Pets require regular and controlled amounts of food and water for their best health. A single entry feeding zone ensures that only one pet can feed at a time. The single entry feeding zone contains a food bowl into which food may be dispensed. A sensor determines which pet is currently present and denies access to food if no authorized pet is present. A detection mechanism determines the amount of food each identified pet has consumed in order to manage pet diet and denies access to food if the pet has consumed the allotted amount of food. Network functionality provides remote data tracking, correlates pet feeding behavior across multiple feeders if present, and allows a pet owner to remotely adjust parameters of the feeder or view the pet through a camera.

A method for measuring feed flow, feed is moved through a flexible pipe using a flexible auger operably positioned within the pipe. Feed flow through a metered section (309) of the flexible pipe is metered using a feed meter (304) attached to the flexible pipe. The feed meter includes load cell (312) configured to detect strain induced by feed mass within the metered section (309). Metering feed includes providing a measure of mass flow of the feed, using the load cell (312), when the feed moves through the metered section (309).

The pet food and water bowls is a set of bowls that are positioned on a supporting frame at an elevation that is adapted for use with a pet. The set of bowls each include a handle that is vertically oriented, and affixed to the respective bowl. The handle is concentrically affixed to the respective bowl via a centered aperture. The centered aperture extends upwardly from a bottom bowl surface via a bowl armature. The handle is affixed to the centered aperture, and is adapted to be grabbed via an end user such that the end user does not have to lean over and grasp the respective bowl.

A living area includes a lying and eating area and a milking area. The living area is connected to a separation area by a selection device. A subgroup of dairy animals to be separated is determined together with a desired end time at which the dairy animals to be separated should be present in the separation area. For each individual dairy animal from the subgroup to be separated, an individual separation period is determined separately which runs from the individually determined start time until the end time. A dairy animal which walks to the selection device is guided by the selection device to the separation area if the dairy animal belongs to the subgroup of dairy animals to be separated and if said dairy animal is present at the selection device during the individual separation period determined for said dairy animal. The activity of each dairy animal in the group of dairy animals is observed by an observation system while the dairy animal is in the lying and eating area. The individual separation period of each individual dairy animal from the subgroup to be separated depends on the activity of said dairy animal observed by the observation system.

A portable loading and transporting apparatus includes a containment pen having a floor, a pair of side panels extending upwardly therefrom, and a front panel extending between the side panels. Centering plates are mounted to the opposed side panels, respective centering plates being pivotally coupled to ends of loading arms such that the containment pen is operatively moved between a loaded configuration atop the bed of a truck and an unloaded configuration on the ground rearwardly proximate the bed of the truck when the loading arms are actuated. A stabilizer bar includes a first end selectively coupled to a first position on the containment pen and a second end selectively coupled to a first position on the bed of the truck, the stabilizer bar configured to maintain the containment pen in a level configuration when the containment pen is moved between the loaded and the unloaded configurations.

A tray lock mechanism for a pet enclosure is disclosed. The tray lock mechanism includes a sliding component that has a camming surface that interacts with a leading-edge of the tray to generate an upward force to move the sliding component out of the way so that the tray can be inserted into an opening and into the pet enclosure. Additionally, in a further embodiment, the tray lock mechanism contemplates a door extension that extends downward and blocks the opening when the door is in the closed position and unblocks the opening, when the door is in an opened position.

Unmanned vehicle to carry out an animal-related action, provided with a frame and a control device to control the vehicle and a locomotion device to move the unmanned vehicle, and with a protective device to protect the vehicle against obstacles, wherein the protective device includes a touchable electrical conductor which extends on the outside of, advantageously around, the vehicle, and a voltage source to supply voltage to the conductor under the control of the control device.

A method and system utilizing one or more agricultural drones for real-time monitoring, delivery and dispensing of feed in feed bunks associated with feed lots.

A method and system utilizing one or more agricultural drones for real-time monitoring, delivery and dispensing of feed in feed bunks associated with feed lots.

A storage apparatus for a chicken feeder includes a body section, a coupling member and a feeder contacting section. The coupling member is positioned on a first end of the body section for securing the body section to a chicken feed tube. The feeder contacting section is positioned on a second end of the body section and includes angled arms to support a feeder above the feed tube.