Sampling method

Abstract

To realize more suitable sampling by reducing differences in sampling time among individuals for exhalation samples of multiple animal individuals.SOLUTION: A sampling method for individually sampling exhaled-gas of multiple mammalian individuals using a plurality of sampling sections that samples exhaled-gas of mammals comprises a switching process of switching the sampling sections that sample the exhaled-gas, and a detection process of detecting presence or absence of a mammal at the sampling sections. In the detection process, presence of a mammal at the sampling section is detected in association with individual information of the mammal. In the switching process, the sampling section that samples the exhaled-gas is selected such that a difference in cumulative sampling time of the exhaled-gas among the mammalian individuals becomes small, on the basis of the cumulative sampling time of the exhaled-gas for each mammalian individual within a predetermined period.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a collection method. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a known technique for updating the sampling target when sampling multiple organisms for each organism. For example, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for automatically switching the flow path of gas sampled from multiple cows. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] Climate Change Mitigation Consortium, Manual for Estimating Methane Emissions from Bovine Rumen Fermentation, March 2023 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, sampling continues for a certain period of time even if the individual that started sampling leaves the sampling location midway. Furthermore, in this technology, when multiple individuals are present at the sampling location at the same time, sampling is performed in a certain order regardless of the amount of sampling data for each individual. This poses a problem in that some individuals may have less sampling data than other individuals.

[0005] An object of one aspect of the present invention is to suppress variations in the amount of sampling data between organisms for samples of multiple organisms, thereby achieving more suitable sampling. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a collection method for collecting the exhaled gas of a plurality of individual mammals separately from one another using a plurality of collection units for collecting the exhaled gas of the mammals, and includes a switching process for switching between the collection units for collecting the exhaled gas, and a detection process for detecting the presence or absence of a mammal in the collection units, wherein the detection process detects the presence of a mammal in the collection unit by linking it to individual information about the mammal, and the switching process selects a collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas based on the cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas for each individual mammal within a predetermined period of time, so as to minimize the difference in cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas between the individual mammals.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a collection method for collecting exhaled gas from a plurality of individual mammals separately using a plurality of collection units for collecting the exhaled gas from the mammals, and includes a switching process for selecting a collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas from the mammals based on the cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas from each individual mammal within a predetermined period of time, so as to reduce the difference in cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas between the individual mammals. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, for samples of a plurality of organisms, variation in the amount of sampling data between the organisms can be suppressed, thereby realizing more suitable sampling. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of a collection method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of an exhaled gas analysis method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5]1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of results obtained by a collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B illustrate an example of a collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0011] (Overview of collection device 1) Methane emissions from ruminant animals, such as cattle, are one of the greenhouse gas emissions sources in Japan's agricultural sector, and the development and dissemination of technologies to reduce them is an urgent issue. In recent years, the possibility of reducing emissions through improved breeding has been attracting attention.

[0012] The key technology for formulating and implementing breeding improvement strategies is the method for measuring methane emissions at a large number of animals and on-site. For example, the sniffer method, a well-known technique that estimates methane emissions by collecting a portion of the cow's breath, is used.

[0013] The sniffer method is a method for estimating daily methane emissions from the methane / carbon dioxide concentration ratio in exhaled breath measured at specific times throughout the day, as well as information such as body weight. As an example, CH4 emissions during the fattening of beef cattle are calculated using the following formulas. CH4 emissions (L / day) = CH4 / CO2 ratio x (HP / 4.9) x RQ where: RQ = 1.074 - 0.003283 x Roughage feeding rate (%) + 0.6478 x MEI / BW 0.75 HP=[(MEI-BW 0.75 ×MEm)×0.48+BW 0.75 ×MEm]×1000 MEI = TDN × DMI × 3.62 MEm (example of Japanese Black cattle): 0.1108 (female), 0.1124 (castrated male) In addition, HP: Heat production (kcal / day) BW: Body weight (kg) MEI: Metabolizable energy intake (Mcal / day) MEm: Metabolizable energy for maintenance (Mcal / BW 0.75 kg) TDN: Total digestible energy (% DM basis) DMI: dry matter intake (kg / day) is.

[0014] However, currently, measurements must be taken for each individual cow, except for those using milking robots, and if measurements could be made on a large number of cows, it is expected that the speed of breeding and improving low-methane-producing cows would be greatly accelerated. Furthermore, a simple measurement system that can be implemented at the farm level using the sniffer method could be used not only for breeding purposes, but also as a technology that can be used to evaluate the methane production potential of feed at the farm level, which was not possible until now, and to evaluate the reduction effectiveness of methane emission-reducing materials.

[0015] Furthermore, since gas analysis equipment is often expensive, it is desirable to use as few gas analysis equipment units as possible when measuring a large number of animals, from the perspective of cost reduction.

[0016] The sampling device 1 is a device that collects exhaled gases from multiple mammalian individuals separately for each individual. The mammals according to this embodiment may be, for example, ruminants. Specific examples of ruminants include cows, sheep, and goats, and, in particular, for cows, beef cattle and dairy cows. The mammals according to this embodiment may also be bred mammals, such as livestock.

[0017] (An example of sample collection using the collection device 1) As an example, the sampling device 1 switches between a plurality of sampling units to continuously sample exhaled gas or the like within a predetermined period of time.

[0018] For example, if a mammal is present in at least one of the multiple collection sections, a sample is collected from the collection section where the mammal is present. Also, for example, if a mammal is not present in any of the collection sections, a sample is collected from one of the collection sections where no mammal is present. For example, a background sample is collected from a collection section where no mammal is present. When collecting a sample from a collection section where no mammal is present, the sample is collected from the collection section with the shortest cumulative collection time in the blank state (state where no mammal is present).

[0019] Furthermore, for example, if there are mammals in two or more (a natural number between two and N) of the multiple (N: N is a natural number) collection sections, the sample is collected from the collection section in which the mammal with the shortest cumulative collection time is present.Whether the cumulative collection time of samples from each mammal is shortest is determined, for example, by whether the target mammal has been present in the collection section the fewest times.If there are two or more collection sections in which the mammal with the shortest cumulative collection time is present, the collection section from which the sample is to be collected is selected, for example, according to a predetermined priority order.

[0020] (Configuration of collection device 1) An example of the configuration of the collection device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the collection device 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the collection device 1 includes, for example, a control unit 10, a storage unit 20, and an input / output unit 30.

[0021] (Control unit 10) The control unit 10 controls all the components of the collection device 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 10 includes a collection unit 11, a switching unit 12, a detection unit 13, and an analysis unit 14. Here, the control unit 10 includes a plurality of collection units 11. Note that the collection device 1 may further include a linking unit 15 and a calculation unit 16, for example, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0022] (Collection part 11) The sampling unit 11 samples the exhaled gas of a mammal. The sampling unit 11 may be, for example, a box containing feed, such as a feed trough, to which a sampling tube, which is a flow path for the exhaled gas sampled from inside the box, is attached. In this case, the sampling unit 11 may sample the exhaled gas using, for example, a pump connected to the sampling tube. Here, the sampling unit 11 may sample the exhaled gas of a mammal, for example, when the mammal places its head inside the sampling unit 11 to ingest feed.

