Abstract: A mechanical electronically controlled nursing apparatus for neonatal piglets which is capable of nursing up to sixteen piglets simultaneously. The apparatus operates semi-automatically and includes a refrigerated storage tank with a magnetic stirrer for storing a twenty-four hour supply of liquid feed formula, a pair of heating tanks for heating the formula to body temperature before nursing, and two nipple bars which accommodate four nipples each and are disposed along each side of the apparatus. The nipple bars are supported by nipple bar supports which are pivotally mounted within the apparatus to permit the nipples to be extended through holes provided in the housing of the apparatus for nursing and retracted into the housing to prevent damage to the nipples resulting form piglet play behavior. The apparatus further reproduces the digitized grunting sounds of a nursing sow during each nursing period.

Abstract: An animal restraining system includes a radio frequency transmitter adapted to be located adjacent an area in which the animal is to be restrained, a transmitting antenna, and a collar unit worn by the animal. The collar unit has a multiplicity of radio signal receivers each having a highly directional receiving antenna with the receiving antennae of the multiplicity of receivers having their axes of maximum sensitivity oriented in different directions, and an analyzer for determining a composite of the field strengths of the radio signals received by the receiving antennae, and detecting when the composite field strength at the receiving antennae falls below predetermined values. When the detected composite field strength falls below a first predetermined value, a first warning signal is generated to the animal, and a second and different warning signal is generated when the composite field strength falls below a second predetermined value.

Abstract: A holding device for temporarily extending the neck of an animal and holding the head still for veterinary treatment including double stanchion-like gates adapted to be engaged on both sides of the neck of the animal. One of the double gates is movable away from the other so that the neck is exposed between the two gates. Separation of the gates is caused by hydraulic means adapted to move one gate away from the other.

Abstract: A mobile pet protection cage that attaches to the bed of a pickup truck in a manner to allow an animal to move between the truck cab and the cage through the back cab window. The cage may be designed for any size truck bed and for large or small animals. The cage may be detachably secured to the truck.

Abstract: An extensible disposable litter container receives the waste of household pets, such as cats. The container is extensible from a closed position to an open position, and includes a rectangular tray for litter, and a cover with a handle which is releasably attached to the tray when the container is closed. A collapsible, pleated wall with a door extends between the tray and the cover, the wall biasing the container open. Detents maiantain the container in a closed position after use.

Abstract: A rope corral for training and containing animals, such as horses, having an elongated netting supported by a plurality of independently secured pole members and having a rope member circumscribing the median thereof to define a resilient enclosure therewith having a gateway disposed therewithin.

Abstract: An automatic spraying device for farm animals, the device being comprised of a framework defining a passage through which farm animals are directed one-by-one. An electronic detection device is associated with the passage and connected to a control circuit to provide a detection signal thereto when a farm animal enters the passage. Spray nozzles are oriented with respect to the passage to spray animals passing through the passage. A pump is provided to supply a chemically treated liquid to the spray nozzles under pressure. The pump is actuated by the control circuit upon reception of the detection signal. One or more valves are connected to the spray nozzles and a liquid reservoir, containing the chemically treated liquid, is connected to the pump. A pump deactuation circuit including a timing circuit is provided to deactuate the pump after a predetermined time lapse after reception of a valve closing signal where the valve is closed to shut off the spray nozzles.

Abstract: A combined litter filtering and disposal system. A particularly preferred system comprises a highly porous litter filtering member underlying a protective member which prevents the pet from coming in contact with and damaging the filtering member in use. The protective member includes a centrally located slit, for allowing granular material, such as litter, to readily pass through onto the underlying filtering member when the system is lifted from the litter box. By employing two discrete members oriented as described, the functions of filtering and resistance to cat's claws are decoupled from one another, i.e., there is no longer a need to compromise between strength and filtering efficiency. Each member of the present bicomponent system can be optimally designed for its intended function, i.e.

Abstract: Feeder for birds, especially hummingbirds, that has a stem rising from the center of a bowl and that has a cover for the bowl through which the stem passes, which cover is selectively locked to the stem for loosening on occasion to permit filling of the bowl.

Abstract: A feeder for dispensing food in a fish tank has a feed box for holding fish food and a rotary drive for rotating the feed box to dispense the food. The feed box comprises a container and a cover. The cover has two opposed elastic arms releasably engageable with the container to detachably couple the cover to the container. The rotary drive has two opposed elastic arms inserted between those of the cover and releasably engageable with the cover to be detachably couple the container to the rotary drive. During detachment of the container from the rotary drive, the arms of the rotary drive restrict disengagement of the arms of the cover from the container thereby preventing accidental detachment of the cover from the container.

