Abstract: A crawling tube for small mammals comprising a plurality of circumferential slotted holes which are arranged side by side on at least one row along a longitudinal extension of the tube so as to provide ventilation grilles.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for transporting laboratory animals comprises a container (12), a cover piece (14), and a closure piece (16). The container (12) has an open top. The cover piece (14) is connectable with the container (12) for closing the open top of the container (12). The cover piece (14) has a passage (188) through which the at least one laboratory animal passes during insertion into and extraction from a cavity (28). The closure piece (16) includes a portion (234) that is rotatable relative to the cover piece (14) between a first position in which the portion (234) of the closure piece (16) closes the passage (188) in the cover piece (14) and a second position in which the passage (188) in the cover piece (14) is open to permit the insertion and extraction of the at least one laboratory animal through the passage (188).

Abstract: A pet kennel operable between a use position and a nested position. The pet kennel contains an upper portion having a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a bottom opening located opposite the top wall. The front wall, rear wall and sidewalls form a lip adjacent the bottom opening. The lower portion contains a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall and an upper opening located opposite the bottom wall. A rim is formed adjacent the upper opening by the first wall, rear wall and the sidewalls. While in the use position, the upper portion lip is mated with the lower portion rim so that the top wall is spaced apart the bottom to form the pet containment area. In the nested position, the upper portion lip mated with the lower portion rim such that the top wall is located adjacent the bottom wall.

Abstract: The use of a thermoplastic molding composition which is not ABS, comprising, based on the total of the amounts of components A, B, C, and, where appropriate, D, this total being 100% by weight, a: as component A, from 1 to 48% by weight of at least one particulate emulsion polymer which has one or more phases and has a glass transition temperature below 0° C. in at least one phase, and has a median particle size from 50 to 1000 nm, b: as component B, from 1 to 48% by weight of at least one amorphous or semicrystalline polymer, c: as component C, from 51 to 90% by weight of polycarbonates, and d: as component D, from 0 to 47% by weight of conventional addictives and/or fibrous or particulate fillers, or a mixture of these, for producing moldings, or corresponding semifinished products, for the garden sector or animal-keeping sector.

Abstract: An insect storage and shipping container which takes the form of a transparent vessel within which is mounted a pair of spaced apart panels. The panels can be used to hold food in cake form. The panels also include roughened surfaces in order to increase the amount of available space within the vessel for the insects to maneuver about. The lid of the vessel includes spacers which permit stacking of the containers in a manner to keep the air holes contained within the lid open. A grate may be installed in conjunction with the panels with the grate normally located a short distance from the floor of the vessel.

Abstract: An animal shelter including: an enclosure having at least one opening for ingress and egress of an animal, wherein the shelter is transparent, can be autoclaved, and inhibits light penetration is disclosed.

Abstract: A small animal carrying device incorporating a pouch section with a padded bottom. The pouch is closed by a drawstring and a harness assembly using padded crossover straps secures the device around the carrier's shoulders. An additional strap at the bottom of the pouch secures the device around the carrier's waist or lower torso. It can be worn in the front and back positions and contains a side pocket for carrying a leash or other accessories.

Abstract: A method of determining the weight of animals and the development of plants in a controlled environment. The method includes measuring the increase in CO2 production over a test period. CO2 production is a measure of the metabolic rate and this is related to weight of animals and development of crops which can often be determined by weight. There is illustrated a poultry rearing house having vents, lights and an air heater. CO2 sensors are connected to a CO2 controller and in turn to a central controller. To test the increase in CO2 production over time, the birds are settled into a passive state with no feed and the lights turned off. The level of CO2 produced is measured. The vents are closed. After a time, the rate of Co2 produced is measured and the increase calculated.

Abstract: An animal treatment/confinement device is described, with apparatus to aid in the provision of medications, fluids or other supportive care therapy to the animal. The device includes a fluid container support used to support a fluid container, or a syringe cradle used to support a syringe, or both. The device includes a housing sized to receive an animal, and to confine the animal during the therapeutic treatment. The device may also include two top panels hingedly coupled to the housing, which open to allow the animal to be placed into the housing, and which close independently to cover a portion of the top opening. The top panels may be secured by clasps to hinder the animal's escape. In one embodiment, the top opening is not fully covered when both top panels are closed, allowing the animal's handler to have access to the animal.

