NZ547729A

NZ547729A - Method for milking animals

Info

Publication number: NZ547729A
Application number: NZ54772906A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Peter Kaever; Christian Muller
Original assignee: Westfaliasurge Gmbh
Priority date: 2005-06-07
Filing date: 2006-06-07
Publication date: 2007-11-30
Also published as: DE102005026239A1; EP1731027A1; AU2006202426A1

Abstract

A method for milking animals in which more than one animal are simultaneously milked in a milking parlour, comprises a holding time at a milking parlour for a single animal being dependent on the holding time of other animals to be milked simultaneously with said animal that is to be milked. The animals receive a quantity of feed during the milking process, and the quantity of feed given to the individual animal is determined in dependence on the holding times of the animals milked simultaneously in the milking parlour.

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number 547729 54 77 29 *10051183235* PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Our ref: GL226218NZPR NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Method for milking animals We, WestfaliaSurge GmbH a German company of Siemensstrassee 25-27, 59199 Bonen, The Federal Republic of Germany hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. - 7 JUN 2006 RECEIVED -1- followed by Page 1a 100803158_1.DOC:GL:qwgtn -la - Method for Milking Animals The invention under consideration relates to a method for milking animals in which more than one animal are simultaneously milked in a milking parlour, wherein the holding time in the milking parlour for a single animal depends on the holding time of the other animals to be milked simultaneously with said animal, and wherein the animals receive a quantity of feed during the milking process.

In modern milking technology, it is perfectly customary to give the animals to be milked a predetermined quantity of feed in the milking parlour, i.e., during the milking process. This quantity of feed should not exceed the individual animal's maximum daily quantity of feed, and this quantity of feed is furthermore routinely administered and / or made up specifically for the individual animal, because of the need that exists, in any case, in herd management for identification of the respective individual animal. EP-1 246 096 proposes a method for herd management of a dairy herd, in which method the quantity of feed dispensed during a visit of the animal to be milked to the milking parlour is determined while taking into account the maximum daily quantity of feed and said quantity of feed is dispensed to said animal as a sub-quantity of said daily quantity of feed. According to this proposal, the quantity of feed dispensed as a sub-quantity for the animal to be milked is determined on the basis of the holding time of the animal in the milking parlour. The proposal according to EP-1 246 096 intends for the quantity of feed presented to the animal to be milked per milking process to be restricted to the quantity of feed actually to be ingested by the animal, and consequently, this sub-quantity is calculated as the product of the eating rate and the expected length of the milking period. The latter is in turn calculated from the individual rating value of milk production and the milking rate, i.e., the volume flow of milked milk removed during the milking process, wherein said individual rating value is stored for the animal to be milked.

The method known from EP-1 246 096 accordingly determines the quantity of feed to be dispensed during a milking pass on the basis of the time available during the milking and, specifically, on the basis of the milk production of the animal to be milked and on the basis of the current milking rate.

From EP-0 724 382, a method is known in which the animal that is to be milked by a robot is given a quantity of feed, with said quantity of feed being administered throughout the entire feeding time in the milking parlour, namely, with the purpose of contributing to the feeling of relaxation during the milking of the animal to be milked. Again, in this known method, the quantity of feed to be administered with each milking pass is calculated using the maximum daily quantity of feed and the known or expected milking passes of the respective animal, based on the data stored for the individual animals. followed by Page 2 2 Although the aforementioned methods can be applied to fully automatic milking in the case of milking parlours to be entered by an animal, each time independently, in practical application they have meanwhile not been able to win acceptance across the board, and so the invention under consideration takes as its basis the problem of specifying a method, adapted to the practical requirements, of milking animals with simultaneous distribution of a quantity of feed.

With the invention under consideration, a method for milking with simultaneous dispensing of feed is specified for the solution of this problem, with said method being applied when the holding time of a single animal at the milking parlour is dependent on the holding time of the remaining animals to be milked at the milking parlour, and In the case of which, according to the invention, the quantity of feed given to the individual animal is determined in dependence on the holding times of the animals being milked in the milking parlour simultaneously.

