NZ794563B2

NZ794563B2 - Means for milking animals

Info

Publication number: NZ794563B2
Application number: NZ794563A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Peter Dowd; Andy Geissman; Caleb Grul; Graeme Mcdougal; Christopher Metcalfe; Jamie Mikkelson; Tom Morris; James Pharoah; Henry Reed; Mike Williams
Original assignee: Waikato Milking Systems Lp
Filing date: 2021-11-05
Publication date: 2025-10-29

Abstract

milking platform (1) for milking cows, comprising a deck divided into a series of bales (17), each bale having side and end barriers and being of sufficient size to receive only one cow (5) for milking and having a housing (2). The housing is associated with a set of teat cups, one or more retractable arm and a cup holder, extends 300 mm to 500 mm upwards from the deck and stops below the cow’s abdomen, is 150 mm to 300 mm wide and is arranged such that when the platform is in use with the animal to be milked the housing (2) extends upwards from the deck to a height below the animal's abdomen, is between the forelegs of the animal, starts in front of the forelegs and extends towards, but stops before, the hind legs of the animal such that there is sufficient space to fit a set of milking cups to teats of the animal. For each housing the one or more retractable arm is adapted to extend from a stowed position substantially within the housing to move the set of teat cups to a pre-engagement position entirely outside the housing and substantially under the udder of a respective one of the cows and, after that cow is milked, to retract such that both the one or more arm and the teat cups are in the stowed position.

Claims

1. A milking platform suitable for use in milking cows, the platform comprising a deck divided into a series of bales, each bale having side and end barriers and having only one cow therein, each bale having a housing which: a) is associated with a set of teat cups, one or more retractable arm and a cup holder; b) extends 300 mm to 500 mm upwards from the deck and which stops below the cow’s abdomen; c) is 150 mm to 300 mm wide and extends between the forelegs of the cow; d) starts in front of the forelegs and extends towards, but stops before, the hind legs of the cow such that there is sufficient space to fit the teat cups to teats of the cow; and wherein for each housing the one or more retractable arm is adapted to extend from a stowed position substantially within the housing to move the set of teat cups to a pre-engagement position entirely outside the housing and substantially under the udder of a respective one of the cows and, after that cow is milked, to retract such that both the one or more arm and the teat cups are in the stowed position.

2. A milking platform according to claim 1, wherein for each cow the housing extends to a height of 5 mm to 150 mm below the lowest part of the cow’s abdomen (excluding the cow’s teats).

3. A milking platform according to claim 1, wherein for each cow the housing extends to a height below the lowest part of the cow’s abdomen (excluding the cow’s teats) by 5 mm to 100 mm.

4. A milking platform according to claim 1, wherein for each cow the housing extends to a height sufficient to prevent the cow from turning around when in the bale.

5. A milking platform according to claim 1, wherein the housing extends to a length of 500 mm to 1,700 mm.

6. A milking platform according to claim 1, wherein the housing extends to a length 600 mm to 1,600 mm.

7. A milking platform according to claim 1, wherein the housing tapers so that it is wider at one end than the other.

8. A milking platform according to claim 1, wherein the housing tapers so that it is higher at one end than the other.

9. A milking platform according to claim 1, wherein the housing extends to a length of 700 mm to 1,500 mm.

10. A milking platform according to claim 1, wherein in each case the stowed position is in front of the cow’s udder.

11. A milking platform according to claim 1, wherein the pre-engagement position is above and spaced from the platform.

12. A milking platform according to claim 1, wherein for each set of teat cups the teat cups are adapted to draw milk from the cow, and a human worker moves the set of teat cups by hand to engage the cow’s teats when the set of teat cups is in the pre-engagement position.

13. A milking platform according to any one of claim 1, wherein in each case the set of teat cups is connected to a milk run-off tube that plays out to enable the set of teat cups to reach the pre-engagement position and retract when the set of teat cups is in the stowed position.

14. A milking platform according to claim 13, comprising means for flushing the tube with cleaning fluid and to hold the run-off tube inclined to facilitate draining away of such fluid.

15. A milking platform suitable for use in milking cows, the platform comprising a deck divided into a series of bales, each bale having side and end barriers and having only one cow therein, each bale having a housing which: a) is associated with a set of teat cups and one or more retractable b) extends upwards from the deck to a height 5 mm – 100 mm below the cow’s abdomen (excluding the cow’s teats); c) is 150 mm – 300 mm wide and extends between the forelegs of the cow; and d) starts in front of the forelegs and extends towards, but stops before, the hind legs of the cow such that there is sufficient space to fit the teat cups to teats of the cow; and wherein for each housing the one or more retractable arm is adapted to extend from a stowed position substantially within the housing to carry the set of teat cups to a pre-engagement position substantially under the udder of a respective one of the cows and, after that cow is milked, to retract such that both the one or more arm and the teat cups are in the stowed position.

16. A Milking platform according to claim 15, wherein in each case the housing is 600 mm to 1,600 mm long.

17. A device formed so as to be suitable for presenting milking teat cups to cows, the device being adapted for installation on a milking platform, the device comprising a housing which: a) houses a set of teat cups, one or more retractable arm and a cup holder; b) is 300 – 500 mm high; c) is 150 mm – 300 mm wide; and d) is 500 mm – 1,700 mm long; and wherein the one or more retractable arm is adapted to extend from a stowed position substantially within the housing to carry the set of teat cups to a pre-engagement position entirely outside the housing and beneath the udder of a cow when in use on a milking platform, and to subsequently retract such that both the one or more arm and the set of teat cups are in the stowed position.

18. A method of milking cows comprising: a) causing a cow to enter a milking platform bale in which a device according claim 17 is installed on a deck of the platform; b) causing the cow to straddle the housing so that: i. each foreleg of the cow is on a different side of the housing and such that the housing prevents the cow from turning around in the bale; and ii. the underside of the cow’s abdomen is sufficiently close to the top of the housing to cause the cow to be unable to get its body low enough to manoeuvre its head to a position where the head can get stuck beneath a front barrier of the bail; and c) milking the cow with the teat cups fitted to it and while it is standing in the bail straddling the housing as per a) and b) of this claim.

19. A milking platform according to claim 1, wherein the housing extends upwards from the deck by 350 to 450 mm.

20. A device according to claim 17, wherein the housing extends upwards from the deck by 350 to 450 mm.