Abstract: An animal training system for controlling the behavior of the animal includes a receiver configured to be worn by the animal, and a hand held transmitter. The hand held transmitter includes a case with an front face, a transmitter circuit within the case for transmitting a wireless signal to the receiver, and an actuator at the front face of the case. The actuator is coupled with the transmitter circuit, and is a non-depressible actuator which is manually movable relative to the case.

Abstract: Device for increasing the training effect in a horse, consisting of essentially a sheet of mat-like material (1) adapting to and attachable to the horse's back. The mat-like sheet (1) is, over a substantial area, equipped with slits (9) going through the mat, in order to improve flexibility, and also of cuts (3, 4) that take up a position in essentially the area of the highest point of the horse's rear scapulae, which permits the overlapping of the parts of the mat remaining on different sides of the cut (3, 4).

Abstract: In first, second, and third embodiments of the invention the dog lead is formed from a cord and has a first loop and a second loop at one end and a handle at the other end. The handle and a portion of the cord are passed through the first loop to form a collar. The handle and an additional portion of the cord are then passed under the dog's chest and through the second loop to form a chest band. In a fourth embodiment of the invention, a stop is mounted snugly on the cord and a washer is mounted to the cord. In a fifth embodiment of the invention, an inner stop and a outer stop are provided on both sides of a ring to keep the collar from becoming tight or loose, making the dog lead virtually escape proof.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a system includes a milking cup, a pulsating device coupled to the milking cup, a robotic arm comprising a gripper, and a controller communicatively coupled to the robotic arm and the pulsating device. The controller is operable to instruct the gripper of the robotic arm to grip the milking cup, instruct the robotic arm to move the milking cup proximate to a teat of a dairy livestock, and instruct the robotic arm to move the milking cup towards the teat. The controller is further operable to instruct the pulsating device to apply pressure to the milking cup before attaching the milking cup to the teat and instruct the gripper of the robotic arm to release the milking cup.

Abstract: A bird feeder is provided having a seed reservoir with a side wall that has at least one seed access opening and an adjustable feed port assembly. The feed port assembly includes a base mounted to the side wall in a fixed relationship thereto and having a central opening in communication with the seed in the reservoir. Fitted to the base is a rotatable insert having a perch coupled thereto in fixed relationship so that the perch and insert rotate as a unit. The insert is rotatable between two positions, an upright position in which the perch is below the base central opening enabling birds to feed while standing on the perch, and an upside down position in which the perch is above the base central opening, requiring birds to hang upside down from the perch to feed.

Abstract: A litter and litter making method producing cat litter from a carbohydrate starch-containing cereal grain, e.g., corn, based admixture extruded from a single screw or twin screw extruder forming pellets having a clumping agent formed during extrusion composed at least in part of carbohydrate polymer binder. Each pellet is extruded under conditions that cause formation of carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent at least some of which is water soluble. One preferred method of extruding cat litter causes starch dextrinization to occur such that at least some of the carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent in each pellet is formed of dextrin. Each pellet can be coated such as with a smectite that preferably is bentonite. During use, pellet extrusion formed clumping agent in a pellet wetted with urine dissolves and flows in between and along adjacent pellets causing them to clump together without the presence of any clumping agent additive.

Abstract: A litter and litter making method producing cat litter from a carbohydrate starch-containing cereal grain, e.g., corn, based admixture extruded from a single screw or twin screw extruder forming pellets having a clumping agent formed during extrusion composed at least in part of carbohydrate polymer binder. Each pellet is extruded under conditions that cause formation of carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent at least some of which is water soluble. One preferred method of extruding cat litter causes starch dextrinization to occur such that at least some of the carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent in each pellet is formed of dextrin. Each pellet can be coated such as with a smectite that preferably is bentonite. During use, pellet extrusion formed clumping agent in a pellet wetted with urine dissolves and flows in between and along adjacent pellets causing them to clump together without the presence of any clumping agent additive.

Abstract: A litter and litter making method producing cat litter from a carbohydrate starch-containing cereal grain, e.g., corn, based admixture extruded from a single screw or twin screw extruder forming pellets having a clumping agent formed during extrusion composed at least in part of carbohydrate polymer binder. Each pellet is extruded under conditions that cause formation of carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent at least some of which is water soluble. One preferred method of extruding cat litter causes starch dextrinization to occur such that at least some of the carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent in each pellet is formed of dextrin. Each pellet can be coated such as with a smectite that preferably is bentonite. During use, pellet extrusion formed clumping agent in a pellet wetted with urine dissolves and flows in between and along adjacent pellets causing them to clump together without the presence of any clumping agent additive.

Abstract: A bird feeder which comprises a seed container, a cover, a seed tray below the seed container to receive seeds therefrom, and a shield which is secured to the seed container, the shield being spaced above said seed tray a distance sized to restrict access of certain sized birds to the seed tray.

