WO2012004110A1

WO2012004110A1 - Method and arrangement for animal management

Info

Publication number: WO2012004110A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/060100
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kendra Kerrisk; Ron Mulder
Original assignee: Delaval Holding Ab
Priority date: 2010-07-08
Filing date: 2011-06-17
Publication date: 2012-01-12
Also published as: AU2011275948B2; AU2011275948A1; NZ603926A

Abstract

A method is provided with respect to animals which are allowed to move in an area (11; 31) intended therefore, wherein the area includes at least one grazing paddock (12; 32) in which the animals can graze, and which the animals can enter and exit. According to the method the content of grass in the grazing paddock in terms of a total amount of grazing time left is determined. The number of animals in the grazing paddock is monitored by automatically registering each entry to the grazing paddock by an animal and each exit from the grazing paddock by an animal. The total amount of grazing time left in the grazing paddock is updated based on the determined content of grass in the grazing paddocks and the continuously monitored number of animals in the grazing paddock. A point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass is predicted based on the repeatedly or continuously updated total amount of grazing time left in the grazing paddock. Finally, an action with respect to the animals is initiated at a point of time which is related to the predicted point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass.

Description

METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for animal management in a milking system.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automatic milking systems (AMS) are well known in the art. The current implementations of AMS are almost entirely with housed cows. Cows are bedded and fed in a large barn that also houses the AMS. Cows learn to circulate freely the short distance between their cubicles and the AMS unit, a prime motivator being in-bail feeding while they are being milked in the AMS. The cows only need to move comparatively short distances, perhaps 20-30 m within the housing system to the AMS.

Many cows around the world are not housed in this fashion, however, but are allowed to freely graze on pastures. In Australia and New Zealand, in particular, there is no housing of cows; they spend all their time on pasture. These pasture- based systems are very extensive and often require the cows to walk considerable distances to be milked in conventional milking systems. This can be up to 2-3 km walking distance, and they normally do this twice a day. Voluntary milking systems, which cows visit on a voluntary basis, have become increasingly common during the last years. In such systems cows are monitored and are given milking permission on an individual basis .

AU 2009202368 Al and WO 2010/023056 disclose such voluntary milking systems for freely grazing animals. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A problem of such voluntary milking systems for freely grazing animals is that when the animals visit the milking system on a voluntary basis, they enter and leave the grazing paddocks individually. Hereby, it may be difficult to determine when the respective grazing paddocks run out of grass, and the overall planning and managing of the animals' grazing patterns are rendered more complex and more insecure.

A similar problem may occur in other kinds of grazing arrangements with elements of voluntary or semi-voluntary movement of animals and/or automated management of animals.

It is thus an object of the invention to provide a method and an arrangement for animal management in a pasture based system, by which the above problem can be solved or at least mitigated.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such method and arrangement, which are robust, effective, fast, precise, accurate, reliable, safe, easy to use, and of reasonable cost.

These objects, among others, are according to the present invention attained by methods and arrangements as specified in the appended patent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a method is provided for managing animals which are allowed to move in an area intended therefore, wherein the area includes at least one grazing paddock, in which the animals can graze, and which grazing paddock the animals can enter and exit preferably on a voluntary basis. According to the method, the content of grass in the grazing paddock in terms of a total amount of grazing time left is determined. The number of animals in the grazing paddock is monitored by automatically registering each entry to the grazing paddock by an animal and each exit from the grazing paddock by an animal. The total amount of grazing time left in the grazing paddock is updated based on the determined content of grass in the grazing paddocks and the continuously monitored number of animals in the grazing paddock. A point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass is predicted based on the repeatedly or continuously updated total amount of grazing time left in the grazing paddock. Finally, an action with respect to the animals is initiated at a point of time which is related to the predicted point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass.

In one embodiment, a future number of animals in the grazing paddock is estimated and the point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass is predicted also based on the estimated future number of animals in the grazing paddock.

