Abstract: A connector is characterized by comprising a T-shaped main body, three connecting components and two connecting tubes, wherein the connecting components are arranged on one surface of the main body and located at three endpoints of the T-shaped main body. Each connecting component comprises a concave groove body and a connecting column which is arranged in a cavity of the concave groove body, wherein a gap exists between the connecting column and the inner wall of the concave groove body. The two connecting tubes are arranged between two connecting components at the bottom of the T-shaped main body side by side. Each connecting tube penetrates through the main body. Connecting holes are formed in the other surface of the main body.

Abstract: A cart for transporting livestock equipment having a first and a second stall dividers and two dollies. The first dolly includes a horizontal member, a pair of wheels, and a pair of outer support members. The second dolly includes a horizontal member, a pair of wheels, and a pair of outer support members. To form a cart, an outer support member of the first dolly is received in one of the vertical members of the first stall divider, and the other outer support member of the first dolly is received in the opening of one of the vertical members of the second stall divider. An outer support member of the second dolly is received in the first stall divider and the outer support member of the second dolly is received in the opening of the second stall divider.

Abstract: A mobile cart for isolating an animal from a herd has a protective enclosure for housing an operator and the animal, and for concealing and protecting the operator from the herd. The cart has several modes of operation including a drive mode allowing the operator to move the cart toward the animal, a capture mode allowing the operator to capture the animal within the enclosure and conceal it from the herd, and a treatment mode allowing the operator to treat the animal within the enclosure before releasing or moving it elsewhere. In the capture mode the cart's front end may be lifted over the animal to trap it, or a gate may be raised to bring the calf into the enclosure, or both. A rear end basket for holding the captured calf has a screen with multiple positions for controlling visibility into the basket and enclosure.

Abstract: A mobile cart for isolating an animal from a herd has a protective enclosure for housing an operator and the animal, and for concealing and protecting the operator from the herd. The cart has several modes of operation including a drive mode allowing the operator to move the cart toward the animal, a capture mode allowing the operator to capture the animal within the enclosure and conceal it from the herd, and a treatment mode allowing the operator to treat the animal within the enclosure before releasing or moving it elsewhere. In the capture mode the cart's front end may be lifted over the animal to trap it, or a gate may be raised to bring the calf into the enclosure, or both. A rear end basket for holding the captured calf has a screen with multiple positions for controlling visibility into the basket and enclosure.

Abstract: An automatic animal retrieving platform assembly (10) and its method of operation for retrieving a domestic animal (12) from a stall (29) is described. The platform assembly retrieves and at least partly confines the domestic animal from a stall to effect a job function with the animal, such as for milking a cow in a dairy barn. The platform assembly (10) is displaceable on wheels (13) to position an entrance opening (24) thereof behind the animal stall. A displaceable floor (17) extends to the rear of the stall and retrieving arms (26, 27) are provided to grasp the animal and cause it to back-up slowly onto the displaceable floor where it is at least partly confined in a cage 18. After the job function is completed the retrieving arms (26, 27) release the animal and it returns freely to its stall. To help it return to its stall a tether (70) may be secured to a neck collar 30 of the animal.

Abstract: Methods for transporting livestock and livestock feed in shipping containers and for separating the shipping containers into a livestock storage areas and feed storage areas for the measured distribution of feed throughout shipment.

Abstract: Ranchers and other owners of livestock commonly have a need for a transportable means of setting up a corral for numerous purposes. Sorting must take place in a remote location or a location without a permanent corral, which are prohibitively time consuming and expensive to build. A preferred embodiment of the Portable Corral is comprised of a central chute, a left corral area, and a right corral area. The central chute is comprised of a back chute, a front chute, a left central chute panel and a right central chute panel. The front chute is comprised of a breakaway hitch that in turn is comprised of a left breakaway hitch section and a right breakaway hitch section. The left and right breakaway hitch sections are collapsed together to comprise the breakaway hitch used to connect to the towing vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for confining livestock with a portable corral gate assembly comprising a bottom frame, a top frame, a plurality of vertical members releaseably interconnecting the bottom frame to the top frame, a plurality of first side members each pivotally attached to a first vertical member and a second end attached to and extending outwardly from a first flexible member attached to the top frame and extending downwardly therefrom, and a plurality of second side members each pivotally attached to a second vertical member and a second end attached to and extending outwardly from a second flexible member attached to the top frame and extending downwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A cart for transporting livestock equipment having a first and a second stall dividers and two dollies. The first dolly includes a horizontal member, a pair of wheels, and a pair of outer support members. The second dolly includes a horizontal member, a pair of wheels, and a pair of outer support members. To form a cart, an outer support member of the first dolly is received in one of the vertical members of the first stall divider, and the other outer support member of the first dolly is received in the opening of one of the vertical members of the second stall divider. An outer support member of the second dolly is received in the first stall divider and the outer support member of the second dolly is received in the opening of the second stall divider.

