Abstract: A livestock identification apparatus 10 for automatically identifying and sorting livestock as they walk through the apparatus 10 is disclosed. The apparatus 10 includes an alley 12, a gate 14 for controlling passage through the alley 12, and an identification sensor 18 disposed within or adjacent the alley 12 for identifying animals passing through the alley 12. The identification sensor 18 includes a pair of rigid antennas 48,50 positioned on opposite sides of the alley 12 for energizing and reading transponders on animals passing through the alley 12. In another embodiment of the invention, the identification sensor 208 includes a gate 204 controlling entry into a milking parlor or other confined area, a first stationary antenna 210 positioned on one side of the entrance to the milking parlor and a second moveable antenna 212 integrally formed with the gate 204.

Abstract: A non-conductive dairy parlor gate is provided which retains the strength and corrosion resistance of magnetically conductive materials while permitting the gate to swing into and/or through an electromagnetic field generated by an electronic identification system for use with animal-worn transponders. The gate includes at least two magnetically conductive parts connected by an electrically non-conductive member to interrupt the formation of a magnetic loop. The gate may include additional structural members for strength and which inhibit a dairy animal from placing her head through the gate. The gate is used as a part of a dairy parlor and placed along an animal passage lane to prevent dairy animals from moving their transponders past the identification system prematurely. The gate may be positioned adjacent a milking stall to retain one dairy animal in position while inhibiting the passage of a second set of animals into the milking stalls.