WO2009123445A1

WO2009123445A1 - Animal interaction system provided with at least one uv-light unit

Info

Publication number: WO2009123445A1
Application number: PCT/NL2009/050150
Authority: WO
Inventors: Albertino Bernardo Maria Verstege; Woltherus Karsijns
Original assignee: N.V. Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek Nedap
Priority date: 2008-03-31
Filing date: 2009-03-26
Publication date: 2009-10-08
Also published as: NL1035232C2

Abstract

An animal interaction.system (1) for milking, feeding and/or selecting animals. The system is provided with at least one UV-light unit (40. 1) for generating UV-light wherein the system is designed such that when the UV-light unit generates the UV-light, the UV-light irradiates a part of the system which, in use, comes into contact with an animal, for killing bacteria, spores and/or fungi present on the part of the system and/or that the UV-light can irradiate a part of an animal present in the proximity of the system for killing bacteria.

Description

Title: Animal interaction system provided with at least one UV-light unit

The invention relates to an animal interaction system for milking, feeding and/or selecting animals.

Such an animal interaction system is known per se. The animal interaction system may be provided with or consist of a milking robot, a feeding machine, a selection box, a selection gate, an animal detection gate etc.

In use, such an animal interaction system comes into contact with the animal. One or more of these animals can be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, spores and/or fungi. A result is that the animal interaction system can also be contaminated with such bacteria, spores and/or fungi. As a result of this, in turn, other animals coming into contact with the animal interaction system can be contaminated with these bacteria, spores and/or fungi. The object of the invention is to reduce the risk of contamination of animals.

Accordingly, the invention is characterized in that the system is provided with at least one UV-light unit for generating UV- light, the system being designed such that when the UV-light unit generates the UV-light, the UV-light irradiates a part of the system which, in use, comes into contact with an animal, for killing bacteria, spores and/or fungi present on the part of the system and/or that the UV-light can irradiate a part of an animal present in the proximity of the system, for killing bacteria, spores and/or fungi present on the part of the animal. As, in accordance with the invention, with the aid of the at least one UV-light unit bacteria, spores and/or fungi present on the system and/or on the animal are killed, the risk of healthy animals being contaminated is reduced. The fact is that when an animal is contaminated with these bacteria, spores and/or fungi, such bacteria, spores and/or fungi on the animal can be killed so that the risk of the animal contaminating other animals is reduced. When spores, bacteria and/or fungi are present on the animal interaction system, the risk of an animal being contaminated is also reduced when these bacteria, spores and/or fungi are killed. Furthermore, if contaminated parts of the animal itself are irradiated, the animal itself is treated through the killing of spores, bacteria and/or fungi present on or in the contaminated parts of the animal. In particular, it holds that the system is provided with an apparatus for milking animals which is provided with at least one teat cup. Preferably, it holds here that the system is designed such that UV-light can irradiate the at least one teat cup when this is not used for milking an animal. When irradiating the teat cup, any bacteria, spores and/or fungi that may be present on the teat cup are killed. Here, it holds in particular that the system is provided with a plurality of teat cups, the system being designed to irradiate each teat cup with the UV-light when it is not used for milking. More particularly it holds here that the system is designed to irradiate an inside of the at least one teat cup. In particular, it further holds that the system is designed to feed the animal and to this end is provided with at least one feeding system, which is in particular provided with a feeding trough. In particular, it holds here that the system is designed to irradiate at least a part of the feeding system with the UV-light, such as a part of the feeding trough with which the animal can come into contact. An advantage is that bacteria, spores and/or fungi present on this part of the feeding system are killed so that, once more, an animal which comes into contact with this part of the feeding system cannot be contaminated. In particular it holds that the system is provided with at least a selection box and/or a selection gate for selecting animals. Here, it preferably holds that the system is designed to irradiate at least a part of the selection box and/or at least a part of the selection gate with the UV-light. Just like with the feeding trough, here, once more, a part of the selection box and/or selection gate is concerned which, in use, comes into contact with animals and can thus be contaminated with bacteria, spores and/or fungi. As these parts are irradiated with UV-light, the bacteria, spores and/or fungi present on these parts will be killed.

