Detection device for selectively distinguishing from each other a number of groups of articles or animals

A detection device for automatically distinguishing between a number of groups of articles or animals, comprising:

• an antenna device for generating an alternating magnetic field at a predetermined location;
• a device for detecting the presence of an article or animal at the predetermined location;
• a number of types of detection elements for attachment to the articles or animals pursuant to each article's or animal's group affiliation, said detection elements being capable of influencing a magnetic field;
• and
• a receiving device, coupled with the antenna device, capable of detecting the influence of a detection element on the magnetic field in order to distinguish between said number of groups of articles or animals;
• wherein at least the antenna device is electrically shielded from the device for detecting the presence of an article or animal at said predetermined location, said device for detecting the presence of an article or animal at said predetermined location comprising a weighing device.

A detection arrangement for automatically distinguishing between types of animals in groups of poultry, said detection arrangement comprising:

• antenna means for generating an alternating magnetic field at a predetermined location;
• at least a first plurality of detection elements which are attachable to a leg of at least a first type of animal, including poultry, and arranged so as to disturb said alternating magnetic field in at least a first manner when attached to said leg of the at least first type of animal and located in said predetermined location;
• a presence detection device for detecting the presence of any animal, including said poultry, at said predetermined location regardless of whether said any animal is wearing one of said detection elements;
• a receiver device coupled to said antenna means for detecting disturbances of the magnetic field generated by any one of said detection elements, and also connected to said presence detection device to thereby determine whether an animal located in said predetermined location is wearing a detection element from said at least first plurality of detection elements, said receiver device thus being able to distinguish between types of animals which are not wearing a detection element from said at least first plurality of detection elements and said at least first type of animal.