In another embodiment, the area comprises a milking area located remote from the grazing paddock, and a raceway via which animals in the grazing paddock can access the milking area, wherein the milking area comprises a milking system for milking the animals which have accessed the milking area. The action with respect to the animals may here comprise to prepare the milking system for milking of the animals in the grazing paddock, and the animals in the grazing paddock are allowed to visit, guided, or enticed to the milking system to be milked at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock will run out of grass. The action with respect to the animals may also comprise to stop milking other animals in the milking system to thereby free capacity for milking the animals in the grazing paddock.

Alternatively, the action with respect to the animals may comprise to alert a farmer to the fact that the grazing paddock will run out of grass and consequently that the animals therein have to be moved and/or have to be received elsewhere. The alert also comprises the predicted point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass . Yet alternatively, the area may comprise another grazing paddock or a feeding pad, and the action with respect to the animals comprises to allow, guide, or entice the animals in the grazing paddock to enter the other grazing paddock or the feeding pad at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock will run out of grass.

According to a second aspect of the invention an arrangement is provided, by which the method of the first aspect of the invention can be implemented. The arrangement comprises at least one animal identification device for the identifications, and a process and control device operatively connected to the animal identification device for carrying out the steps of determining the content of grass, automatically monitoring the number of animals, updating the total amount of grazing time left, predicting a point of time, and initiating an action.

According to a third aspect of the invention a computer program product is provided, which is loadable into the internal memory of a computer of an animal handling arrangement and comprises software code portions for carrying out the method of the first aspect of the invention when the computer program product is run on the computer.

Further characteristics of the invention, and advantages thereof, will be evident from the detailed description of embodiments of the present invention given hereinafter and the accompanying Figs. 1-4, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 illustrates schematically an arrangement for housing animals wherein an arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is implemented. Fig. 2 illustrates schematically an enlarged portion of the arrangement of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates schematically an arrangement for housing animals wherein an arrangement in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention is implemented.

Fig. 4 is a flow scheme of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 illustrates schematically a pasture based animal arrangement for housing animals which are allowed to move in an area 11 thereof. The area 11 comprises preferably a large number of grazing paddocks 12, in which the animals can graze, a milking area 13 located remote from the grazing paddocks 12, and various raceways 14a-c and a pre- and postmilking area 15, via which the animals in the grazing paddocks 12 can access the milking area 13 and vice versa. The milking area 13 may comprise a rotary milking system 16, preferably for voluntary milking of the animals which have accessed the milking area 13 in a milking session. Alternatively, another type of milking system is provided.

The pasture based animal arrangement comprises further preferably a plurality of animal identification devices 18 arranged in the various raceways 14a-c at different distances from the milking area 13, each for identifying an animal passing that animal identification device 18.

In one embodiment, an animal identification device is arranged at the entry/exit of each of the grazing paddocks 12 to monitor the identities of the animals that enter and exit the grazing paddock 12. Each of the entries/exits may be provided with a gate arrangement operatively connected to the animal identification device arranged at that entry/exit for only allowing an animal to enter/exit that grazing paddock after having been identified, and optionally only in the event the identified animal fulfils some kind of criterion. Animals can thus be identified at the respective grazing paddock 12 before being allowed to enter the respective raceway 14a-c and again be identified when passing an animal identification device 18 in the respective raceway 14a-c.

A process and control device 17 is operatively connected to each animal identification device 18 for receiving identifications, optionally to each gate arrangement for the control thereof, and to the milking system 16 for the control thereof .