Abstract: A tray lock mechanism for a pet enclosure is disclosed. The tray lock mechanism includes a sliding component that has a camming surface that interacts with a leading-edge of the tray to generate an upward force to move the sliding component out of the way so that the tray can be inserted into an opening and into the pet enclosure. Additionally, in a further embodiment, the tray lock mechanism contemplates a door extension that extends downward and blocks the opening when the door is in the closed position and unblocks the opening when the door is in an opened position.

Abstract: A system includes a robotic attacher comprising a main arm and a supplemental arm operable to extend into a stall portion of a milking box. A camera couples to the supplemental arm. The supplemental arm comprises a camera-facing nozzle operable to spray the camera with a cleanser.

Abstract: The water-deficit stress of plants or crops is managed using plant temperatures to maximize product quality. The temperature of the target plant is repeatedly measured over a period of interest, and after each measurement, the plant temperature is compared with a predetermined plant setpoint temperature associated with a desired water-deficit stress level, above which temperature the plant is deemed to be in an undesired metabolic state. If the measured plant temperature is greater than the setpoint temperature, and humidity is not restrictive to plant cooling, then irrigation can be triggered to retain the plant within the desired stressed level, as determined by the temperature of the plant. By this method, irrigation can be withheld to increase plant temperature or applied to reduce plant temperature. The temperature of the plant is thus continuously increased and decreased relative to a desired temperature value that is indicative of a desired water-deficit stress.

Abstract: A system includes a carriage track positioned adjacent to a rotary milking platform, a robot carriage mounted to the carriage track, and a controller. The controller causes the robot carriage to move linearly along the carriage track in conjunction with a rotational movement of the rotary milking platform such that a first linear position of the robot carriage aligns with a first rotational position of a milking stall of the rotary milking platform and a second linear position of the robot carriage aligns with a second rotational position of the milking stall of the rotary milking platform.

Abstract: A milking liner includes an integrated short air tube and short milk tube. In one configuration, the pulsation air is delivered through the bead of the milking liner directly inside the shell through a plurality of outlets. The disclosure also provides alignment features that assist the person assembling a milking liner and shell. The features limit rotation between the liner and the shell. The liner includes a short air tube that extends beyond a short milk tube with each having a sealing bead. The sealing beads are offset from each other.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system for an in ovo injection apparatus is provided. Such a fluid delivery system includes a plurality of fluid pumps each having a select valve, a diaphragm valve, and an outlet valve. The select valves are individually controllable such that each select valve is selectively operated via a pneumatic actuator. The diaphragm valves and the outlet valves are commonly operated via respective pneumatic actuators. An input valve is provided for each fluid pump in instances that require high pressure delivery of a fluid substance via the fluid pumps. In such instances, the input valves and the diaphragm valves are commonly controlled via high pressure solenoid valves, while the select valves are selectively controlled and the outlet valves are commonly controlled via low pressure solenoid valves. An associated apparatus and method are also provided.

Abstract: Animal feeding apparatuses that include a plurality of protrusions extending into a feeding well. The protrusions clean the teeth or gums of an animal as it feeds from the feeding well. Also described herein are methods of cleaning an animal's teeth with such a bowl and animals that feed from such a bowl.

Abstract: An automatic wet pet food dispenser and method are provided. The dispenser includes a cutting surface onto which at least one sealed container of wet pet food is securable. A cutting blade is contactable with and movable with respect to the container placed on the cutting surface to thereby cut open the container. When the blade cuts open the container, the wet pet food inside the container falls out. A container shaking mechanism shakes the container to facilitate the wet pet food falling out of the cut open container without substantially moving the container from the cutting surface. A logic and timing module is provided to enable programming of the dispenser in advance, and a communication module is provided to enable the dispenser to receive commands remotely from a pet owner and send messages to the pet owner confirming successful food deployment and eating.

Abstract: High-production, minimal-discharge aquaponic systems and methods. The aquaponic systems separate waste water generated from fish tanks into two flow streams. In the first flow stream, suspended-waste water generated from the waste water is converted to nutrient-rich water and used for hydroponic plant growth. Nutrient-depleted water resulting from the hydroponic plant growth is fed back into fish tanks to continue the cycle. In the second flow stream, settleable solids generated from the waste water is converted to nutrient-rich sludge and used for solid or semi-solid substrate-based plant growth. Excess nutrient-rich water derived from the second flow stream is fed back into the first flow stream, thereby conserving water and nutrients within the system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for thinning fruit by using the active substance metamitron and corresponding metamitron-containing fruit thinning formulations.

Abstract: A lighting system comprising a light source, a controller operably coupled to the light source, and a timekeeping device operably coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to receive a selected action time associated with an agricultural product. The agricultural product includes an associated circadian rhythm defining an optimal action time range. The controller is configured to determine a lighting schedule responsive to the selected action time, the optimal action time range, and a time of day indicated by the timekeeping device, the lighting schedule being configured to impose a circadian rhythm on the agricultural product to shift the optimal action time range such that the selected action time coincides with the optimal action time range. The controller is configured to operate the light source according to the lighting schedule.