WO2010099800A2

WO2010099800A2 - Milking machine electronic nose technology

Info

Publication number: WO2010099800A2
Application number: PCT/EG2010/000020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Asmaa Mohammed Shaaban
Original assignee: Asmaa Mohammed Shaaban
Priority date: 2009-03-02
Filing date: 2010-04-29
Publication date: 2010-09-10
Also published as: WO2010099800A4; WO2010099800A9; WO2010099800A3

Abstract

The correct detection of estrus phase in diary cows is of vital importance for artificial insemination to increase the rate of successful impregnation and improve overall profits by reducing feed costs and increasing uniformity in the calf crop. Artificial olfaction technology has allowed monitoring perineal odor through estrus. So the merge between the milking machine and the Electronic Nose technology was important to facilitate and be accurate for estrus detection. The milking machines are provided with a computerized system that each cow has its own number. When the cow enters to the milking machine the number of the cow is received by receptors. These receptors transmit the data to the computer system to the file of this cow. These data carry all the information about the cow needed by the veterinarian and/or the breeders detected by the electronic nose.

Description

Milking Machine Electronic Nose Technology- EGAS

MENT-EGAS

Technical Field

The correct detection of estrus phase in diary cows is of vital importance for artificial insemination to increase the rate of successful impregnation and improve overall profits by reducing feed costs and increasing uniformity in the calf crop.

Recent advances in artificial olfaction technology have allowed monitoring perineal odor through estrus. While its application as it represented in the markets is too difficult to be applied in dairy farm. So the merge between the milking machine and the Electronic Nose technology was important to facilitate and be accurate for estrus detection

Background Art

1. Pressure-sensitive mount detectors are probably the most commonly used estrous detection aid. Mount detectors are glued to the rump of a cow according to the directions supplied by the manufacturer. The mount detector is activated by the weight of another cow mounting the cow on which the mount detector is attached. Activation changes the detector's color. Partially triggered detectors may indicate a cow is coming into estrus.

2. Tail Chalk, Crayon, or Paint These types of estrous detection aids are most commonly used in large herds in a similar manner. A cow that has been mounted has the chalk or paint rubbed off or smudged. Little research has been done to determine the best use of chalk or tail painting. Chalk or paint appears to be nearly as effective as pressure-sensitive mount detectors, while being less expensive.

3. Electronic Aids: The devices currently being used measure either a change in electrical resistance of vaginal secretions or an increase in physical activity of cows in estrus. A commercially available device that measures changes in electrical resistance of vaginal secretions The advantages of this device are:

1 ) It may be used to indicate when a cow may be coming into estrus, indicating that intensive observation is needed and

2) The device can be used to identify cows that have problems with their reproductive tract.

4. Computerized Estrus Detection: Current computerized estrus detection devices (radiotelemetry) available to producers can be used effectively and efficiently. Patches equipped with transmitters are glued to the tailhead of the cow. When mounting activity begins, the transmitter is depressed and a signal sent to a receiver. Mounting activity data includes the transmitter number, date, time and duration of the mount. This information is sent from the receiver to a buffer that stores this data until it is downloaded into a computer. Once this data has been downloaded, it is processed into reports capable of being viewed on the computer screen or printed.

5. Detector Animals: Two types of detector animals are commonly used: surgically altered bulls and hormone treated animals. Vasectomized bulls are altered surgically so that normal mating may occur, but sperm transport is blocked. Gomer bulls are altered surgically to prevent contact between the penis and the cow. Most commonly, the pathway of the penis is altered so that it exits to the side of the bull so he cannot service a cow. 6. Chin-Ball Marker: Detector animals are usually fitted with a marking device such as a chin-ball marker. When a detector animal mounts and begins to slide off and the chin rubs the back of the female, the chin-ball marker is activated and marks the back and rump of the mounted cow.

7. Electronic Nose (EN): Electronic/artificial noses are being developed as systems for the automated detection and classification of odors, vapors, and gases. An EN is generally composed of a chemical sensing system (e.g., sensor array or spectrometer) and a pattern recognition system (e.g., artificial neural network). Recent advances in artificial olfaction technology have allowed monitoring perineal odor through estrus. A pheromonal function has been proposed for the skin glands of the bovine perineum. These glands are specialized sebaceous glands that are located on either side of the vulva, and undergo morphological changes at estrus.