[0023] The collection unit 11 may be provided with, for example, a door that can be opened and closed by the mammal. The door provided in the collection unit 11 may be opened only when the mammal is present in the collection unit 11.

[0024] For example, a plurality of collection units 11 may correspond one-to-one to a plurality of mammalian individuals. Here, the collection unit 11 may be provided with, for example, a door that can be opened and closed only by the corresponding mammalian individual. In other words, each collection unit 11 may be capable of collecting exhaled gas only from the corresponding mammalian individual.

[0025] (Switching unit 12) The switching unit 12 switches between the collection units 11 that collect exhaled gas. The switching unit 12 may include, for example, a valve installed in each of the flow paths of the exhaled gas collected from each of the multiple collection units 11. The above-mentioned valves included in the switching unit 12 may be, for example, solenoid valves. The solenoid valves included in the switching unit 12 may be, for example, solenoid valves that open when energized. Furthermore, the switching unit 12 may set an upper limit on the continuous energization time of the solenoid valves, for example, to protect the solenoid valves.

[0026] For example, the switching unit 12 may switch the collection unit 11 that collects the exhaled gas by opening only the valve installed in the flow path of the exhaled gas in the collection unit 11 selected by the switching unit 12 among the multiple collection units 11.

[0027] Here, the switching unit 12 selects the collection unit 11 that collects the exhaled gas based on the cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas for each individual mammal within a predetermined period of time so as to minimize the difference in cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas between the individual mammals. The predetermined period may include, for example, the time point at which feed is provided to the collection unit 11, which is constituted by a feed trough or the like. The cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas for each individual mammal may be, for example, the cumulative value of the collection time of the exhaled gas for each individual mammal from the predetermined time point onwards.

[0028] The selection result of the switching unit 12 may be, for example, data recorded together with a timestamp. In this case, the selection result of the switching unit 12 may be, for example, data recorded by the collection unit 11 selected by the switching unit 12 at predetermined time intervals.

[0029] The method by which the switching unit 12 selects the collection unit 11 that collects the exhaled gas will be described in detail later with reference to Fig. 2. An example of the selection result by the switching unit 12 will be described later with reference to Fig. 6.

[0030] (Detection unit 13) The detection unit 13 detects the presence of a mammal in the collection unit 11 by linking it to individual information about the mammal. The detection unit 13 may be, for example, a sensor that detects the opening and closing of a door provided in the collection unit 11. A specific example of the detection unit 13 is a door feeder. Here, the detection unit 13 may detect the presence of a mammal in the collection unit 11, for example, by detecting the opening of a door provided in the collection unit 11.

[0031] For example, each of a plurality of individual mammals may be attached with a device that can be identified by the detection unit 13. Here, the above-mentioned device attached to the individual mammal may be linked to, for example, individual information of the mammal. In other words, the detection unit 13 may identify, via the device, which individual mammal to which the above-mentioned device is attached corresponds to among a plurality of individual mammals.

[0032] Furthermore, the collection unit 11 may determine whether or not to allow the door provided in the collection unit 11 to be opened, based on the result of the detection unit 13 identifying the individual as described above.

[0033] The detection result in the detection unit 13 may be data recorded together with a timestamp, for example. In this case, the detection result in the detection unit 13 may be data in which the detection unit 13 detects the presence of a mammal in the collection unit 11 at predetermined time intervals.

[0034] An example of the detection result in the detection unit 13 will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0035] (Analysis Department 14) The analysis unit 14 analyzes the exhaled gas collected by the multiple collection units 11. For example, the analysis unit 14 may analyze the exhaled gas collected only from the collection unit 11 selected by the switching unit 12 among the multiple collection units 11. Here, the analysis unit 14 may analyze the exhaled gas by, for example, measuring the concentration of a gas component to be analyzed in the exhaled gas. Specific examples of gas components to be analyzed by the analysis unit 14 include methane and carbon dioxide.

[0036] The analysis results of the analysis unit 14 may be, for example, data recorded together with a timestamp. In this case, the analysis results of the analysis unit 14 may be, for example, data in which the analysis results of the exhaled gas by the analysis unit 14 are recorded at predetermined time intervals.

[0037] Furthermore, for example, when the detection unit 13 does not detect the presence of a mammal in any of the plurality of collection units 11, the analysis unit 14 may analyze the background gas collected by the plurality of collection units 11. The background gas corresponds to the background sample described above.

[0038] Here, for example, when the detection unit 13 does not detect the presence of a mammal in any of the multiple collection units 11, the switching unit 12 may select the collection unit 11 with the shortest cumulative collection time of background gas as the collection unit 11 that will collect the background gas. Also, for example, when the detection unit 13 does not detect the presence of a mammal in any of the multiple collection units 11 and there are multiple collection units 11 with the shortest cumulative collection time of background gas, the switching unit 12 may select the collection unit 11 that will collect the background gas based on a predetermined priority order.

[0039] For example, the analysis result in the analysis unit 14 may be the analysis result of exhaled gas without canceling the background component, or may be the analysis result of exhaled gas corrected to cancel the background component using the analysis result of the background gas.

[0040] Here, as an example, a case will be described in which the analysis unit 14 corrects the analysis results of the exhaled gas to cancel the background component. In this case, for example, the analysis unit 14 may correct the analysis results of the exhaled gas for a background analysis period, which is a predetermined period during which background gas is analyzed, using the analysis results of the background gas in a background analysis period immediately before the exhaled gas is analyzed and a background analysis period immediately after the exhaled gas is analyzed. Here, for example, between the background analysis period and the exhaled gas analysis period during which the exhaled gas is analyzed, there may be a predetermined switching period, which is a period until the gas concentration stabilizes as the gas to be analyzed is switched. Furthermore, for example, the analysis unit 14 may correct the analysis results of the exhaled gas using a background average value, which is the average value of the background gas concentration during the background analysis period.

[0041] As a specific example, the following describes a case where the background analysis period is 3 minutes and the predetermined switching period is 1 minute. In this case, if a non-detection period, during which no mammal is detected in any of the multiple sampling units 11, continues for 5 minutes or more (predetermined switching period of 1 minute + background analysis period of 3 minutes + predetermined switching period of 1 minute), the analysis unit 14 may use the analysis result of the background gas during that background analysis period.

[0042] For example, if individual mammal A (hereinafter also referred to as individual A, and the same applies to other individual mammals) exits the collection unit 11, a non-detection period of 40 minutes has elapsed, and then individual B enters the collection unit 11, the analysis unit 14 may use the analysis results of the background gas for the three minutes from one minute to four minutes after individual A's exit, and the three minutes from four minutes to one minute before individual B's entry.

