NZ754766A - Dairy animal treatment apparatus, system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus and method of treating an animal is described. In art animal treatment devices, attempts have been made to automate treatment however, automated systems may be complex, expensive and unreliable in correct application of treatment agents. The apparatus described herein includes an enclosure configured to at least temporarily retain an animal in a stationary position; one or more sensors configured to detect the presence of an animal in the stationary position in the enclosure; at least one spray device located at the base of the enclosure, the spray device being arranged for an animal to step over it when moving into the stationary position. The spray device includes at least one spray outlet that is arranged to direct spray to the underside of an animal in the stationary position in the enclosure; and, during spraying, travels a path parallel to a longitudinal axis of the enclosure; and a controller configured to receive input from the one or more sensors and to actuate the spray device. The apparatus and method provide an alternate way to treat an animal in an automated manner.

Description

DAIRY ANIMAL TREATMENT APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to treatment of dairy animals.

BACKGROUND In dairy farming applications, the animals' teats are sometimes treated. Treatment may occur periodically in response to diagnosis of a health condition (e.g. an infection of the teat) or regularly during normal farm operations. For example, animals' teats may be routinely treated before and/or after milking. Treatment may simply involve washing, or treatment with chemicals or pharmaceuticals such as disinfectants or antibiotics.

Historically, treatment of animals' teats has been performed manually, which is time consuming and therefore costly. More recently, attempts have been made at automated teat treatment systems.

However, proposed automated systems are generally complex (with high equipment costs) and/or unreliable in correct application of treatment agents to the animals’ teats. This can lead to poor treatment outcomes and/or to waste through the use of excessive treatment agent (in an attempt to ensure adequate treatment despite inaccurate application). Systems relying on imaging of the animal and/or requiring accurate positioning of an animal’s udder tend to be both complex and inaccurate.

It would be desirable to provide improvements in dairy animal teat treatment, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus may include an enclosure configured to at least temporarily retain an animal in a stationary position. One or more sensors may be configured to detect the presence of an animal in the stationary position in the enclosure. At least one spray device may be located at the base of the enclosure, the spray device being arranged for an animal to step over it when moving into the stationary position. The spray device may include at least one spray outlet that: is arranged to direct spray to the underside of an animal in the stationary position in the enclosure; and during spraying, travels a path parallel to a longitudinal axis of the enclosure. A controller may be configured to receive input from the one or more sensors and to actuate the spray device.

The enclosure may include one or more moveable barriers allowing movement of a dairy animal into and/or out of the enclosure. The one or more moveable barriers may include a moveable entry barrier and/or a moveable exit barrier. The one or more moveable barriers may be pneumatically powered. The controller may be configured to control movement of the one or more moveable barriers.

The enclosure may be arranged such that a dairy animal moves through the enclosure and is temporarily retained in the stationary position.

The one or more sensors may include one or more optical sensors, manual arms or triggers, electrical impedance sensors, auditory sensors, radar, lidar, weight and/or load cells sensors.

The stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus may be configured for treatment of dairy cows.

A linear actuator may be arranged to drive travel of the at least one spray outlet. The linear actuator may be a pneumatic cylinder.

At least one treatment agent reservoir may be in fluid communication with the at least one spray outlet.

A plurality of spray outlets may be distributed laterally on the spray device.

The stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus may include two spray outlets.

The spray device may include a cover, the cover including a slot corresponding to the position and extent of travel of each spray outlet, the slot allowing spray from that spray outlet to exit the spray device.

A cleaning arrangement may be configured to spray cleaning agent within the spray device.