With reference next to Fig. 2, which illustrates schematically an enlarged portion of the area of Fig. 1, there is provided four selection boxes 21a-d, two 21a-b of which animals may have to pass to enter the pre- and postmilking area 15 from the various raceways 14a-c, one 21c of which animals have to pass to enter the milking area 13 from the pre- and postmilking area 15, and one 21d of which animals have to pass after having been milked by the rotary milking system 16. Each of the selection boxes 21a-d has one entry and is provided with an animal identification device for identification of the animal entering the selection box 21a-d, and is operatively connected to the process and control device 17 for control. Each of the selection boxes 21a-d has three exits wherein each animal can be allowed, guided, or forced to exit either one of the three exits after having been identified, and depending on one or several criteria. The pre- and postmilking area 15 comprises different enclosed areas 22-26, and the milking area 13 comprises a gathering area 27 and an automatic backing gate 28 operatively connected to the process and control device 17 for forcing animals in the gathering area 27 towards the rotary milking system 16. An animal that walks the raceway 14 towards the pre- and postmilking area 15 reaches a first selection box 21a. The animal is identified, and depending on one or several criteria the animal is allowed to enter area 22, to enter raceway 14b, or to re-enter raceway 14a. In the two latter instances, the animal is guided back to a grazing paddock that can be accessed via any of raceways 14b, 14a. This may be desirable if the animal has no milking permission and should not be treated.

If the animal enters area 22, it then reaches a second selection box 21b. The animal is again identified, and depending on one or several criteria the animal is allowed to enter area 23, area 24, or raceway 14c. In the latter instance, the animal is guided back to a grazing paddock that can be accessed via raceway 14c. Area 24 is a waiting area or a treatment area, whereto the animal is guided if e.g. it is almost qualified for milking or if it is to be treated before milking. Area 24 may offer feed, water, and/or rest to the animal.

If the animal enters area 23, it then reaches a third selection box 21c. The animal is again identified, and depending on one or several criteria the animal is allowed to enter area 24, gathering area 27 of the milking area 13, or area 25. Area 24 may be divided into two separate portions by a wall, fence, or similar at 29, and thereby the animal can be guided to either portion by the second and third selection boxes 21b and 21c. Area 25 is a postmilking area 25 which may offer feed, water, and/or rest to the animal. The postmilking area 25 leads back to the first selection box 21a. By means of the first selection box 21a and optionally the second and/or third selection boxes 21b and 21c, the animal can be guided back to a grazing paddock via any of the raceways 14a-c or to any of the portions of the area 24.

If the animal is qualified for milking and should not wait for some reason, e.g. being treated, it is allowed to enter the gathering area 27 of the milking area 13 to be milked in the rotary milking system 16 in a milking session.

After milking, the animal enters the fourth selection box 21d. The animal is identified, and depending on one or several criteria the animal is allowed to enter postmilking area 25, the gathering area 27 of the milking area 13, or area 26. The animal may be guided back to the gathering area 27 of the milking area 13 if e.g. it was not appropriately milked for some reason. Area 26 is a further waiting area or a treatment area, and animals collected in this area may eventually be led to the postmilking area 25 and be guided to a grazing paddock or elsewhere. Area 26 may offer feed, water, and/or rest to the animal.

The traffic direction of animals in the pre- and postmilking area 15, the milking area 13, and in the ends of the raceways 14a-c, is indicated by arrows 30. In order to obtain the illustrated traffic direction, a number of one-way gates may be provided, which can be opened by the animal, by an operator, or automatically under control of the process and control device 17. In particular, the gates that lead animals from the portions of area 24 back to area 23 may be provided with identification devices such that selected animals may be allowed to enter area 23 from area 24 after having been identified.

The present invention relates to an arrangement comprising the process and control device 17 and an animal counting or identification device, e.g. any of the devices 18, operatively connected to the process and control device 17 and arranged to automatically register each entry to a grazing paddock 12 by an animal and each exit from the grazing paddock 12 by an animal, thereby continuously monitoring the number of animals in the grazing paddock 12.

The process and control device 17 is arranged to (i) determine the content of grass in the grazing paddock 12 in terms of a total amount of grazing time left, (ii) repeatedly or continuously update the total amount of grazing time left in the grazing paddock 12 based on the determined content of grass in the grazing paddocks and the continuously monitored number of animals in the grazing paddock, (iii) predict a point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass based on the repeatedly or continuously updated total amount of grazing time left in said grazing paddock 12, and (iv) initiate an action with respect to the animals at a point of time which is related to the predicted point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass.

