A system for urging a farm animal including a connecting lane between a holding pen and a milking parlor. The connecting lane includes a sweep for urging the farm animal along the connecting lane. The sweep includes a movable body configured to move along the connecting lane and a sweep arm connected with the movable body. The sweep arm being configured to raise and/or lower with respect to the movable body.

A quality system comprising a computer system and an analyzing system adapted for analyzing samples of particles collected from air from an agricultural group location. The analyzing system is configured for receiving a plurality of samples of particles collected at the agricultural group location, for performing at least one quantitative, biological element determination of each of the received samples; and transmitting sub-sets of data to the computer system, which correlates the data sub-sets with reference data. The reference data represents reference quantity of the biological element as a function of time correlated to the quality parameter and comprises at least one threshold quality parameter of the biological element as a function of time. The determination of the quality parameter comprises determining quantity of the biological element as a function of time and wherein the computer further is configured for determine the quality parameter relative to the at least one threshold quality parameter.

A quality system comprising a computer system and an analyzing system adapted for analyzing samples of particles collected from air from an agricultural group location. The analyzing system is configured for receiving a plurality of samples of particles collected at the agricultural group location, for performing at least one quantitative, biological element determination of each of the received samples; and transmitting sub-sets of data to the computer system, which correlates the data sub-sets with reference data. The reference data represents reference quantity of the biological element as a function of time correlated to the quality parameter and comprises at least one threshold quality parameter of the biological element as a function of time. The determination of the quality parameter comprises determining quantity of the biological element as a function of time and wherein the computer further is configured for determine the quality parameter relative to the at least one threshold quality parameter.

The present invention relates to a novel automatic stall latch device. The device is a secure, automatic latch for stall doors that house livestock, but can be retrofitted to any sliding door. The device comprises a locking plate and a wedge that the locking plate slides over to lock the door. A narrow rod is then installed on the side of the sliding door to operate the automatic latch. The locking plate is bolted to the top of the stall or sliding door and operated via the narrow rod that runs down the side of the door. The rod can be actuated to open the stall door. When the door is closed, the locking plate automatically connects to the wedge component that bolts to the top of the stall wall next to the closed door.

A fan for use in agriculture which has a BLDC motor which allows for varying the speed of the fan to vary the airflow rate of the fan and vary the efficiency of the fan. A ventilation system for use in a livestock confinement building to maximize a rate of growth of the livestock. A process for maximizing the growth of livestock in a livestock confinement building by controlling the airflow in the livestock confinement building.

A pet bed covering system is disclosed. The system may include a pet bed and a pet bed cover. A pet bed cover may have an outer sleeve that wraps about the pet bed with attachment features whereby the pet bed cover may be retained in position about the pet bed. The outer sleeve may have a pet opening edge whereby a pet may enter and exit from the pet bed. In this manner, the pet may be kept warm while resting on the pet bed.

An agricultural animal house modular flooring system is provided, the flooring being particularly suited to poultry housing due to the structure of the flooring which facilitates cleaning, minimizes build-up of manure, bacteria and pathogens, and reduces risk of injury to the poultry. A plurality of interconnecting flooring panels and a plurality of panel support beams are provided. The panels each have pluralities of side flanges and recesses and end bosses and apertures for coupling the panel to a horizontally adjacent panel. The support beams provide interlocking engagement with the panels, prevent lateral disengagement of the panels, and distribute load from the panels and flanges to lower regions of the support beams to provide a support base of optimal strength and durability. The modular design of the flooring system provides for easy installation, assembly and disassembly of the flooring system.

An agricultural animal house modular flooring system is provided, the flooring being particularly suited to poultry housing due to the structure of the flooring which facilitates cleaning, minimizes build-up of manure, bacteria and pathogens, and reduces risk of injury to the poultry. A plurality of interconnecting flooring panels and a plurality of panel support beams are provided. The panels each have pluralities of side flanges and recesses and end bosses and apertures for coupling the panel to a horizontally adjacent panel. The support beams provide interlocking engagement with the panels, prevent lateral disengagement of the panels, and distribute load from the panels and flanges to lower regions of the support beams to provide a support base of optimal strength and durability. The modular design of the flooring system provides for easy installation, assembly and disassembly of the flooring system.

A cage for housing laboratory animals, said cage comprising a tray and a cover which can be removed and switched between a first closing position, in which it is positioned on said tray thus stopping the access to the internal space delimited by said tray, and a second opening position, in which said internal space may be accessed.

Animal litter boxes are provided which include a sensor to detect a change in an environment within an interior of its housing and an odor removal device (ORD) operationally connected to the sensor such that the ORD is activated in response to a signal from the sensor. In some cases, the ORD is configured to operate in different manners based on respectively different signals from the sensor. In addition or alternatively, the litter boxes may include a timer configured with the sensor for activating and periodically reactivating the ORD at preset time intervals in response to a sensor signal. In yet other embodiments, the litter boxes may additionally or alternatively include a timer having user adjustable settings of different time periods at which to initiate activation of the ORD and/or user adjustable settings of different durations at which to operate the ORD, both in response from a sensor signal.