Abstract: Sessile marine organisms are a source of many marine pharmaceuticals. A method of producing such a marine pharmaceutical is provided which involves positioning a plurality of like substrates in sea water, growing the organism on the plurality of substrates, harvesting the grown organism, and extracting the pharmaceutical from the harvested organism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for the milking of dairy animals (9), comprising individual identifiers (11) attachable to each individual diary animal (9); simple feeding station (3′-3″″), provided with food dispenser (4) for dispensing fodder and sensor (15) for sensing the individual identifiers (11); combined feeding and milking stations (5′, 5″), provided with food dispensers (6) for dispensing fodder, milking apparatus (7) for milking animals (9) and sensors (15) for sensing the individual identifiers (11); and control device (8, 19) for controlling the simple feeding stations (3′, 3″″) and combined feeding and milking stations (5′, 5″), wherein the control device (8, 19) comprises determining apparatus (19) for determining a time for the next milking of said individual animal (9); and output apparatus (21) for commanding the single feeding stations (3′,3″″) to stop dispensing food to the individual animal

Abstract: A plant packaging and covering system including a floral sleeve having a decorative pattern thereon. The sleeve may have a lower portion sized to cover a pot and an upper portion which can surround a plant disposed in the pot and which can be detached once the protective function of the upper portion is complete or which can be used to support the sleeve from a support device prior to use. The decorative pattern has a non-linear upper boundary which gives the sleeve the appearance of having a non-linear upper edge or skirt extending from the lower portion.

Abstract: An arrangement for feeding of animals, in particular pigs and sows, kept in a free-range herd, comprises a carrousel divided into a number of feeding enclosures so that a large number of animals may be automatically and individually fed. A common inlet with a registration system leads to the feeding enclosures of the carrousel. The animals are identified, weighed and may optionally have the temperature, the thickness of the fat layer and an image recorded. All data are stored in a computer system controlling the operation of the arrangement, including separation of animals from the herd. The computer system optionally being connected to a remote, central computer for surveillance of its operation and of the individual animal.

Abstract: A aquarium for containing Siamese fighting fish which includes a rectangular housing having a plurality of long, narrow width compartments oriented parallel to a front viewing wall for maintaining fish contained in the compartments in a swim direction parallel to the front viewing wall for enhanced viewing and for interaction with fish passing in adjacent compartments.

Abstract: A head gate assembly for restraining the head of an animal during ritual and humane slaughter includes first and second head gates including sliding plate supported for relative sliding movement between restraining and release positions. Each head gate includes a chin lift arm and a pivot assembly mounting the chin lift arm to the associated sliding plate. Each pivot assembly includes a bushing block welded to the associated sliding plate. The bushing block carries a bushing and pivot pin that is received in a mounting portion defined on the end of the chin lift arm. A neck restraint includes a neck tube supported by a support disposed to be located rearwardly of the head of, and in non-contacting relation with the neck of, an animal being restrained by the head gate assembly, maximizing access to a rearward portion of the head of the animal to facilitate stunning of the animal.

Abstract: A tangle free lead device has a coupler with first and second bores in axial alignment. A first linear element is rotatably received in the first bore and a second linear element is rotatably received in the second bore. A head on each linear element, positioned in a central aperture of a main body of the coupler retains the linear element axially in the coupler. The relative position of the heads of the respective elements also delimit the axial movement of the linear elements relative to each other.

Abstract: A dispenser for use by an animal includes a base portion and an upper portion defined by at least one wall enclosing a container cavity, the at least one wall including at least one opening providing access to the container cavity. The at least one opening is disposed in the upper portion of the at least one wall. and is constructed and arranged for placement in and removal from the container cavity of units to be obtained by the animal. The dispenser further includes a weighted body fixed to the at least one wall of the dispenser in the base portion, the weighted body providing means for return of the dispenser after movement to a position defined as an upright position with the upper portion above the base portion. The dispenser can be moved on a surface in an oscillating and/or sliding motion by the animal for dispensing a unit from the at least one opening.

Abstract: An improved poultry bedding litter composition is used which includes byproduct or waste material from citrus juice extraction. The citrus peel byproduct or waste is in a dried state. Such bedding litter compositions improve poultry characteristics and enhance feed conversion when compared with traditional poultry bedding litters.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a double clipping apparatus for closing filled casings with clips (4a, 4b), on which the clipping-distance (X) can be adjusted without an exchange of components. This increases the flexibility of the double clipping apparatus with respect to changing production situations, which leads to an ease of work and to cost reductions. A further advantage is, that, through a change of the clip-distance (X), an influence on the positioning of the labels (13), which are printed in fixed distances on the casing, on the ready products can be exerted, whereby under involvement of a sensor (12) with an analyzing and control electronics a double clipping apparatus with automatic label positioning variable adjuster can be realized.