Abstract: An aerial pen raised and lowered by a driven land vehicle has sidewalls defining an open bottom, a retractable platform for a targeted animal to stand on, a livestock head gate, and a retractable crowding gate cooperatively arranged with the deployed platform and head gate for securing the targeted animal for aerial carrying. Use of the aerial pen is like practicing, on a large-scale, a box-trap style ‘pursuit-and-pounce’ of cattle catching, albeit at an unhurried pace of pursuit, followed by an unhurried pounce. The box-trap style capture might be likened to the activity of ‘pouncing’ or, more fancifully, likened to the activity of netting as practiced by insect collectors with aerial nets (eg., butterfly nets). Presumptively, the livestock animal is sick or otherwise slowed, which permits this activity to be practiced without harm to the animal.

Abstract: An alley for processing animals such as cattle or buffaloes is described which includes a pair of spaced-apart alleys at the entrance end of the alley and a single alley at the exit end of the pair of alleys at the entrance end of the alley. The outer side walls of the alleys are easily adjusted to vary the width thereof thereby enabling the alley to accommodate animals of different sizes. Rear-up prevention device mechanisms are also provided in each of the alleys to prevent the animals from raring up and falling over backwards. The alley may be either portable or stationary.

Abstract: A structure that can be folded and unfolded to construct buildings, for example, horse stables, includes frames made from welded profiles and covered with panels having doors, windows or ventilators, covered by a roof. After deployment and installation, the structure forms a parallelepipedal volume with rigid front and rear façades and two folding lateral walls. Each of the lateral walls has a central axis, and joints receiving four rectangular leaves which can be folded accordion-style. The distance between the two central axes remains constant and the structure has two anchoring points on each lateral wall which are positioned on top of the structure and symmetrically relative to the central axis. A lifting beam is used to raise the structure, which folds or unfolds under the influence of the weight of the structure due to forces exerted on cables fixed between the lifting beam and the structure.

Abstract: A calf catching apparatus that attaches to an ATV or similar vehicle and operates along the side of the vehicle. The calf catching apparatus has a pair of doors or gates that open to the front and are operated from ATV. The operator drives along side the cow/calf pair until the calf is inside the pen. The gates are closed and the calf is caught and separated from the cow. The operator can enter into the pen and treat the calf. If the calf needs to be transported, the calf is placed on a transportation platform and a gate is closed to restrain the calf on the platform. The calf catching apparatus can also be transformed to a tow behind version to minimize the width and bring the unit down the road behind a vehicle. There is also a fold-up embodiment that allows for the pen to be folded beside the ATV to reduce the overall width of the ATV and calf catching apparatus for traveling through narrow openings or on roads without unhooking from the ATV.

Abstract: A temporary electrified fence enclosure system utilizing movable storable fence posts and flexible electrified ribbons that are retractably reeled within the fence post. Each fence post comprises an internal power source. Each electrified ribbon is coupled mechanically to other fence posts to create the enclosure. The system is preferably stored or removably attached to a trailer, such as a horse trailer, and is quickly and easily set-up.

Abstract: A confinement and feeding stall for livestock such as horses, cows and the like with side frames spaced so that an animal can stand comfortably but not turn around and narrow enough to prevent other animals from crowding into an occupied stall. A gate is provided at one end of the side panels and a rear closure member may be provided at the other end. The side panels and gate prevent the animal from reaching over or around the side frames to disturb adjoining animals in adjacent stalls. The side frames are connected by elevated top members and flat bottom members to form individual stalls and stalls linked in side-by-side relationship.

Abstract: A calving enclosure which is adapted to be placed permanently on the ground or which may be moved from one location to another for use during calving operations. The enclosure includes a pivotal alleyway which may be moved from a stowed position to an operative position so that the width of the enclosure is reduced for transport purposes. The enclosure includes multiple confinement pens or areas as well as a tack or warming room and a headgate assembly.