According to a preferred embodiment, it holds that the system is designed to irradiate, in use, at least an udder and/or muzzle of an animal. The fact is that the udder and the muzzle of the animal are precisely the parts of the animal that can carry bacteria, spores and/or fungi. These are also the parts that, in use, come into contact with the animal interaction system. By irradiating precisely these parts of the animal, bacteria, spores and/or fungi on the animal are killed. Preferably, it holds that the system is designed to irradiate at least an udder and/or muzzle of the animal when the animal is present in the proximity of the location where it will be milked with the aid of the at least one teat cup. As the animal will regularly be at the location where it will be milked, this is a location eminently suitable for irradiating the animal with UV-light. Preferably it holds that the system is designed to irradiate at least an udder and a muzzle of the animal when the animal is in the proximity of the location where it will be fed with the aid of the system. This location too is a location where the animal will regularly be so that this location too is suitable for treating the animal with UV-light. In particular, it holds that the system is designed to irradiate at least an udder and/or muzzle of the animal when the animal is in the proximity of a selection box and/or selection gate of the system. The selection box and/or selection gate too mark a position in the system where the animal can be regularly found so that this location too is suitable for irradiating the animal.

In particular, it holds that the system is provided with animal presence recognition means for recognizing the presence of an animal at a predetermined location and, depending on whether or not the presence of an animal is recognized at the predetermined location, to activate the at least one UV-light unit for irradiating the part of the animal. The predetermined location can then for instance be the location where the teat cup is located (i.e. the place where the animal is milked) the location where the feeding trough is located, the location where the selection box is located and/or the location where the selection gate is located. In particular it holds here that the animal presence recognition means comprise an animal identification system for detecting a transponder of an animal.

Presently, the invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the drawing.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a possible embodiment of an animal interaction system according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of an animal interaction system according to the invention; and

Fig. 3 shows a teat cup of the system according to Fig. 2. In Fig. 1, with reference numeral 1, an animal interaction system for milking, feeding and/or selecting animals is indicated. The animal interaction system is provided with a first space 2 in which feeding troughs 4, 6 are disposed. The first space 2 has an entrance 8 and an exit 10. The exit 10 gives access to a selection box 12 having a first exit 14 and a second exit 16. The selection box 12 is provided with a gate 18 which, in a first position, can close off the exit 16 and thus release the exit 14 and, in a second position, can close off the exit 14 and thus release the exit 16. The exit 14 gives access to a milking space 20. The exit 16 gives access to a stable space 22. In the milking space 20 two apparatuses 24, 26 known per se for milking animals are disposed. Each milking apparatus 24, 26 is provided with a plurality of milking locations 28 where an animal can be milked. In the drawing, at each milking apparatus 24, 26 three of these milking locations 28 are in use. As a rule, all milking locations are in use. The milking space is further provided with four exits 30, 31, 32, 34, each provided with at least one gate that can close off or release the respective exit. In this example, it holds that the feeding trough 4 is provided with three UV-light units 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3. Each UV-light unit 4O.i (i=l, 2, 3) is connected to a control device 42.i. The control device 42.i is designed to activate and deactivate the UV-light unit 4O.i. In this example, adjacent each UV-light unit 4O.i, also, an animal presence recognition means 44.i is provided for recognizing the presence of an animal when it is at the feeding trough. In this example, it holds in particular that the animal presence recognition means 44.i recognizes an animal when the animal is present near the UV-light unit 4O.i (i=l,2,3). Each animal recognition means is connected to a, in this example central, computer 46. In this example, each animal presence recognition means 44.i concerns an animal identification means known per se for detecting a transponder of an animal. When an animal is for instance in the proximity of the animal identification means 44.i, this will detect a transponder of the animal and pass on the thus determined identity of the animal to the computer 46 by means of a signal S. The computer 46 will then generate a verification signal C which is supplied to the control device 42. i. Then, in reaction to the reception of the verification signal C, the control device 42.i activates the UV-light unit 4O.i. In this example, this results in that the UV-light unit 4O.i irradiates the muzzle of the animal with UV-light. As a result, bacteria, spores and/or fungi on the muzzle of the animal will be killed. In this example therefore, the muzzle of the animal is irradiated when the animal is present. However, it is also possible that the computer 46 controls the control device 42.i depending on the determined identity of the animal. The computer 46 can, for instance depending on the determined identity of the animal, activate or not activate the UV-light unit via the control device 42.i. Thus, a farmer may have stored in the computer that with certain animals, the muzzle of the animal needs indeed to be irradiated and with certain other animals, the muzzle of the animal needs not be irradiated. The choice of the farmer may be connected to his knowledge of a health condition of the animal. It is also possible that depending on the determined identity of the animal, the computer regulates the intensity or a maximum duration of irradiation of the respective part of the animal. The computer 46 can also stop irradiation, i.e. switch off the UV- light unit when thereupon no longer any identity of an animal is detected with the animal identification means. The animal has then apparently walked away so that it is no longer useful to leave the UV-light unit on. When no animal is adjacent the animal identification means 44.i, in this example, this is also passed on by the animal identification means 44.i to the central computer 46. In this example, the central computer 46 is designed such that it activates the control device 42. i at regular times, for instance twice a day, when no animal is in the range of the animal identification means 44.i. The result is that a part of the feeding trough is irradiated with UV-light which is generated by the UV-light unit 44.i. This, in turn, results in that the bacteria, spores and/or fungi present on this part of the feeding trough are killed. Such a procedure is carried out at regular intervals with each of the UV-light units 40.i (i=l,2,3) to irradiate different parts of the feeding trough when no animals are in the proximity of these parts of the feeding trough.

