WO2005112613A1

WO2005112613A1 - Arrangement and methods for automatic milking of animals

Info

Publication number: WO2005112613A1
Application number: PCT/SE2005/000678
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bengt Ove Wigholm; Lars Assarsson; Mats Fellbrandt; Lars Nyman; Stig SÖRENGER
Original assignee: Delaval Holding Ab
Priority date: 2004-05-24
Filing date: 2005-05-10
Publication date: 2005-12-01
Also published as: EP1755374A1; SE527494C2; NO328054B1; SE0402370D0; NO20065302L; SE0402370L

Abstract

Arrangement for automatic milking of animals including a roughage or bulk food feeding area (1), a milking area (2) including a milking station (6, 7) and a concentrate feeding area (3), the areas (2, 3) being interconnected via intelligent gates (10). A method for supplying food in such arrangement delimits the supply of concentrated food to the concentrate feeding area (3) and the supply of roughage or bulk food to the roughagefeeding area (2). A method for controlling the animal traffic in such arrangement allows frequent visits between milking occasions to the concentrate feeding area (3), thereby enticing the animals to attend a milking area access gate (10) likewise more frequently.

Description

ARRANGEMENT AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATIC MILKING OF ANIMALS.

Field of invention The invention relates to arrangements for automatic milking of animals as defined in the introductory part of the appended claims 1 and 15. The invention also relates to methods for use in such arrangements.

Background art

Such arrangements are known from inter alia WO 96/03031 (PCT/NL95/00261) disclosing a device in which the animals are guided from a resting and walking area via an access sluice either to a milking stall or to a feeding and watering space. After milking and/or feeding the animals may return to the resting and walking area via a one-directional gate. A similar kind of device is disclosed in DE 3702465 Al .

The known devices have the common problem to bring all the animals to move to the entrance gate of the milking and feeding areas with sufficient regularity and frequency. This is necessary in order to obtain an adequate timing of successive occasions of milking respectively feeding and thereby to maintain milk yield of the animals. Therefore it is proposed to urge the animals to leave the walking area using so called "coercive means" forcing the animals out from the walking area and into areas for milking and/or feeding , e.g. a moving fence or an electrified metal curtain. Presentation of the invention

One object of invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art devices and to propose an arrangement which does not require use of any kind of forcing means in order to maintain a useful traffic flow of animals within the arrangement.

A further object of invention is to stimulate the animals to increase the traffic intensity in order to increase the number of occasions each animal attends the access gate to the milking area.

A further object of invention is to provide an arrangement wherein the floor surface of the arrangement is used substantially optimally in order to minimize the cost for the arrangement.

A still further object of invention is to stimulate the cows to an increased intake of roughage. Roughage in the meaning used throughout this specification and appended claims includes all different kinds of bulk food and may also include food from pasture and grazing areas in alternative implementations of the arrangement.

Yet a further object of invention is to facilitate outdoor keeping of the animals by a simplified integration of a pasture or grazing area into the arrangement.

These and further objects are obtained by an arrangement having the features defined by the appended claims. The invention further aims to propose methods for feeding and animal traffic control which support the operation of the invented arrangement and allows the objects thereof to be achieved.

These aims are achieved by the methods having the features defined by the appended claims.

The invention is based on the recognition that it is possible to establish an efficient traffic flow of animals in an arrangement for automatic milking of animals on a voluntary basis using only positive enticements. This is achieved by the following measures:

- separate the feeding with concentrated food from the feeding with roughage into different areas, - maintain a consistent association between paying a visit to a milking area access gate and access to concentrated food, and

- use a consistent reward system for an animal attending the access gate by allowing the animals access to concentrated food, which may take place in a concentrate feeding area if the animal is not granted milking permission at the access gate or, alternatively, in a milking station if the animal is granted milking permission.

Tests have shown that the animals will learn in short time where to find the concentrated food and what is required to get access thereto, namely presenting itself at the access gate alternatively giving access to the milking area, if the animal is permitted to be milked, or to a concentrate feeding area if the animal is not granted milking permission. The number of presentations per animal at the access gate has increased substantially. In turn this allows for a more optimized milking of the individual by meeting more accurately her optimal interval between milking occasions to the benefit of increased milk yield and udder status. Having the animals available more frequently for milking may as such be used for further development of criteria for grant of milking permission and more efficient milking. The increased number of presentations at the access gate has shown a tendency to reduce disturbances of the animal traffic due to different ranks of the animals in the heard. This means that entrance of the lower ranked animals to the milking area will be less delayed by the behavior of the higher ranked animals. A further positive observation is the increased intake of roughage which is generally beneficial for milk production.