Abstract: Feeder for small birds comprising a transparent cylindrical housing secured at its lower extremity to a metallic ring member having circumferentially spaced feed openings therein, and a metallic tray located below said ring, said tray, ring member and housing being retained in assembled relation by means of a single threaded bolt extending upwardly from beneath said tray.

Abstract: A cat litter is provided which is formed from a selective quantity of peat so that the peat absorbs urine such that the release of ammonia is substantially inhibited. A method of producing a cat litter also is provided.

Abstract: A device for collecting fertilized eggs of poultry consisting substantially of at least one space bounded by a base board, a roof and three walls for accommodating at least one egg-laying annual, on which space a discharge conveyor is arranged close to the open side of the space(s), wherein the base board of the space is arranged for swiveling about an axis of rotation lying near the lower edge of the open side thereof such that the base board can be moved from a less inclined laying position into a more inclined closing position for closing off the open side of the space, so preventing the egg-laying animal from returning into the space after laying one or more eggs.

Abstract: A device for closing a pivotable wall of an animal squeeze chute utilizes a high torque electric motor that rotates a ratchet arm less than a half revolution about a drive shaft. An action arm pivotably associated with the ratchet arm engages the pivotable wall. When the motor is activated, the ratchet arm is quickly rotated to an extreme position where it is locked in place, and the pivotable wall is simultaneously forced to its closed position by the action arm. When the motor is deactivated and the ratchet arm unlocked, a counterweight restores the pivotable wall to its starting, open position.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a cat litter box apparatus and method. The apparatus includes component parts that combine to resemble a human toilet facility. The component parts include a tank member for storing and dispensing cat litter material, a bowl-like base member detachably connected to the tank member, a drawer member that is removably enclosed within the bowl-like base member for receiving fresh cat litter material from the tank member and for being used by a cat for going to the toilet.

Abstract: A hair highlighting device suitable for use in color treatment of selected strands of hair separated from a head of hair is provided having a sheet of flexible liquid-impermeable sheet and a sheet of non-woven fibrous textile material of a size co-extensive with the sheet of the flexible liquid-impermeable material bonded together. The sheet of non-woven fibrous textile material has releasable self-adhering surface characteristics operative to maintain opposing overfolded contacting surfaces thereof with selected strands of hair interposed therebetween in a liquid sealed relation about the periphery of the selected strands of hair sufficient to prevent seepage of treating fluid therefrom and afford self-supporting frictional engagement during processing of the hair.

Abstract: An apparatus including an inverted dome overlying a base member, with the dome in operative communication with fluid and air supply, with the dome including a plant support stand positioned therewithin. A modification of the invention includes a dome with spaced openings to permit aquarium-type fish to be able to access the dome.

Abstract: A resilient material belt provided with openings substantially across the width of the belt. The openings having one portion close to one edge of the belt and the opposite portion of the opening located a distance in toward the center of the belt from the opposite edge of the belt. The opening is located in this manner to retain the belt in normal configuration up to a given tension on the belt. At the given tension the material between the edge of the belt and the opening on the side where it is closest to the edge breaks, allowing the belt to elongate by the distortion of the openings in the belt.

Abstract: A fowl drinker, having a water intake device, characterized in that the water flow adjustment means is not the same as the means with which the valve body is attached to the support column, but is formed by a stem (31) freely inserted in a tubular widened diameter portion (32) of the cup-shaped cover (29) and connected at the top and the bottom thereof, respectively, to a resilient stopper (30) engaging the spout (24) of the valve body (18) water outlet and a blind nut (33) screwed on the widened portion (32) and with which the adjustment is made, without a subsequent dismantling and reassembly of the drinker altering it, the valve body (18) being snugly fitted over the support column (15) to prevent the weight of the water supply conduit from upsetting it, affecting said regulation. The support (39) of the bushing (44) which is connected to the pipeline t comprises a flexible strip (17) surrounding said pipeline.

Abstract: In a method of milking an animal, the conditions of the milking operation are substantially stable during a main milking phase and are unintentionally changed during a terminating milking phase. According to the invention, at least one unintentional change in the milking operation conditions during at least one initial milking operation is sensed, at least one milking parameter is registered in response to said sensed unintentional change, and each said registered parameter is utilized to change the milking conditions of one or more following milking operations for the same animal before each said sensed unintentional change is expected to occur.