In this embodiment, the UV-light units 40.1-40.3 therefore have as object irradiating parts of the feeding trough and irradiating parts of an animal for killing bacteria, spores and/or fungi. In this example, the feeding trough is also provided with such UV- light units 4O.i (1=4, 5), animal identification means 44.i (i=4, 5) and control devices 42.i (i=4, 5) which operate completely analogously to what is described with respect to the feeding trough 4.

In this example, in the floor near the exit 8 (represented in the Figure by means of a rectangle) also, a UV-light unit 40.6 and 40.7 are arranged. Also, an animal identification means 44.6 is provided which detects the presence of the animal at the entrance 8. In this example, the animal identification means 44.6 is directly connected to a control device 42.6. When an animal is detected by the animal identification means 44.6 at the entrance 8, this will be passed on to the control device 42.6. The control device 42.6 will then activate the UV-light units 40.6 and 40.7. As a result, the udder of the respective animal and hence each of the teats of the udder of the respective animal will be irradiated so that any bacteria, spores and/or fungi that may be present on the teats and/or udder will be killed. In the selection box 12, also animal identification means 44.8 is provided for recognizing the presence of an animal in the respective selection box. When the animal has been identified by the animal identification means 44.8, this is passed on to the central computer 46 by means of a signal S. The central computer 46 then determines which exit 14, 16 is to be closed off by means of the gate 18 and generates a corresponding verification signal C which is transmitted to the selection box for operating the gate 18. Thus, either the exit 14 or the exit 16 is released. In this example, once more, in the floor of the exit 14, a UV-light unit 40.9 is arranged and further, in the floor of the exit 16, a UV-light unit 40.10 is arranged. However, other locations above the floor are also conceivable such as attachment to a gate. When the exit 14 is released, the central computer 46 drives, by means of the verification signal C also a control device 42.9 which provides for activation of the UV-light unit 40.9 resulting in that the underside of the animal is irradiated with UV- light when the animal passes the exit 14. The result is that both the muzzle of the animal and the udder of the animal are irradiated. Completely analogously, the central computer 46 provides, by means of the verification signal C that the control device 42.10 activates the UV-light unit 40.10 which is in the floor of the exit 16 when an animal passes this exit. The result of this is that both the muzzle and the udder of the animal are irradiated. In this example, it holds that each milking location 128.i

(i=ll, 12, 13,...) is provided with a UV-light unit which will be further indicated here with 4O.i (i=ll, 12, 13..). Further, at each milking location 28, an animal identification means 44.i (i=ll, 12, 13...) is arranged which is connected to the central computer 46. The central computer 46 is further connected to control devices 42. i (i=ll, 12, 13,...) which are each connected to a UV-light unit 4O.i (i=ll, 12, 13) present at the milking location 28.i. Completely analogously to what is described hereinabove, it holds that as soon as an animal that is identified is in one of the milking locations 28.i, this is passed on to the central computer 46 which then provides for the control device 42.i belonging to the respective milking location to be driven so that it activates the UV-light unit 4O.i of the respective milking location 28.i. As a result, in this example, once more, the udder of the animal is irradiated.

