signal, as for example, is described in the milking system of Figs. 7 and 8. Needless to say, the additional ration may be a proportion of the normal ration, and the human producible signal would be indicative of the proportion of the normal ration which is to be delivered to the identified animal accommodating location.

Further, it is envisaged that the microprocessor may be configured to receive human producible signals which would be indicative of actions to be taken when an identified animal which would be identified by the animal accommodating location in which the animal is located is next brought in for milking, and such reminders may, for example, be such as to remind an operative to check the animal for, for example, mastitis, for heat or any other condition, and when that identified animal is next presented for milking, a reminder would be provided to the operative, by, for example, flashing a light adjacent the animal accommodating location in which the animal is located, or by, for example, a voice synthesiser which would identify the animal accommodating location in which the animal is located by the spoken word, and would also speak the nature of the action to be taken, for example, to check the animal for mastitis or for heat, or other condition.

While the milking systems have been described as comprising a bailing system, the milking systems may comprise any type of milking system, for example, a rotary milking system or any other such milking system. Additionally, while the milking system has been described whereby the actions to be taken in the milking system in connection with the animals in the animal accommodating locations have been described as diverting the milk from the animal to a secondary milk holding tank or diverting the animal into a holding pen on completion of milking, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the actions to be taken by the milking system in connection to an animal in an animal accommodating location may be any other desired action. While the milking systems according to the invention have been described as comprising a bailing system with only four animal accommodating locations, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that where the milking system comprises a bailing system, the number of animal accommodating locations in the bailing system may be any desired number animal accommodating locations from one upwards, and typically will comprise many more animal accommodating locations than four.

Additionally, while the bailing systems have been described as being provided as a half herringbone unit, the bailing system may be provided in the form of a full herringbone system. It will also be appreciated that the bailing system may be of the type that on completion of milking, the bailing system may be raised in order to allow the animals exit the bailing system. In such cases, an additional radio frequency identity reader would be provided in the exit passageway for reading the identity codes from the identity tags of the animals as the animals pass in single file through the exit passageway. The microprocessor 32 would read signals from that radio frequency identity code reader, and on the animal, the identity of which corresponds with the identity of the animal accommodating location for which a voice message "location X, operate diverting gate" had been received, the microprocessor would operate the servomotor of the diverting gate for diverting that animal into the holding pen.

It is also envisaged that instead of providing the animal identifying means, such as a radio frequency identity code reader, adjacent the entrance to the animal accommodating passageway, a suitable animal identifying means, which may also be a radio frequency identity code reader, may be located adjacent each animal accommodating location for identifying the animal as the animal enters the corresponding animal accommodating location, or when the animal is located in the animal accommodating location. While in the embodiments of the invention described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 5 to 8 a plurality of voice recognition modules have been described in each milking system, in certain cases, it is envisaged that a single voice recognition module may be provided, and a plurality of microphones would be provided appropriately located around the milking parlour in order to pick up messages spoken by the operative.

It will also be appreciated that while the embodiments of the invention which have been described with reference to Figs. 1 , 2 and 5 to 8 have been described as being configured to receive a human producible signal in the form of a spoken message, any of the milking systems according to the invention may be provided with any suitable monitoring means for monitoring a human producible message, for example, the milking systems of the embodiments of the invention described with reference to Figs. 1 , 2 and 5 to 8 may be provided with monitoring means for receiving a visual signal. Similarly, it is envisaged that the milking system described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 may be provided with a monitoring means suitable for receiving a spoken message. Indeed, in certain cases, it is envisaged that any of the milking systems described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8 may be provided with both a monitoring means suitable for receiving a spoken message, and a monitoring means suitable for receiving a visual signal.

It will also be appreciated that while the video camera has been described as a digital video camera, the monitoring means when provided for detecting a human visually producible signal may be either a two dimension camera or a three dimension camera, or a digital two dimension camera or a digital three dimension video camera.