[0043] Furthermore, for example, if individual A exits the collection unit 11 and a non-detection period of four minutes has elapsed, and then individual B enters the collection unit 11, the analysis unit 14 does not need to use the analysis results of the background gas during that non-detection period to correct the analysis results of the exhaled gas.

[0044] Furthermore, for example, if individual A exits the collection unit 11, a non-detection period of 40 minutes has elapsed, individual B enters the collection unit 11, exits the collection unit 11, a non-detection period of 40 minutes has further elapsed, and then individual C enters the collection unit 11, the analysis unit 14 may use the background average value for the background analysis period before and after individual B's entry and exit to correct the analysis result of individual B's exhaled gas.

[0045] Furthermore, for example, if individual A exits the collection unit 11, a non-detection period of 40 minutes has elapsed, then individual B enters the collection unit 11 and exits the collection unit 11, and then individual C enters the collection unit 11 and exits the collection unit 11, and another non-detection period of 40 minutes has elapsed, the analysis unit 14 may use the background average value for the background analysis period before individual B entered and after individual C exited to correct the analysis result of individual C's exhaled gas.

[0046] An example of the analysis results in the analysis unit 14 will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0047] (Linking section 15) The linking unit 15 links the multiple sampling units 11 with the analysis results of the analysis unit 14 based on the selection result of the switching unit 12. For example, the linking unit 15 may link the sampling units 11 selected by the switching unit 12 with the analysis results of the analysis unit 14 at predetermined time intervals by synchronizing the selection result of the switching unit 12 with the analysis results of the analysis unit 14 using timestamps recorded in both units. In other words, the linking result of the linking unit 15 may be, for example, a result of linking the sampling units 11 selected by the switching unit 12 with the analysis results of the analysis unit 14 of the gas sampled by the sampling units 11 at predetermined time intervals. Here, the gas sampled by the sampling unit 11 may be, for example, exhaled gas sampled by the sampling unit 11, or may be background gas sampled by the sampling unit 11.

[0048] Furthermore, for example, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the switching unit 12 switched the sampling unit 11 selected, the analysis unit 14 may switch which sampling unit 11 analyzes the gas sampled by that sampling unit 11. At this time, for example, the linking unit 15 may link the multiple sampling units 11 to the analysis results of the analysis unit 14 according to the predetermined time elapsed. Here, for example, the linking unit 15 may link the selection result of the switching unit 12 with the analysis result of the analysis unit 14 at the time when a predetermined time has elapsed since the time when the selection result was recorded, thereby linking the selection result with the analysis result.

[0049] Furthermore, for example, the linking unit 15 may link the multiple sampling units 11 with the analysis results of the analysis unit 14 based on the detection results of the detection unit 13. For example, when the switching unit 12 selects a sampling unit 11 that has not detected the presence of a mammal to a sampling unit 11 that has detected the presence of a mammal, the linking unit 15 may link the selection result with the analysis result by synchronizing the time when the sampling unit 11 detects the presence of a mammal with the time when the analysis result of the analysis unit 14 switches from an analysis value of background gas to an analysis value of exhaled gas. Note that when the switching unit 12 selects a sampling unit 11 that has not detected the presence of a mammal to a sampling unit 11 that has detected the presence of a mammal, this may be, for example, when the detection unit 13 newly switches the sampling unit 11 selected by the switching unit 12 to the sampling unit 11 that has detected the presence of a mammal, or when the detection unit 13 newly detects the presence of a mammal in the sampling unit 11 selected by the switching unit 12.

[0050] Also, for example, when the switching unit 12 switches the collection unit 11 selected based on a predetermined priority order, the linking unit 15 may link the collection unit 11 with the analysis result, assuming that the analysis result in the analysis unit 14 is also switched in the predetermined priority order.

[0051] (Calculation unit 16) The calculation unit 16 calculates a predetermined analysis value of the collected exhaled gas for each collection unit 11 based on the linking result of the linking unit 15. For example, the calculation unit 16 may calculate a predetermined analysis value of the exhaled gas for each collection unit 11 selected by the switching unit 12 for the exhaled gas collected by the collection unit 11.

[0052] For example, the calculation unit 16 may calculate a predetermined analytical value according to the time during which a mammal was present in each sampling unit 11, further based on the detection results from the detection unit 13. A specific example of the predetermined analytical value is the average value of the methane / carbon dioxide concentration ratio over a predetermined continuous time period. Here, the predetermined continuous time period may be, for example, a time period during which a mammal was present in the sampling unit 11. In other words, the predetermined continuous time period may be, for example, a time period during which the detection unit 13 continuously detected the presence of a mammal in the sampling unit 11.

[0053] For example, the calculation unit 16 may calculate a time period during which the detection unit 13 continuously detected the presence of a mammal in the collection unit 11. Then, for example, the calculation unit 16 may calculate an average value of the methane / carbon dioxide concentration ratio during that time period.

[0054] Furthermore, for example, when the analysis result of the analysis unit 14 is an analysis result of exhaled gas without canceling the background component, the calculation unit 16 may correct the analysis result of the exhaled gas using the analysis result of the background gas so as to cancel the background component. Then, for example, the calculation unit 16 may calculate a predetermined analysis value as described above.

[0055] Here, as an example, a case will be described in which the calculation unit 16, instead of the analysis unit 14, corrects the analysis results of the expiratory gas to cancel the background component. In this case, for example, the calculation unit 16 may correct the analysis results of the expiratory gas for a background analysis period using the analysis results of the background gas in a background analysis period immediately before and after the expiratory gas analysis. Here, for example, a predetermined switching period may be provided between the background analysis period and the expiratory gas analysis period. Also, for example, the calculation unit 16 may correct the analysis results of the expiratory gas using the average background value in the background analysis period.

[0056] An example of the calculation result in the calculation unit 16 will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0057] (Storage unit 20) The memory unit 20 stores various types of data referenced by the control unit 10 and various types of data generated by the control unit 10. Specific examples of the data stored in the memory unit 20 include data related to the cumulative collection time of exhaled gas for each collection unit 11, data related to the continuous collection time of exhaled gas for each collection unit 11, data related to the analysis results of the exhaled gas, data related to the opening and closing status of the door provided in the collection unit 11, data related to the selection result of the collection unit 11, data related to the detection result of detecting the presence of a mammal in the collection unit 11, data related to the linking result between the collection unit 11 and the analysis result, data related to the calculation result of a predetermined analysis value of the exhaled gas, etc. The data related to the opening and closing status of the door provided in the collection unit 11 may be, for example, data recording the opening and closing status of the door for each of the doors provided in the multiple collection units 11 at predetermined time intervals (for example, every second).