A further improvement of the animal traffic may be achieved by stimulating the animals to leave the concentrate feeding area and return to the roughage feeding area. This may be obtained by limiting or completely withholding the supply of water in the concentrate feeding area.

The milking and the concentrate feeding areas and the adjoining separation and treatment area of an arrangement according to the invention form together an enclosed module. This may be advantageous from an implementation point of view if pasture and grazing areas are available in connection with a barn housing. During the outdoor season these feeding areas may easily be integrated with the roughage feeding area by merely "opening a door to the outside". The necessary animal traffic for milking will be maintained by the animals looking for access to concentrated food.

The design of the arrangement is very important in order to minimize the cost for the arrangement. Especially, it is important to design the relatively large roughage area such that the floor surface of the roughage area is used optimally. One parameter is here to perform the roughage area with a relatively small number of elongated walking areas. Furthermore, a small number of walking areas results in that the cost for the equipment, which removes dung from the walking areas, is reduced. In larger arrangements, the walking areas are made longer but the number of walking areas may be unchanged.

Drawing

Preferred embodiments of the arrangement for automatic milking of animals according to the invention will be described more in detail in the following with reference to the drawings, in which

Fig 1 shows a barn lay-out implementing a first embodiment of the arrangement, Fig 2 shows a barn lay-out implementing a second embodiment of the arrangement, Fig 3 shows a barn lay-out implementing a third embodiment of the arrangement and Fig 4 shows a barn lay-out implementing a fourth embodiment of the arrangement. The barn lay-outs disclosed on the drawings implement arrangements and the methods used therein according to the invention. Fig. 1 shows an arrangement comprising a roughage feeding area 1, a milking area 2, a concentrate feeding area 3, a separation and treatment area 4 and a walking alley 5 connecting areas 1 and 2.

The roughage feeding area 1 is provided with roughage feeding tables 19 and resting areas 18. Entrance and exit doors 21 respectively 20 to and from pasture and grazing areas surrounding the barn may be provided in order to easily integrate such areas with the roughage feeding area during the outdoor season. Water bowls 23 are provided customarily as to number and places in area 1 but only one has been disclosed not to burden the drawing.

Roughage may be supplied to the feeding tables via an automatic feeding wagon running along a rail mounted at the roof of the barn. For illustrative reasons the lay-out has not been drawn in scale, meaning that the number of resting places, cubicles in the resting areas 18, and the extent of the feeding tables 19 are less than in the actual installation, which is intended for 100 to 120 cows. This follows from the fact that two automatic milking stations are provided in the milking area 2, each servicing around 50 to 60 cows. The adaptation of this lay-out to said number of cows may easily be taken care of by increasing the size of the barn while maintaining the inventive ideas behind the methods for feeding and animal traffic control illustrated in the drawing. An access device 10 leads from area 1 to the walking alley 5. The access device 10 is designed as an alternative-way or swing gate and includes animal identification means 11. The identification means comprises an interrogation station for interrogating a transponder carried by each cow. Primarily the transponder holds identity data of the cow, but it may store as well other data about the cow, e.g. an individual concentrate feeding program and data concerning the health status of the cow. In this case, however, such other data is stored in a computer, providing said data when triggered by the cow identity data and using said data for the control of feeding stations and gates, granting of milking permission, etc.

The access gate 10 leads to either the alley 5, as illustrated by arrow 10a, the alley leading in turn to the milking area 2, or to the concentrate feeding area 3 as illustrated by arrow 10b. The milking area 2 comprises two automatic milking stations 6, 7 including means for attachment of teat cups to the teats of the cow, milking the cow and detachment of the teat cups after milking has ended. Preferably, each of said stations is implemented by a DeLaval Voluntary Milking System VMS, including all means necessary for identification of the cow, milking, measurement of milk yield and quality, calculating health status data of the cow and providing an individual amount and composition of concentrated food during milking.