A method of treating a dairy animal may including introducing the animal into an enclosure; at least temporarily retaining the animal in a stationary position in the enclosure; using one or more sensors, detecting the presence of the animal in the stationary position in the enclosure; a controller receiving input from the one or more sensors and actuating a stepover spray device located at the base of the enclosure, the spray device being arranged for an animal to step over it when moving into the stationary position; at least one spray outlet in the spray device directing spray to the underside of the animal in the stationary position in the enclosure; and during spraying, the at least one spray outlet traveling a path parallel to a longitudinal axis of the enclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus according to one embodiment; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a rear view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a spray device according to one embodiment; Figure 5A is a similar view to Figure 5, illustrating movement of the spray carriage; Figure 5B is an expanded view of the region marked ‘B’ in Figure 5; Figure 6 is a top view of the device of Figure 5; Figure 6A is a sectional view along the line A-A in Figure 6; Figure 7 is a side view of the device of Figure 5; Figure 7A is a similar view to that of Figure 7, excluding the device’s cover; Figure 8 is a further perspective view of the device of Figure 5; and Figure 9 shows a control arrangement according to one embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The Applicant proposes a stepover spray system, for spraying of one or more treatment agents onto the underside of a dairy animal. A stepover system requires an animal to move over the top of the spray apparatus into a spraying position. The stepover system may be positioned in any suitable full or partial enclosure that allows the positioning of a dairy animal in a generally known stationary position within the enclosure. Each dairy animal to be treated may be retained, at least temporarily, in the stationary position while the spraying operation is carried out. In many applications it may be necessary to retain the dairy animal only for a short period of time (e.g. around 1 second to 10 minutes, preferably around 30 to 120 seconds).

The enclosure may be formed as a standalone structure or by adaptation of existing farming structures.

For example, the enclosure may be formed as part of the race system used for guiding dairy animals into and/or out of a milking facility. An enclosure may be added to an existing race system or may be included during installation of a new race system. The enclosure may alternatively be a part or parts of a milking facility.

The enclosure may include one or more fixed barriers, such as fixed right and left side barriers. The enclosure may include one or more moveable barriers, such as moveable entry and/or exit barriers. The moveable barriers may be controlled to allow a dairy animal to move into the enclosure, retain the animal temporarily in the stationary position for treatment, and allow the animal to exit the enclosure after treatment. In some embodiments both entry and exit barriers may be provided. However, in other embodiments a single entry or exit barrier may be sufficient.

In the Applicant’s system, the dairy animal may be retained in a stationary position whilst a spray outlet is moved along a path under the animal during spraying. That is, the spray outlet may move along at least part of the animal’s length while spraying fluid. The spray outlet travels during dispensing of spray.

The spray outlet may be driven during such movement by any suitable mechanism, including for example any suitable linear actuator such as a mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic actuator. Spray may be delivered from the outlet during all or a part of the reciprocal motion of the spray outlet along the path. The path may lie along or substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the enclosure. The axis of the linear actuator may substantially align with the length of a dairy animal when the animal stands over the spraying apparatus.

In use, one or more sensors may be used to sense the presence of a dairy animal in the stationary position. A controller may receive input from the one or more sensors and actuate the spray device. In particular, the controller may control movement of the spray outlet.

Dispensing of spray fluid from the spray outlet may be controlled by the controller, or may be triggered by the motion of the spray outlet, linear actuator or any other suitable component. For example, dispensing of spray fluid may be triggered by movement of a linear actuator through a predetermined point, or into a predetermined portion of its movement cycle.

Alternatively, dispensing may by triggered using one or more sensors that locate the animal’s udder, with spraying being actuated when the udder is ‘seen’. Spraying may be prevented when an udder is not present.

The spray outlets may be fluidly connected to a storage container of treatment fluid, via any suitable arrangement of conduits, valves etc.

Any suitable treatment agent or combination of treatment agents may be used, for example water, sterilising or disinfecting fluid, antiseptics, antibiotics, washing agents such as soaps or detergents.

The spray device, or parts thereof like the outlet(s), may also be linked to a cleaning in place solution for cleaning of the spray device.

The spray device may include a shroud or cover that substantially encloses the spray device and its parts. The shroud or cover may have an opening allowing egress of treatment fluid. For example, the opening may be an elongated slot, commensurate in length with the travel of the spray outlet.

Figures 1 to 4 show one embodiment in which a cow 1 is to be treated. The stepover apparatus 2 includes an enclosure 3, which as shown in Figure 3 may include left and right-side barriers 4, 5.

The enclosure may also include a controllable moveable entry barrier 6. The entry barrier 6 may include one or more barrier sections 7, 8 moveable by any suitable mechanism. In the embodiment shown the barrier sections 7, 8 may be moveable by a pneumatic cylinder 9, or any other suitable linear actuator.

However, the skilled reader will understand that various mechanisms for opening and/or closing the moveable entry barrier 6 may be used.

The enclosure may also include a controllable moveable exit barrier 10. The exit barrier 10 may include one or more barrier sections 11, 12 moveable by any suitable mechanism. In the embodiment shown the barrier sections 11, 12 may be moveable by a pneumatic cylinder 13, or any other suitable linear actuator. However, the skilled reader will understand that various mechanisms for opening and/or closing the moveable exit barrier 10 may be used.

