An apparatus for the treatment of drinking water contained in a vessel is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing, a drinking water inlet and a drinking water outlet. The apparatus also includes a pump operable to pump drinking water from the water inlet to the water outlet, wherein the water outlet and pump are configured to dispense drinking water generally upwards from the water outlet below a surface of the drinking water to cause a continuing disturbance in a surface of the drinking water contained in the vessel. In one example, the apparatus is used to reduce algae in the water. In another example, the apparatus is used to increase the oxygen content in the water.

An automatic animal food dispensing apparatus comprises a stationary horizontal-axis tubular casing with aligned upper and lower apertures; a rotatable food dispenser having a tubular circumferential wall formed with a single aperture that is coaxial with the casing! a hopper from which animal food is gravitationally deliverable to the food dispenser; an inclined chute extending downwardly from the food dispenser, for receiving the food discharged from the food dispenser and for directing the discharged food to a bowl; and a force transmitting unit for rotating the food dispenser a predetermined and repeatable angular distance, such that a dose of the food is introducible from the hopper into the food dispenser when the aperture of the food dispenser is aligned with the upper aperture of the casing and the dose of food is completely dispensable via the lower casing aperture following rotation of the food dispenser by the predetermined angular distance.

An automatic animal food dispensing apparatus comprises a stationary horizontal-axis tubular casing with aligned upper and lower apertures; a rotatable food dispenser having a tubular circumferential wall formed with a single aperture that is coaxial with the casing! a hopper from which animal food is gravitationally deliverable to the food dispenser; an inclined chute extending downwardly from the food dispenser, for receiving the food discharged from the food dispenser and for directing the discharged food to a bowl; and a force transmitting unit for rotating the food dispenser a predetermined and repeatable angular distance, such that a dose of the food is introducible from the hopper into the food dispenser when the aperture of the food dispenser is aligned with the upper aperture of the casing and the dose of food is completely dispensable via the lower casing aperture following rotation of the food dispenser by the predetermined angular distance.

A dairy animal-monitoring system for a herd of dairy animals includes a dwelling space for the herd of dairy animals, one or more controllable heat stress-reducing means for reducing or preventing heat stress in the dairy animals, and a control system for the dairy animal-monitoring system. The control system further includes a subset-determining device for determining or inputting a subset of the herd, an identification system for identifying the dairy animals from at least the subset, and a heat stress-detecting system for detecting a value of a heat stress indicator with a dairy animal of the subset. The control system is configured to control the one or more heat stress-reducing means in several of the dairy animals on the basis of the at least one detected value.

A dairy animal-monitoring system for a herd of dairy animals includes a dwelling space for the herd of dairy animals, one or more controllable heat stress-reducing means for reducing or preventing heat stress in the dairy animals, and a control system for the dairy animal-monitoring system. The control system further includes a subset-determining device for determining or inputting a subset of the herd, an identification system for identifying the dairy animals from at least the subset, and a heat stress-detecting system for detecting a value of a heat stress indicator with a dairy animal of the subset. The control system is configured to control the one or more heat stress-reducing means in several of the dairy animals on the basis of the at least one detected value.

The invention concerns an animal feed system (1) suitable for supplying feed or water, comprising: a freely rotatable holder (2) for feed or water with a discharge opening (3) provided in the underside; a catchment tray (4) for supporting the holder (2) and capturing and temporarily storing the feed or water dispensed via the discharge opening (3); fixing means intended to attach the holder (2) to the catchment tray (4), wherein the fixing means comprise an annular fixing element (5) with security edge (6), wherein said fixing element (5) comprises a passage (7) for the feed or water.

The invention concerns an animal feed system (1) suitable for supplying feed or water, comprising: a freely rotatable holder (2) for feed or water with a discharge opening (3) provided in the underside; a catchment tray (4) for supporting the holder (2) and capturing and temporarily storing the feed or water dispensed via the discharge opening (3); fixing means intended to attach the holder (2) to the catchment tray (4), wherein the fixing means comprise an annular fixing element (5) with security edge (6), wherein said fixing element (5) comprises a passage (7) for the feed or water.

A system for remote care of an animal includes a smart bowl that includes an open-faced container for holding a substance, a microprocessor, and a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of a proximity tag attached to an animal.

A solar float device for use in a livestock watering facility to inhibit the freezing of water in a livestock watering facility. The solar float device having upper and lower shells that are connected to each other. The upper shell encloses an air space and the lower shell encloses a ballast space. A bulkhead is connected to the lower shell and separates the air and ballast spaces. A ballast material contained within the ballast space maintains the float device upright in the water and is thermally conductive for receiving and storing heat generated by the solar float device from solar radiation. An energy absorbing element contacts the lower shell and at least a portion is arranged either at or above the level of the water such that the energy absorbing element is exposed to the solar radiation for absorbing the solar radiation and converting the solar radiation into heat.

A method and apparatus for delivering sanitized drinking water to a poultry or other animal husbandry facility with water supplied from either a potable or non-potable source. In the case of a non-potable water source, ozone and antimicrobial copper or copper alloy are employed as primary and secondary sanitizing agents to eliminate chemical and biological drinking water contaminants. Ozone gas is generated onsite and serves as the primary sanitation agent prior to distribution of water to nipple drinker conduits within the facility. In the case of a potable water source, water is delivered directly to the drinking water distribution system. In either case, at least one conduit is filled with a woven mesh of antimicrobial copper to perform as a passive sanitation agent to inhibit microbial propagation and prevent development of biofilm within a nipple drinker system during periods of low flow and high temperatures. In the case of non-potable water source, as animals mature and consume more water, increasing concentrations of residual ozone clean the copper/copper alloy mesh surface and sanitize exposed nipple drinker actuator pins.