Each milking station 6 and 7 is provided with an entrance gate 9 and an exit gate 8. The drawing shows that a cow is being milked in station 7, of which the entrance gate and the exit gate are both closed. Another cow is entering station 6 of which the entrance gate 9 is open and the exit gate is closed. The exit gate 8 of station 6 leads to a further swing gate 13 including identification means 14 corresponding to those of swing gate 10. Gate 13 leads either to the concentrate feeding area 3 as shown by arrow 13 a, or to the separation and treatment area 4 as shown by arrow 13b. The exit gate 8 of station 7 leads to said swing gate 13 via a oneway gate 22.

The concentrate feeding area 3 comprises a number of automatic concentrate feeding stations 12 including means for identification of a cow as well as means for supplying individual amounts and compositions of concentrated food to a cow attending the station. The feeding stations are computer controlled, but may alternatively be transponder controlled in a way similar to that already described for swing gate 10. A one-way gate 15 is provided for allowing the cows to return into area 1 after having finished the amount of concentrated food provided by a feeding station 12.

The separation and treatment area 4 is equipped customarily for relevant treatment of the cows e.g. having diseases and injuries. A computer controlled one-way gate 16 including identification means 17 may be provided in an exit leading back to the roughage feeding area 1. For this purpose gate 16 may be controlled by health status data stored in said computer. Each of the disclosed intelligent gates 10, 13 and 16 may preferably be implemented by a DeLaval Smart Gate.

The arrangement operates as follows. Most of the time the cows occupy the roughage feeding area 1 and the resting areas 18 provided therein. Feeling enticed for access to milking or concentrated food, the cow attends the access gate 10. After being identified and after the computer has concluded that the cow must be milked and be granted a milking permission, the gate 10 is put into a first position illustrated by arrow 10a. This allows the cow to enter the walking alley 5 and to proceed into the milking area 2. Alternatively, if the cow is not granted a milking permission, the gate is put into a second position illustrated by arrow 10b. This allows the cow to enter the concentrate feeding area 3.

Moving along alley 5, the cow ends up in the milking area 2 and enters the idle one of the milking stations 6, 7 of which the entrance gate 9 is open. After end of milking the cow leaves the milking station and attends swing gate 13. After the computer thereof has checked health status data of the cow, she enters the concentrate feeding area 3 if health data is OK and the cow does not need any treatment. Alternatively, if health data tells that the cow needs treatment of disease or injury she enters the separation and treatment area 4.

In area 3 the cow moves to an idle feeding station 12 and gets her individual amount of concentrated food. After finishing this amount the cow returns to roughage area 1 , possibly enticed by a wish to drink water available in this area. This cow may return to the access gate after a short elapse of time attending the access gate 10 for a second run. According to the invention this is exactly the desirable behavior and therefore the cow is let in, but this time directly to the concentrate feeding area 3 because she was milked recently. In the concentrate feeding area 3 the cow will again get a partial amount of her concentrated food ration. This may occur repeatedly before the next coming milking occasion.

As an alternative, if a cow during milking in the milking station is fed a ration of concentrated food, the cow may not be given a ration in the concentrate feed area 3. In this case, she will pass through the concentrate feeding area 3 on her way to the roughage area 1.

After being treated in the separation and treatment area 4 the cow may adjoin the heard via the automatic gate 16, or be returned to the heard in an alternative way.

The condition for grant of milking permission may be set by the farmer or calculated by the control system of the arrangement and is preferably cow individual, based on expected milk amount, time in between milking occasions or experience. This condition may be calculated before hand or momentarily when the cow attends the access gate.

Fig 2 shows a more detailed barn lay-out of an arrangement for about 60 cows. The arrangement comprises a roughage feeding area 1 , which includes resting areas 18 and an elongated feeding table 19, which includes a lot of feeding places for the cows. The arrangement comprises a milking area 2 provided with a milking station 6, in which a milking robot 36 is arranged. Furthermore, the arrangement comprises a concentrate feeding area 3, which is provided with three concentrate feeding stations 12, and a separation and treatment area 4.

The roughage feeding area 1 constitutes the main part of the barn. The roughage feeding area 1 is here divided in a first region A and in a second region B. The first region A and the second region B are arranged on different sides of a centerline 24 through the barn. Each of the regions A, B comprises an elongated first walking area 25 for the cows. A row of cubicles including a resting area 18 is arranged along one side of the first walking areas 25. The elongated feeding table 19 is arranged on the opposite side of the walking areas 25. The feeding table 19 is arranged along said centerline 24. From the feeding table 19 roughage is fed. The roughage is supplied to the feeding table 19 via an automatic feeding wagon 28 running along a rail mounted above the feeding table 19. The roughage is transported from a roughage storage 27 by means of the wagon 28. However, the elongated feeding table 19 has not an extension across the whole roughage feeding area 1. Thereby, a passage 29 is formed, which connects the regions A, B of the roughage feeding area 1.