The moveable entry and exit barriers 6, 10 may be configured to move between the closed position shown in Figure 3 and an open position in which the entry barriers lie against or close to the side barriers 4, 5. In use, an animal 1 may move into the enclosure 3 through the open entry barrier as indicated by arrow 15. The animal 1 may then be retained in a stationary position in the enclosure by closed entry and exit barriers 6, 10. While in the stationary position the animal 1 may be treated. Once treatment has been completed, the exit barrier may be opened and the animal 1 may exit the enclosure 3 as indicated by arrow 16.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the barriers 4, 5, 6, 10 may be formed from a framework of metal bar.

However, any suitable barriers may be used, including barriers of metal bar, wood, panels such as plywood etc, suitable plastics materials, or any other suitable material.

Further, while the embodiment shown includes both entry and exit barriers, the function of the enclosure is to retain an animal in the stationary position for treatment. In some applications an enclosure including only a controllable exit barrier may be sufficient.

Figures 1 to 4 also show a sensor assembly 18. In the embodiment shown the sensor assembly may be mounted over the top of the enclosure 3. The sensor assembly may include a number of sensors 19, 20, 21 supported on a sensor mount 22. The sensor mount 22 may be in the form of a rod or tube supported by the enclosure framework. However, any suitable arrangement of sensors at any suitable point or points on or near the enclosure may be used and the sensors may be supported in any suitable manner. Further, while the embodiment shown includes three sensors 19, 20, 21, any suitable number of sensors may be used.

The sensors may be arranged to detect the presence of an animal 1 in the stationary position in the enclosure. Any suitable sensor technology may be used, including any one of, or any combination of: optical sensors (visible, infrared, UV etc), manual arms or triggers, electrical impedance sensors, auditory sensors, radar, lidar, weight and/or load cells sensors.

Figures 1, 2 and 4 also show a stepover spray device 25. The spray device 25 may be positioned in the base of the enclosure 3 and such that an animal 1 will move over the top of the spray device 25 as it moves into the stationary position in the enclosure 3. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, when the animal is in the stationary position the spray device 25 may be suitably located to direct spray upwards to the underside of the animal 1, including generally towards the animal’s teats.

The spray device 25 is shown in more detail in Figures 5 to 8. Figure 5 shows the device with a hood or cover 26 open, while Figure 8 shows the hood 26 closed. The hood 26 is excluded from Figure 7A to show the internal components. The hood 26 generally protects the internal mechanism of the spray device 25, while slots 27 allow spray to pass from spray outlets through the hood 26 towards the underside of the animal 1, as will become apparent below.

Figures 5, 5A and 5B show a spray carriage 28 which may be arranged for movement along rails 29.

Figure 5A illustrates the movement of the spray carriage, compared to the position shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5B is an expanded view of the area marked ‘B’ in Figure 5.

Figure 6A is a sectional view along the line marked ‘A-A’ in Figure 6. Figure 6A shows upper and lower carriage rollers 30, 31 riding on the rails 29. This movement may be driven by a pneumatic cylinder 32, or by any other suitable mechanism. In use, this movement of the spray carriage allows movement of one or more spray outlets along at least part of the length of the animal. The skilled reader will understand that any other suitable mechanism may be used for movement of the spray outlets along at least part of the length of the animal.

The spray carriage 28 includes one or more spray outlets 35. The spray outlets may be suitable spray nozzles for directing a suitable spray pattern towards the underside of the animal. Any suitable number of spray outlets may be used – in the embodiment shown two spray outlets 35 may be used. The spray outlets may be connected via suitable flexible conduits to a fixed conduit 36, which itself may be connected via a further flexible conduit to a source of treatment fluid, with the flexible conduits allowing for movement of the spray carriage. For clarity of illustration the flexible flow conduits have not been shown in Figures 5 to 8. Any other suitable arrangement providing a flow path from the source of treatment fluid to the spray nozzles, while allowing movement of the spray carriage, may be used.