Abstract: A corral apparatus has mounting brackets for securing at spaced locations on a wall of a vehicle, livestock trailer, or building, a pair of side panels each having a first end pivotally connected to a respective bracket, and an end panel pivotally secured between the second ends of the side panels, whereby the apparatus can be pivoted between an operative condition in which each side panel extends transverse to the surface and the end panel extends between the ends of the side panels, and a storage position in which the panels are folded flat against one another and the surface.

Abstract: A corral apparatus has a pair of mounting brackets for securing at spaced locations on a surface of a vehicle, livestock trailer, or building, a pair of side panels each having a first end pivotally connected to a respective bracket, and an end panel pivotally secured between the second ends of the side panels, whereby the apparatus can be pivoted between an operative condition in which each side panel extends transverse to the surface and the end panel extends between the ends of the side panels, and a storage position in which the panels are folded flat against one another and the surface. The side panels are adjustable in length to vary the size of the coral.

Abstract: A corral apparatus has mounting brackets for securing at spaced locations on a wall of a vehicle, livestock trailer, or building, a pair of side panels each having a first end pivotally connected to a respective bracket, and an end panel pivotally secured between the second ends of the side panels, whereby the apparatus can be pivoted between an operative condition in which each side panel extends transverse to the surface and the end panel extends between the ends of the side panels, and a storage position in which the panels are folded flat against one another and the surface. The side panels are adjustable in length to vary the size of the coral.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for converting a stock trailer into a horse trailer. Dividers are mounted on the inside of a stock trailer to create separate compartments for a number of horses. When the trailer reaches its destination, the dividers can be removed and used in combination with the stock trailer to create a corral for the horses.

Abstract: A trailer mountable portable corral system for enclosing animals. The system has, a first portion of the corral system having at least one corral panel and a corral gate, a first lifting mechanism mounted to the trailer and connected to the panel of the first portion of the corral system at an end not connected to another panel or gate, a second portion of the corral system having at least one corral panel and a second lifting mechanism mounted to the trailer and connected to the panel of the second portion of the corral system at an end not connected to another panel. A user operating either the first or second lifting mechanism may cause lifting and lowering of either portion of the corral system connected thereto.

Abstract: A portable corral which is folded into a retracted position behind a towing vehicle for transport from one location to another, and is folded to an expanded, usable configuration for movement along side the path of travel of the towing vehicle to trap cattle or the like who may, for example, be feeding in the path of movement of the corral.

Abstract: A system for housing animals in animal husbandry, particularly for raising pigs comprises a separately transportable container (15) manufactured from metal walls (20-24) which is individually supplied with a fan ventilation system (37), a bottom manure container and a feed supply (60). The animals can be transported in the container (15) and maintained in the container (15). The container can be located in rows of the container along a central alleyway (10) through which the animals can be moved and which supplies the necessary facilities. In one use of the system, the animals can be transported to a position adjacent to but spaced from a new location and maintained in quarantine until the possibility of disease is passed. In a further process for the Isowean system of raising pigs, the nursery stage between the farrowing stage and the finisher stage is carried out in the containment vessel thus avoiding additional movement of the animals which is stressful for the animals.

Abstract: A transportable enclosure for restraining a cow during the birth of a calf, while giving a veterinarian free access to the rear of the cow, without clamping the neck or sides of the cow. A left, right and front gates are provided which swing open to release the cow. A nursing gate is provided to allow access to the cow by the calf for nursing after the birth. A cesarean section gate is also provided to allow access to the cow's abdomen for performing a C-section while the cow is restrained in the birthing pen. A pulling and lifting system is provided for assisting in pulling the calf from the cow and in lifting the calf off of the ground to drain mucous from the mouth, nose and lungs.

Abstract: A portable corral panel is disclosed and which has a supporting leg structure pivotally secured to one side thereof with the supporting leg structure being pivotally movable from a stored position adjacent the panel member to an outwardly extending supporting position. An anchor plate is secured to the supporting leg structure to enable an anchor pin to be inserted therethrough into the ground to further stabilize the panel member.

Abstract: A lightweight, portable grooming stall for an animal includes a substantially U-shaped bar having a front portion and two legs. A three point support system couples with the U-shaped bar so as to maintain the U-shaped bar in a horizontal attitude. A base system is coupled to the three point support system. The base system underlies the U-shaped bar. A restraint system is variably positioned across the two legs of the U-shaped bar. The base system includes a second substantially U-shaped bar supported on a floor level. The second U-shaped bar underlies the U-shaped bar. A mat is arranged to overlie the second U-shaped bar.