Each region A, B of the roughage feeding area 1 comprises an elongated second walking area 30. Resting areas 18 are arranged along the two opposite sides of the elongated second walking areas 30. Each of the regions A, B comprises a passage 32 connecting the first walking area 25 and the second walking area 30 in the respective regions A, B. The passages 29, 32 make it possible for the cows to walk substantially freely in the whole roughage feeding area 1. The roughage feeding area 1 comprises entrance and exit doors 20 to and from pasture and grazing areas surrounding the barn. Water bowls 23 are provided in suitable places of the roughage feeding area 1. Scrapers 33 are arranged to move along the first walking areas and the second walking areas in order to remove dung from the walking areas. Only one scraper 33 is shown in Fig. 2. The dung is transported along the walking areas 25, 30 by the scrapers 33 to a dung transportation device 33, which transports the dung to a dung storing space 34.

In order to achieve access to concentrated food, the cows have to pass an access device. The access device comprises a swing gate 10 and animal identification means 11. The swing gate 10 is possible to pivot between two positions. In one position the cows are guided to the milking area 2 and in the opposite position the cows are guided to the concentrate feeding area 3. The milking area 2 comprises one milking station 6 with one milking robot 36. The milking station 6 includes identification means 37 for identification of the cow and means 38 for supplying an individual amount and for composition of concentrated food to the cows during the milking process. The milking station 6 is provided with an entrance gate 9 and an exit gate 8. When the cow leaves the milking station 6, via the exit gate 8, she enters a space provided with identification means 14 and a swing gate 13. The swing gate 13 is possible to pivot between two different positions, in which it leads a cow to the roughage feeding area 1 or to the separation and treatment area 4.

The concentrate feeding area 3 comprises three automatic concentrate feeding stations 12 including means for identification of a cow as well as means for supplying individual amounts and compositions of concentrated food to a cow attending the station 12. A one-way gate 15 is provided in the concentrate feeding area

3 for allowing the cows to return to the roughage feeding area 1. Furthermore, the barn comprises spaces, which not are accessible for the cows. Such spaces are, for example, an electric power room 40, a motor room 41, which comprises a compressor and/or a vacuum pump, a milk room 42, which comprises a milk tank 43, and rooms 44, 45 for operators. The above-described design of the arrangement results in that the floor surface of the barn is used substantially optimally for a herd of about 60 cows. Thereby, the cost for the barn is substantially minimized.

The operation of the arrangement in Fig. 2 corresponds substantially to the operation of the arrangement disclosed in Fig. 1. The cows occupy the roughage feeding area 1 and the resting areas 18 most of the time. In the roughage feeding area 1 the cows have access to roughage and water. When a cow wants access to concentrated food or wants to be milked, the cow attends the access gate 10. After being identified by the identifying means 11, a computer concludes if the cow has to be milked. If the cow is not granted a milking permission, the swing gate 10 is pivoted to the position in which the cow is lead the concentrate feeding area

3. In the concentrate feeding area 3, the cow enters an idle feeding station 12 and gets her individual amount of concentrated food. After finishing this amount the cow returns to roughage area 1 via the one-way gate 15.

Alternatively, if the cow is granted a milking permission, the swing gate 10 is put into a position such that the cow is guided to the milking area 2. The cow ends up in the milking area 2 and enters the milking station 6 if the entrance gate 9 is open. The means 38 supplies concentrated food to the cow during the milking process. When the milking process is finished, the cow leaves the milking station 6 and attends the identifying means 14 and the swing gate 13. If the health data of the cow is well, the swing gate 13 is pivoted to a position such that the cow enters the roughage feeding area 1. Alternatively, if health data tells that the cow needs treatment or if a particular healthy cow is to be separated for some reason, the swing gate 13 is pivoted to a position such that the cow enters the separation and treatment area

4. After treatment, the cow is returned to the roughage feeding area 1 via the identifying means 17 and the swing gate 16.