Additionally, while the monitoring system has been described as comprising a voice recognition module or modules, it will also be appreciated that the monitoring means may be provided in the form of a speech recognition means, for example, a speech recognition module or modules, as the case may be. It will also be appreciated that the monitoring means may be configured to allow corrections to data already stored, received or entered into the signal processor controlling the milking systems according to the invention. For example, in cases where the identity of an animal is cross-referenced with an incorrect identity of an animal accommodating location, the correct identity of the animal accommodating location corresponding to the identified animal may be entered through the monitoring means by a voice message, which would give the correct identity of the animal accommodating location corresponding to the identified animal. The correction of the cross-referencing of the identities of the animals with the corresponding identities of the animal accommodating locations may be required, for example, in the case where the identity of one of the animals sequentially entering the bailing system could not be obtained due, for example, to the identity code carrier having fallen from or been removed from one of the animals, and in such a case, the sequence of the cross-referencing of the animals subsequently entering the milking system with the animal accommodating locations would be out of synchronisation by one animal. The correction to the cross-referencing data could then be made by an orally produced voice message indicating the correct animal accommodating location for the first of the animals in which the cross- referencing with the identities of the animal accommodating locations is incorrect, and the signal processor would be programmed to correct the cross-referencing of the identities of the animals with the identities of the corresponding animal accommodating locations for the rest of the animals. The identity of the animal for which the identity could not be obtained could also be entered through the monitoring means by a voice message indicative of the identity of the animal, and the identity of the animal accommodating location in which that animal is located.

Claims

1. A milking system comprising a plurality of animal accommodating locations for accommodating respective animals during milking thereof, an animal identifying means for identifying the animals, a means for cross-referencing the identity of the animals with the identity of the respective animal accommodating locations in which the animals are accommodated, and a monitoring means configured to detect a human producible signal indicative of an action to be taken in the milking system in connection with an animal identified by one of the identity of the animal and the identity of the animal accommodating location in which the animal is located.

2. A milking system as claimed in Claim 1 in which the monitoring means is configured to detect a human producible signal indicative of the identity of the animal with which the action is to be taken in the milking system.

3. A milking system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the monitoring means is configured to detect a human producible signal indicative of the identity of the animal accommodating location in which the animal, in connection with which the action is to be taken in the milking system, is located.

4. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means is configured to detect the human producible signal in the form of an orally produced signal.

5. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means is configured to detect the human producible signal in the form of speech.

6. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means is configured to detect the human producible signal in the form of a voice command.

7. A milking system as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 6 in which the monitoring means comprises a voice recognition means.

8. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means comprises a speech recognition means.

9. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means comprises a voice recognition module.

10. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means comprises a microphone for detecting an orally produced signal.

11. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means is configured to detect the human producible signal in the form of a visual signal.

12. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means is configured to detect the human producible signal in the form of one of movement of a part of a human body, a configuration of a part of a human body, and a gesture of a part of a human body.

13. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means is configured to detect one of movement of a limb of a human body, and the configuration of a limb of a human body.

14. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means is configured to detect one of a movement of a hand of a human body, a configuration of a hand of a human body, and a gesture of a hand of a human body.

15. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means is configured to detect one or both of movement and the configuration of a hand of a human body.

16. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means is configured to detect one of movement and the configuration of an arm of a human body.

17. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means comprises a camera.

18. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means comprises a video camera.

19. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means comprises one of a digital camera and a digital video camera.

20. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means is configured to detect a human producible signal indicative of one or both of the identity of an animal and the identity of the animal accommodating location in which the identified animal is located.

21. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the animal identifying means comprises a reading means for reading an identity code carried on a code carrier located on or in an animal.

22. A milking system as claimed in Claim 21 in which the animal identifying means comprises a radio frequency identity code reader.

23. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the animal identifying means is located at an entrance to the milking system.

24. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the milking system is configured to direct animals sequentially into the animal accommodating locations.

25. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the monitoring means is configured to form the animal identifying means and is configured to detect the identity of respective ones of a plurality of animals from a plurality of detected human producible signals.

26. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the milking system comprises a signal processing means.

27. A milking system as claimed in Claim 26 in which the signal processing means is configured to read signals from the monitoring means.

28. A milking system as claimed in Claim 26 or 27 in which the signal processing means is responsive to signals read from the monitoring means to produce an output signal indicative of the action to be taken by the milking system in response to a human producible signal detected by the monitoring means.

29. A milking system as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 28 in which the signal processing means comprises the means for cross-referencing the identity of the animals with the identity of the respective animal accommodating locations.