In Fig. 2, a second embodiment of an animal interaction system 1 according to the invention is shown. The animal interaction system 1 is provided with a feeding trough 4 which can be automatically filled with feed with the aid of a filling device 50. In this example, the filling device 50 is provided with a scoop which can be filled with feed 54 and which can be opened for pouring the feed on a guide surface 52 so that the feed 54 ends up in the feeding trough 4. The animal interaction system 1 is further provided with a milking location 70 and a milking apparatus 56 arranged at the milking location 70 for milking an animal present at the milking location 70. In this example, the apparatus is provided with four teat cups 58.j (3=1,2,3,4). In the drawing two of these teat cups are shown. The system is further provided with an animal identification means 60 of a type as discussed on the basis of Fig. 1 for recognizing a presence of an animal at a predetermined location. In this example, the animal identification means is arranged at the feeding trough 4. In this example, the animal identification means is arranged for detecting a transponder 62 of the animal which is worn around the neck of the animal. It is also possible that the transponder is attached to an ear or leg of the animal or is present inside the animal. The animal interaction system 1 is further provided with a first UV-light unit 64.1 and a second UV-light unit 64.2 which are each of a type as discussed on the basis of Fig. 1. The animal interaction system 1 is further provided with a control device 66.1 which is connected, on the one side, to the animal identification means 60 and, on the other side, is connected to the UV-light unit 64.1. The system is further provided with a control device 66.2 which is connected, on the one side, to the animal identification means 60 and is connected, on the other side, to the UV-light unit 64.2. The apparatus described so far works as follows.

