Milking Control Using Periodic Actual Milk Parameter Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milking methods rely on expected values for milk parameters, leading to incorrect and short-term decisions, as they often discontinue milking before actual values can be determined, resulting in inaccurate data and potential health issues due to residual milk in the udder.
Innovation Solution
A method that extends milking beyond usual criteria using a stricter detachment criterion to measure actual milk parameters, updating the formula with actual values to improve accuracy and prevent excessive residual milk, ensuring better udder health and more reliable data for subsequent milkings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If milking is discontinued based on expected milk parameter values, then milking efficiency is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using expected values for routine milkings to maintain efficiency, while occasionally applying excessive action by continuing milking beyond the expected value threshold to obtain actual measurements. This selective approach allows the system to balance efficiency and accuracy by not always extending milking to the point of obtaining actual values, but doing so periodically to update the underlying parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using measured actual values to update the formula parameters and expected values for future milkings. When an actual measurement is obtained (either through extended milking or stricter detachment criteria), this information feeds back into the system to improve the accuracy of expected value calculations, creating a continuous improvement loop.
2Measurement precision
If milking is extended to determine actual milk parameter values, then measurement accuracy is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses partial action by extending milking only partially beyond the expected value threshold, or applying stricter detachment criteria only occasionally, rather than always extending to complete actual measurement. This reduces time loss while still obtaining sufficient actual data points to maintain measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detachment criterion parameter dynamically - using a first (less strict) criterion for routine milkings and a second (stricter) criterion when actual measurements are needed. This parameter adjustment allows the system to minimize time loss while still obtaining accurate measurements when necessary.
3Reliability
If detachment criterion is made stricter to measure actual values, then reliability is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies stricter detachment criteria partially - not for every milking event, but selectively when actual measurements are needed to update parameters. This partial application maintains reliability improvement while minimizing the impact on overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by alternating between routine milkings using expected values and measurement-oriented milkings using stricter criteria. This periodic switching allows the system to maintain high reliability through regular parameter updates while preserving productivity during routine operations.
4Productivity
If expected values are used for milking decisions, then productivity is maintained, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by periodically obtaining actual measurements and using them to update the formula parameters and expected values. This feedback mechanism ensures that while expected values are used for most decisions (maintaining productivity), the underlying parameters remain reliable due to periodic validation with actual measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by relying on expected values for the majority of milking decisions (maintaining productivity) while occasionally extending milking or applying stricter criteria to obtain actual measurements (improving reliability). This balanced approach prevents complete reliance on potentially inaccurate expected values.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
A method for milking a dairy animal by means of a milking device (1) with a measuring device (6) for a milk parameter comprises identifying a dairy animal (7), determining a milking interval, attaching milking cups (3) to the dairy animal, calculating, according to a first formula, an expected value for the milk parameter, milking the dairy animal in a present milking, and detaching the milking cup when a first detachment criterion has been met. During the milking step and/or during the detaching step, use is made of the expected value of the milk parameter without determining the actual value of the milk parameter. The actual value is the value of the milk parameter if the milking takes place using a second detachment criterion which is stricter than the first detachment criterion. The method comprises measuring the actual value of the milk parameter for the present milking, if the actual value of said milk parameter was not determined during a number of previous milkings, and updating the first formula with the determined milking interval and the measured actual value. Because milking often takes place on the basis of an expected value and dairy animals are rarely milked completely, changes in the properties of a dairy animal in the part of a milking which is never carried out remain hidden. Nevertheless, these may have an effect on the amount of residual milk, udder health, milk capacity. By regularly continuing milking and measuring the actual value, the expected value can be calculated more accurately.