A four-legged animal lifter. Lifting straps extend downward from a rotatable horse support structure. Four harnesses are connected to the lifting straps and are attached to the legs of the four-legged animal. A lifting apparatus is attached to the rotatable horse structure and is for lifting the four-legged animal upwards to reduce weight on the animal's legs. In preferred embodiment the four-legged animal is a horse.

A system for milking a group of animals, in particular cows, comprises an accommodation space for keeping the animals. The accommodation space is configured such that the animals can walk around freely in the accommodation space, and contains fixed milking stations. The milking stations each comprise an entry opening for entry of a milking animal from the accommodation space to the milking station. The entry openings of the milking stations are permanently open. An automatic milking system is provided for automatic milking of animals present in the milking stations. The milking stations comprise a drinking system which is configured to provide water for the animals. The drinking system of the milking stations is the only drinking facility for the animals to meet their daily water needs. The accommodation space is configured such that the animals in the accommodation space can walk freely from the accommodation space to each entry opening.

Described is a system for milking animals, including cows, having an accommodation space in which the animals can walk around, and several stationary milking stations placed next to each other. Each milking station at a head end thereof includes a neck lock device which can be moved by way of an actuator device between a locked state in which a milking animal in said milking station can be locked at the neck by said neck lock device, and an open state in which a milking animal in said milking station is free to move its head in and/or out of the neck lock device. Also included is an automatic milking system for the automatic milking of milking animals and a control system that is actively connected to the actuator device of each neck lock device.

An apparatus for securing the legs of livestock animals includes a frame also which defines an entrance and an exit and which presents sidewalls which extend between the entrance and the exit thereby presenting a chute suitable for the ingress and egress of a livestock animal. Near the floor of the chute and between the entrance and the exit are leg bars which are able to move between a retracted position suitable for allowing the lower legs of a livestock animal to move freely between the leg bars and the sidewalls and an extended position in which the leg bars are closer to the sidewalls so that the lower legs of a livestock animal are held securely between the leg bars and sidewalls. The apparatus can be used to secure the lower legs of a livestock animal and thereby immobilize the animal.

A hand-held rope tie is operable to releasably hold two side-by-side portions of a rope. Pivotally connected arm members accommodate and hold the rope portions with a selected clamping pressure. The clamping pressure can be adjusted to create drag or resistance on the rope pulled through the arm members during horse pull-backs to relieve horse panic. Rope tie is also adjustable to tightly grip the rope without slippage of the rope through the arms when desired.

A hand-held rope tie is operable to releasably hold two side-by-side portions of a rope. Pivotally connected arm members accommodate and hold the rope portions with a selected clamping pressure. The clamping pressure can be adjusted to create drag or resistance on the rope pulled through the arm members during horse pull-backs to relieve horse panic. Rope tie is also adjustable to tightly grip the rope without slippage of the rope through the arms when desired.

A utility belt is disclosed. The utility belt comprises a belt track, a ball bearing assembly, and an extender assembly. The belt track includes a first belt section having a first male locking mechanism and a first female locking mechanism, and a second belt section having a second male locking mechanism and a second female locking mechanism. The first male locking mechanism connects to the second female locking mechanism. The second male locking mechanism connects to the first female locking mechanism. The first belt section and the second belt section each comprises an outer sheath and an inner tube. The inner tube includes a plurality of C-shaped rings. The ball bearing assembly has a ball bearing and a joint. The ball bearing rotates about the belt track. An extender assembly is coupled to the belt track and includes at least one connector and at least one spacer.

A utility belt is disclosed. The utility belt comprises a belt track, a ball bearing assembly, and an extender assembly. The belt track includes a first belt section having a first male locking mechanism and a first female locking mechanism, and a second belt section having a second male locking mechanism and a second female locking mechanism. The first male locking mechanism connects to the second female locking mechanism. The second male locking mechanism connects to the first female locking mechanism. The first belt section and the second belt section each comprises an outer sheath and an inner tube. The inner tube includes a plurality of C-shaped rings. The ball bearing assembly has a ball bearing and a joint. The ball bearing rotates about the belt track. An extender assembly is coupled to the belt track and includes at least one connector and at least one spacer.

A rectangular shaped animal trapping cage with one side of the cage configured in two segments that can be swung toward the inside of the cage and locked to facilitate the immobilization of sheep and goat sized animals.

A barn for housing dairy cows includes a feeding and milking area, and a pasture area. The feeding and milking area comprises a plurality of feeding stations, each feeding station including: a manger configured to permit a cow to obtain dry feed; a waterer configured to permit the cow to obtain drinking water; and a head lock configured to releasably secure the cow in the feeding station while the cow is being milked. The pasture area is configured to permit a plurality of cows to lay down. The pasture area includes a raised bed composed of a bedding material and having a predetermined slope selected to facilitate removal of excess liquid from the pasture area.