Abstract: An animal cage that holds the cage floor and waste collection assembly in place without the use of mechanical fasteners so that the assembly may be removed for cleaning and replaced by another assembly in minimal time. Also provided is the floor and waste collection assembly that is held in place without the use of mechanical fasteners and is removable for cleaning and replacement by another assembly in minimal time. A quick change electrical connection to provide shock current to the floor of the assembly is accomplished by creating pressure contact between conductive floor bars and electrical contacts of a circuit board in the rear support block of the cage.

Abstract: A butterfly rearing kit including an enclosure in which metamorphosis of a butterfly larva or butterfly chrysalis into a butterfly can be carried out. Basically, the kit includes first and second transparent plastic domes having open bases that can be releasably fastened together to form an enclosure. The enclosure may be supported by a third dome secured to the enclosure with the open base extending downwardly or on a rod extending out through said second dome. In one embodiment, a cup is provided for a butterfly larva with a cap to which the larva attaches the hanging chrysalis. The cap can be removed from the cup and placed over an opening in the top of the enclosure, so that final metamorphosis to a butterfly occurs in the enclosure. The kit preferably includes a moss like material along the bottom of the enclosure and butterfly larva food where the process starts with a larva.

Abstract: A lightweight cage is composed of an arrangement of one or more panels that define an enclosed space in which an organism is contained. Each panel includes an inner surface that at least partially define the enclosed space. The panels are made of a surface and urethane insensitive material such that the waste produced by the organism held within the enclosed space will not adhere to the inner surface. In one aspect, each panel may include an inner member defining the inner surface and an outer member fixedly supported spaced from the inner member such that a highly advantageous insulation property is imparted to the panels. In another aspect, a method of fabricating a lightweight cage is described. The panel arrangement is fixedly assembled by chemical fusion to define the enclosed space in which the organism is to be kept.

Abstract: A sound reducing system comprises a housing, acoustic baffle, and acoustic netting. The acoustic baffle is covered with a waterproof protective casing which protects the acoustic baffle from dirt and moisture without interfering with its acoustic properties, and allows it to be cleaned with fluids. The housing comprises an inner pan and an outer pan which are pivotally coupled. The acoustic baffle and the acoustic netting are disposed within the housing, but can be removed for cleaning when the housing is opened. When the acoustic baffle and acoustic netting members are placed back within the housing, they are protected from damage.

Abstract: An implement for successively receiving and/or treating individual animals out of a group of animals which are allowed to move about freely in an area intended therefor and which are allowed individually to visit the implement, such as for example a concentrate feeding station and/or a milking robot, is provided with means for stimulating the animals to visit the implement. The implement is further provided with means for recording and/or determining a (possibly periodically recurring) time interval in which the expected visiting frequency of the group of animals to the implement is below a low threshold value, respectively above a high threshold value, and with means for extra stimulation, respectively less stimulation of the animals to visit the implement. By purposeful extra or less stimulation of the animals to visit the implement, there can be achieved a less varying visiting frequency in the course of time.

Abstract: A crawling tube for small mammals comprising a plurality of circumferential slotted holes which are arranged side by side on at least one row along a longitudinal extension of the tube so as to provide ventilation grilles.

Abstract: A method for determining the Rfp-Y or B-F haplotype of a chicken which involves a nucleic acid amplification-single-stranded conformational polymorphism (“SSCP”) method is disclosed.

Abstract: A wall-less animal containment system for non-flying animals. The containment system includes a lower enclosure (24) that defines a generally upward concavity from a center portion (44) to a rim (48) with a wall extending between the center portion (44) and the rim (48). The interior surfaces of the wall are sufficiently smooth to prevent the animals contained therein from gripping onto the wall and climbing out of the lower enclosure (25). A perch is (50",50') is located above the lower enclosure (24) to permit animals in the containment system to perch above the lower enclosure (24). A lower support (36, 120) extends from the lower enclosure (24) and spaces the perch (50", 50') above the lower enclosure (24). The lower support (36, 120) is located so as to be a distance away from the rim (48) of the lower enclosure (24) to prevent an animal from climbing from the support (36, 120) to the rim (48).

Abstract: A pet enclosure apparatus includes a walled assembly and a floor defining an enclosure and for an air delivery system for conducting heat or cooled air into the enclosure. The enclosure accommodates a pet therewithin. The air delivery system may be associated with various sources of temperature controlled air, such as a heat register, a radiator, or the like. Temperature controlled air is conducted or delivered into the enclosure, thus controlling air temperature in the enclosure for a pet therewithin.