The Fig 3 shows a barn lay-out for about 120 cows. In this case, the roughage feeding area 1 comprises a larger number of cubicles than the barn shown in Fig. 2. In order to increase the number of cubicles, the resting areas 18, which are arranged on the sides of the first waking areas 25 and the second walking areas 30, have been made longer. Furthermore, a longer feeding table 19 is used. Consequently, the first and second walking areas 25, 30 in the respective regions A, B have been longer but the number of walking areas 25, 30 is unchanged. In this case, the numbers of concentrate feeding stations 12 has been increased to five in the concentrate feeding area 3. The milking area 2 comprises two milking stations 6, which each is provided with a milking robot 36.

Consequently, the bam for a herd of about 120 cows is longer than the bam for a herd of about 60 cows but the width of the bams are substantially the same. The above-described design of the arrangement results in a minimized number of walking areas 25, 30 and an optimal use of the floor surface of the bam. Thereby, the cost for the bam, which is used for a herd of about 120 cows, is substantially minimized. The operation of the arrangement in Fig. 3 essentially corresponds to the operation of the arrangement disclosed in Fig. 2. However, one difference is that the swing gate 13, shown in Fig. 3, only is opened if the identifying means 14 identifies a cow, which shortly before has been identified and milked in one of the milking stations 6.

The Fig 4 shows a bam lay-out of an arrangement for about 180 cows. In this case, compared to the Fig. 3 embodiment, the roughage feeding area 1 , comprises longer resting areas 18 on one side of the first waking areas 25 and on the two opposite sides of the second walking areas 30. Furthermore, a longer feeding table 19 is used. Consequently, the first and second walking areas 25, 30 in the respective regions A, B are also longer but the number of walking areas 25, 30 are unchanged. In this case, the number of concentrate feeding stations 12 is seven in the concentrate feeding area 3. The milking area 2 comprises three milking stations 6. Each milking station 6 is provided with a milking robot 36.

Consequently, the bam for a herd of about 180 cows is longer than the bam for a herd of about 120 cows but the width of the bams are the same. The above-described design of the arrangement results in a minimized number of walking areas 25, 30 and an optimal use of the floor surface of the bam. Thereby, the cost for the bam, which is used for a herd of about 180 cows, is substantially minimized. The operation of the arrangement in Fig. 4 corresponds to the operation of the arrangement disclosed in Fig. 3.

The embodiment described above shall be considered in no other way than a non-limitative example, the scope of the invention being solely defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Loose housing arrangement for automatic milking of animals, comprising in a milking area (2) a milking station (6, 7) provided with means for attachment of teat cups, milking and detachment of the teat cups, and an access device (10) allowing an animal to pass from a first area (1) to alternatively said milking area (2) or a second area (3), and further comprising animal identification means (11) identifying an animal attending the access device (10), control means being provided for the control of the access device (10) dependent on the identity of the animal and whether she is permitted to be milked or not, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that - said first area is a roughage feeding area (1) in which the animals have no access to concentrated food, - said second area is a concentrate feeding area (3) in which the animals have no access to roughage, - said access device (10) allowing an attending animal which is not permitted to be milked always access to the concentrate feeding area (3), - said concentrate feeding area (3) comprising a concentrate feed station (12) including means for animal identification, and providing an attending animal always with a partial amount of her individual ration.

2. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1, w h e r e i n a passage from the concentrate feeding area (3) to the roughage feeding area (1) includes a one-directional gate (15) allowing an animal to pass into the roughage feeding area (1).

3. Arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 and 2, wherein feeding places (19) are arranged in the roughage feeding area (1) to which the animals have free access to roughage.

4. Arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein resting areas (18) are provided in the roughage feeding area (1).

5. Arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1, 2, 3, and 4, wherein an exit gate (13) including further identification means (14) is provided at an exit of the milking area (2), said exit gate (13) allowing an animal to pass, alternatively, either into the concentrate feeding area (3) or into a separation and treatment area (4).

6. Arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, wherein said roughage feeding area (1) is integrated with or constituted by a pasture or grazing area.

7. Arrangement as claimed in any of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, wherein - said first area (1) comprises a first walking area (25), a resting area (18) arranged at least partly along one side of the first walking area (25) and a feeding table (19), from which roughage is fed, arranged at least partly along the opposite side of the first walking area (25).

8. Arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first area (1) comprises a second walking area (26) and resting areas (18) arranged at least partly along two opposite sides of the second walking area (26).

9. Arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first area (1) comprises a passage (32) for the animals between the first walking area (25) and the second walking area (30).

10. Arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first area (1) comprises two regions (A, B), which each comprises a first walking area (25) and a second walking area (30).

11. Arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the two regions (A, B) are arranged on different sides of a line (24) extending through the first area (1).

12. Arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first walking areas (25) and the second walking areas (30) of the regions (A, B) are arranged substantially mirror- inverted on different sides of the line (24).

13. Arrangement as claimed in any one of the claims 1 1 and 12, w h e r e i n the feeding table (19) is arranged substantially along said line (24).

14. Arrangement as claimed in any one of the claims 10 to 13, w h e r e i n the arrangement comprises a passage (29) for the animals between said regions (A, B).

15. An arrangement for automatic milking of animals, comprising in a milking area (2) a milking station (6, 7) provided with means for attachment of teat cups, milking and detachment of the teat cups, and an access device (10) allowing an animal to pass from a first area (1) to alternatively said milking area (2) or a second area (3), and further comprising animal identification means (11) identifying an animal attending the access device (10), control means being provided for the control of the access device (10) dependent on the identity of the animal and whether she is permitted to be milked or not, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that - said first area (1) comprises a first walking area (25), a resting area (18) arranged at least partly along one side of the first walking area (25) and a feeding table (19) arranged at least partly along the opposite side of the first walking area (25), wherein from the feeding table (19) roughage is fed and not concentrated food, - said second area is a concentrate feeding area (3) in which the animals have access to concentrated food, - said access device (10) allowing an attending animal which is not permitted to be milked access to the concentrate feeding area (3).

16. Arrangement as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first area (1) comprises a second walking area (26) and resting areas (18) arranged at least partly along two opposite sides of the second walking area (26).

17. Arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first area (1) comprises a passage (32) for the animals between the first walking area (25) and the second walking area (30).

18. Arrangement as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first area (1) comprises two regions (A, B), which each comprises a first walking area (25) and a second walking area (30).

19. Arrangement as claimed in claim 18, w h e r e i n the two regions (A, B) are arranged on different sides of a line (24) extending through the first area (1).

20. Arrangement as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first walking areas (25) and the second walking areas (30) of the regions (A, B) are arranged substantially mirror- inverted on different sides of the line (24).

21. Arrangement as claimed in any one of the claims 19 and 20, wherein the feeding table (19) is arranged substantially along said line (24).

22. Arrangement as claimed in any one of the claims 18 to 31 , wherein the arrangement comprises a passage (29) for the animals between said regions (A, B).

23. Method for supplying food to animals in a loose housing arrangement for automatic milking of the animals, said arrangement comprising an access device for granting milking permission to an attending animal, characterized by the following steps: - keeping the supply of roughage separate from the supply of concentrated food by supplying the different kinds of food in respectively separate feeding areas, - supplying the roughage in a roughage feeding area, - supplying the concentrated food in a concentrate feeding area in which an animal has always access to a partial amount of her individual ration after having been granted access to the concentrate feeding area.

24. Method as claimed in claim 23, characterized by the step of - supplying the roughage with free access in said roughage feeding area.

25. Method as claimed in any of claims 23 and 24, characterized by the following steps: - supplying water with free access in the roughage feeding area - not supplying or limiting the supply of water in the concentrate feeding area.

26. Method as claimed in any of claims 23, 24 and 25, characterized by the step of - maintaining a consistent reward system by the access device always allowing access to the concentrate feeding area if the animal is not granted milking permission.

27. Method as claimed in any of claims 23, 24, 25 and 26, characterized by the step of - accepting high visiting frequencies of the animals in the concentrate feeding area by allowing access thereto at each attention to the gate, thereby stimulating intensified animal traffic, increased number of milking occasions and milk yield.

28. Animal traffic control method in a loose housing arrangement for automatic milking of animals, comprising in a milking area a milking station provided with means for attachment of teat cups, milking and detachment of the teat cups, and further comprising an access device controlling a passage into the milking area, characterized by the following steps: - operating said access device as alternative-way gate including means for identifying an animal, - identifying an animal attending the gate, - allowing said animal into the milking area, if the animal is granted milking permission, and

- allowing an animal into the concentrate feeding area, if the animal is not granted milking permission.