The method according to the invention is suitable for all milking parlours in which the animals to be milked are milked simultaneously, wherein the holding time of an individual animal depends on the holding time of the remaining animals to be milked simultaneously, either necessarily because of technical conditions or by choice due to reasons of herd management. Such dependence is, for example, to be found due to technical conditions at walk-through milking parlours in which the holding area of the animals to be milked also simultaneously forms the passage through the milking parlour taken by the animals to be milked. This means that the milking places, which are arranged in a line, one behind the other, are only occupied simultaneously by animals to be milked, and can be left again by these animals. Such a coupling of the holding time can, however, also be desired for reasons of herd animal management in the case of tandem milking parlours, which have an expelling passage on the side of the milking places facing away from the user, said expelling passage always allowing constant traffic of the animals to be milked to the milking places and away from the milking places. Occasionally, however, for reasons of herd psychology, the unrest that arises therefrom should be avoided and several, optionally all, animals to be milked should not be released until after the completion of the milking and post-processing phases of the last animal to be completed. According to the method according to the invention, the quantity of feed given to the individual animal during a milking pass is determined in dependence on the holding times of the simultaneously milked animals in the milking parlour. In contrast to the known methods, the quantity of feed is no longer determined solely according to the behaviour or the characteristics of the animal drawn at a particular time, but is instead specified using group or sub-group behaviour. Accordingly, It is possible in the case of the method according to the invention that in the case of some animals among the animals to be milked simultaneously, the phases of the milking process, including the after-treatment, have already been concluded, but that nevertheless feed also continues to be supplied to the milking place of this animal, in 3 order to increase the satisfaction of the animal that has already been completely milked at the milking place. The premature release of individual animals is also prevented, said premature release causing the animals that are still being milked to become agitated.

With the invention under consideration, a method is proposed in which not only the quantity of feed to be given to the individual animal during milking is individually coordinated to the special animal, but furthermore, this quantity of feed is specified with consideration given to the group of animals that finds itself being milked simultaneously. In this respect, the method according to the invention better complies with the herd-specific requirements that are routinely placed on dairy animals than do the methods known from the state of the art.

According to a preferred further development of the method under consideration,, the holding time of the animals being simultaneously milked is determined a priori on the basis of historical values for the duration of the milking process for the individual animals. In this respect, it is possible to adapt the quantity of feed to be dispensed at least approximately to the actual conditions during milking on the basis of this information regarding the definitive holding time of the individual animal, said information also being possibly preliminary. The historical values either can be determined from previously measured holding times from earlier milking passes of the animals of the herd to be milked, or alternatively, statistical data can also be consulted that is representative for the genus of the animals. In a preferred further development of the method according to the invention, the holding time is determined in dependence on the holding time of the animals being milked simultaneously. Preferably, this determination is made after the animals to be milked simultaneously have been identified, as a result of means of identification known per se, upon entering the milking parlour or upon reaching the milking place within the milking parlour. The historical holding times assigned to the individual animals in this process can be stored, along with the performance characteristics of the animals to be milked with respect to the milk yield, in a central storage area in a herd management system that outputs the corresponding data for establishing the holding times of the individual animals to be milked simultaneously, in order preferably to select the longest holding time of the animals to be milked and to use this time as the basis for determining the quantity of feed for all animals that are to be milked simultaneously.

According to a further preferred development of the invention under consideration, the holding time of the animals that are being milked simultaneously is checked during the milking and dynamically adjusted. As a result of this preferred manner of carrying out the method, individual disruptive factors can be taken into account. Disruptive factors can, for example, be the milking cluster being kicked away by the animal or the milking cluster falling off during the milking. It is also possible to take into consideration changes in the holding time that are the result of the animal behaviour. Influences that affect the holding time of the 4 separate animals during milking can be recorded directly in this connection and entered into the calculation and dynamization of the animals to be milked. Among these measurement quantities are, in particular, the opening and closing of gates that hold the animals to be milked in their position at the milking parlour and furthermore, movement information on the position and infeed rate of the milking cluster. It is also possible for a possible delay in the provision of the quantity of feed to be dispensed to be input into the calculation of the holding time as a disturbance variable, in order in this way to ensure that the quantity of feed determined to be necessary is also actually dispensed during the corresponding milking pass. According to the basic principle of the invention under consideration, such disturbances are registered at the individual positions of the milking parlour and are used as the basis for determining the holding time of all animals that are milked simultaneously. In this way, for example, even an unexpectedly accelerated passing of that animal that has the longest a priori holding time can lead to an accelerated distribution of the quantity of feed for all animals that are to be milked simultaneously.