When the animal proceeds towards the feeding trough 4, the animal identification means 60 will identify the animal. Thus, the animal is identified and the presence of the animal at the milking location 70 is recognized. When the presence of the animal at the milking location 70 is recognized, the animal identification means passes this on via a signal line 72 to the control device 66.1 which provides, in reaction thereto, via a signal line 74, for the UV- light unit 64.1 to be activated. The result thereof is that the muzzle of the animal will be irradiated with UV-light. When the presence of the animal at the milking location has been recognized, the animal identification means passes this on, also via a signal line 76 to the control device 66.2 which provides, in reaction thereto, via a signal line 78, for the UV-light unit 64.2 to be activated. As a result it is effected that at least one teat of the animal is irradiated. In this example, it holds more particularly that all teats of the udder of the animal are irradiated. The fact is that when the animal has its head near the feeding trough, all teats of the animal will be radiated when the UV-light unit 64.2 is activated. It also holds that the udder and/or the muzzle of the animal is irradiated when the animal is in the proximity of the location where it will be milked with the aid of at least one of the teat cups 58.j. In this example, it therefore also holds that a system is designed to irradiate an udder and/or the muzzle of the animal when the animal is in the proximity of the location where it will be fed with the aid of the system. In this example, the system is also designed such that the UV-light unit 64.1 can irradiate an inside of the feeding trough when no animal is present. The control device 66.1 can for instance be designed such that it irradiates the feeding trough at regular intervals when no animal is present. This may happen for instance twice every twenty-four hours. It is also possible that once more, use is made of the computer 46. In that case, the identity determined with the animal identification means 60 is fed to the computer 46 (via line 100 indicated in dotted lines). Then, depending on the determined identity the computer 46 drives the control devices 66.1 and 66.2 (via lines 102 and 104 indicated via dotted lines). The animal interaction system may be designed to either activate or not activate, during use, the at least one UV- light unit depending on the determined identity of the animal for irradiating a part of the animal. Thus, the computer can determine, depending on the determined identity of the animal, whether the muzzle and/or the udder of the animal needs to be irradiated. For instance, with a specific animal, it can be determined that only the udder is to be irradiated and not the muzzle, with another animal just the muzzle, with yet another animal both the muzzle and the udder, and with still another animal it can be determined that no irradiation at all will take place. It therefore holds that the animal interaction system is designed to selectively irradiate at least a part of a plurality of parts of the animal with the aid of the at least one UV-light unit (in this example the UV-light units 64.1 and 64.2) while the animal interaction system is further designed to select, in use, depending on the determined identity of the animal, at least one specific part of the plurality of parts of the animal (in this example the udder and the muzzle) for irradiation with the at least one UV-light unit. In particular, it may hold that the animal interaction system is designed to regulate, in use, the intensity of the UV-light generated by the at least one UV-light unit depending on the determined identity of the animal. For instance, the computer 46 can regulate thus that with one determined animal the udder is irradiated relatively weakly while with another animal, the udder is irradiated relatively strongly. Also, depending on the determined identity, the maximum irradiation time of the udder and/or the muzzle can be regulated by the computer. The computer 46 can also switch the UV-light units 64.1 and 64.2 off when, with the aid of the animal identification means 60, no identity and hence no presence of an animal is detected any more. It can further also be that the system is designed such that with the aid of UV-light at least one teat cup 58.j is irradiated when this is not in use for milking an animal. Such a variant is shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 shows a teat cup 58.j which could be used with system described in Fig. 1 and/or 2. The teat cup 58.j is provided at its inside with a sensor 80 for detecting the presence of an udder 82 of the animal in the teat cup 58.j. To this end, the sensor 80 is connected to the control device 42.1 and 42.2. In turn, the control device 42.1 is connected to a UV- light unit 40.1 which is present in the teat cup. The control device 42.2 is connected to a UV- light unit 40.2 which is also present in the teat cup. In this example, the control devices 42.1 and 42.2 are designed such that when it is detected with the aid of the sensor 80 that no udder 82 is present in the teat cup, the UV- light units 40.1 and 40.2 are activated for irradiating an inside of the teat cup. Any bacteria that may be present in the inside of the teat cup are killed. This also holds for spores and/or fungi. Here, the system can be designed such that the respective teat cup is irradiated at its inside with UV- light after it is used for milking an animal. For such a control, the control devices 42.1 and 42.2 may be connected to a central computer 46 of the animal interaction system according to Fig. 2 which controls the feeding device 50 and the milking apparatus 56 for milking the animals. Then, the central computer 46 can for instance provide that after milking an animal, by means of the control devices 42.1 and 42.2 of Fig. 3, the UV-light units 40.1 and 40.2 of the teat cup 58.j of Fig. 3 are activated. It is also conceivable that the computer 46 provides for UV-light units 40.1 and 40.2 of Fig. 3 to be activated after milking when the teat 82 is still in the teat cup 58. j. A result thereof is that the udder itself is irradiated with UV-light. It is noted that the sensor 80 can be omitted when the control devices 42.1 and 42.2 and/or the central computer 46 are informed in a different manner that the teat cup is connected to the animal. In particular it holds that each teat cup 58.j (j=l, 2,3,4) of the animal interaction system according to Fig. 2 is designed as discussed for the teat cup according to Fig. 3. In this example, it then holds that the system according to Fig. 2 is provided with a plurality of teat cups while the system is designed to irradiate each teat cup with UV-light when this is not used for milking. It also holds that the system is provided with a plurality of UV units for irradiating a plurality of teat cups. More particularly it holds that the system is provided with one UV-light unit per teat cup for irradiating the respective teat cup. In this example, it also holds that the system is designed to irradiate an inside of the at least one teat cup. Naturally, it is also conceivable that for instance with the aid of one UV-light unit an outside of all teat cups is irradiated for killing bacteria, fungi and the like which are present on this outside. Such variants are all understood to fall within the framework of the invention.

Claims

1. An animal interaction system for milking, feeding and/or selecting animals, characterized in that the system is provided with at least one UV-light unit for generating UV-light, wherein the system is designed such that when the UV-light unit generates the UV-light, the UV-light irradiates a part of the system which, in use, comes into contact with an animal, for killing bacteria, spores and/or fungi present on the part of the system and/or that the UV-light can irradiate a part of an animal present in the proximity of the system, for killing bacteria, spores and/or fungi present on the part of the animal.

2. An animal interaction system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system is provided with an apparatus for milking animals and is provided with at least one teat cup.

3. An animal interaction system according to claim 2, characterized in that the system is designed such that the UV-light can irradiate the at least one teat cup when this is not used for milking an animal.

4. An animal interaction system according to claim 3, characterized in that the system is provided with a plurality of teat cups, wherein the system is designed to irradiate each teat cup with the UV-light when it is not used for milking.