Deficiency in the Background Art

1. Pressure-sensitive mount detectors: The biggest problem with pressure-sensitive mount detectors is false triggering. As a consequence, cows are bred when they are not in estrus which results in low conception rates for the herd. If the cow was bred previously, an abortion may result from breeding the cow when she was not actually in estrus. Use of other signs of estrus or other estrous detection aids to confirm a triggered mount detector is essential to obtain acceptable conception rates.

2. Tail Chalk, Crayon, or Paint: The disadvantages are:

1 ) Cows may need to be rechalked as often as every 2-4 days,

2) chalking may require restraint of the animal and

3) false chalk smearing may occur.

False chalk smearing may be due to rubbing on low branches, back scratchers, or free stalls. It is important that results from tail chalk be confirmed by other signs of estrus or other estrous detection aids to obtain acceptable conception rates.

3. Electronic Aids: The disadvantages are:

1 ) cost of the device,

2) cows should be evaluated with the machine daily to predict time of increased observations and

3) the portion of the device that is placed in the cow should be sterilized between cows to insure that disease is not spread.

4. Computerized Estrus Detection: Some items that may need to be bought or used with this type of estrous detection include patches, glue, transmitters, buffer, receiver, computer and printer. Transmitters can be lost in the field if patches aren't glued properly or if they're not secured properly in their pouch.

5. Detector Animals: The disadvantages of having a surgically altered bull in the herd include:

1) danger of an aggressive bull,

2) feed costs of maintaining a bull,

3) transmission of venereal diseases by a vasectomized bull,

4) cost of surgical alteration by a veterinarian, and

5) a decrease in libido or sex drive by some gomer bulls. The decrease in libido in gomer bulls results in poor estrous detection efficiency.

6. Chin-Ball Marker: Although chin-ball markers are very useful, maintenance is necessary for continuous use. Straps made of leather may break or stretch, leading to the loss or misplacement of the marker in the pasture. They must be checked periodically (every few days depending on activity) and refilled with paint.

7. Electronic Nose (EN): The system is unable to distinguish between 2 or 3 sample day, and, as such, the timing of artificial insemination may not be sufficiently accurate using this technique. This deficiency might, in the future, be eliminated by chemical identification of the volatile odors and the production of more specific sensors for these compounds. The system represented in the market as a single unit to be used in laboratories or for sampling in a small scale, as to represent sample from a cow to the EN needs to cotton swab and container with certain criteria which it is too difficult to apply it as it is in a large scale like large dairy herds.

Disclosure of Invention

Electronic Nose technology when merged or introduced to the milking machine allow accurate estrus detection as it will detect the pheromonal odor 3 times/ day automatically, in this way the system can come over the following problems;

1 . Sampling process: no more need for cotton swabs and containers from each cow as it will be replaced by direct sampling by a rubber band and a hose connecting directly to the electronic nose when the cows are milked during the milking process.

2. Reliability of the results: the results will be accurate as it depends on the pheromones which have direct relationship with the hormones that regulate the estrus cycle not depend on behavioral signs which lead to false detection.

3. Not lost in the animal yards: other electronic devices lost probably due to improper fixation on the animal or due to the animal behavior in the yards while this system will be secured in the milking department with the milking machine.

4. Estrus detection frequency: the estrus will be detected in each time the cow will be milked/ day according to the farm system (3-4 times/ day) which make us sure enough about estrus and decrease the possibility that the estrus phase to be lost.

5. Could replace the behavioral observations: No of other estrus detection aids could replace the behavioral observation while this system could as it not depend on it.

6. Coming over Silent Heat: most of other estrus detection aids depend on the estrus signs and the behavior of the animal which decreased or may be absent due to the animal become experienced by age which called silent heat while this system not depend on the animal behavior.

7. Coming over Repeat Breeders: some cows after artificial insemination not come pregnant and come again into estrus. This system will facilitate detection of these cows which represent lost opportunities for use of semen from genetically superior bulls which leads to economic losses.