30. A milking system as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 29 in which the signal processing means is programmed to cross-reference the identity of the animals with the respective animal accommodating locations in a look-up table.

31. A milking system as claimed in Claim 30 in which the look-up table is stored in an electronic memory.

32. A milking system as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 31 in which the signal processing means comprises a programmable signal processor.

33. A milking system as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 32 in which the signal processing means comprises a programmable microprocessor.

34. A milking system as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 33 in which an interface means is provided, the interface means being configured for inputting a signal indicative of the identity of an animal in connection with which an action is to be taken in the milking system to the signal processing means.

35. A milking system as claimed in Claim 34 in which the interface means is configured to identify the animal by the animal accommodating location in which the animal is located.

36. A milking system as claimed in Claim 34 or 35 in which the interface means comprises one of a manual interface and an electrical interface.

37. A milking system as claimed in any of Claims 34 to 36 in which the interface means comprises a button operated switch.

38. A milking system as claimed in any of Claims 34 to 37 in which a plurality of interface means are provided, one interface means being located adjacent each animal accommodating location.

39. A milking system as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 38 in which a control means is provided for controlling the operation of at least some of the milking system, the control means being responsive to the output signal produced by the signal processing means for operating the milking system to take the action in response to the detected human producible signal.

40. A milking system as claimed in Claim 39 in which the control means is operated under the control of the signal processing means.

41. A milking system as claimed in Claim 39 or 40 in which the control means is configured to control one or more diverting valves of the milking system for diverting milk from an identified one of the animals or an animal in an identified one of the animal accommodating locations to a predefined milk holding location.

42. A milking system as claimed in any of Claims 39 to 41 in which the control means is configured for operating a diverting element for diverting an identified one of the animals or an animal in an identified one of the animal accommodating locations to a predefined animal holding location.

43. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which an animal accommodating entrance passageway is provided for guiding the animal sequentially into the animal accommodating locations.

44. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which an animal accommodating exit passageway is provided for sequentially accommodating the animals from the animal accommodating locations.

45. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which a diverting element is provided for diverting a selected one of the animals from the exit passageway into an animal holding location.

46. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which a diverting element operating element is provided for operating the diverting element for diverting an animal from the exit passageway into the animal holding location.

47. A milking system as claimed in Claim 46 in which the diverting element operating element for operating the diverting element is operable under the control of the control means.

48. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the animal identifying means is located adjacent an entrance to the animal accommodating entrance passageway.

49. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the milking system comprises a main milk holding tank, and a secondary milk holding tank, and a plurality of milking clusters located in the respective animal accommodating locations for attaching to the teats of respective animals, and each milking cluster is connected through a corresponding diverting valve to the main milk holding tank.

50. A milking system as claimed in Claim 49 in which each diverting valve is configured for selectively diverting milk from the corresponding milking cluster to the secondary milk holding tank.

51. A milking system as claimed in Claims 49 or 50 in which a diverting valve operating element is provided for each diverting valve for selectively switching the diverting valve from the main milk holding tank to the secondary milk holding tank.

52. A milking system as claimed in Claim 51 in which the diverting valve operating elements are operated under the control of the control means.

53. A milking system as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 52 in which the signal processing means is programmed to carry out the functions of the control means.

54. A milking system as claimed in any preceding claim in which a feeding system is located in each animal accommodating location.

55. A milking system as claimed in Claim 54 in which the monitoring means is configured to detect a human producible signal indicative of the size of a ration of feed to be dispensed by the feeding system in an identified one of the animal accommodating locations.

56. A method for operating a milking system comprising a plurality of animal accommodating locations for accommodating respective animals during milking thereof, the method comprising identifying the animals and cross-referencing the identity of the animals with the identities of the respective animal accommodating locations in which the animals are accommodated and monitoring for a detectable human producible signal indicative of an action to be taken in the milking system in connection with an animal identified by one of the identity of the animal and the identity of the animal accommodating location in which the animal is located.

57. A method as claimed in Claim 56 in which the human producible signal is indicative of the identity of the animal in connection with which the action is to be taken in the milking system.

