Abstract: This invention describes a device method of moving an animal from one location to another by manipulating the local environment. This invention describes a method to use newborns natural instincts to find warmth to move newborns to a safe area. This invention describes an improvement to a nesting or whelping box, constructed with a pig rail and a heat source to protect the newborns to keep them from being smothered or dying from hypothermia.

Abstract: A portable, trapping system for capturing and non-lethally retaining a large number of large animals, such as wild horses or feral hogs. A specialized trailer aligns and secures deployable corral components for transportation. The corral comprises a modular fence erected on-site from multiple fence panels that are hinged together by pinning. The fence panels are configured with voids to prevent animal climbing. A gate with a remotely actuated trap door is similarly pinned between adjacent fence panels. The gate threshold is concealable. Stakes secure panels to the ground, forming a stable enclosure. The trailer comprises a rigid confining frame structure adapted to constrain and transport corral components. When the corral is disassembled, multiple individual fence panels are slidably captivated between spaced apart upper and lower ceiling and floor channels, being maintained in a parallel and stable configuration. Separate upper and lower aligned channels constrain the gate assembly during transportation.

Abstract: A portable device for protecting a nest box, such as for piglets, having a first cover and second cover that are attached to one another in an articulated manner by at least one hinge configured for providing the device with a support on the upper edge of a partition wall, such as a partition wall of pigpens, in a folded transport position in which the first cover and second cover are arranged above the support of the hinge on the partition, and also with a stable support in a deployed operating position in which each cover is arranged below the support point of the hinge on the partition, providing protection for a nest box located on the side of the partition on which the cover extends.

Abstract: A plug insert matingly fits into the open lower end of a feed tube in a gilt or sow stall. The plug includes an inlet for receiving feed from the tube and an outlet for discharging feed onto the floor of the stall. The inlet and outlet are offset from one another. An axle extends through the plug, with spokes on the lower outer end of the axle, an anti-bridge bar on the upper end of the axle, and one or more fins on the central portion of the axle. Discharge of the seed is controlled by the gilt or sow as she rotates the spokes on the forward end of the plug, thereby rotating the fins or spiral flighting to carry feed from the inlet to the outlet. This self-feeding system eliminates or minimizes feed waste while providing an appropriate feeding program for the gilt or sow.

Abstract: A one way gate primarily for pigs is located between a pair of parallel panels to be mounted in a fence line and includes two gate portions each defined by a transverse rail across the passage between the panels at a height above the passage and a plurality of fingers hanging from the rail separately pivotal in one direction only to the animal to pass and prevented from rotation in the opposite direction. The distance between the gate portions is less than 3.0 feet so as to be less than the length of the animal to prevent an animal being located between the rails and greater than 0.5 feet such that an animal attempting to lift the second fingers cannot simultaneously lift the first fingers.

Abstract: The number of piglets dying at birth is reduced by providing a motion or weight sensor in a farrowing crate at the piglet area thereof so that, when the sow is expected to give birth, the motion sensor is located in the crate at a location to detect motion of one or more piglets after birth and, on detection of motion of the one or more piglets, causing the motion sensor to wirelessly communicate a signal to a pager carried by an operator indicating to the operator that birth of piglets is in progress.

Abstract: The invention relates to a farrowing pen comprising an associated pigpen whose sidewalls form a feeding trough in the forward area. The sidewalls are connected to a wall either directly or via extensions while the farrowing pen is fixedly arranged on an associated prefabricated steel wall. One, two, or four respective farrowing pens can be connected to one prefabricated steel wall.

Abstract: In a farrowing pen which includes a pit and over the pit a first floor portion on which the sow can stand and lie and two further floor portions on each side of the first floor portion for receiving piglets of the sow and confining walls for locating the sow on the first floor portion there is provided an apparatus for lifting the sow away from the piglets to prevent crushing. The apparatus includes a base carries above the pit on a cradle and a gas bag lift mechanism carried on the base above the manure and arranged to raise a plate carrying two parallel rails with the first floor portion thereon. An air valve extends through the flooring and is operated by pressure from contact with the sow for actuating the controlling the flow of the air. The rate of lifting is faster than the rate of lowering. A scissors lever arrangement mounted on the base above the pit acts to support and guide the floor on the bag.

Abstract: A sty (2) for sows having piglets is described. The sty (2) may be built having the same area requirements as for sties for bounded sows but may be used for untethered sows. This takes place in that a rectangular sty department (1) is divided by a diagonal wall (5) which is adjacent to a corner of a rectangular climate department (7) for piglets which are placed at each corner of the sty department (1). In order to establish natural lying positions (11) for the sow the sty (2) comprises mounted devices (10) in the floor which simultaneously protects the piglets against squeezing when the sow lies down.