5. An animal interaction system according to claim 4, characterized in that the sy ysstteemm iiss provided with a plurality of UV-units for irradiating the p plluurraalliittyy ooff tteeaatt ccuuppss.

6. An animal interaction system according to claim 5, characterized in that the system is provided with a UV-light unit per teat cup for irradiating the respective teat cup

7. An animal interaction system according to any one of claims 3 - 6, characterized in that the system is designed to irradiate an inside of the at least one teat cup.

8. An animal interaction system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system is designed to feed an animal and to this end is provided with a feeding system which is for instance provided with at least one feeding trough.

9. An animal interaction system according to claim 8, characterized in that the system is designed to irradiate at least a part of the feeding system with the UV-light, in particular at least a part of the feeding trough.

10. An animal interaction system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system is provided with at least a selection box and/or selection gate for selecting animals.

11. An animal interaction system according to claim 10, characterized in that the system is designed to irradiate at least a part of the selection box and/or at least a part of the selection gate with the UV-light.

12. An animal interaction system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system is designed to irradiate, during use, at least an udder and/or muzzle and/or a different part of an animal.

13. An animal interaction system according to claim 12, characterized in that the system is designed to irradiate, in use, all teats of the udder of the animal.

14. An animal interaction system according to claim 2 and according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the system is designed to irradiate at least an udder and/or muzzle of the animal when the animal is present in the proximity of the location where it will be milked with the aid of the at least one teat cup.

15. An animal interaction system according to claim 8 and according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the system is designed to irradiate at least an udder and/or muzzle of the animal when the animal is present in the proximity of the location where it will he fed with the aid of the system.

16. An animal interaction system according to claim 15, characterized in that the system is designed to irradiate at least an udder and/or muzzle of the animal when the animal is in the proximity of the feeding trough.

17. An animal interaction system according to claim 10 and according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the system is designed to irradiate at least an udder and/or muzzle of the animal when the animal is in the proximity of the selection box and/or the selection gate.

18. An animal interaction system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system is provided with animal presence recognition means for recognizing the presence of an animal at a predetermined location.

19. An animal interaction system according to claim 18, characterized in that the system is designed, depending on whether or not the presence of an animal has been recognized at the predetermined location, to activate the at least one UV-light unit for irradiating the part of the animal.

20. An animal interaction system according to claim 19, characterized in that the predetermined location is a location where the animal is milked, a location where a teat cup of the system is located, a location where a feeding trough of the system is located, a location where a selection box of the system is located and/or a location where a selection gate of the system is located.

21. An animal interaction system according to any one of claims 18-20, characterized in that the system is designed to switch a UV-light unit off again because the presence of an animal is no longer recognized while before that, the presence of the animal was recognized and the UV-light unit was switched on.

22. An animal interaction system according to any one of claims 18 - 21, characterized in that the system is designed to switch the at least one UV-light unit off after this has been switched on for a maximum time for irradiating the part of the animal.

23. An animal interaction system according to any one of claims 18 - 22, characterized in that the animal presence recognition means comprise an animal identification system for detecting a transponder of an animal.

24. An animal interaction system according to claim 23, characterized in that the animal interaction system is designed to control, depending on the determined identity of the animal, the at least one UV-light unit.

25. An animal interaction system according to claim 24, characterized in that the animal interaction system is designed, in use, depending on the determined identity of the animal, to activate or not to activate the at least one UV-light unit for irradiating a part of the animal.

26. An animal interaction system according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the animal interaction system is designed to selectively irradiate at least a part or a plurality of parts of the animal with the aid of the at least one UV-light unit and wherein the animal interaction system is further designed to select, in use, depending on the determined identity of the animal, at least a specific part of the plurality of parts of the animal for irradiation with the at least one UV-light unit.

27. An animal interaction system according to any one of claims 24 -26, characterized in that the animal interaction system is designed to regulate, in use, the intensity of the UV-light generated by the at least one UV-light unit depending on the determined identity of the animal.

28. An animal interaction system according to any one of claims 24 - 27, characterized in that the animal interaction system is designed to regulate, in use, the maximum duration of the UV-light generated by the at least one UV- light unit depending on the determined identity of the animal.