58. A method as claimed in Claim 56 or 57 in which the human producible signal is indicative of the identity of the animal accommodating location in which the animal, in connection with which the action is to be taken in the milking system, is located.

59. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 58 in which the detectable human producible signal for which monitoring is carried out is an orally produced signal.

60. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 59 in which monitoring for the orally produced signal is carried out by a voice recognition means.

61. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 60 in which monitoring for the orally produced signal is carried out by a speech recognition means.

62. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 61 in which monitoring for the orally produced signal is carried out by a voice recognition module.

63. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 62 in which the human producible signal for which monitoring is carried out is a visual signal.

64. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 63 in which the human producible signal for which monitoring is carried out is a signal created by one of movement of a part of a human body, a configuration of a part of a human body, and a gesture of a part of a human body.

65. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 64 in which the human producible signal for which monitoring is carried out is a signal created by one of movement of a limb of a human body, a configuration of a limb of a human body, and a gesture of a limb of a human body.

66. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 65 in which the human producible signal for which monitoring is carried out is a signal created by one of a movement of a hand of a human body, and a configuration of a hand of a human body, and a gesture of a hand of a human body.

67. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 66 in which the human producible signal for which monitoring is carried out is a signal created by one of a movement of an arm of a human body, a configuration of an arm of a human body, and a gesture of an arm of a human body.

68. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 67 in which monitoring for the detectable human producible signal is carried out by a camera.

69. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 68 in which monitoring for the detectable human producible signal is carried out by a video camera.

70. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 69 in which monitoring for the human producible signal is carried out by one of a digital camera and a digital video camera.

71. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 70 in which the method includes monitoring for a detectable human producible signal indicative of the identity of the animal.

72. A method as claimed in any of Claims 56 to 71 in which the identity of the animal is detected by reading an identity code from an identity code carrier located on or in the animal.

73. A method as claimed in Claim 72 in which the identity of the animal is read by a radio frequency identity code reader.

74. A method as claimed in Claims 72 or 73 in which the identity codes of the animals are read adjacent an entrance to the milking system.

75. A method as claimed in any of Claims 72 to 74 in which the identity codes of the animals are read sequentially from the animals.

76. A method as claimed in any of Claims 72 to 75 in which signals read by the monitoring means and the identity code reader means are processed by a signal processing means.

77. A method as claimed in Claim 76 in which the signal processing means comprises a programmable signal processor.

78. A method as claimed in Claim 76 or 77 in which the signal processing means comprises a programmable microprocessor.

79. A method as claimed in any of Claims 76 to 78 in which the identity of the animal in connection with which the action is to be taken is inputted to the signal processing means through an interface means.

80. A method as claimed in Claim 79 in which the interface means comprises one of a manual interface and an electrical interface.

81. A method as claimed Claim 79 or 80 in which the interface means comprises a button operated switch.

82. A method as claimed in any of Claims 79 to 81 in which a plurality of interface means are provided, one interface means being located adjacent each animal accommodating location.

83. A method as claimed in any of Claims 76 to 82 in which the cross-referencing of the identities of the animals with the identities of the respective animal accommodating locations is carried out by the signal processing means.

84. A method as claimed in any of Claims 76 to 82 in which the identities of the animals cross- referenced with the identities of the respective animal accommodating locations are cross-referenced in a look-up table.

85. A method as claimed in Claim 84 in which the look-up table is stored in an electronic memory.

86. A method as claimed in any of Claims 76 to 85 in which the signal processing means is configured to control the milking system to take the action of which a detected human producible signal is indicative in connection with an identified one of the animals or an identified one of the animal accommodating locations.

87. A method as claimed in any of Claims 76 to 86 in which the action taken by the signal processing means comprises one of diverting milk from an identified one of the animals or an animal in an identified one of the animal accommodating locations to a predefined milk holding location, and diverting an identified one of the animals or an animal in an identified one of the animal accommodating locations to a predefined animal holding location.

88. A method as claimed in any of Claims 76 to 87 in which the signal processing means is configured to store a look-up table with the identities of animals to be milked cross-referenced with corresponding sizes of animal feed rations to be fed to the animals.

89. A method as claimed in any of Claims 76 to 88 in which the human producible signal is indicative of the size of a ration of animal feed to be fed to an identified animal.