[0058] (Input / output section 30) The input / output unit 30 is configured to include at least one of an input / output device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a display, a printer, a touch panel, etc. Alternatively, the input / output unit 30 may be configured to have an input / output device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a display, a printer, a touch panel, etc. connected to it. In this configuration, the input / output unit 30 accepts various types of information input to the collection device 1 from the connected input device. Furthermore, under the control of the control unit 10, the input / output unit 30 outputs various types of information to a connected output device. An example of the input / output unit 30 is an interface such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus).

[0059] (Flow of collection method S1) The flow of the collection method S1 executed by the collection device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flow diagram showing an example of the flow of the collection method S1.

[0060] For example, as described in each step below, when the detection unit 13 detects the presence of a mammal in two or more of the multiple collection units 11, the switching unit 12 may select the collection unit 11 containing the mammal with the shorter cumulative collection time of exhaled gas as the collection unit 11 to collect the exhaled gas.

[0061] (Step S11) In step S11, the detection unit 13 detects, for example, the presence of a mammalian individual in the collection unit 11. The detection unit 13 may detect the presence of a mammalian individual in the collection unit 11, for example, at predetermined time intervals. Here, the predetermined time may be, for example, one second.

[0062] For example, if the detection unit 13 detects the presence of a mammal in only one collection unit 11, the switching unit 12 may select the collection unit 11 in which the mammal is present as the collection unit 11 to collect exhaled gas.

[0063] (Step S12) In step S12, the collection unit 11 determines, for example, whether the continuous collection time of the exhaled gas is below a threshold value X. Here, the threshold value X is the upper limit of the continuous collection time of the exhaled gas in the collection unit 11.

[0064] For example, to protect the solenoid valve included in the switching unit 12, an upper limit may be set for the continuous power supply time to the solenoid valve, i.e., the continuous collection time of exhaled gas in the collection unit 11. If the continuous collection time is below the threshold X (step S12: YES), the process proceeds to step S13. If the continuous collection time is not below the threshold X (step S12: NO), the process proceeds to step S28.

[0065] (Step S13) In step S13, the switching unit 12 determines whether the collection unit 11 in which the presence of the mammalian individual has been detected is currently collecting exhaled gas. If the collection unit 11 is currently collecting exhaled gas (step S13: YES), the process proceeds to step S14. If the collection unit 11 is not currently collecting exhaled gas (step S13: NO), the process proceeds to step S24.

[0066] (Step S14) In step S14, the detection unit 13 determines whether the presence of a mammal continues to be detected in the collection unit 11 that is currently collecting exhaled gas, for example. If the presence of a mammal continues to be detected (step S14: YES), the process proceeds to step S15. If the presence of a mammal continues to be detected (step S14: NO), the process proceeds to step S21.

[0067] (Step S15) In step S15, the switching unit 12 checks, for example, which of the multiple collection units 11 has the longest or shortest cumulative collection time of exhaled gas.

[0068] Here, for example, assuming that the time each time a mammal is continuously present in the sampling unit 11 is constant, the longer the cumulative sampling time of exhaled gas in the sampling unit 11, the greater the cumulative number of times the mammal has been present in the sampling unit 11. In this case, the switching unit 12 may, for example, determine the sampling unit 11 containing a mammal with a shorter cumulative sampling time of exhaled gas based on the number of times the mammal has been present in the sampling unit 11.

[0069] (Step S16) In step S16, the switching unit 12 determines whether the following condition is met: "The collecting unit 11 currently collecting exhaled gas has the longest cumulative collection time, and the detecting unit 13 newly detects the presence of a mammalian individual in the collecting unit 11 with the shortest cumulative collection time of exhaled gas." If the condition is met (step S16: YES), the process proceeds to step S17. If the condition is not met (step S16: NO), the process proceeds to step S18.

[0070] (Step S17) In step S17, the switching unit 12 selects, for example, the collection unit 11 with the shortest cumulative collection time of exhaled gas.

[0071] (Steps S18 to S20) For example, as described in steps S18 to S20 below, when the detection unit 13 detects the presence of a mammal in two or more of the multiple collection units 11 at the point when the continuous collection time of the mammal's exhaled gas reaches a predetermined threshold, the switching unit 12 may select the collection unit 11 with the shortest cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas as the collection unit 11 to collect the exhaled gas from among the two or more collection units 11 in which the presence of the mammal has been detected.

[0072] (Step S18) In step S18, the switching unit 12 determines, for example, whether the continuous collection time of exhaled gas exceeds a threshold Y. Here, the threshold Y is the minimum value of the continuous collection time of exhaled gas in one collection unit 11.

[0073] In step S18, if the threshold Y is exceeded (step S18: YES), the process proceeds to step S19. If the threshold Y is not exceeded (step S18: NO), the process proceeds to step S11.

[0074] (Step S19) In step S19, the detection unit 13 determines whether the presence of a mammal has been detected in another collection unit 11 other than the collection unit 11 currently collecting exhaled gas. If the presence of a mammal has been detected in another collection unit 11 (step S19: YES), the process proceeds to step S20. If the presence of a mammal has not been detected in another collection unit 11 (step S19: NO), the process proceeds to step S11.

[0075] (Step S20) In step S20, the switching unit 12 selects, for example, the collection unit 11 with the shortest cumulative collection time of exhaled gas from among the collection units 11 in which the presence of a mammalian individual is detected.

[0076] In addition, when there are multiple sampling units 11 with the shortest cumulative exhaled gas collection time among the two or more sampling units 11 in which the presence of a mammal has been detected, the switching unit 12 may select the sampling unit 11 to collect the exhaled gas, for example, based on a predetermined priority order. In this case, for example, a priority order such as 1, 2, 3, etc. may be assigned to each of the multiple sampling units 11 in advance, and when there are multiple sampling units 11 with the shortest cumulative exhaled gas collection time, the switching unit 12 may select the sampling unit 11 with the smaller priority order as the sampling unit 11 to collect the exhaled gas.

[0077] (Step S21) In step S21, the switching unit 12 determines, for example, whether the time during which the individual mammal is not continuously present in the collection unit 11 exceeds a threshold Z. Here, the threshold Z is the minimum value of the time during which exhaled gas is continuously collected in the collection unit 11 after the presence of the individual mammal is no longer detected.

[0078] For example, depending on the sensitivity of the sensor included in detection unit 13, even if an individual mammal is present in sampling unit 11, the sensor may temporarily be unable to detect the presence of the individual. To prevent this, for example, even if it is determined that the sensor cannot detect the presence of the individual, sampling unit 11 may continue to sample the exhaled gas until the continuous sampling time of the exhaled gas thereafter exceeds threshold value Z.

[0079] In step S21, if the threshold value Z is exceeded (step S21: YES), the process proceeds to step S22. If the threshold value Z is not exceeded (step S21: NO), the process proceeds to step S11.

