The present invention relates to a method to determine an inflammation in the udder of an animal.

The inflammation of the udder of an animal, particularly a cow, is nowadays a severe problem, because it affects the animal itself and the quality of the milk provided by the cow. A conductivity test of the milk has therefore been developed which determines inflammations of the udder, while the animal is milked. However, this measurement is not sufficiently accurate, because it is for example influenced by the calcium content of the milk.

It is therefore the objective of the present invention to provide a method to determine an inflammation in the udder of an animal which does not have the deficiencies of the methods according to the state in the art.

The problem is solved with a method to determine an inflammation in the udder of an animal, wherein a microwave-radiometry-detector is used to determine the core temperature in the udder.

The present invention is related to a method to determine an inflammation in the udder of an animal. An udder is an organ formed of the mammary glands of female quadruped mammals, particularly ruminants such as cattle, goats, sheep and deer. The udder is a single mass hanging beneath the animal, consisting of pairs of mammary glands. In cattle there are normally two pairs, in sheep, goats and deer there is one pair.

The inventive method is carried out by measuring the core temperature of the udder in at least one location, preferably in each pair of the udder, more preferably in each sector of the udder connected to a mammary gland. A cow, for example has four such sectors.

Core temperature according to the present invention means, that the temperature in the core of the udder, more preferably in the core of each sector is measured. The determination of the skin temperature or the hypodermic temperature is not sufficient. The core temperature is the temperature, averaged over the entire length of the udder in one direction, preferably in the extension of the udder parallel to the center axis of the detector.

The inventive method is carried out with a microwave-radiometry-detector. Such a

microwave-radiometry-detector detects radiation in a bandwidth of 0,3 to 300 GHz. This detector and the connected electronics are for example known from WO 2006/070142, WO 2006/070143, WO 2006/070144, US 4,650,345 and US 5,176,146, which are incorporated herewith by reference and are therefore part of the present application. Preferably, the detector comprises a receiving area, which receives the radiation emitted from the udder, for example of a cow. Preferably, this receiving area faces the udder directly. Preferably, the receiving area is the tip of a rod-shaped device.

Preferably, the receiving area has a dimension of 0.1 - 180 mm ² and hence measures the core temperature of the udder very precise. The receiving area is the area of the detector, which receives the microwave radiation emitted by the udder. More preferably, the receiving area is 0,1 - 70 mm ² , even more preferably 0,1 - 40 mm ² and most preferably 0,1 - 20 mm ² . The receiving area may have any shape. However, preferably, the receiving area is circular and is provided at the tip of a circular rod. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the receiving area has a diameter of 0,35 - 15,1 mm, more preferably 0,35 - 9,4 mm, even more preferably 0,35 - 7,13 mm, even more preferably 0,35 - 5,0 mm.

The detector preferably does not touch the udder, but is placed in the direct vicinity of the udder to receive the microwave radiation emitted by the udder. Preferably, the detector is movable to measure the core temperature at different locations and/or a multitude of microwave-radiometry-detectors are provided which measure the temperature of the udder at different locations, preferably at least partially simultaneously. Preferably, the microwave- radiometry-detector is part of a milking device.

Preferably, the detector and the accompanying electronics detects and analyzes

microwaves in a frequency band between 1 -7 GHz, whereas low frequencies around a frequency band between 2 - 4 GHz are more preferred and a frequency band between 2,8 and 3,2 GHz is most preferred. In an even more preferred embodiment the frequencies received and analyzed by the detector and the accompanying electronics is altered during one measurement, whereas low frequencies provide information about the temperature deep inside the udder and higher frequencies information about the temperature of udder nearer to the surface.

Preferably, the temperatures measured in each sector are compared with each other and in case the temperature of one sector is higher than the others, it is likely that this sector comprises an inflammation.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the temperature of the udder and/or the temperature of each pair of mammary glands and/or each sector is determined regularly, particularly during each milking. Preferably, the acquired temperature data is stored and provided as a versus time profile. Preferably, this profile is analyzed, so that even a starting inflammation that does not affect the quality of the milk can be detected. The temperature data is stored in connection with the individual animal. The animal therefore preferably carries an identification means. This identification means is for example an RFID. The acquired temperature data can even be stored on this RFID or on a computer device connected to the RFID.

Preferably, the milking is immediately stopped and/or the milked milk is sorted out in case an increased temperature has been measured, which indicates an inflammation of the udder. The animal must then be examined more closely.

The invention is now explained according to Figure 1. These explanations do not limit the scope of protection.

Figures 1 and 2 show the detector and the udder.

Figures 1 and 2 show schematically the udder 3 of an animal, here a cow. The udder has several teats 4. As can be particularly seen from Figure 2, each udder 3 has two mammary glands 5 and 6. In the present case each mammary gland has two sector/complexes, each sector/complex having a teat, i.e. there are four sectors 8 - 10.

The core temperature of the entire udder (Fig. 1 ) or individual sectors 8, 10 (Fig.2) is determined by a microwave radiometry detector 1 , which has a receiving area 2, which is directed towards the udder 3 and receives microwave radiation emitted by the udder. In the present case, the receiving area is a circle with a diameter of six millimeters. The detector is electrically and electronically connected to analyzing means, which are not shown. In the present case, the detector and/or the accompanying electronics comprises a filter that allows microwaves in a band width of 2-4 GHz to pass. The connected electronics analyses this received microwave radiation and calculates the core temperature of the udder 3, i. e. the temperature in the center of udder 3. The measured temperature is an average over the individually selectable and set measurement depth 1 1 , which is in case of the example according to Figure 1 the entire udder or in the case of example according to Figure 2 only a sector of the udder. In the example according to Figure 2, two detectors are shown to analyze the temperature in sectors 8 and 10. The person skilled in the art understands that more, for example four, detectors can be provided to measure all sectors 8 - 20 individually and/or one or more detectors can be moved around the udder to measure individual sectors.

List of reference signs:

1 Microwave-Radiometry-Detector

2 receiving area

3 udder teat

first pair second pair first sector second sector third sector fourth sector measuring depth