Abstract: A sty for sows having piglets is described. The sty may be built having the same area requirements as for sties for bounded sows, but may be used for untethered sows. This takes place in that a rectangular sty department is divided by a diagonal wall which is adjacent to a corner of a rectangular climate department for piglets which are placed at each corner of the sty department. In order to establish natural lying positions for the sow, the sty comprises mounted devices in the floor which simultaneously protects the piglets against squeezing when the sow lies down.

Abstract: A pig pen has side walls joined together by end walls to form a substantially rectangular enclosure. An angled divider is pivotable inside the pen, having a first end pivotably arranged on a pivot on one end wall and second end attachable to any one of a plurality of mounts on the opposite end wall. The divider has a first straight portion joined at an angle to a second straight portion, and a lower bar attached with one end adjacent the first end and an opposite end adjacent the second end of the divider. The lower bar is shorter than the total length of the divider and arranged below it, to break the fall of a sow lying down on her side adjacent the divider to provide time for any piglets close to the sow to move away from the sow.

Abstract: A heat lamp for a pig farrowing crate comprising an elongated housing having an elongated halogen bulb disposed therein at the upper end thereof with the longitudinal axis of the bulb being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the divider panel upon which the housing is mounted. An elongated, inverted channel is provided at the lower end of the housing for receiving the upper end of the divider panel. Heat from the halogen bulb is directed downwardly through the open lower end of the housing into creep areas at opposite sides of the divider panel.

Abstract: A barrier including a plurality of elongate construction elements extending along a first axis and spaced from each other along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the construction elements being telescopically extensible along the first axis, and an end of each construction element being formed with a tenon, the tenon being formed with a hole therein, at least one rail extending along the second axis, a plurality of apertures being formed through a thickness of the at least one rail and spaced from each other in correspondence with the spaced construction elements, each tenon mating with and protruding through a corresponding one of the apertures such that the construction element abuts the at least one rail and the hole of the tenon protrudes beyond the thickness of the at least one rail, and a plurality of fasteners, each fastener mating with a corresponding one of the holes so as to attach each construction element with the at least one rail substantially fixedly along the first a

Abstract: An improved adjustable hog gate for use in forming pens is provided with a stationary section and an adjustable section which may be extended from, or retracted onto, the stationary section. The stationary section is bounded by an end plate which receives the lateral bars of the adjustable member while the adjustable section has an end plate which receives the lateral bars of the stationary member. The improved gate may be used in a confinement facility pen system which allows the central alley of the confinement facility which is defined between opposing series of pens to be adjustable in width. The alley may be expanded in width by urging each of the improved hog gates into a retracted position while animals are moved along the alley and then manually extending each of the invention gates to narrow the alley and provide a larger effective pen area for containment of hogs. An alternative embodiment provides a modification device for converting a fixed length hog gate to an adjustable hog gate.

Abstract: A farrowing crate is disclosed. The farrowing crate includes an end support and an opposed end support. Back and front portions extend therebetween. Back and front portions includes top and bottom rails and a plurality of bowed bars extending therebetween. Back and front portions include an arcuate section and a straight longitudinal section. The curvature of the bowed bars vary along the length of the back and front portions. The curvature of bowed bars increases as they approach the arcuate section. The curvature of bowed bars decreases as they approach support members. The farrowing crate of the present invention provides enough space for the sow to turn around 360.degree., this allows the sow to visually monitor her piglets in all directions and allows her to change posture more easily. The farrowing crate provides adequate room for the sow to stand and lie down comfortably when she is aligned along the diagonal.

Abstract: An artificial sow apparatus that substitutes for a divider panel between the creep areas of adjacent farrowing crates and provides both heat and alternative food and liquid in close association with one another is described in two embodiments. In both embodiments, piglets from adjacent crates can cuddle against heated surfaces in close association with a gravity-fed solid pellet feed dispenser and a source of liquid. In the first embodiment, the heat is provided from a slanted wall of an enclosed heat-retaining, liquid-filled heater or radiator, and both the solid and liquid feed are available immediately above the heated surface (and are heated by the same radiator) in the form of a trough filled with feed pellets and artificial teats for dispensing liquid. In the second embodiment, both the liquid and solid feed are provided in adjacent troughs and heat is provided by a mat heater just below or just beside the troughs.