Such arrangement can be established for each grazing paddock of the area 11, and by such measures the future content of grass can be predicted in each grazing paddock 12 of the entire area 11 and the animals can be managed based on the predicted future contents of grass in the grazing paddocks. A separate process and control device may be dedicated for each grazing paddock or for a group of grazing paddocks and may take over the actions performed by the process and control device 17 with regard to the present invention.

The content of grass in each of the grazing paddocks 12 in terms of a total amount of grazing time left can be determined based on measurements by at least one pasture meter as the grass grows when the grazing paddock 12 is emptied of animals.

The total amount of grazing time left in each of the grazing paddocks 12 is repeatedly or continuously updated by means of accumulating the hours each animal is present in the grazing paddock.

The point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass can be predicted based on a current number of animals in the grazing paddock 12, or more sophisticatedly, a future number of animals in each of the grazing paddocks 12 is estimated and the point of time when each of the grazing paddocks 12 will run out of grass is predicted also based on the estimated future number of animals in that grazing paddock 12.

Hereby, not only the number of animals that actually are present in each grazing paddock 12 is taken into account in the prediction of the point of time when the grazing paddock 12 will run out of grass, but also the number of animals that are predicted to be in the grazing paddock 12 in the future is taken into account.

For each grazing paddock 12, the predicted point of time when the grazing paddock 12 will run out of grass is preferably updated repeatedly or continuously.

The action with respect to the animals may comprise any of the following :

- preparing the milking system for milking of the animals in a grazing paddock at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock will run out of grass;

- allowing the animals in a grazing paddock to visit the milking system to be milked at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock will run out of grass;

- guiding or enticing the animals in a grazing paddock to visit the milking system to be milked at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock will run out of grass;

- terminating the milking of other animals in the milking system to thereby free capacity for milking of the animals in a grazing paddock at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock will run out of grass;

- alerting a farmer of the fact that a grazing paddock will run out of grass;

- alerting a farmer of the predicted point of time when a grazing paddock will run out of grass;

- moving the animals from a grazing paddock at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock will run out of grass;

- allowing, guiding, or enticing the animals in a grazing paddock to enter another grazing paddock or other feed pad at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock will run out of grass.

The arrangement comprises an area 31 comprising a plurality of grazing paddocks 32 in two rows separated by a raceway 33. Each of the grazing paddocks 32 has an automatic gate 34 for entry of animals to the grazing paddock 32 and exit of animals from the grazing paddock 32, and an animal identification or counting device 35 for registering each entry to, and each exit from, the grazing paddock 32 by an animal. All the automatic gates 34 and the animal identification or counting devices 35 are operatively connected to a process and control device 36 such that the process and control device 36 can receive from the animal identification or counting devices 35 information regarding all entries and exits by animals and such that the automatic gates 34 can be opened and closed under the control of the process and control device 36. The arrangement may be provided for allowing animals to enter and exit the grazing paddocks 32 on a voluntary or semi- voluntary basis.

The process and control device 36 is arranged, for each of the grazing paddocks 32, to initially determine the content of grass in the grazing paddock 32 in terms of a total amount of grazing time left. This can be performed before allowing animals to enter the grazing paddock based on measurements performed by pasture meters 37, which may be portable or arranged in the grazing paddocks 32, and based on the average grass consumption rate for the animals housed in the area 31. The process and control device 36 then receives, for each of the grazing paddocks, registrations of entries and exits by animals. The registrations may either comprise time stamps or the be sent in real or near real time to the process and control device 36, which registers the times of receptions of the registrations. Based on the registrations, the number of animals in each of the grazing paddocks 32 is continuously monitored by the process and control device 36. Repeatedly or continuously, the process and control device 36 updates the total amount of grazing time left in each of the grazing paddock 32 based on the determined content of grass and on the continuously monitored number of animals in the grazing paddock 32. It is here assumed that the animals graze in the grazing paddocks at the average grass consumption rate. Next, the process and control device 36 predicts a point of time when each of the grazing paddocks 32 will run out of grass based on the repeatedly or continuously updated total amount of grazing time left in the grazing paddock 32. Finally, the process and control device 36 initiates an action with respect to the animals in each of the grazing paddocks 32 at a point of time which is related to the predicted point of time when the grazing paddock 32 will run out of grass. The action may e.g. be allowing the animals to move from the grazing paddock 32 at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock 32 will run out of grass, by means of opening the automatic gate 34 of the grazing paddock 32.

