Abstract: A cylindrical helical seamed metal tube wherein the seam thereof is at an angle of between 1 and 25 degrees with respect to the axis of the tube. A method of making the tube comprises the steps of continuously feeding the metal strip into a tubing former to form the metal strip into a helical tube with the leading and trailing edges juxtaposed, the feeding such that the strip longitudinal axis is at a substantially constant acute angle with respect to the tube longitudinal axis of between 1 and 25 degrees. After the tube is substantially formed, applying pressure on at least the leading edge, leading portion, trailing edge and trailing portion in the direction of the cylindrical wall such that same substantially conform to the cylindrical wall. The juxtaposed leading and trailing edges are fused together to form a fused seam, and maintained in a juxtaposed position until the seam cools sufficiently to maintain the juxtaposed position. An apparatus for making the tube is also provided.

Abstract: A swing-out animal feeder is disclosed comprising a feed container having a filling aperture in a top portion thereof for filling with feed and having a feeding aperture in a lower portion thereof for allowing an animal to feed therefrom. The feed container is pivotally mounted in an animal barrier such that it may pivot from a feeding position wherein the feeding aperture is positioned for the animal to feed from one side of the barrier, to a filling position wherein the filling aperture is positioned for filling with feed from a second side of the barrier. A lid is provided which is automatically removed when the feed container is moved to the filling position, and a substantially inverted cleaning position is also provided.

Abstract: A cylindrical helical seamed metal tube wherein the seam thereof is at an angle of between 1 and 25 degrees with respect to the axis of the tube. A method of making the tube comprises the steps of continuously feeding the metal strip into a tubing former to form the metal strip into a helical tube with the leading and trailing edges juxtaposed, the feeding such that the strip longitudinal axis is at a substantially constant acute angle with respect to the tube longitudinal axis of between 1 and 25 degrees. After the tube is substantially formed, applying pressure on at least the leading edge, leading portion, trailing edge and trailing portion in the direction of the cylindrical wall such that same substantially conform to the cylindrical wall. The juxtaposed leading and trailing edges are fused together to form a fused seam, and maintained in a juxtaposed position until the seam cools sufficiently to maintain the juxtaposed position. An apparatus for making the tube is also provided.

Abstract: In a fencing system for animals the conventional rigid fence panels are interconnected by flexible members which allow the fence panel to move each relative to the next to accommodate impacts by a fractured animal. Different embodiments are shown including an elastic block between the posts, a flexible metal spring between the posts, a simple strap wrapped around the posts in a FIG. 8 arrangement and a modified elastic strap arrangement which includes two free ends engaged over a pin passing through an end post of the panel and an intermediate leg portion for engaging between the end post and the end post of a next adjacent panel.

Abstract: A fencing system and a method for confining farm animals includes conventional rectangular fence panels having end posts and cross rails but the posts are connected by flexible elements of a type which allow the posts to flex apart when impacted by an excited animal. This prevents damage to the panel while maintaining the animal properly confined. Various examples of the flexible element are disclosed including an elastic band that is wrapped around the posts in a figure of 8 arrangement, a convoluted spring and an elastic block.

Abstract: An animal containment pen particularly for use as a maternity pen for calfing cows includes a front panel, two side panels, and a rear gate. The front panel includes a head gate section adjacent one side panel and a squeeze panel pivotally mounted on the front panel and movable from a position alongside the front panel to a position squeezing the animal between the squeeze panel and the side panel adjacent the heat gate. A sliding gate is provided in the front panel between the squeeze panel and the opposite side. The squeeze panel and the head gate are directly mounted in the plane of the front panel so as to be formed therewith in an economic construction. The squeeze panel is mounted relative to the head gate so that movement of the squeeze panel to the squeezing position forces the head gate into a closed position to grasp the neck of the animal.

Abstract: A feeder for receiving a bale confined within a cylindrical body of the feeder comprises a cylindrical skirt and a plurality of bars upstanding from the skirt for confining animals outside of the feeder for accessing the bale within the feeder. The skirt is manufactured from a single integral sheet of metal which is bent about parallel horizontal lines to form coplanar skirt portions and flange portions and is then curved to form into the cylindrical shape. The upstanding bars are then simply welded to the skirt portions so that the structural strength for the feeder is provided by the cooperation between the curved and bent skirt sheet and by the vertical bars. The design reduces the materials required in the conventional hoop members and reduces the amount of labour required for manufacture while providing equal or increased strength.

Abstract: A squeeze chute includes a head gate section, a squeeze side panel, a floor and a tailgate assembly. A quick adjust arrangement is provided for the headgate in which one bar of the headgate door can be moved vertically to release latches for the outermost vertical bar of the door. The squeeze panel is improved by the provision of drop bars having a cap member which can be simply released by pulling downwardly from a channel defining the upper rail of the panel. Drop boards are provided in the panel and have rails projecting into channels at either end of the panel so that the boards can be lifted and folded simply by removal of the ends from the channel. The floor includes a horizontal sheet on which are attached transverse stiffeners with a resilient layer cast over the sheet and the stiffeners for attraction by the animal. The tailgate assembly can be operated by a foot pedal and by levers.

Abstract: A feeder for cylindrical bales is of the tombstone type that is it includes a lower circular band defined by hoops and an upstanding sheet of material forming a skirt. U-shaped frames or tombstones are then attached to the outer frame and extend upwardly therefrom with the animal able to reach between the tombstone for grasping feed from a bale confined within the feeder. In accordance with the improvement of the present invention, the tombstones are bent inwardly and upwardly so that the animals front legs are confined outwardly away from the bale while the animal can reach over the inclined portion of the tombstone and through the vertical portion of the tombstone to the table. The animal is encourged to feed within the outer frame and thus any waste is deposited within the outer frame and cannot be trampled or spoiled. The animal is inhibited from pressing its shoulders against the frame thus reducing damage or breakage and excessive movement of the feeder.

Abstract: A feeder for cylindrical bales is of the tombstone type that is it includes a lower circular band defined by hoops and an upstanding sheet of material forming a skirt. U-shaped frames or tombstones are then attached to the outer frame and extend upwardly therefrom with the animal able to reach between the tombstones for grasping feed from a bale confined within the feeder. In accordance with the improvement of the present invention, the tombstones are bent inwardly and upwardly so that the animals front legs are confined outwardly away from the bale while the animal can reach over the inclined portion of the tombstone and through the vertical portion of the tombstone to the able. The animal is encouraged to feed within the outer frame and thus any waste is deposited within the outer frame and cannot be trampled or spoiled. The animal is inhibited from pressing its shoulders against the frame thus reducing damage or breakage and excessive movement of the feeder.

Abstract: Baled animal feed material is improved by being moved onto a vehicle either by a lifting mechanism at the side of the vehicle or by a platform which takes the bale directly from a baler. On the vehicle is firstly mounted a wrapping station in the form of a cradle which rotates the bale about its axis and about an axis at right angles to the bale so that the plastic strip material is wrapped around the bale and around the ends of the bale. A probe is moved forwardly hydraulically to enter the bale along its axis following which anhydrous ammonia from a volumetric measuring device is injected under pressure from a hydraulic supply through the probe into the bale.