According tD a further preferred development, the quantity of feed is metered in batches with feed doses and pauses between the feed doses, and this metering is adapted to the dynamically established holding time. By metering the quantity of feed in single portions, the eating rate can be influenced and the quantity of feed ingested during a milking pass can be controlled reliably. The quantity of feed dispensed in a feed pan during milking normally consists of various sorts of feed. As a rule, performance feed is given here. A further important group of feeds is energy sources, such as propylene glycol, for example. Liquid feed is also provided in these sorts of feed. Such liquid feed is added in order to feed the animal to be milked energy thai is In a concentrated form and that is easily broken down. Furthermore, additives, such as minerals, trace elements, vaccines, medicines, salts or vitamins, for example, are contained in solid or liquid form in the feed. In particular, the last kind of feed components can be individually added to the feed at this milking position in a controlled manner after a particular animal to be milked has been identified at the milking position. In the case of the preferred development of the invention under consideration, after a portion has been dispensed, i.e., after a feed dose, a pause is put in that is so long that the feed dose is essentially completely ingested by the animal, i.e., the feed pan has been eaten empty when a new feed dose follows. By carrying out the method in this way, it is possible to prevent a larger quantity of administered feed remaining in the feed pan should the animal that is to be milked ingest an insufficient quantity. By changing the quantity of the feed dose, it is possible to control not only the quantity of feed for the individual animal, but also the eating rate of the individual animal The group to which an animal that is to be milked belongs can be decisive for metering control of this kind. Group-specific characteristics can, for example, be the age of the animal, the weight, the size or even the eating rate determined in the previous milking passes. For this purpose, the feed pan can have sensors that give information on the filling level, possibly the gradient of the weight loss as the feed is ingested. With the help of such sensors, it is also possible to control the quantity of feed and, in particular, to control the metering based on the eating rate.

Preferably, the entire quantity of feed is metered as a sequence of feed doses with pauses in between. This means that the feeding process essentially consists of a sequence of feed doses with metering pauses, whereby this sequence can be flexibly adapted throughout the holding time of the animals to be milked in the milking parlour, i.e., in the course of the milking.

The feeding of the animals to be milked simultaneously preferably begins simultaneously, or not until the entry of the first animals to be let in. Preferably, the first feed dose is given simultaneously for all animals during a metered addition of the quantity of feed, in order to suppress envy and the like amongst the animals to be milked and in order to calm and satisfy, as best as possible, all animals that are to be milked simultaneously. In order to avoid nervousness at the end of the holding time, it is proposed, according to a further preferred development of the invention under consideration, that dispensing of the quantity of feed to the animals to be milked simultaneously be ended in such a way that the animals end the ingestion of the feed at essentially the same time. This means that the last feed dose of an added quantity of feed that is metered is ended at a predetermined point in time for all animals to be milked simultaneously. With respect to carrying out and controlling the method in a manner that is as simple as possible, it is proposed, according to a further preferred development of the method according to the invention, that the distribution of the quantity of feed be ended simultaneously at the end of the holding time. In the case of this preferred development of the method, which can, in particular, be realised by means of having the last feed dose, in the case of a metered delivery of the quantity of feed, be ended simultaneously, the current eating rate of the animals comprising the group can be kept out of consideration.

