A collapsible pet carrier is provided and includes: an interior space defined between opposing side walls, opposing end walls, and a bottom wall; one or more straps attached to one of the opposing side walls and opposing end walls; a cover movably attached over a top opening of the collapsible carrier; a pair of opposing pockets located on an exterior portion of the bottom wall, the pair of opposing pockets separated by a slit; a board shaped to fit at least partially within the paid of opposing pockets and across the slit; and a closure mechanism formed along an edge of the exterior portion of the bottom wall. In an expanded configuration the board is located within both of opposing pockets. In a collapsed configuration the opposing side walls, opposing end walls, straps, and cover are folded towards the bottom wall.

A canopy assembly for a barrier defined by at least two sides, wherein the canopy assembly including a cover assembly; and a bracket assembly, coupled to the cover assembly, wherein the bracket assembly includes at least a first bracket for coupling the cover assembly to the first side of the barrier and at least a second bracket for coupling the cover assembly to the second side of the barrier, wherein each of the at least first and second brackets have a cavity dimensioned to receive a plurality of differently dimensioned barrier top rails or wall surfaces.

A canopy assembly for a barrier defined by at least two sides, wherein the canopy assembly including a cover assembly; and a bracket assembly, coupled to the cover assembly, wherein the bracket assembly includes at least a first bracket for coupling the cover assembly to the first side of the barrier and at least a second bracket for coupling the cover assembly to the second side of the barrier, wherein each of the at least first and second brackets have a cavity dimensioned to receive a plurality of differently dimensioned barrier top rails or wall surfaces.

A demountable alley stop for preventing livestock from backing up in process alleys, includes a deflectable triangular arm component hingedly engaged with an alley stop framework wherein the resting position of the triangular arm component extends into the process alley. The triangular arm component comprises a rearward-facing deflection arm component engaged at its distal end to the distal end of a forward-facing backstop arm component. The proximal ends of the deflection arm component and the backstop arm component are engaged with a bracing arm component. The juncture of the deflection arm component and the backstop arm component is provided with a resilient pliable hose for contacting process alley side rails when the triangular arm component is deflected out of the process alley. The alley stop framework is provided with a resilient hose to stop the bracing arm component when the triangular arm component returns to its resting position.

A farm system comprising a plurality of smart tags which are each configured to be worn by an animal, a transmitter and receiver unit for wireless communication with the smart tag, one control unit which is communicatively connected to the transmitter and receiver unit and a farm unit which can be controlled by the control unit. Each smart tag comprises at least one sensor and is configured for wirelessly transmitting information obtained by one of the sensors to the transmitter and receiver unit, wherein the transmitter and receiver unit is configured for supplying the received information to the control unit and wherein the control unit is configured for processing the received information and, at least on the basis of this processed information, controlling at least a farm unit and/or generating a report signal for indicating to a user of the system that an activity is to be carried out.

A homecage system for facilitating an experiment using an animal includes a cage unit configured to hold the animal therein. A misalignment insensitive transmitting resonant wireless power transfer unit encompasses the cage unit. The transmitting resonant wireless power transfer unit is configured to be driven by an external power signal so as to generate a radio frequency wireless power transfer signal. A headstage unit is configured to be physically coupled to the animal and is responsive to the wireless power transfer signal. The headstage unit transmits data wirelessly from a sensor associated with the animal. A control unit is in data communication with the headstage unit and controls the external power signal. A remote unit is in data communication with the control unit. The remote unit transmits control information thereto and that communicates data via a local area network.

A homecage system for facilitating an experiment using an animal includes a cage unit configured to hold the animal therein. A misalignment insensitive transmitting resonant wireless power transfer unit encompasses the cage unit. The transmitting resonant wireless power transfer unit is configured to be driven by an external power signal so as to generate a radio frequency wireless power transfer signal. A headstage unit is configured to be physically coupled to the animal and is responsive to the wireless power transfer signal. The headstage unit transmits data wirelessly from a sensor associated with the animal. A control unit is in data communication with the headstage unit and controls the external power signal. A remote unit is in data communication with the control unit. The remote unit transmits control information thereto and that communicates data via a local area network.

A barn control system includes a building having at least one door with a lock. Disposed within the building are a plurality of pens with each pen having one or more feed bins, a feed line, a feed motor and a feed pan. A plurality of sensors and activation devices are disposed within the building and are connected to a computer. Based upon sensed information, the computer transmits information to open and close the door, monitor and control feed consumption and ordering, and provide a bio security system.

The door system disclosed herein includes a frame and a door fabricated from a plurality of horizontal and vertical wire rods. The door may have an inverted hook which is aligned to a horizontal wire rod of the frame when the door is pivoted to the closed position. To close the door, the door is dropped so that the horizontal wire rod of the frame is traversed into the inverted hook. At this point, the animal inside of the pet crate cannot open the door by pushing the door. Rather, the door must be raised so that the inverted hook clears the horizontal wire rod of the frame to pivot the door to the opened position.

A predator proof movable coop has an outdoor caged over section, an adjoining roofed-in section with an adjoining nesting box section and one or more retractable wheels. The coop is especially designed to protect the poultry or hens from predators like fox or raccoon or the like.