The hay feeder of the present invention includes a top bar having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical rods. Each vertical rod has an upper end and a lower end extending downward from the top bar. The hay feeder of the present invention also includes a bottom bar having a first end and a second end. The bottom bar attaches to the lower ends of the vertical rods. The hay feeder also includes an angle plate having a first edge and a second edge. The first edge is configured to be above the second edge such that the angle plate extends at a downward angle.

A cooling system (100) for cooling dairy animals (1) a feed front (110) wherein the cooling system (100) comprises a plurality of cooling zones (120.n) and cooling means (10.n,20.n) arranged to provide cooling fluid into the plurality of cooling zones (120.n), and a sensor means (3; 30.n,40.n) arranged to detect the presence of a dairy animal (1) in each cooling zone (120.n), and a controller (60) for controlling the cooling means (10.n, 20.n) and arranged to receive sensor signal input from the sensor means (3; 30.n,40.n) and, based on sensor signal input indicative of the presence of a dairy animal (1) in a cooling zone (120.n), to activate the cooling means (10.n, 20.n) to provide cooling fluid into said cooling zone (120.n).

A cooling system (100) for cooling dairy animals (1) a feed front (110) wherein the cooling system (100) comprises a plurality of cooling zones (120.n) and cooling means (10.n,20.n) arranged to provide cooling fluid into the plurality of cooling zones (120.n), and a sensor means (3; 30.n,40.n) arranged to detect the presence of a dairy animal (1) in each cooling zone (120.n), and a controller (60) for controlling the cooling means (10.n, 20.n) and arranged to receive sensor signal input from the sensor means (3; 30.n,40.n) and, based on sensor signal input indicative of the presence of a dairy animal (1) in a cooling zone (120.n), to activate the cooling means (10.n, 20.n) to provide cooling fluid into said cooling zone (120.n).

A bale feeder apparatus, system and method is described. A bale feeder for feeding a herd of livestock includes at least three ring-shaped horizontal rails including a top rail, a bottom rail and a middle rail, the middle rail spaced above the bottom rail at a middle rail height measured from a ground, and a plurality of neck rails extending upwards and inwards from the middle rail to the top rail, each neck rail spaced apart from an adjacent neck rail on same side of the bale feeder at a neck rail distance, the middle rail height about equal to a length of a longest foreleg expected in the herd of livestock, and the neck rail distance falling within a range bounded by a widest head expected in the herd of livestock, and a narrowest adult shoulder width expected of any adult animal in the herd of livestock.

Systems and methods for using a feeder system for animals are described. The modular system includes frame having a plurality of walls and a trolley system having a net system and shock system. The trolley system is movable relative to the plurality of walls in order to move the net system towards and away from a floor and a roof. More specifically, the trolley system allows the net system to be moved upwards towards the roof, after which food can be inserted into the frame. Once the food is appropriately located, the trolley system allows the net system to be moved downwardly until it is on top of the food to regulate the rate at which an animal consumes the food. The walls may have releasable fasteners that can be used to releasably secure the walls to one another, and the trolley system to one of the walls.

An autonomous vehicle includes a frame with a motor, a bumper connected to the frame via a connecting device, and a sensor detecting displacement of the bumper upon a collision. The sensor is connected with a propulsion system that interrupts displacing the vehicle upon detecting a displacement. The connecting device includes a ring, a first ball part, a second ball part, a shaft, and a spring. The ring is fixedly connected to the frame, and the first and second ball part rotatably tilt in the ring. The shaft extends through the ring and the first ball part, and through and beyond the second ball part to a second end, at which the shaft is connected to the bumper by a joint. At least one ball part is displaceable along the shaft. The spring extends around the shaft between the second ball part and a spring connector, and pretensionedly presses the first and second ball parts against the ring. Upon a collision with an obstacle, the bumpers shifts, and the shaft tilts with respect to the frame. This tilting pushes the two ball parts away from each other. The spring also tilts, as a whole, preventing plastic deformation. The spring now exerts a larger spring force on the ball parts, and, after taking away the obstacle, will move back and realign. This will also realign the sensor, ensuring a longer effective lifetime of the sensor and thus of the safety of the vehicle.

Embodiments of a system and method for weighing animal feed ingredients using a bucket loader to dispense a measured quantity of ingredient into a feed scale are disclosed. A weight of the feed ingredient in the bucket is determined and compared to a weight of the feed ingredient subsequently transferred from the bucket to the feed scale. Based on the comparison, data received from components of the system is calibrated to increase accuracy of future weighings of the feed ingredient.

The hay shaker and livestock feeder is configured for use with livestock. The hay shaker and livestock feeder is configured for use with livestock feed. The hay shaker and livestock feeder removes detritus, such as dust, from the livestock feed. The hay shaker and livestock feeder comprises a separating chamber, a plurality of stanchions, a vacuum system, and one or more vibration motors. The plurality of stanchions elevates the separating chamber above the ground. The vacuum system and the one or more vibration motors attach to the separating chamber. The separating chamber contains the livestock feed. The vacuum system and the one or more vibration motors combine to remove the detritus from the livestock feed contained within the separating chamber.

The hay shaker and livestock feeder is configured for use with livestock. The hay shaker and livestock feeder is configured for use with livestock feed. The hay shaker and livestock feeder removes detritus, such as dust, from the livestock feed. The hay shaker and livestock feeder comprises a separating chamber, a plurality of stanchions, a vacuum system, and one or more vibration motors. The plurality of stanchions elevates the separating chamber above the ground. The vacuum system and the one or more vibration motors attach to the separating chamber. The separating chamber contains the livestock feed. The vacuum system and the one or more vibration motors combine to remove the detritus from the livestock feed contained within the separating chamber.

Increasing milk production efficiency in pasture-based dairy farming depends greatly on diet optimization, especially during early lactation. The survival of small and mid-sized films strongly depends on the applicability of individualized precision feeding, being feeding systems limitations the unresolved key for both current profitability and future Digital Nutrition viability. The solution here proposed solves feeding systems limitations, at a relatively low-cost, by means of animal identification improvements (ISO 11784/5 included), safe supply of multiple food types and additives, measuring out of each animal's unconsumed food, recycling of unconsumed food and an adequate animal handling.