The holding time in the milking parlour of the animals to be milked comprises the following phases: Admittance of the animals, preparation of the animals (stimulation, pre-milking, dipping, preparing and the like), attachment, including preparation of separation processes and the like, the actual milking phase including the phase of post-milking and a phase for removing the milking cluster. Furthermore, during the holding time of the animals to be milked at the milking parlour, a phase for after-treatment of the animals, for example, for dipping, for treating the udder or other body parts and for caring for the animals is carried out, and a release phase follows during which the exit doors, if any, on gates for fencing off individual milking places are opened. Ultimately, the identification of the first animal of the next series after the milking can also be added to the holding time of the previous group of animals at the milking parlour. According to the invention, the length of individual phases is determined and the holding time of the animals to be milked is formed from the sum of certain, particularly time-critical, phases, where appropriate, from the sum of all of the aforementioned phases. Preferably, for the holding times in the individual phases, i.e., the so-called phase holding times, these are first assigned historical or estimated 6 time values and the holding time available for the distribution of the quantity of feed is established by summing the relevant phase holding times. The quantity of feed to be dispensed in the milking pass is first estimated with the holding time determined in this way. Time-critical phases are, in particular, the milking phase, the phase for preparing the animals, particularly the stimulation phase, and the after-treatment phase. With a good level of reliability, the quantity of feed can already be determined on the basis of the holding time, due to the fact that only these three essential phases are established and taken into consideration for determining the holding time. The phase holding times can be selected a priori from historical values, in particular, from values from herd management. In addition, it is possible to draw on selected or corrected empirically established figures for a certain user or for certain groups of users, by means of which figures it is possible to take into consideration an extension or delay of the individual phase holding times caused, in particular, by the skill and experience of the respective user. These user-specific or user-group-specific values, called correction values, are preferably determined on the basis of the established spread of individual phase holding times, wherein it is possible for the user to assign established phase holding times to certain skill and experience classes, such as, for example, "fast", "average" and "slow", wherein each user can optionally input his or her experience and skill classes and consequently determine the correction values to be applied. Relevant in this connection are, in particular, phases whose length depends on the speed of the user. The user-specific and user-group-specific correction values are of particular relevance for estimating the stimulation time and after-treatment time. The user-specific correction values are preferably overwritten by user-specific correction values determined during the milking, in order to take into account any learning success on the part of the user or any signs of fatigue on the part of the user, i.e., in order to adapt the correction values dynamically to the respective working capacity of the user. In this connection, first historical values, where applicable, with user-specific correction, are used and, with the passing of the various milking phases, these initially estimated and / or stored phase holding times are replaced with the concretely measured phase holding times. The more individual phases that are accordingly concretely run through and determined with respect to their holding time for the individual animals to be milked, the more reliable the relevant maximum holding time is determined for the quantity of feed for all animals milked simultaneously, where said holding time is stipulated by one of these animals.

According to a preferred further development of the invention under consideration, the animals to be milked simultaneously are identified when they enter the milking parlour and the holding time is estimated on the basis of the historical values for the phase holding times of the identified animals. In this case, the feature "when they enter the milking parlour" means that the identification of the animals to be milked is made either at the entry to the milking parlour or when the animals have reached a milking place within the milking parlour. 7 As far as metering the quantity of feed takes place with feed doses and intermediary feed pauses according to the embodiment already described in the preceding, this metering is selected for each of the animals to be milked for the individual phase. Using this procedure, the latest insights regarding the maximum holding time actually to be expected on the basis of the phase holding time measured until that time can be taken into account by adjusting the metering frequency and / or metering quantity at the beginning of each additional phase. With this individual phase adjustment of the metering, preferably requirements in metering for individual animals are also taken into consideration in each phase.

The method according to the invention is preferably conducted with the goal of supplying the animal to be milked with a quantity of feed calculated for the specific animal and, at the same time, taking into account the receptiveness of the animal and the available time, i.e., the holding time in the milking parlour. These essential basic conditions can, for example, be taken into account in each of the respective phases introduced in the preceding, in order to influence the current feed distribution in each of the separate phases with a view to the best-possible result. Finning the "soft", i.e., historical or estimated phase holding times into "hard" times, i.e., actually established phase holding times for determining the holding time and, in particular, the remaining holding time, preferably proceeds as follows: While the animals are being admitted (admittance phase), the estimated holding time is made up of past values for the admittance and the preparation phase, the expected value of the duration of the milking process for the animals and the past values for the after-treatment phase, where applicable, until the animals are released. Depending on the application, the holding time can extend until the first animal of the next series is identified. The expected value of the holding time that is drawn on for determining the quantity of feed results from the animals already identified at the milking parlour and / or group-specific or herd-specific average or maximum values of the holding time.

During the preparation of the animals, i.e., during stimulation, pre-milking, dipping, preparation and the like, the estimated remaining holding time is made up of past values for the preparation phase, the maximum value of the length of time needed to milk the animals in this group and the past values for the after-treatment phase, where appropriate, until the animals are released. Depending on the application, the holding time can extend until the first animal of the next group is identified. The holding time is already firmed up by means of the time measured for admitting the animals. Because at this time, the animals have not yet arrived at their milking place, this phase holding time can also be kept out of consideration for determining the holding time decisive for the quantity of feed.

