Abstract: A stable metal plate for watering tanks having a rear wall of plastic or sheet metal is disclosed. The metal plate functions to give this material the necessary strength at the attachment points such that the rear wall of the tank may be securely attached to a standpipe or wall. The metal plate engages the rear wall from the outside for attachment, and serves to secure the watering tank by clamping the rear wall thereof between the metal plate on one side and the standpipe or wall on the other side by means of a U-bolt or two dowel screws.

Abstract: A cooling system for animal confinement pens employing roof-mounted fans and sprinkling head configuration that operate in a predetermined manner to maintain food consumption during high temperature, high humidity conditions without unduly increasing the humidity of the surrounding air.

Abstract: A feeder for poultry and the like is disclosed. The feeder includes pan means for retaining and presenting delivered feed, and hollow drop tube means adapted to extend from a conveyor to a distal end adjacent the pan means. A first feed gate defined between the drop tube distal end and the pan permits feed to pass from the drop tube to an inner pan area for consumption by relatively mature poultry. A brood gate opening defined in the drop tube above its distal end permits feed to flow from the conveyor through at least part of the drop tube and out the brood gate opening to an outer portion of the pan for consumption by relatively immature poultry.

Abstract: A milking system in which milk is drawn during milking into a vacuumized milk collector and let off through a downstream sluice is rinsed automatically with air being admitted periodically into a preliminary-run line of an automatic rinser to improve rinsing. A preliminary-run container is positioned between the sluice and a preliminary-run line of the automatic rinser and communicates through connecting lines with the preliminary-run line and the sanitary trap and through a run-off and a connecting line with the sluice. Valves are mounted in the run-off and open the line to the sluice only when there is liquid in the preliminary-run container and a vacuum in the sluice. This prevents atmospheric air from flowing from the preliminary-run line into the sluice or air from being drawn out of the sluice when there is atmospheric pressure in the sluice.

Abstract: An improved animal pet medical collar is provided which comprises a self-supporting solid resilient foam body having a doughnut shape formed by a peripheral, generally annular wall defining a central opening adapted to fit around the neck of an animal pet. The wall is wide enough to prevent a pet wearing it from mouthing a part of the pet's body and thus injuring itself by pulling stitches, licking wounds, etc. The body wall has a pair of spaced opposite ends bridged by a drawstring anchored to one of the ends and passing through the other end to the outside of the body, against which it is releasably locked by a spring clamp or the like. The clamp can be a pair of spring-biased tubes with alignable transverse, drawstring-receiving openings. The drawstring can include a spring or be formed of stretchable material. The drawstring can also include an alarm actuable by excess drawstring tension.

Abstract: A tank apparatus referred to hereinafter as an intermolt/premolt growth tank, and a method for the growth and harvesting of crawfish during one intermolt cycle through the time period in which the succeeding molt phase is completed. Individual crawfish are selected and placed in concentrated numbers in one of the intermolt/premolt tanks or in a series of such tanks, each of which is supplied with optimum preset selected water quality. The crawfish are fed and harvested individually after molting has occurred or until the late premolt phase, just prior to molting, is easily identifiable. The intermolt/premolt tank apparatus is designed as part of the method and contains contrasting environmental characteristics for the specific purposes of concentrating, feeding, and segregating molting and late premolt crawfish from the remaining population which contains aggressive feeding crawfish.

Abstract: An identification system comprising an intermittent electromagnetic generator at one frequency and a remote receiver for receiving the electromagnetic energy and using it to power an encoder of digital information and a transmitter at a different frequency for transmitting the encoder digital information and a receiver remote from said transmitter for decoding and comparing the decoded digital data with stored data to initiate commands for functions such as feeding, ration dispensing, and the like in response to the predetermined comparison criteria of decoded data and such stored data.

Abstract: A broiler rearing unit comprises an elongate housing which defines a continuous elongate space able to accommodate birds from chicks through to maturity and allow them to exercise, and having a floor 9 which extends longitudinally of, and is movable along, the space so that birds can be transported on the floor to one end of the space for removal from the housing. The floor comprises a series of load-supporting elements 10 which are releasably connected end-to-end and can be successively detached from the remaining elements when they reach the end of the space. Each load-supporting element in turn has drive imparted to it, suitably by a motor driven portable drive assembly, as it reaches the leading end of the floor and the drive is transmitted to the other elements of the floor through the connections between the elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to artificial insemination apparatus, and more particularly to a stand for use with a battery of cages used in rearing and breading poultry such as hens, guinea fowl, turkeys, pheasants, and other domestic or reared birds of animals.In accordance with the invention, the stand comprises a support removably fixed on one side or the other of the battery to a moving trolley, the support bearing a platform for bearing an operator at an adjustable height, to facilitate his work on rows at different heights, and a tray also adjustable in height for receiving instruments and material for use in the insemination operation.The invention is applicable to the insemination of animals contained in a battery of cages.

Abstract: Hydrophobic substantially non-absorbent, substantially non-water wettable granular material suitable for use as a bedding for animals or for use as litter material in a waste receptacle for animals comprises particle-form granular material coated and/or impregnated with wax or paraffin or similar hydrophobic non-water wettable material and provided with an additional top coating or layer of a substantially non-water wettable material. A particularly useful material comprises granulated corn cob initially coated or impregnated with paraffin wax and subsequently coated or layered with a top coating or layer of a cured epoxy resin.