Abstract: A tailgate for preventing cattle from backing up while in a guide chute is described. The tail gate comprises a tube, angle brackets and a gate section. The angle brackets are arranged to be fitted into the tube such that the angle brackets can be attached to horizontal or vertical surfaces. The gate section is arranged to pivot about the tube from one side of the tube only so that cattle may pass freely from one side of the tail gate but are prevented from passing from the opposite side. As a result of this arrangement, cattle contacting the gate from the opposite side of the tail gate will reflexively remain in place. This in turn prevents the cattle from backing up and speeds up the flow of cattle through the chute. The tail gate is arranged to be fitted into chutes of various widths at any point along the chute fitting and the height of the gate section can be varied for use with animals of different sizes.

Abstract: Disease resistance in chickens has been associated with the Rfp-Y system of major histocompatability genes in chickens. A method for breeding chickens to produce disease resistant offspring involves selecting at least one parent that has an Rfp-Y haplotype that is characteristic of disease resistance and mating that parent with a second parent to produce a disease resistant offspring.

Abstract: A combination food and liquid dispenser for an animal cage including a first compartment and a second compartment being in vertical relation to each other. The second compartment is constructed to receive food therein and provide an animal access to the food item disposed therein and the first compartment is constructed to receive a liquid container therein and provide an animal with access to the liquid container disposed in the first compartment. A bracket assembly is affixed to the dispenser and supports the dispenser within the cage on less than four side walls thereof. A filter cap for the animal cage includes a body portion dimensioned to fit upon and cover over the top of the cage.

Abstract: A positionable and expandable tube system composed of snappingly engageable tube segments for the construction of hamster, gerbil, or like pet tubes. Each tube segment consists of an upper and a lower truncated sphere connected at an annular intersection. The preferred embodiment incorporates an arcuate notch which accommodates the annular intersection in the lower truncated sphere to allow a greater maximum bend angle compared to a tube segment where an arcuate notch is not incorporated. The tube segments, when snappingly engaged, create frictionally positionable ball and socket joints.

Abstract: A system and method for commercially raising frogs in a controlled environment is disclosed. The frogs are housed within a plurality of containers stacked in an array within the spaced tiers of a rack. Each container defines a first and second chamber and a ledge about the periphery of the container for suspending one or more panels above the chamber to form a third elevated chamber within the container and is fitted with a screen to prevent the frogs from escaping. Ramps provided within each chamber enable the frogs to travel between chambers and to access the third chamber. When adult frogs are being cultivated in the containers, the first chamber of each container retains water to provide an aquatic habitat for the adult frogs, and the second chamber remains dry. When frogs are being cultivated in their larval form as tadpoles within the containers, both the first and second chambers retain water to maximize the aquatic habitat for the tadpoles.

Abstract: A pet containment assembly for containing pets within a closed automobile while allowing air to circulate freely through the windows of the automobile to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the pets, the assembly having a two-piece adjustable frame which has both stationary horizontal bars and telescoping horizontal bars so that the frame can be extended to the full width of a window opening in the automobile, the frame being held in place in the opening by tabs on the frame which fit into the grove of the window opening and a groove in the frame into which the top edge of the window fits, thereby securing the frame in the opening.

Abstract: A small security cage for housing a pet reptile, such as a snake, lizard, or amphibian, and observation of the reptile. The cage includes a floor wall, side walls, a rear wall, a transparent front wall for viewing and a removable lower tray for cleaning the cage. An openable top door includes a wire mesh for ventilation and access to the reptiles contained therein. A heating element, light, and thermostat can be included to maintain the environment suitable for a desired species.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved pet barrier. The pet barrier is preferably comprised of a net or fabric barrier, a container for retaining one end of the barrier and for housing the barrier when not in use, and hooks for attaching the second or other end of the barrier to a door, doorway, or wall. In the preferred embodiment, the barrier is a net, and the container which is attached to one end of the barrier is attached to the doorway or wall, while the second end of the barrier is releasably attached to the door.

Abstract: An ant habitat construction bowed in shape in a convex manner between its side edges, and large pad devices help to provide mechanical stability. Upper and lower hollow hinge devices enable similar units to be connected together in an articulated manner and in communication with one another to facilitate ant travel between the units, and yet have enhanced stability.