[0080] (Step S22) In step S22, the detection unit 13 determines, for example, whether or not the presence of a mammalian individual is detected in all of the plurality of collection units 11. If the presence of a mammalian individual is not detected in all of the plurality of collection units 11 (step S22: YES), the process proceeds to step S11. If the presence of a mammalian individual is detected in any of the plurality of collection units 11 (step S22: NO), the process proceeds to step S23.

[0081] Here, for example, in a state where the presence of a mammalian individual is not detected in the sampling unit 11, the sampling unit 11 may sample background gas.

[0082] (Step S23) In step S23, the switching unit 12 selects, for example, the collection unit 11 with the shortest cumulative collection time of exhaled gas from among the collection units 11 in which the presence of a mammalian individual is detected.

[0083] (Step S24) In step S24, the detection unit 13 determines, for example, whether or not the presence of a mammalian individual is detected in all of the plurality of collection units 11. If the presence of a mammalian individual is not detected in all of the plurality of collection units 11 (step S24: YES), the process proceeds to step S25. If the presence of a mammalian individual is detected in any of the plurality of collection units 11 (step S24: NO), the process proceeds to step S27.

[0084] (Step S25) In step S25, the sampling unit 11 determines, for example, whether the continuous sampling time of the background gas exceeds a threshold Y. If it exceeds the threshold Y (step S25: YES), the process proceeds to step S26. If it does not exceed the threshold Y (step S25: NO), the process proceeds to step S11.

[0085] (Step S26) In step S26, the switching unit 12 selects, for example, the collection unit 11 with the shorter cumulative collection time of the background gas.

[0086] (Step S27) In step S27, the switching unit 12 selects, for example, the sampling unit 11 with the shortest cumulative sampling time of exhaled gas from among the sampling units 11 in which the presence of a mammalian individual is detected.

[0087] (Step S28) In step S28, the collection unit 11 restarts collection of the exhaled gas, for example. Here, the collection unit 11 may restart collection of the exhaled gas by, for example, resetting a program related to the collection unit 11 and temporarily interrupting the supply of electricity to the electromagnetic valve provided in the switching unit 12.

[0088] (Flow of exhaled gas analysis method S2) The flow of the exhaled gas analysis method S2 executed by the collection device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of the exhaled gas analysis method S2.

[0089] (Step S31) In step S31, the linking unit 15 links the plurality of collection units 11 with the analysis results of the analysis unit 14 based on the selection result of the switching unit 12, for example.

[0090] (Step S32) In step S32, the calculation unit 16 calculates a predetermined analysis value of the collected exhaled gas for each collection unit 11 based on the linking result in the linking unit 15, for example.

[0091] (Step S33) In step S33, the calculation unit 16 calculates a predetermined analysis value for each collection unit 11 according to the time during which the mammal was present, further based on the detection result in the detection unit 13, for example.

[0092] (Configuration example of the sampling device 1 when sampling exhaled gas) Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the collection device 1 when collecting exhaled gas from individual mammals. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the group rearing facility is equipped with troughs A to D. Here, troughs A to D correspond to collection units 11A to 11D, respectively, and are in one-to-one correspondence with individual mammals A to D, respectively. The individual mammals A to D are the subjects from which exhaled gases are collected by the collection device 1. The above-mentioned troughs A to D are each equipped with a door, and door feeders DFA to DFD are attached to the doors of troughs A to D, respectively. Furthermore, detection units 13A to 13D, which are door open / close detection sensors, are attached to troughs A to D, respectively.

[0093] In the example shown in FIG. 4 , individual B opens the door of corresponding feed trough B. At this time, detection unit 13B detects the opening of the door of feed trough B. Here, switching unit 12 executes control program P including an expiratory gas switching algorithm to select feed trough B from which the expiratory gas G of individual B will be collected. At this time, analysis unit 14 analyzes the expiratory gas G of individual B collected as a result of the selection by switching unit 12.

[0094] (Configuration example of the collection device 1 regarding selection of collection part) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the collection device 1 with respect to the selection of multiple collection units 11. In the collection device 1 shown in FIG. 5, the multiple collection units 11 (feed troughs 1-5) and one gas analyzer (analysis unit 14) are connected via tubes that serve as a passage for exhaled gas. Sensors 1-5, which serve as detection units 13, are attached to the feed troughs 1-5, respectively. The sensors 1-5 are connected to a microcomputer that constitutes the switching unit 12. Solenoid valves SV0-SV4 that constitute the switching unit 12 are installed to open and close the gas passages in the tubes connected to the feed troughs 1-5, respectively. Inside the switching unit 12, the solenoid valves SV0-SV4 open the gas passages at their installation locations on the tubes when the corresponding relays R0-R4 are activated and energized. The microcomputer is connected to the relays R0-R4 via a switch that selects which of the relays R0-R4 to activate. The microcomputer may also select a collection unit from the feed troughs 1-5 to collect exhaled gas, for example.

[0095] (Example of results from collection device 1) Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the results in the collection device 1. The example in Fig. 6 shows result data RE including the selection result (measurement trough name) in the switching unit 12 and the detection result (measurement state) in the detection unit 13, analysis result data AR in the analysis unit 14, and calculation result data CR in the calculation unit 16.

[0096] The result data RE may be data indicating the name of the measurement trough and the measurement status at each predetermined time (every second in the example in Fig. 6), for example, as shown in Fig. 6. In other words, the result data RE may be data indicating the presence or absence of a mammal (a cow in the example in Fig. 6) in the collection unit 11 selected by the switching unit 12 at each predetermined time, for example, as shown in Fig. 6.

[0097] The analysis result data AR may be data indicating the analysis results at each predetermined time, as shown in Fig. 6. In other words, the analysis result data AR may be data indicating the results of the analysis of the gas components to be analyzed (methane and carbon dioxide in the example in Fig. 6) by the analysis unit 14 at each predetermined time, as shown in Fig. 6.

[0098] 6, the calculation result data CR is data calculated based on the linking results of the linking unit 15 and the detection results of the detection unit 13. Note that the linking results and the detection results described above may both be data that is shown at predetermined times, for example.

[0099] 6 shows calculation result data CR including the time when detection unit 13 started to detect the presence of a mammal (feed trough visit time), the time when detection unit 13 stopped detecting the presence of the mammal (exit time), the selection result (measurement trough name) by switching unit 12, and a predetermined analysis value (average methane / carbon dioxide concentration ratio). Here, the predetermined analysis value included in calculation result data CR may be, for example, the result of calculating, for each sampling unit 11, the average methane / carbon dioxide concentration ratio for the time period from the feed trough visit time to the exit time.

