Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of determining feed concentrate rations for dairy cows, comprising the steps of: a) recording in a hand-holdable microprocessor-based recorder information relating to the cow identity of each. of a plurality of cows which are to use a milking parlour, b) entering information relating to the cow identity of each cow actually entering the parlour for a milking session, the recorder being programmed to validate the entered cow identities with the recorded cow identities, c) entering respective milk yields in relation to respective validated cow identity entries, d) after a milking session, connecting the recorder to a master unit, and e) causing the master unit to read the information unit in the recorder as to milk yield Y for each identified cow and enter this information into a central processor programmed to compute a value of feed concentrate ration (R) for each cow according to an algorithm having the general form R = V( - M + L(t) + C), where M, L(t) and C are values for "maintenance +", lactation period and cow condition pre-recorded for each cow in a memory of the master unit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of determining feed concentrate rations for dairy cows, comprising the steps of: a) recording in a hand-holdable microprocessor-based recorder information relating to the cow identity of each. of a plurality of cows which are to use a milking parlour, b) entering information relating to the cow identity of each cow actually entering the parlour for a milking session, the recorder being programmed to validate the entered cow identities with the recorded cow identities, c) entering respective milk yields in relation to respective validated cow identity entries, d) after a milking session, connecting the recorder to a master unit, and e) causing the master unit to read the information unit in the recorder as to milk yield Y for each identified cow and enter this information into a central processor programmed to compute a value of feed concentrate ration (R) for each cow according to an algorithm having the general form R = V( - M + L(t) + C), where M, L(t) and C are values for "maintenance +", lactation period and cow condition pre-recorded for each cow in a memory of the master unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, including the step of displaying or printing the values for R in relation to cow identities.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, including the step of storing the values for R in relation to cow identities in a memory associated with an automatic feed ration delivery system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, including the steps of causing a display associated with the recorder to indicate if supplementary information is stored in relation to an identified cow and of causing each such item of supplementary information to be recalled and displayed to be either confirmed or changed by overwriting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method accordinng to claim 4, including the step of displaying and/or printing an events list for each identified cow, utilising the said stored supplementary information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
193 words
Apparatus for determining feed concentrate rations for dairy cows, comprising: - a hand - holdable microprocessor based recorder having a keyboard, a solid state memory having a section in which cow identities are pre-recordable and a section in which identities of cows entering a milking parlour for a milking session are recorded, and a comparator unit for comparing entered cow identities with recorded cow identities in order to verify the latter, - a master processor unit to which the reocrder is connectable to enable the master unit to record milk yields (Y) previously entered into the recorder via its keyboard in relation to the validated cow identities, the master unit having a temporary memory for storing the milk yields and a permanent memory for storing pre-determined values for "maintenance +" (M), lactation period (L(t)) and cow condition (C) in relation to cow identities, and including an arithmetic unit for programmed computation of feed concentrate ration (R) in relation to cow identities generally in accordance with the algorithm: R = V(Y - M + L(t) + C), - means for displaying and/or printing and/or storing the computed feed rations in relation to cow identities.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
193 words
Apparatus for determining feed concentrate rations for dairy cows, comprising: - a hand - holdable microprocessor based recorder having a keyboard, a solid state memory having a section in which cow identities are pre-recordable and a section in which identities of cows entering a milking parlour for a milking session are recorded, and a comparator unit for comparing entered cow identities with recorded cow identities in order to verify the latter, - a master processor unit to which the reocrder is connectable to enable the master unit to record milk yields (Y) previously entered into the recorder via its keyboard in relation to the validated cow identities, the master unit having a temporary memory for storing the milk yields and a permanent memory for storing pre-determined values for "maintenance +" (M), lactation period (L(t)) and cow condition (C) in relation to cow identities, and including an arithmetic unit for programmed computation of feed concentrate ration (R) in relation to cow identities generally in accordance with the algorithm: R = V(Y - M + L(t) + C), - means for displaying and/or printing and/or storing the computed feed rations in relation to cow identities.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recorder includes a time clock.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the recorder memory includes a history section for storage of supplementary information in relation to cow identities.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the recorder is battery powered and the master unit includes a battery charger for charging the recorder batteries when the recorder is connected to the master unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 9, including a switchable interface unit through which the master unit is connectable to the recorder or to the controller of an automatic feed rations dispenser.