8. Economic in use: other ordinary detection aids need to be combined to increase the accuracy of estrus detection while this system not in need to be combined which decrease the costs for estrus detection aids

9. No venereal disease transmission: some of other electronic estrus detection aids transmit venereal diseases due to intromission of it through vagina, while this system depends on the air surrounding the perineal region. Also this region will be washed with clean water.

10. Computerized system: in dairy farms each animal has its own number and its record on the computer system by which when it inter to the milking machine the data recorded automatically (ex; amount of milk/ cow in each milking process). By the same way the software of the EN will be merged to the software of the milking machine to record the pheromonal behavior all over the 21 days of the estrous cycle. This system will be supplied by alarms to indicate the estrus. 11. Repeated examination for sensors sensitivity: according to the sensors type will be used which mostly will be Metal-Oxide-Silicon (MOS) the sensors will be checked at least every 6 months in order to the data from the sensors have supervised for quality control.

Design # (ϊ ):

In which there is a rubber or silicon band (1) with 4 plastic edges (2). The rubber or silicon band will be convex to adapt the perineum shape. The lower edge has pores (3) to permit air entrance while the other 3 sides are compacted to avoid fecal matter contamination. The two lateral sides have a ring for a rope to be fixed above the tail region. The rubber or silicon band followed by a dilated part (4), which ends by a shutting valve (5) for gas trapping after the suction process done. This dilated part is connected to a hose (6). From the rope and the rubber or silicon band till the end of the hose is a unit repeated for each milking unit. All of these units whatever its number (according to the number of milking units or capacity of the milking department) connected to the vacuum pump (7) for head space gas suction surrounding perineum. Its capacity will be calculated according to the length and the width of the hose used. At the beginning of the hose connection there is also a shutting valve (5). All the units hose ends will be connected to an auto sampler devise (8) which connected to the EN. The EN system (provide in the markets) just we ask only for 2-4 sensors (9) to decrease the expenses of it. The EN contain sensors chamber (10) where the analysis of the gas occur. It also provide with a pump (7) and flow controller (1 1) for gas suction which trapped and incubated for 5-10 mints and cleaning process after the analysis. The result then obtained by the EN software (12) which will be trained on the pheromonal odor. The data will be transmitted to the main software (13) in a pattern like for each cow for each day of the estrous cycle. By which when the odor appear give for example a red light and when start to be disappeared give a green light by which the cow is ready to be artificially inseminated and the period between the red light (14) and the green one was the estrus phase.

Hose opening (15), zero gas (16), gas inlet (17), gas outlet (18), front view (19), back view (20), shell and claw (21), and receiver tank (22) Design # (2):

In which there is a rubber or silicon band (1) with 4 plastic edges (2). The rubber or silicon band will be convex to adapt the perineum shape. The lower edge has pores (3) to permit air entrance while the other 3 sides are compacted to avoid fecal matter contamination. The two lateral sides have a ring for a rope to be fixed above the tail region. The rubber or silicon band followed by a dilated part (4), in this design no need for shutting valve for gas trapping. This dilated part is connected to a hose (5). From the rope and the rubber or silicon band till the end of the hose is a unit repeated for each milking unit. All of these units whatever its number (according to the number of milking units or capacity of the milking department) connected to the gas inlet (6) of a sensor chamber (7) which contain single sensor (8). The data transmitted to the EN software (9) which will be trained on the pheromonal odor. Then the EN software connected to the main software (10) and the process continued as in design number 1. The sensors chambers connected to pump (11) and flow controller (12) for gas suction which trapped and incubated for 5-10 mints and cleaning process after the analysis. gas outlet (13), Hose opening (14), shell and claw (15), and receiver tank (16)

Design # (3):

In which there is a stainless steel box of four sides only (upward, 2 lateral, and backward) in which the cow enter by its back. This shield of double layer (roof) act as a sensor chamber for the E.N single sensor. The sensors chambers connected to pump and flow controller for gas suction which trapped and incubated for 5-10 mints and cleaning process after the analysis, Gas outlet.

