A solar air heating curtain for installation on the wall or eave of a building consisting of a sheet of flexible translucent or transparent film facing outward from the building and a sheet of flexible film facing inward toward the building with both films joined around the perimeter forming an interior air volume, with a flexible air permeable material, that is heated when exposed to solar energy, suspended between the films, and a fan to move air from outside; through an air inlet, through the interior air volume in close contact with the air permeable material, and through an air outlet.

A solar air heating curtain for installation on the wall or eave of a building consisting of a sheet of flexible translucent or transparent film facing outward from the building and a sheet of flexible film facing inward toward the building with both films joined around the perimeter forming an interior air volume, with a flexible air permeable material, that is heated when exposed to solar energy, suspended between the films, and a fan to move air from outside; through an air inlet, through the interior air volume in close contact with the air permeable material, and through an air outlet.

In general, one aspect disclosed features an anchoring system for anchoring an at least partially floorless mobile livestock enclosure to the ground. The anchoring system comprising: a securing flange configured to mechanically couple the anchoring system to the enclosure; an anchor; and a drive configured to place the anchor into contact with the ground, and to retract the anchor from contact with the ground.

In general, one aspect disclosed features an anchoring system for anchoring an at least partially floorless mobile livestock enclosure to the ground. The anchoring system comprising: a securing flange configured to mechanically couple the anchoring system to the enclosure; an anchor; and a drive configured to place the anchor into contact with the ground, and to retract the anchor from contact with the ground.

A method of tending to livestock within a livestock confinement facility includes a vehicle having a support frame, a drive unit, and an elevated platform. The support frame extends vertically upward from a base and has a lower portion and an upper portion with the drive unit being operatively attached to the base. The elevated platform is affixed to the upper portion of the support frame and configured to support an operator thereon while moving along the livestock confinement facility. The method includes supporting the operator on the elevated platform within the livestock confinement facility. The method further includes moving the vehicle along a floor of the livestock confinement facility in order to move the operator along the livestock confinement facility from atop the elevated platform such that the operator tends to livestock from atop the elevated platform.

A method of tending to livestock within a livestock confinement facility includes a vehicle having a support frame, a drive unit, and an elevated platform. The support frame extends vertically upward from a base and has a lower portion and an upper portion with the drive unit being operatively attached to the base. The elevated platform is affixed to the upper portion of the support frame and configured to support an operator thereon while moving along the livestock confinement facility. The method includes supporting the operator on the elevated platform within the livestock confinement facility. The method further includes moving the vehicle along a floor of the livestock confinement facility in order to move the operator along the livestock confinement facility from atop the elevated platform such that the operator tends to livestock from atop the elevated platform.

A poultry house has a floor with a surface area. Lifter covers substantially the entire surface area of the floor. A nourishment dispensing device, which is preferably a water trough or other watering device, is preferably positioned above the floor and litter in a nourishment area. A platform is located in the nourishment area above the litter and floor, and below the nourishment dispensing device. The platform is preferably comprised of a grate or a series of slats, and preferably extends throughout substantially the entire nourishment area. The platform is constructed with through-holes or slits which are structured to allow liquids, such as, to pass through the platform to the lifter below. However, the through-holes or slits are not so large as to allow the feet of chicken or other poultry from passing there through to make contact with the wet litter below.

A poultry house has a floor with a surface area. Lifter covers substantially the entire surface area of the floor. A nourishment dispensing device, which is preferably a water trough or other watering device, is preferably positioned above the floor and litter in a nourishment area. A platform is located in the nourishment area above the litter and floor, and below the nourishment dispensing device. The platform is preferably comprised of a grate or a series of slats, and preferably extends throughout substantially the entire nourishment area. The platform is constructed with through-holes or slits which are structured to allow liquids, such as, to pass through the platform to the lifter below. However, the through-holes or slits are not so large as to allow the feet of chicken or other poultry from passing there through to make contact with the wet litter below.

Various apparatus and associated methods involve a light source that provides light at wavelengths that substantially correlate to local maxima in the spectral sensitivity of a diurnal avian. In an illustrative example, the light source may output light primarily in wavelength bands that are not substantially absorbed by colored oil droplets and/or visual pigment in at least one type of cone in the eye of a diurnal avian. In some embodiments, the light source may include a light-emitting diode (LED) light source. Exemplary light sources may output spectral components to illuminate diurnal avians with local maxima of intensity at wavelengths that substantially correspond to local maxima in a spectral sensitivity visual response characteristic of the diurnal avians.

A device for reducing oocysts of Eimeria spp. uses microwave. In the device, when breeding broiler chickens, litter is recycled for second to fifth breeding after first breeding, and the hardened litter is crushed through a crushing device to form a floor similar to a first breeding environment and simultaneously microwaves of a microwave device are irradiated onto the crushed litter, so that various pathogenic organism such as oocysts of Eimeria spp., viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi in the litter are reduced or killed, and thus, pathogenicity and mortality become low, thereby healthily and safely breeding broiler chickens, and accordingly, providing great economic help to poultry farms.