The spray carriage may also include a number of cleaning fluid outlets 40, 41. These outlets may spray cleaning fluid for cleaning of the device. This cleaning may be performed periodically (e.g. after a predetermined number of animals have been treated, or after a predetermined time period, or at the end of each milking session). The cleaning fluid may be water, or may include one or more cleaning agents. The cleaning fluid outlets may be connected via suitable flexible conduits to a fixed conduit 42, which itself may be connected via a further flexible conduit to a source of cleaning fluid, with the flexible conduits allowing for movement of the spray carriage. For clarity of illustration the flexible flow conduits have not been shown in Figures 5 to 8. Any other suitable arrangement providing a flow path from the source of cleaning fluid to the cleaning fluid outlets, while allowing movement of the spray carriage, may be used.

As shown in Figures 5B and 6A, some cleaning fluid outlets 40 may be arranged to spray cleaning fluid onto the spray nozzles 35 (as indicated schematically by spray fans 43 in Figure 5B). Other cleaning fluid outlets 41 may be arranged to spray cleaning fluid onto the tracks 29 and/or rollers 30, 31 (as indicated schematically by spray fans 44 in Figure 6A).

Figure 9 is a schematic view showing one possible control arrangement. The skilled reader will understand that a number of different control arrangements may be suitable.

A controller 50 receives input from the animal presence sensors 19, 20, 21, and from any other desired inputs, e.g. one or more weight sensors (animal weight may be used to determine dose applied or in any other manner), animal body condition sensors, RFID tag sensors to identify unique animals; or system sensors such as fluid level or pressure sensors.

Based on the inputs, the controller may control outputs associated with treatment of the animal. For example, the controller may control movement of the entry and exit barriers 6, 10. The controller may control the treatment spray 51, for example by controlling each spray outlet (e.g. on/off control, controlling timing of spraying and/or any other spray parameter). The controller may control movement 52 of the spray carriage (e.g. timing of movement, speed of movement etc). The controller may control operation of the cleaning arrangement 53 (e.g. on/off control, controlling timing of cleaning agent spraying and/or any other spray parameter).

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Further, the above embodiments may be implemented individually, or may be combined where compatible. Additional advantages and modifications, including combinations of the above embodiments, will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of the Applicant's general inventive concept.

Claims (16)

1. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus including: an enclosure configured to at least temporarily retain an animal in a stationary position; one or more sensors configured to detect the presence of an animal in the stationary position in 5 the enclosure; at least one spray device located at the base of the enclosure, the spray device being arranged for an animal to step over it when moving into the stationary position, the spray device including at least one spray outlet that: is arranged to direct spray to the underside of an animal in the stationary position in the 10 enclosure; and during spraying, travels a path parallel to a longitudinal axis of the enclosure; and a controller configured to receive input from the one or more sensors and to actuate the spray device.

2. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enclosure includes 15 one or more moveable barriers allowing movement of a dairy animal into and/or out of the enclosure.

3. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the one or more moveable barriers include a moveable entry barrier and/or a moveable exit barrier.

4. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the one or more moveable barriers are pneumatically powered.

5. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the 25 controller is configured to control movement of the one or more moveable barriers.

6. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the enclosure is arranged such that a dairy animal moves through the enclosure and is temporarily retained in the stationary position.

7. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the one or more sensors include one or more optical sensors, manual arms or triggers, electrical impedance sensors, auditory sensors, radar, lidar, weight and/or load cells sensors.

8. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, configured for treatment of dairy cows.

9. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including a linear actuator arranged to drive travel of the at least one spray outlet.

10. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the linear actuator is a 10 pneumatic cylinder.

11. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including at least one treatment agent reservoir in fluid communication with the at least one spray outlet. 15

12. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including a plurality of spray outlets distributed laterally on the spray device.

13. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 12 including two spray outlets. 20

14. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the spray device includes a cover, the cover including a slot corresponding to the position and extent of travel of each spray outlet, the slot allowing spray from that spray outlet to exit the spray device.

15. A stepover dairy animal treatment apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including a cleaning 25 arrangement, the cleaning arrangement being configured to spray cleaning agent within the spray device.

16. A method of treating a dairy animal, including: introducing the animal into an enclosure; 30 at least temporarily retaining the animal in a stationary position in the enclosure; using one or more sensors, detecting the presence of the animal in the stationary position in the enclosure; a controller receiving input from the one or more sensors and actuating a stepover spray device located at the base of the enclosure, the spray device being arranged for an animal to step over 35 it when moving into the stationary position; at least one spray outlet in the spray device directing spray to the underside of the animal in the stationary position in the enclosure; and during spraying, the at least one spray outlet traveling a path parallel to a longitudinal axis of the enclosure.