Abstract: A chainable Power over Ethernet Node (CPEN) is provided according to the invention. The CPEN contains an electronic circuit and control method to pass power, communications, or both power and communications to subsequent chainable nodes or other devices. The invention allows one cable run to serve a plurality of chainable nodes thus greatly reducing the amount of cable required. The invention enables redundant connections in both power and communications to network nodes to prevent failure in case of cable or node fault. The chainable node has 2 or more ports, all of which are interchangeable. Any port can respond to PoE Powered Device (PD) classification and receive power. Any port can act as a Power Supplying Equipment (PSE) to enable power to subsequent nodes. The ports can support standards compliant PoE detection, classification, and operation, and can support non-standard variations.

Abstract: A tag device for placement on a livestock animal can generally include a first communications interface, a second communications interface, one or more batteries, and a local controller. A base station can be configured for bidirectional communications with a plurality of mobile communication units, which may be mobile tag devices (e.g., being made mobile by being carried by a corresponding livestock animal). A low-frequency emitting system for identifying a feed lot feature can generally include at least one wire loop and a wire driver coupled to the wire loop. The wire loop can be physically associated with or positioned adjacent to the feed lot feature. A data silo may generally include a transceiver, a memory, and a processor. The transceiver is configured to receive a plurality of historical data sets pertaining to respective livestock animals from a base station.