At the time the animal is attached, a more precise estimation of the holding time, using the real time of attachment, is possible, For estimating the holding time, the end time point of the milking for each milking place is calculated for each milking place, using the attachment time points and the expected length of the 8 milking period for the animal standing there. Together with the value tor the after-treatment for the individual animal, where applicable, the value of the remaining holding time per milking place can be calculated therefrom. The maximum value for the group of animals to be milked simultaneously that is established in this way is drawn on as the remaining length of the holding time of the animal group. In this case, as well, the relevant holding time for determining the quantity of feed can extend until the identification of the first animal of the next group.

Because the milking phase normally accounts for the largest portion of the hofding time available for feeding, the phase holding time for the milking phase is preferably dynamically adjusted during the milking phase on the basis of the currently measured milking rate.

In the after-treatment phase of the animals (dipping, treatment, care), the remaining holding time can initially be determined from the past values for this phase holding time. Relevant are, in particular, past values for the time frames from the point in time of the removal of the last milking cluster of a series at the milking parlour until the opening of the exit gate for releasing the animals, or, depending on the application, until the identification of the first animal of the next group. Furthermore, it is also optionally possible for after-treatment times for the individual animal to enter into the approximation from the herd management system.

In the case of the method according to the invention, preferably the available time for the ingestion of the feed is established per milking place, whereby the estimated values are replaced with real values as time passes. The holding time of the series and therefore the end point of the time available for the distribution of the quantity of feed, i.e., the feeding time, is established from the maximum value of the places of a series of animals to be milked simultaneously. Further factors influencing the maximum portions that can be allotted within the available feeding time can, in particular, be registered with various sensors. This includes sensors that detect when a feed pan has been eaten empty and that accordingly control the further metering. Further sensors can register, for example, if the milking clusters have been kicked away or fallen down, and, even in the event of a general reattachment, can recalculate the changed holding time that thereby results for the animals to be milked simultaneously at the milking parlour. The total quantity of feed metered can be dynamically adjusted to the time available for the ingestion of feed. This takes place with the goal of giving the calculated quantity of feed for a certain animal to be milked in such a way that this quantity can also be ingested by the respective animal. A further essential aspect is the entering, i.e., the registration, of the actually ingested quantity of feed per animal in the herd management system for supervision of overfeeding, which is necessary, particularly in view of a careful handling of the "performance feed" resource.

Claims

9 Further, it Is proposed that the composition of the feed sorts be changed according to the phase of the holding time. For example, in the first phase, a very tasty lure feed can be given, while at the end, less tasty performance feed is given. The method according to the invention is preferably carried out with consideration given to the maximum daily quantity of feed for the respective animal, which is stored in the herd management system. For this purpose, the method calls for a quantity of feed, calculated for the specific animal., to be calculated for a milking parlour stay, preferably on the basis of the feed rate of the animal to be milked, and for the quantity of feed to be dispensed to the animal to be milked during a stay at the milking parlour to be established by taking into consideration a maximum daily quantity of feed and the calculated quantity of feed. By means of this preferred development of the method according to the invention, it is ensured that the quantity of feed actually dispensed does not exceed the calculated quantity of feed, i.e., the holding time available for the ingestion of feed is sufficient for the ingestion of the entire quantity of feed dispensed during a milking pass, Furthermore, the quantity of feed dispensed is limited by the value stored in the herd management system for the maximum daily quantity of feed for the respective animal. In a further preferred development, when the quantity of feed is delivered in a metered form, a quantity is determined that can be metered, said quantity being limited by the eating rate, the metering stored in the herd management system for the specific animal and the holding time of the animal to be milked. In the case of this preferred development, the metered quantity of feed is, in each case, selected while taking into consideration the eating rate values for the specific animal, on the one hand, and the metering, on the other hand. The fad that the holding time is taken into consideration prevents feed remains from being left behind in the feed pan at the end of the feeding time after the respective animal exits, For this purpose, the actual quantity of feed is specified as the smallest value of the quantity that can be metered, the maximum daily quantity of feed and the calculated quantity of feed. 10 Patent Claims

1. Method for milking animals in which more than one animal are simultaneously milked in a milking parlour, wherein the holding time at the milking parlour for a single animal depends on the holding time of the other animals to be milked simultaneously with said animal that is to be milked and wherein the animals receive a quantity of feed during the milking process, wherein the quantity of feed given to the individual animal is determined in dependence on the holding times of the animals milked simultaneously in the milking parlour.