[0100] (Effect of Collection Device 1) As described above, the sampling device 1 is a sampling device that collects the exhaled gas of multiple mammalian individuals separately, and includes multiple sampling units that collect the exhaled gas of the mammals, a switching unit that switches between the sampling units that collect the exhaled gas, and a detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a mammal in the sampling unit. The detection unit detects the presence of a mammal in the sampling unit by linking it to individual information about the mammal, and the switching unit selects a sampling unit that collects the exhaled gas based on the cumulative exhaled gas collection time for each mammalian individual within a predetermined period of time so as to minimize the difference in cumulative exhaled gas collection time between the mammalian individuals. This reduces the variation in the amount of sampling data between samples of multiple organisms, thereby achieving more optimal sampling.

[0101] [Software implementation example] The functions of the collection device 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "device") can be realized by a program that causes a computer to function as the device, and a program that causes a computer to function as each control block of the device (particularly each part included in the control unit 10).

[0102] In this case, the device includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The control device and storage device execute the program, thereby realizing the functions described in each of the above embodiments.

[0103] The program may be non-transitory and may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media. The recording media may or may not be included in the device. In the latter case, the program may be supplied to the device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0104] Furthermore, some or all of the functions of the control blocks can be realized by logic circuits. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each of the control blocks is formed is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, the functions of the control blocks can also be realized by, for example, a quantum computer.

[0105] Furthermore, each process described in each of the above embodiments may be executed by AI (Artificial Intelligence). In this case, the AI ​​may run on the control device or on another device (for example, an edge computer or a cloud server).

[0106] 〔summary〕 A sampling device according to aspect A1 of the present invention is a sampling device for collecting exhaled gas from multiple individual mammals, comprising multiple sampling units for collecting the exhaled gas from the mammals, a switching unit for switching between the sampling units for collecting the exhaled gas, and a detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of a mammal in the sampling units, wherein the detection unit detects the presence of a mammal in the sampling unit by linking it to individual information about the mammal, and the switching unit selects a sampling unit for collecting the exhaled gas based on the cumulative exhaled gas collection time for each individual mammal within a predetermined period of time so as to minimize differences in the cumulative exhaled gas collection time between the individual mammals. This reduces variations in the amount of sampling data between samples from multiple organisms, thereby achieving more optimal sampling.

[0107] The collection device according to Aspect A2 of the present invention is the same as Aspect A1, in which the collection units correspond one-to-one to the mammals, thereby enabling exhaled gas to be collected from each mammal.

[0108] In the collection device according to Aspect A3 of the present invention, in Aspect A1 or A2, when the detection unit detects the presence of a mammal in two or more of the plurality of collection units, the switching unit selects the collection unit containing the mammal with the shortest cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas as the collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas, thereby making it possible to further reduce the difference in cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas between individuals.

[0109] In the collection device according to Aspect A4 of the present invention, in Aspect A3, the switching unit determines the collection unit containing the mammal with the shortest cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas based on the number of times the mammal has been present in the collection unit, thereby making it easier to determine the cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas.

[0110] The collection device according to A5 of the present invention is any one of A1 to A4 above, further comprising an analysis unit that analyzes the exhaled gas collected by the plurality of collection units, thereby enabling the collected exhaled gas to be analyzed.

[0111] In the collection device according to A6 of the present invention, in any of A1 to A5, when the detection unit detects the presence of a mammal in two or more of the collection units when the continuous collection time of the exhaled gas of the mammal reaches a predetermined threshold, the switching unit selects, as the collection unit to collect the exhaled gas, the collection unit with the shortest cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas from the two or more collection units where the presence of the mammal is detected, thereby further reducing the difference in the cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas between individuals.

[0112] In the collection device according to A7 of the present invention, in any of A1 to A6, when there are multiple collection units with the shortest cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas among the two or more collection units at which the presence of the mammal has been detected, the switching unit selects the collection unit to collect the exhaled gas based on a predetermined priority order, thereby making it possible to determine the collection unit to collect the exhaled gas based on the predetermined priority order.

[0113] In the collection device according to A8 of the present invention, in any of A1 to A5, when the detection unit detects the presence of a mammal in only one of the collection units, the switching unit selects the one collection unit as the collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas. This makes it possible to collect the exhaled gas of a mammal when there is no need to select a collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas.

[0114] In the collection device according to Aspect A9 of the present invention, in Aspect A5, when the detection unit does not detect the presence of a mammal in any of the collection units, the analysis unit analyzes background gas collected by the collection units, thereby correcting the analysis result of the exhaled gas to cancel the background gas.

[0115] The sampling device according to Aspect A10 of the present invention is the same as Aspect A5 or A9, and further includes a linking unit that links the multiple sampling units with the analysis results of the analysis unit based on the selection result of the switching unit, thereby linking the sampling unit that sampled the exhaled gas with the analysis results of the exhaled gas.

[0116] The sampling device according to Aspect A11 of the present invention is the same as Aspect A10, but further includes a calculation unit that calculates a predetermined analytical value of the sampled exhaled gas for each sampling unit based on the linking result of the linking unit, thereby allowing the predetermined analytical value of the exhaled gas to be calculated for each sampling unit.

[0117] A sampling device according to Aspect A12 of the present invention is the same as Aspect A11, in which the calculation unit calculates the predetermined analytical value for each sampling unit according to the time the mammal was present, based on the detection result from the detection unit, thereby making it possible to calculate the predetermined analytical value for each sampling unit at the time the mammal was present.

[0118] A collection method according to Aspect B1 of the present invention is a collection method for collecting exhaled gas from a plurality of individual mammals separately using a plurality of collection units for collecting the exhaled gas from the mammals, the collection method including a switching process for switching between the collection units for collecting the exhaled gas, and a detection process for detecting the presence or absence of a mammal in the collection units, wherein the detection process detects the presence of a mammal in the collection unit by linking it with individual information about the mammal, and the switching process selects a collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas based on the cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas for each individual mammal within a predetermined period of time so as to minimize the difference in cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas between the individual mammals, thereby achieving the same effect as Aspect A1.

[0119] A collection method according to Aspect B2 of the present invention is the same as Aspect B1, except that the plurality of collection sections correspond one-to-one to the plurality of mammalian individuals, thereby achieving the same effect as Aspect A2.

[0120] In the collection method according to Aspect B3 of the present invention, when the presence of a mammal is detected in two or more of the plurality of collection units in Aspect B1 or B2, the switching process selects the collection unit containing the mammal with the shorter cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas as the collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas, thereby achieving the same effect as Aspect A3.

[0121] A collection method according to Aspect B4 of the present invention is the same as Aspect B3, in which the switching process determines the collection unit containing the mammal with the shorter cumulative exhaled gas collection time based on the number of times the mammal has been present in the collection unit, thereby achieving the same effect as Aspect A4.

[0122] The exhaled gas analysis method according to aspect B5 of the present invention includes an analysis process for analyzing the exhaled gas collected by the collection method according to any one of aspects B1 to B4 at the plurality of collection units, thereby achieving the same effects as those of aspect A5.

