This document relates to a method for determining in a young animal a phase transition from a first development phase to a second development phase. The method comprises measuring, with a measuring instrument, one or more body or behavior parameters of the animal during a period of time and producing one or more measuring values for the or each measured body or behavior parameter. The one or more measuring values are received by a controller with which the phase transition is detected on the basis of the measuring values. The step of detecting the phase transition comprises processing the measuring values and, depending thereon, determining an extent of the animal's attention to solid food. Further, the document relates to the training of a self-learning data processing model, and to a livestock management system.

A method for weaning calves from their mothers without direct human intervention. The method consists of a specialized weaning gate that allows calves to creep graze into an adjacent paddock but does not allow the mother to follow. The gate allows the calves to return to the mothers, to acclimate the calves to moving through the gate and grazing independently and to acclimate the mothers to being temporarily separated from the calves. Once the calves have reached the appropriate age to be weaned, the gate is adjusted to become a one-way gate so that the calves will creep graze into the adjacent field but will not be able to return to the original field with the mothers, which allows the calves to be fully weaned without direct human intervention.

A method for weaning calves from their mothers without direct human intervention. The method consists of a specialized weaning gate that allows calves to creep graze into an adjacent paddock but does not allow the mother to follow. The gate allows the calves to return to the mothers, to acclimate the calves to moving through the gate and grazing independently and to acclimate the mothers to being temporarily separated from the calves. Once the calves have reached the appropriate age to be weaned, the gate is adjusted to become a one-way gate so that the calves will creep graze into the adjacent field but will not be able to return to the original field with the mothers, which allows the calves to be fully weaned without direct human intervention.

A method for weaning calves from their mothers without direct human intervention. The method consists of a specialized weaning gate that allows calves to creep graze into an adjacent paddock but does not allow the mother to follow. The gate allows the calves to return to the mothers, to acclimate the calves to moving through the gate and grazing independently and to acclimate the mothers to being temporarily separated from the calves. Once the calves have reached the appropriate age to be weaned, the gate is adjusted to become a one-way gate so that the calves will creep graze into the adjacent field but will not be able to return to the original field with the mothers, which allows the calves to be fully weaned without direct human intervention.

A method for weaning calves from their mothers without direct human intervention. The method consists of a specialized weaning gate that allows calves to creep graze into an adjacent paddock but does not allow the mother to follow. The gate allows the calves to return to the mothers, to acclimate the calves to moving through the gate and grazing independently and to acclimate the mothers to being temporarily separated from the calves. Once the calves have reached the appropriate age to be weaned, the gate is adjusted to become a one-way gate so that the calves will creep graze into the adjacent field but will not be able to return to the original field with the mothers, which allows the calves to be fully weaned without direct human intervention.

A protective garment for selectively shielding the nipples of a nursing animal includes a sleeve that has opposing ends. The opposing ends are open, such that the sleeve is configured to position around a torso of the nursing animal with at least the nipples of the nursing animal covered by the sleeve. A plurality of holes is positioned through a bottom of the sleeve. Each hole is configured to insert a respective nipple of the nursing animal. A guard is configured to reversibly couple to the bottom of the sleeve. The guard is positioned to couple to the sleeve to cover the plurality of holes, such that the nipples positioned through the holes are shielded.

A protective garment for selectively shielding the nipples of a nursing animal includes a sleeve that has opposing ends. The opposing ends are open, such that the sleeve is configured to position around a torso of the nursing animal with at least the nipples of the nursing animal covered by the sleeve. A plurality of holes is positioned through a bottom of the sleeve. Each hole is configured to insert a respective nipple of the nursing animal. A guard is configured to reversibly couple to the bottom of the sleeve. The guard is positioned to couple to the sleeve to cover the plurality of holes, such that the nipples positioned through the holes are shielded.

The invention regards an animal monitoring system for determining feed consumption of one or more animals feeding at a feeding area, comprising an imaging unit for range imaging the feeding area, identification means configured to uniquely identify each feeding animal, and processing means configured for assessing the amount of feed consumed by each identified animal by determining the reduction of feed in subsequent images of the feeding area in front of each identified animal.

A calf weaning assembly includes a first ear tag that may be worn on an ear of a cow. The first ear tag is in electrical communication with cow's skin. Thus, the first ear tag selectively delivers an electric shock to the cow. A second ear tag may be worn on an ear of a calf. The second ear tag is in electrical communication with calf's skin. Thus, the second ear tag selectively delivers an electric shock to the calf. Each of the first ear tag and the second ear tag deliver the electric shock when the calf makes physical contact with the cow thereby inhibiting the calf from suckling on the cow. A remote unit is in electrical communication with each of the first ear tag and the second ear tag. The remote unit controls operational parameters of each of the first ear tag and the second ear tag.

A calf weaning assembly includes a first ear tag that may be worn on an ear of a cow. The first ear tag is in electrical communication with cow's skin. Thus, the first ear tag selectively delivers an electric shock to the cow. A second ear tag may be worn on an ear of a calf. The second ear tag is in electrical communication with calf's skin. Thus, the second ear tag selectively delivers an electric shock to the calf. Each of the first ear tag and the second ear tag deliver the electric shock when the calf makes physical contact with the cow thereby inhibiting the calf from suckling on the cow. A remote unit is in electrical communication with each of the first ear tag and the second ear tag. The remote unit controls operational parameters of each of the first ear tag and the second ear tag.