US 8,245,664 B2 · Animal monitoring method and apparatus

Abstract

A method and installation for automatically determining the readiness of an animal for being weaned off liquid feed and onto dry feed. The height of an animal in an animal installation is automatically measured using a height measurement system at a selected location within the installation. A suitable location within an installation for providing a height gauge may include a feeding station, a cleaning station or other treatment station of an animal. Additional parameters may be used for the determination of readiness to wean in combination with dry feed consumption rate, such as animal age, weight or other animal dimensions. In determining the height, the method may include making a determination of the overall physical condition of the animal and may include a determination of the height-to-weight-ratio of an animal. The installation may include an automatic animal weighing system. Measured values may be stored in a control system memory for monitoring the growth of individual animals. Animal identification means may be provided at the points of measurement of any parameter of an animal.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for automatically determining readiness of an individual animal (24) for weaning off liquid feed, the method comprising the steps of:

automatically measuring a height of an individual animal using a height measuring apparatus located within an animal installation;
determining whether the measured height is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold height value;
and
determining that the animal is ready for weaning when the measured height is determined to equal or exceed said predetermined threshold height value,
wherein the animal installation, in which said automatically measuring the animal's height step is performed in, comprises an animal feeding station, a control system, an automatic height measurement apparatus, and
wherein said control system is configured for automatically performing said step of determining that the animal is ready for weaning when the measured height is determined to equal or exceed said predetermined threshold height value.

3 more elements

An animal installation, comprising:

an animal feeding station;
a control system;
and
an automatic height measurement apparatus connected to said control system, said automatic height measurement apparatus configured to automatically determine a height of an individual animal located at a selected location within said installation, wherein,
said control system (40) is configured for determining a first condition of when a measured height of the animal in said installation equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold height value,
said control system (40) is configured to automatically determine that the animal is ready for weaning when the measured height is determined to equal or exceed said predetermined threshold height value, and
said animal feeding station is configured for measuring the animal's consumption rate of dry feed, said control system is configured to automatically determine a second condition of whether the measured consumption rate is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold consumption rate of dry feed value, and said control system is further configured for determining that the animal is ready for weaning when the first and second conditions are both satisfied.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Animal monitoring method and apparatus

Life of this patent

Animal monitoring method and apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15