Abstract: An absorbent fabric bag having an opening of sufficient size to admit an animal into the interior cavity and having at least one area for providing ventilation into the interior of the bag. The bag has a closing device to prevent the contained animal from exiting at will.

Abstract: A shrimp-straightening device provided for use in conjunction with a work surface (32) includes a unitary member (10) having an arcuate geometry defined by an outer surface (12), an inner surface (14), front and rear ends (16, 18), left and right lower edges (20, 22), and a handle (24). In operation, the device is manipulated over the back, or dorsal side, of the shrimp (30) in order to effect straightening of the shrimp.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for keeping lactating animals in a loose-housing system. A milking stall is provided between a resting and a feeding section. First to third identification gates respectively are arranged between the resting and feeding sections and fourth identification gate is arranged at an entrance gate to the milking stall. By means of a transponder carried by each animal and a transponder reader located at each identification gate a control device is activated. The control device is associated with operating equipment related to each gate to maneuver the gates dependent on the transponder-related status of the animal.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the production of chain-like or concatenated foodstuff products. A pasty filling material is conveyed by a filling pump through a filling tube which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and introduced into a tubular case or skin which partially surrounds the filling tube. The filled skin is fed to a portioning device having a plurality of dividing elements. The filled skin is engaged by two dividing elements which are disposed in opposite paired relationship and acted upon by a clamping force. A torque is applied to the skin by the filling tube so that the filled skin is caused to rotate at least in a portion between an exit opening of the filling tube and the portioning device and is locally prevented from rotating by application of the clamping force by the dividing elements, so that a twist-off location is produced. At a location spaced from the twist-off location, a further twist-off location is produced on the filled skin, to produce portioned sausages.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions including peroxyacetic acid and peroxyoctanoic acid and methods for reducing microbial contamination on poultry. The methods include the step of applying a mixed peroxycarboxylic acid composition to poultry.

Abstract: A method for extruding poultry litter into substantially cylindrically shaped plugs of various lengths for use as bait for assorted marine animals wherein all pathogens are destroyed to prevent damaging the environment and any organisms that might consume said processed bait product. Furthermore, fish or shellfish by-products and other materials may be combined with the poultry litter so as to enhance the effectiveness of the product.

Abstract: An animal enclosure of the present invention includes a pen sized to hold the animal. The pen is formed from a frame which is covered with a removable, washable cover. A gate for the enclosure includes a panel which is raised to close the gate and lowered to open the gate. The panel can be fixed at a desired position, so that the gate can be left partially opened. A top is provided which can be easily mounted to, and removed from, the pen frame. The top is hingedly connected to the frame and includes a pair of pivotal support arms so that the front of the top can be elevated above the pen a desired amount. A whelping rail is removably received in the pen. The whelping rail comprises a frame having a bar member and legs which support the bar above a bottom of the pen and inwardly from the pen walls.

Abstract: A method for making a sex determination in avian hatchlings involves the following activities. A process line is equipped to process an endless plurality of hatchlings. The process line has an ultrasound inspection station for the hatchlings. The ultrasound inspection results are analyzed to find the presence of given sex-determinative structure for each hatchling. If the given sex-determinative structure is found then a first category assignment is made. The hatchling is sorted according to its category assignment. The category assignments might number two or three or so including positively-identified one sex, positively-identified other sex, and default to waste for any of various reasons.

Abstract: Methods of pooling or localizing the allantoic fluid present in avian shell eggs, so that the fluid may be sampled, assessed or injected, are described. The methods involve tilting the avian shell egg so that the major axis of the egg is from about 10 to 180 degrees from the vertically upright position, so that the allantois pools under the uppermost portion of the egg shell. The allantoic fluid may then be sampled, or a substance injected into the allantois, by a vertical needle or probe traveling in a downward direction.

Abstract: An equine body brush is specially formed to produce a combined cleaning and brushing action for each single stroke of the brush in a desired stroke direction by using two distinct stiffness of bristles arrayed in a linearly tapered height arrangement. The leading edge bristles are shorter and harder than the following bristles which are longer and softer. The hard bristles first pull up the dander, loose animal hair and other debris and the following soft bristles sweep them away before they get a chance to settle back down. The correct cleaning and brushing directional action can be maintained regardless of which hand the user employs by virtue of either a unique pair of handles disposed on opposite ends of the central bristle-carrying brush portion, or a smaller palm-sized hand brush.