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AssigneeBTG International Limited
InventorsToby Trevor Fury Mottram, Helen Rebecca Whay, Steven George Vass, Birte Lindstrom Nielsen
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An apparatus and a method are provided for automatically collecting a sample of cow's breath. The apparatus comprises an inlet (5) in an animal stall, e.g. a cattle stall, which is connected to collecting or analysing apparatus. A sensor (16) is provided for sensing a flow of breath into the apparatus. A food incentive is automatically dispensed when the sensor is activated, thereby inducing the animal to provide a breath sample. A method for training an animal to use the apparatus is also described, comprising the distribution of food incentives in the locality of the apparatus at random time intervals, together with the gradual increasing of the length and/or strength of exhalation necessary to result in the dispensing of food incentive.
An apparatus comprising an inlet (5) in flow communication with means (18, 19, 20) for collecting, conditioning and/or analyzing an exhalation sample from an animal, characterized by automatic means for providing an incentive for the animal on detection by a sensing means (16) of the receipt in the apparatus of a suitable breath sample, or of an action by the animal likely to lead to the collection of a suitable breath sample.
A method of monitoring an animal's breath comprising:
An Apparatus comprising receiving means (2) adapted to receive a muzzle of an animal, the receiving means including inlet means (5) in flow communication with a means for collecting, conditioning and/or analyzing an exhalation sample, characterized that in use, insertion of the animal's muzzle into said receiving means positions the nostrils of the animal such that exhalation therefrom is directed toward the inlet means.
A method of training an animal to use automatic breathing sampling apparatus comprising training the animal to exhale with sufficient flow rate and/or for a sufficient duration to operate the apparatus with its head in a particular position, using one or more of the following:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.