[0123] A collection method according to Aspect B6 of the present invention is any of Aspects B1 to B5, in which, when the continuous collection time of the exhaled gas of the mammal reaches a predetermined threshold and the presence of the mammal is detected in two or more of the plurality of collection units, the switching process selects, from the two or more collection units where the presence of the mammal is detected, the collection unit with the shortest cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas as the collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas, thereby achieving the same effect as Aspect A6.

[0124] A collection method according to aspect B7 of the present invention is any of aspects B1 to B6, in which, when there are more than one collection unit with the shortest cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas among the two or more collection units at which the presence of the mammal has been detected, the switching process selects a collection unit to collect the exhaled gas based on a predetermined priority, thereby achieving the same effect as aspect A7.

[0125] A collection method according to aspect B8 of the present invention is any of the above aspects B1 to B5, in which when the presence of a mammal is detected only in one of the collection units, the switching process selects the one collection unit as the collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas, thereby achieving the same effect as aspect A8.

[0126] The method for analyzing exhaled gas according to Aspect B9 of the present invention is the same as Aspect B5, except that if no mammal is detected in any of the sampling units, the analysis process analyzes background gas collected by the sampling units, thereby achieving the same effect as Aspect A9.

[0127] The exhaled gas analysis method according to Aspect B10 of the present invention is the same as Aspect B5 or B9, and further includes a linking process for linking the plurality of sampling units with the analysis results of the analysis process based on the selection result of the switching process, thereby achieving the same effect as Aspect A10.

[0128] The method for analyzing exhaled gas according to Aspect B11 of the present invention is the same as Aspect B10, and further includes a calculation process for calculating a predetermined analysis value of the collected exhaled gas for each collection unit based on the linking result of the linking process, thereby achieving the same effects as Aspect A11.

[0129] Aspect B12 of the present invention is a method for analyzing exhaled gas according to Aspect B11, wherein the calculation process calculates the predetermined analysis value for each sampling portion according to the time the mammal was present in the sampling portion, based on the detection result of the detection process, thereby achieving the same effect as Aspect A12.

[0130] A collection method according to aspect B13 of the present invention is a collection method for collecting exhaled gas from a plurality of mammals separately for each individual using a plurality of collection units for collecting exhaled gas from the mammals, and includes a switching process for selecting a collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas from the mammals based on the cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas from each mammal within a predetermined period of time so as to minimize the difference in cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas between the mammals, thereby achieving the same effect as aspect A1.

[0131] The exhaled gas analysis method according to Aspect B14 of the present invention includes an analysis process for analyzing the exhaled gas collected by the plurality of collection units using the collection method according to Aspect B13, thereby achieving the same effects as those of Aspect A5.

[0132] The exhaled gas analysis method according to Aspect B15 of the present invention is the same as Aspect B14, and further includes a linking process for linking the plurality of sampling units with the analysis results of the analysis process based on the selection result of the switching process, thereby achieving the same effects as Aspect A10.

[0133] A program according to aspect C1 of the present invention causes a computer to execute a collection method for collecting exhaled gas from a plurality of individual mammals separately using a plurality of collection units for collecting the exhaled gas from the mammals, the collection method including a switching process for switching between the collection units for collecting the exhaled gas and a detection process for detecting the presence or absence of a mammal in the collection units, wherein the detection process detects the presence of a mammal in the collection unit by linking it with individual information about the mammal, and the switching process selects a collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas based on the cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas for each individual mammal within a predetermined period of time so as to minimize the difference in cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas between the individual mammals, thereby achieving the same effect as aspect A1.

[0134] A program according to an aspect C2 of the present invention is the same as that of the aspect C1, in which the plurality of collection units correspond one-to-one to the plurality of mammalian individuals, thereby achieving the same effect as that of the aspect A2.

[0135] A program according to aspect C3 of the present invention causes a computer to execute the switching process in aspect C1 or C2 above, in which, when the presence of a mammal is detected in two or more of the plurality of sampling units, the sampling unit having the shorter cumulative sampling time of the exhaled gas is selected as the sampling unit for sampling the exhaled gas, thereby achieving the same effect as aspect A3.

[0136] A program according to Aspect C4 of the present invention causes a computer to execute the switching process of Aspect C3, in which a sampling unit containing a mammal with a shorter cumulative exhaled gas sampling time is determined based on the number of times the mammal has been present in the sampling unit, thereby achieving the same effect as Aspect A4.

[0137] A program according to aspect C5 of the present invention causes a computer to execute the switching process in any of aspects C1 to C4, in which, when the presence of a mammal is detected in two or more of the plurality of sampling units at a point in time when the continuous sampling time of the mammal's exhaled gas reaches a predetermined threshold, the sampling unit that has been sampling the exhaled gas for the shortest cumulative time is selected as the sampling unit to sample the exhaled gas, from among the two or more sampling units at which the presence of the mammal is detected. This achieves the same effect as aspect A6.

[0138] A program according to aspect C6 of the present invention causes a computer to execute the switching process for selecting a sampling unit to sample the exhaled gas based on a predetermined priority order when, among the two or more sampling units at which the presence of the mammal has been detected, there are multiple sampling units with the shortest cumulative sampling time of the exhaled gas, in any of aspects C1 to C5, thereby achieving the same effect as aspect A7.

[0139] A program according to aspect C7 of the present invention causes a computer to execute the switching process of selecting one of the sampling units as the sampling unit for sampling the exhaled gas when the presence of a mammal is detected only in one of the sampling units in any of aspects C1 to C4, thereby achieving the same effect as aspect A8.

[0140] The program according to aspect C8 of the present invention, in any of aspects C1 to C7, further causes the computer to execute a linking process that links the collection units with the analysis results of the analysis units based on the selection result of the switching process, using an analysis unit that analyzes the exhaled gas collected by the collection units. This achieves the same effects as aspects A5 and A10.

[0141] The program according to Aspect C9 of the present invention further causes the computer to execute a calculation process for calculating a predetermined analytical value of the collected exhaled gas for each collection unit based on the linking results of the linking process in Aspect C8, thereby achieving the same effect as Aspect A11.

[0142] A program according to Aspect C10 of the present invention causes a computer to execute the calculation process in Aspect C9, further based on the detection results of the detection process, to calculate the predetermined analytical value for each sampling portion according to the time the mammal was present, thereby achieving the same effect as Aspect A12.

[0143] A program according to aspect C11 of the present invention is a program for controlling the operation of a collection device that collects the exhaled gas of a plurality of mammalian individuals separately using a plurality of collection units that collect the exhaled gas of the mammals and a switching unit that switches between the collection units, and causes a computer to execute the operation of the switching unit that selects the collection unit that collects the exhaled gas of the mammals based on the cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas of each mammalian individual within a predetermined period of time so as to minimize the difference in cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas between the mammalian individuals, thereby achieving the same effect as aspect A1.