Design # (4):

In this design we use E- tongue sensors which placed in the inner layer of the shell and claws to determine progesterone level, by which we can determine estrus. Progesterone level measured and recorded by the E- Tongue software. These data represent the input for mathematical treatment that will deliver results. Also connected to the computerized system as in design # (1)

Brief Description of Drawings:

Design # 1 :

(1): Rubber or silicon band. It is convex to adapt the perineum shape.

(2): 4 plastic edges. The upper and the lateral edges are compact to avoid fecal contamination while the lower has pores.

(3): Pores in the lower edge to permit gas entrance.

(4): Dilated part connects between the rubber band and the hose.

(5): Shutting valve for gas trapping after perineum head space gas suction by the pump to prevent its escape again and for incubation.

(6): Hose.

(7): Pump for head space suction. (8): Auto-sampler due to large amount of samples the devices are connected in that way that the EN can trigger signals from the Headspace-Sampler and start the measurement with the correct timing.

(9): Non specific chemical sensors type (MOS) = (metal oxide silicon).

(10): Sensor chamber and the flow inside it.

(1 1): Flow controller

(12): Software of the EN by which the data collected and transmitted to the computer system.

(13): Computer system

(14): Light alarm red at the beginning of the pheromonal odor appear, green light when the odor start to be disappear. It may be fixed too the milking machine.

(15): The hose opening in the rubber band.

(16): Zero gas.

(17): Gas inlet.

(18): Gas outlet.

(19): Front view of the rubber band which will face the perineum.

(20): Back view of the rubber band which will face the tail.

(21): Shell and claw (part of the milking machine)

(22): Receiver tank

Design # 2:

(1): Rubber or silicon band. It is convex to adapt the perineum shape.

(3): Pores in the lower edge to permit gas entrance.

(4): Dilated part connects between the rubber band and the hose.

(5): Hose.

(6): Gas inlet. (7): Sensor chamber and the flow inside it.

(8): Non specific chemical sensors type (MOS) = (metal oxide silicon).

(9): Software of the EN by which the data collected and transmitted to the computer system.

(10): Computer system with the Light alarm red at the beginning of the pheromonal odor appears green light when the odor start to be disappears. It may be fixed too the milking machine.

(11): Pump for head space suction.

(12): Flow controller.

(13): Gas outlet.

(14): The hose opening in the rubber band.

(15): Shell and claw (part of the milking machine).

(16): Receiver tank.

Claims

ClaimsClaim # (1):The merging between the EN technology and milking machine and its application in dairy farm which characterized by:

1. Rubber or silicon band. It is convex to adapt the perineum shape (1).

2. 4 plastic edges. The upper and the lateral edges are compact to avoid fecal contamination while the lower has pores (2).

3. Pores in the lower edge to permit gas entrance (3).

4. Dilated part connects between the rubber band and the hose (4).

5. Shutting valve for gas trapping after perineum head space gas suction by the pump to prevent its escape again and for incubation (5).

6. Hose (6).

7. Pump for head space suction (7).

8. Light alarm red at the beginning of the pheromonal odor appear, green light when the odor start to be disappear. It may be fixed too the milking machine (14).

Claim # (2):

The merging between the EN technology and milking machine and its application in dairy farm which characterized by:

1. Rubber or silicon band. It is convex to adapt the perineum shape

(I)-

3. Pores in the lower edge to permit gas entrance (3).

4. Dilated part connects between the rubber band and the hose (4).

6. Hose (6).

7. Pump for head space suction (7).

9. The arrangement of the sensors inside the system when connected to the hose.

Claim # (3):

1. The double layer stainless steel shield which act as a sensor chamber

2. Pump for head space suction (7).

3. Light alarm red at the beginning of the pheromonal odor appear, green light when the odor start to be disappear. It may be fixed to the milking machine (14).

4. The arrangement of the sensors inside the system when connected to the hose.

Claim # (4):

The merging between the E-Tongue technology and milking machine and its application in dairy farm which characterized by:

1. Arrangement of the chemical sensor in the inner layer of the shell and claws.

2. Light alarm red at the beginning of the pheromonal odor appear, green light when the odor start to be disappear. It may be fixed to the milking machine (14).