Fig. 4 is a flow scheme of a method for managing animals which are allowed to move in an area intended therefore, wherein the area includes at least one grazing paddock, in which the animals can graze and which the animals can enter and exit. Such area is exemplified in the embodiments of Figs. 1-3.

According to the method, the content of grass in the grazing paddock in terms of a total amount of grazing time left is, in a step 41, determined. Next, the number of animals in the grazing paddock is, in a step 42, monitored by automatically registering each entry to the grazing paddock by an animal and each exit from the grazing paddock by an animal. As the animals enter and exit the grazing paddock, the total amount of grazing time left in the grazing paddock is, in a step 43, repeatedly or continuously updated determined based on the continuously monitored number of animals in the grazing paddock. A point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass is, in a step 44, predicted based on the repeatedly or continuously updated total amount of grazing time left in the grazing paddock. Finally, an action with respect to the animals is, in a step 45, initiated at a point of time which is related to the predicted point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass. The determination and prediction may be performed, and the action may be initiated, as disclosed above with reference to Figs. 1-3.

The invention encompasses also a computer program product loadable into the internal memory of a computer of an animal handling arrangement, comprising software code portions for carrying out the inventive control method disclosed above when the computer program product is run on the computer. It shall be appreciated that the grazing paddocks may be of a much higher number, may be of different shapes, and may be located in different patterns. Further, the milking area, the pre- and postmilking area, the raceways, and the gate arrangements/selection boxes of the embodiment of Figs. 1-2 may be located and designed differently or may even be dispensed with. The milking system of the embodiment of Figs. 1-2 may be exchanged for any type of milking system, particularly an automated milking system, a semi-automated milking system, a voluntary milking system, a semi-voluntary milking system, a milking system wherein a plurality of milking systems are milked concurrently with one another, or any combination thereof.

Still further, the process and control device (s) of the invention may be a separate device from a centralized process and control device which is responsible for the overall control of the animal arrangement and/or for the control of the milking system.

It shall further be appreciated that the various aspects and embodiments of the invention as disclosed above may be combined in a plurality of manners. The scope of protection of the present invention is only given by the following claims.

Claims

1. A method for initiating an action with respect to animals which are allowed to move in an area (11; 31) intended therefore, said area including at least one grazing paddock {12; 32) in which the animals can graze, wherein the animals can enter and exit said grazing paddock, characterized by the steps of:

- determining (41) the content of grass in said grazing paddock in terms of a total amount of grazing time left;

- continuously monitoring (42) the number of animals in the grazing paddock by automatically registering each entry to the grazing paddock by an animal and each exit from the grazing paddock by an animal;

- repeatedly or continuously updating (43) the total amount of grazing time left in said grazing paddock based on the determined content of grass in the grazing paddocks and the continuously monitored number of animals in the grazing paddock;

- predicting (44) a point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass based on the repeatedly or continuously updated total amount of grazing time left in said grazing paddock; and

- initiating (45) an action with respect to the animals at a point of time which is related to the predicted point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the animals are allowed to enter and exit said grazing paddock on a voluntary basis.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass is predicted also based on a current number of animals in the grazing paddock.

4. The method of any of claims 1-3 wherein a future number of animals in the grazing paddock is estimated and the point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass is predicted also based on the estimated future number of animals in the grazing paddock.

5. The method of any of claims 1-4 wherein the predicted point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass is updated repeatedly or continuously.