[0144] A program according to aspect C12 of the present invention further includes an analysis unit that analyzes the exhaled gas collected by the plurality of collection units and a linking unit that links the plurality of collection units with the analysis results of the analysis units based on the selection result of the switching unit in the above-mentioned aspect C11, and further causes a computer to execute the operations of the linking unit, thereby achieving the same effects as aspects A5 and A10.

[0145] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Example]

[0146] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[0147] (Example of collection device 1) An embodiment of the collection device 1 will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0148] To evaluate the collection device 1, an experiment was conducted to compare the inter-individual variability in cumulative collection (measurement) time with that of the prior art.

[0149] The exhaled gas of each of four cows (beef cattle) A to D was measured using the sampling device 1 and the prior art. Here, cows A to D correspond to the individuals A to D illustrated in FIG. 4 above, respectively. The continuous measurement time was 24 hours for each. Furthermore, feed was provided to each of cows A to D approximately 1 hour and approximately 7 hours after the start of measurement.

[0150] In the embodiment of the sampling device 1, the sampling unit for sampling the exhaled gas was switched using the algorithm of the sampling method S1, and the exhaled gas of each of the cows A to D was measured.

[0151] In the prior art switching method, the sampling unit for sampling the exhaled gas was switched at predetermined time intervals in the order of cow A → B → C → D → A → ..., and the exhaled gas of each individual cow A to D was measured. However, during the above switching, if there was no cow in the sampling unit to be newly switched to, sampling of the exhaled gas from that sampling unit was skipped.

[0152] Fig. 7 is a diagram comparing the switching method according to the present invention, which is an example of the collection device 1, with a switching method according to the prior art (reference example). In the example shown in Fig. 7, the cumulative measurement time after the start of measurement (collection) of the exhaled gas for each individual cow A to D is shown over time. Note that in the example shown in Fig. 7, correction was made to cancel the background component in the analysis results of the exhaled gas, as in the example described above in the embodiment.

[0153] In the prior art switching method (reference example) shown in FIG. 7, the cumulative measurement time of exhaled gas for each individual 24 hours after the start of measurement was as follows: Cow A: 105 minutes Cow B: 98 minutes Cow C: 75 minutes Cow D: 50 minutes Regarding the results for cows A to D, Average: 82 minutes Coefficient of Variance (CV): 30% It was.

[0154] In the embodiment of the collection device 1 shown in FIG. 7 (switching of the present invention), the cumulative measurement time of exhaled gas for each individual 24 hours after the start of measurement was as follows: Cow A: 111 minutes Cow B: 100 minutes Cow C: 82 minutes Cow D: 66 minutes Regarding the results for cows A to D, Average: 90 minutes Coefficient of Variance (CV): 22% It was.

[0155] As described above, for cows in which the cumulative measurement time of exhaled gas was short when using the prior art switching method, it was confirmed that the cumulative measurement time was increased when using the embodiment of the sampling device 1. Furthermore, the value of the coefficient of variation, which indicates the degree of difference between individuals in the cumulative measurement time of exhaled gas, was smaller when using the embodiment of the sampling device 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0156] 1 Collection device 10 Control Unit 11 Collection section 12 Switching section 13 Detector 14 Analysis Department 15 Stringing section 16 Calculation section 20 Memory section 30 Input / output section

Claims

1. A collection method for collecting exhaled gases from a plurality of mammalian individuals separately using a plurality of collection units for collecting exhaled gases from the mammalian individuals, the method comprising: A switching process for switching the collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas; a detection process for detecting the presence or absence of a mammal in the collection section; Including, In the detection process, the presence of a mammal in the collection unit is detected in association with individual information of the mammal; In the switching process, a collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas is selected based on an accumulated collection time of the exhaled gas for each mammalian individual within a predetermined period, so that a difference in accumulated collection time of the exhaled gas between the mammalian individuals becomes small. Collection method.

2. The plurality of collection units and the plurality of mammalian individuals correspond one-to-one to each other. The collection method according to claim 1.

3. If the presence of a mammal is detected in two or more of the plurality of collection sites, In the switching process, a sampling unit in which a mammal having a shorter cumulative sampling time of the exhaled gas is present is selected as the sampling unit for sampling the exhaled gas. The collection method according to claim 1 or 2.

4. In the switching process, a collection unit in which a mammal having a shorter cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas is present is determined based on the number of times the mammal has been present in the collection unit. The collection method according to claim 3.

5. A method for analyzing exhaled gas, comprising an analysis process for analyzing exhaled gas collected by the plurality of collection units by the collection method according to claim 1.

6. When the continuous sampling time of the mammal's exhaled gas reaches a predetermined threshold, if the presence of a mammal is detected in two or more of the sampling parts, In the switching process, a sampling unit having a shortest cumulative sampling time of the exhaled gas is selected from among the two or more sampling units in which the presence of the mammal has been detected as the sampling unit for sampling the exhaled gas. The collection method according to claim 1.

7. When there are a plurality of sampling units with the shortest cumulative sampling time of the exhaled gas among the two or more sampling units in which the presence of the mammal has been detected, In the switching process, a collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas is selected based on a predetermined priority order. The collection method according to claim 3.

8. If the presence of a mammal is detected in only one of the collection sites, In the switching process, the first collection unit is selected as the collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas. The collection method according to claim 1.

9. If the presence of a mammal is not detected in any of the plurality of collection sites, In the analysis process, the background gas collected by the plurality of collection units is analyzed. The method for analyzing exhaled gas according to claim 5.

10. and further including a linking process of linking the plurality of collection units with an analysis result of the analysis process based on a selection result of the switching process. The method for analyzing exhaled gas according to claim 5 or 9.

11. The method further includes a calculation process of calculating a predetermined analysis value of the collected exhaled gas for each collection unit based on the linking result of the linking process. The method for analyzing exhaled gases according to claim 10.

12. In the calculation process, the predetermined analysis value is calculated for each of the collection sections according to the time during which the mammal was present, further based on the detection result in the detection process. The method for analyzing exhaled gases according to claim 11.

13. A collection method for collecting exhaled gases from a plurality of mammalian individuals separately using a plurality of collection units for collecting exhaled gases from the mammalian individuals, the method comprising: A collection method including a switching process for selecting a collection unit for collecting the exhaled gas of a mammal based on the cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas for each mammal within a predetermined period of time, so as to reduce the difference in cumulative collection time of the exhaled gas between individual mammals.

14. A method for analyzing exhaled gas, comprising an analysis process for analyzing exhaled gas collected by the plurality of collection units by the collection method according to claim 13.

15. and further including a linking process of linking the plurality of collection units with an analysis result of the analysis process based on a selection result of the switching process. The method for analyzing exhaled gases according to claim 14.

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