Abstract: Benchtop panels are formed with spaced apart longitudinal edge webs and intermediate webs and spaced apart transverse edge webs and intermediate webs forming a grid with parallel top and bottom surfaces. At least one pair of longitudinal and transverse intermediate webs are closely spaced to allow subdividing the panel into plural panels by severing portions of a panel at a point between the closely spaced webs. Longitudinal bottom surface flanges provide for ease of mounting panels on a frame or table at spaced apart frame members. A connector with spaced apart legs and a connecting tab may be inserted in openings formed in gussets of adjacent panels to secure panels to each other.

Abstract: An animal confinement pen flooring system, particularly adapted for swine farrowing operations, includes at least first and third rows of spaced-apart molded plastic foraminous flooring panels and an intermediate row of cast iron foraminous flooring panels, all of the panels being supported on spaced-apart elongated support rails in a stand off position above a subfloor. The plastic and cast iron panels each include opposed sets of hooked-shaped flanges for engagement with support rails, respectively, for supporting the panels thereon. The cast iron panels each include a boss and an opposed recess disposed on opposite sides thereof for interconnecting adjacent panels by cooperating hook portions formed on the boss and in the recess of the adjacent panel, respectively. The combination of the cast iron and molded plastic flooring panels provides enhanced comfort for swine in farrowing operations.

Abstract: Improved flooring is disclosed that is formed by concrete slabs (1) with several parallel ribs (11) on the upper surface, between which there are longitudinal channels (12) connected with a main channel (2) laid transversally, in relation with one of the ends of the concrete slabs (1), and which ends in an outside connection (3). The ribs (11) have a thickened part (13) on the upper edge with an inner hole (15) for the circulation of hot water. Between the thickened parts (13) there are some grooves (15). The flooring is manufactured on site or by means of prefabricated slabs.

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 pigsty includes a horizontal base member and a fence member extending upwardly from the base member and cooperating with the base member to confine a raising space adapted for accommodating and raising pigs therein. The base member is configured to have an excretion area within the raising space. The excretion area is provided with a plurality of upward projections. The distance between two adjacent ones of the upward projections is substantially shorter than the width of each of the pigs raised in the raising space so as to be adapted to prevent the pigs from lying down on the excretion area.

Abstract: A mat for an animal, particularly a female mammal such as a sow comprises a main body (3) provided with a ridge (5') adapted for a sow to lie along one side thereof so that the sow's udder rests on the ridge and thus is made more accessible to piglets. The ridge (5') preferably extends along a central longitudinal axis of the mat and optionally includes a bacteriocidal agent.

Abstract: A flooring in a pigpen includes first and second grates which provide two levels to the flooring, the upper level intended for the sows and the lower level for the piglets. The second grates, which provide the upper flooring level, can be positioned on the first grates or on a steel subfloor support grid. The flooring can include third and fourth grates which enable the second grates forming the upper flooring level to extend obliquely to a side of the pigpen.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to rotary disc filters and in particular to sectors for such filters. Drainage channels are formed in broad, planar surfaces of the filter media support member of the sector, with the drainage channels being parallel and aligned toward elongate side channels at radial sides of the sector. The sectors have elongate side channels at radial sides of the sector. The side channels can be connected to the central shaft of the rotary disc filter apparatus so that fluid flows directly from the side channels to fluid handling means in the central shaft of the filter apparatus. The present invention further discloses planar drainage members made of elongate slats that are aligned side-by-side slats so that adjacent slats are interengaged fashion.

Abstract: A farrowing pen having a floor which has a perimeter area and a central area, the central area having a plurality of elongated flooring members spaced apart with at least one slat extending between each of the elongated flooring members, and a biased retaining apparatus for urging slats into a position wherein at least a portion of the slats are above the generally horizontal plane of the floor to thereby provide a flooring surface in the central portion having a ribbed effect. The ribbed floor will discourage the sow from lying down and thus crushing the piglets.