2. Method according to Claim 1, wherein the holding time of the animals milked simultaneously is determined a priori using historical values of the holding time of the individual animals.

3. Method according to Claim 2, wherein the holding time is determined in dependence on the holding time of all animals in the herd.

4. Method according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the holding time is determined in dependence on the holding time of the animals milked simultaneously.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the holding time of the animals milked simultaneously is reviewed and dynamically adjusted during the milking.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the quantity of feed given during milking is adjusted to the dynamically established holding time of the animal to be milked.

7. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the longest holding time of the animals to be milked simultaneously is drawn on for determining the feeding time for all animals to be milked simultaneously.

8. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the quantity of feed is metered in batches with feed doses and pauses between, and that this metering is adjusted to the dynamically established holding time.

9. Method according to Claim 8, wherein the total quantity of feed is metered as a sequence of feed doses and pauses between these feed doses.

10. Method according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the metering for the animal to be milked is INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF NZ 21 DEC 2006 nr«p"n. _ _ 11 adjusted individually.

11. Method according to Claim 10, wherein the metering takes place on the basis of the group to which an animal that is to be milked belongs using a metering setting assigned to the group.

12. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the quantity of feed is adjusted on the basis of the eating rate of the animal to be milked.

13. Method according to any one of the Claims 8 to 12, wherein the pause is adjusted in such a way that a renewed feed dose does not take place until after the preceding feed dose has essentially been ingested by the animal.

14. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the distribution of the quantity of feed to the animals that are to be milked simultaneously begins essentially simultaneously.

15. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the distribution of the quantity of feed to the animals to be milked simultaneously is ended in such a way that the animals stop ingesting the feed essentially simultaneously.

16. Method according to Claim 15, wherein the distribution of the quantity of feed to the animals to be milked simultaneously is ended simultaneously.

17. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the animals to be milked during a milking pass run through the following phases: admittance of the animals, preparation of the animals, attachment of the milking device to teat the animal to be milked, milking phase including post-milking, removal of the milking device from the teat, after-treatment of the animals, release of the animals and presence at the milking parlour during identification of the first animal of the next group of animals to be milked, wherein the length of individual phases is determined for establishing the holding time.

18. Method according to Claim 17, wherein the holding time is first determined by means of historical and / or estimated phase holding times and in that the quantity of feed is estimated on the basis of the animal's holding time that is determined in such a way.

19. Method according to Claim 17 or Claim 18, wherein the animals that are to be milked simultaneously are identified upon entering the milking parlour and the holding time is estimated on INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 I DEC 2006 RECEIVFn 12 the basis of historical values for the phase holding times of the identified animals.

20. Method according to any one of the Claims 17 to 19, as far as dependent on Claim 8, wherein the metering for the animal to be milked is adjusted based on the individual phase.

21. Method according to any one of the Claims 17 to 20, wherein as the phases are run through, individual phase times are replaced by concretely measured phase holding times.

22. Method according to any one of the Claims 17 to 21, wherein at least the phase holding time in phases in which the user is active is determined using stored user-specific or user-group-specific correction values.

23. Method according to Claim 22, wherein the user-specific correction values are overwritten with user-specific correction values established during the milking.

24. Method according to any one of the Claims 17 to 23, wherein during the milking phase, the phase holding time is adjusted on the basis of the animal's milking rate measured at that time.

25. Method according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a quantity calculated for the specific animal is calculated for a milking parlour stay on the basis of the holding time using the feed rate of the animal to be milked, and in that the quantity of feed to be dispensed to the animal to be milked during a milking parlour stay is established while taking into consideration a maximum daily quantity of feed and the calculated quantity of feed.

26. Method according to Claim 25, as far as dependent on Claim 10 and Claim 12, wherein the quantity that can be metered is established and that said quantity is limited by the eating rate, the metering for the specific animal and the holding time.

27. Method according to Claim 26, wherein the daily quantity of feed is specified as the smallest value selected from the group consisting of a) the quantity that can be metered, b) the maximum daily feed dose and c) the calculated quantity of feed.

28. A method according to claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to any example thereof. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 1 DEC 2006 RECEIVED