6. The method of any of claims 1-5 wherein said area comprises a milking area (13} located remote from the grazing paddock, and a raceway (14a-c) via which animals in the grazing paddock can access the milking area, wherein the milking area comprises a milking system (16) for milking the animals which have accessed the milking area.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the action with respect to the animals comprises to prepare the milking system for milking of the animals in the grazing paddock, and wherein the animals in the grazing paddock are allowed to visit, guided, or enticed to the milking system to be milked at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock will run out of grass.

8. The method claim 6 or 7 wherein the action with respect to the animals comprises to stop milking other animals in the milking system to thereby free capacity for milking the animals in the grazing paddock.

9. The method of any of claims 1-6 wherein the action with respect to the animals comprises to alert a farmer of the fact that the grazing paddock will run out of grass and consequently that the animals therein have to be moved and/or have to be received elsewhere.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the alert also comprises the predicted point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass .

11. The method of any of claims 1-6 wherein the area comprises another grazing paddock and wherein the action with respect to the animals comprises to allow, guide, or entice the animals in the grazing paddock to enter said other grazing paddock at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock will run out of grass.

12. The method of any of claims 1-6 wherein the area comprises a feeding pad located in the milking area or elsewhere and wherein the action with respect to the animals comprises to allow, guide, or entice the animals in the grazing paddock to enter said feeding pad at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock will run out of grass.

13. The method of any of claims 1-12 wherein the grazing paddock is emptied of animals and wherein the content of grass in said grazing paddock in terms of the total amount of grazing time left is determined as the grass grows,

14. The method of any of claims 1-13 wherein the content of grass in said grazing paddock is determined based on at least one measurement by at least one pasture meter.

15. A computer program product loadable into the internal memory of a computer (17; 36) of a milking system, comprising software code portions for controlling the method as claimed in any of claims 1-14 when said product is run on said computer.

16. An arrangement for initiating an action with respect to animals which are allowed to move in an area (11) intended therefore, said area including at least one grazing paddock (12; 32) in which the animals can graze, wherein the animals can enter and exit said grazing paddock, preferably on a voluntary basis, characterized in: a process and control device (17; 36) provided for determining the content of grass in said grazing paddock in terms of a total amount of grazing time left; and animal counting or identification means (18, 21a-c; 35) operatively connected to the process and control device and provided for automatically registering each entry to the grazing paddock by an animal and each exit from the grazing paddock by an animal, thereby continuously monitoring the number of animals in the grazing paddock, wherein said process and control device is further provided for repeatedly or continuously updating the total amount of grazing time left in said grazing paddock based on the determined content of grass in the grazing paddocks and the continuously monitored number of animals in the grazing paddock; predicting a point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass based on the repeatedly or continuously updated total amount of grazing time left in said grazing paddock; and initiating an action with respect to the animals at a point of time which is related to the predicted point of time when the grazing paddock will run out of grass.

17. The arrangement of claim 16 wherein said area comprises a milking area (13) located remote from the grazing paddock, and a raceway (14a-c) via which animals in the grazing paddock can access the milking area, wherein the milking area comprises a milking system (16) for milking the animals which have accessed the milking area.

18. The arrangement of claim 17 wherein the action initiated with respect to the animals includes preparing the milking system for milking of the animals in the grazing paddock and/or allowing, guiding, or enticing the animals in the grazing paddock to enter the milking system to be milked at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock will run out of grass.

19. The arrangement in claim 17 or 18, wherein the action initiated with respect to the animals includes alerting a farmer of the fact that the grazing paddock will run out of grass and consequently that the animals therein have to be moved and/or have to be received elsewhere.

20. The arrangement of claim 16 or 17 wherein the area comprises another grazing paddock or a feeding pad located in the milking area or elsewhere and wherein the action initiated with respect to the animals includes allowing, guiding, or enticing the animals in the grazing paddock to enter said another grazing paddock or said feeding pad at the point of time when, or at a selected instant before, it is predicted that the grazing paddock will run out of grass.