Abstract: A farrowing stall having sidewalls and end walls includes a U-shaped downwardly and inwardly facing member pivotally connected to the stall sidewalls for being pivoted between a raised vertical position to a downwardly horizontal position for limiting movement of the animal towards the adjacent end wall. A chain suspended from the top of the stall limits downward pivoting to a horizontal position.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for incubating fish eggs is disclosed. The incubating apparatus (20) includes an insulated container (22) for holding a plurality of preferably square tubes (24). Apparatus (20) is portable and may be operated in a recirculation mode or by running external water through it continually. In the recirculation mode, water flows about a fluid circuit. An air pump (90) provides air to an air diffuser (104). The bubbles from diffuser (104) lift water in air lift tube (86) to tank (88). The water in tank (88) provides a pressure head to force the water throughout the rest of the circuit. Water from tank (88) is communicated through a filter (122) to a manifold chamber (34). The water is distributed from manifold chamber (34) to the plurality of tubes (24). As the water rises upward through tubes (24), it aerates and cleanses the incubating fish eggs. Since the upper portion (54) of tubes (24) is screened, the water has a common level throughout container (22).

Abstract: From separate bottom, wall and top units easily mountable and demountable modulus built cages for animals, including bottom units, side walls, back walls and top units. The cages are characterized in that the bottom units along their adjacent sides are provided with a first set of mounting means for mounting two bottom units together and a second set of mounting means for mounting the side walls on the bottom units, that the side walls at their vertical rear edges are provided with mounting means for the back walls, that the side walls are provided at the top with mounting means for the top units and that the side walls are provided at the bottom with mounting means intended to cooperate with the second set of mounting means on the bottom units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding egg laying hens carbonated water on demand to modify the normal egg laying cycle of hens by increasing substantially the length of the continuous egg laying period and to increase the hardness of the egg shells and reduce losses due to egg breakage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for practicing calf-roping on live calves without the use of a roping horse. The novel calf-roping practice apparatus of the present invention comprises a rectangular chute which may be connected to the cattle chute of a stockyard or corral. The chute of the apparatus has a spring-loaded forward gate, which may be opened by pulling on a lever. The apparatus further comprises a take-up mechanism which is connected to the roping rope and which removes the slack in the rope after a calf has been roped. The apparatus is surmounted by a surface which simulates a horse's back, such that the user may secure his saddle thereon. The apparatus of the present invention may also include a spring-loaded neck mechanism which simulates a horse's neck and head.In use, the user ties his saddle on the apparatus and ties a string between one of the stirrups of the saddle and the lever which triggers the spring-loaded forward gate. The user then connects his rope to the take-up device of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rearing post-larvae shrimp wherein the shrimp are retained for an initial post-larvae period of growth in a first shrimp rearing means including a first habitat means comprising a first plurality of stacked substrates having a first combined total surface area and wherein the shrimp are retained for at least one subsequent period of growth in at least one further shrimp rearing means including a second habitat means comprising a second plurality of stacked substrates having a second combined total surface area greater than the aforesaid first combined total surface area. In further aspects of the invention, unique filtration means and culling means are also disclosed.

Abstract: An egg injection machine is provided which includes a needle assembly, a needle plate assembly, a solenoid assembly and an egg positioning assembly. The needle plate assembly is located above the egg positioning assembly and includes a movable plate (having up and down positions), a stationary plate and a spring located therebetween which is biased to push the movable plate away from the stationary plate. The solenoid assembly is connected to the movable plate and controls the movement of the movable plate. The needle assembly is fixedly attached to the movable plate such that it moves between a retracted position and an injection position as the movable plate moves. The egg positioning assembly also includes a second movable and a second stationary plate, between which the egg is positioned. A shock absorber and a speed controller are attached to one of those latter plates. In operation, the needle assembly rapidly decelerates towards the egg.

Abstract: The invention presented herein comprises an animal-activated watering device which is designed to maintain a high standard of sanitation. The device includes a reservoir for holding drinking water for the animal which is totally drained after the animal's use. The reservoir may be constructed of stainless steel or other smooth materials which allow the reservoir to completely drain thus preventing stagnant or contaminated water from being available for drinking by the animal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for raising lobsters in multicellular cages in which each cage has a feedport and a food-carrying member is adapted to be inserted into and through the feedport. The method includes lifting the cage out of the water contained in a holding tank, removing uneaten food through the feedport from each cage, washing away any unused food, supplying a food substance to the food-carrying member in such a manner that the food substance is encapsulated thereon, returning the food-carrying member to the cage and then lowering the cage into the water of the holding tank.

Abstract: A sanitary backwashing system for an automatic milking machine having a milking unit and a source of vacuum, the system including a valve having a first port connected to the milking unit and a pair of second ports alternately connected to the first port, one of the second ports being connected to the source of vacuum; and a source of sanitizing fluid under pressure connected to the other of the second ports and the valve having a first position in which the valve connects the milking unit to the source of vacuum while blocking off the other of the second ports and a second position in which the valve connects the milking unit to the source of sanitizing fluid while blocking off the source of vacuum.