A rearing system for keeping farm animals, in particular poultry animals. The rearing system having at least one light source for illuminating the animal bodies of the farm animals with light, wherein the at least one light source is designed as a UV-B light source which is configured to emit UV-B light onto the animal bodies.

A barn-type poultry farming system comprising, on a supporting frame, at least one multistorey battery of farming cages. At one side of the multistorey battery there is an inspection corridor and at another side there is a free area on which the poultry can walk and for transit to cages of different farming levels, the cages being open and provided with perches on the side directed toward the free area.

A method of rearing chickens comprises providing a chicken shed (10) having a floor area (12) over which the chickens can move freely. The shed (10) is provided with a plurality of lights (18) arranged to illuminate respective different regions of the floor area (12) so that, collectively, the lights (18) are able to illuminate substantially all of the floor area (12). The shed (10) is provided a plurality of cameras (20) arranged to view respective different regions of the floor area (12) so that, collectively, the cameras (20) are able to view substantially all of the floor area (12). Chickens are provided in the livestock shed (10) on the floor area (12). A controller (22) is provided and is operatively connected to the lights (18) and to the cameras (20). The controller (22) receives and analyses signals, such as images, from the cameras (20). The controller (22) controls the lights (18) to adjust illumination provided to the floor area (12) by the controlled lights (18) in a manner dependent on the signals from the cameras (20). The controller (22) is able to control each light (18) independently of the other lights (18). In some situations, the control of the lights (18) causes a predetermined desired response in the chickens. In some cases, the predetermined desired response overcomes or circumvents an undesirable situation recognised by the controller from analysis of the signals from the cameras (20).

A method of rearing chickens comprises providing a chicken shed (10) having a floor area (12) over which the chickens can move freely. The shed (10) is provided with a plurality of lights (18) arranged to illuminate respective different regions of the floor area (12) so that, collectively, the lights (18) are able to illuminate substantially all of the floor area (12). The shed (10) is provided a plurality of cameras (20) arranged to view respective different regions of the floor area (12) so that, collectively, the cameras (20) are able to view substantially all of the floor area (12). Chickens are provided in the livestock shed (10) on the floor area (12). A controller (22) is provided and is operatively connected to the lights (18) and to the cameras (20). The controller (22) receives and analyses signals, such as images, from the cameras (20). The controller (22) controls the lights (18) to adjust illumination provided to the floor area (12) by the controlled lights (18) in a manner dependent on the signals from the cameras (20). The controller (22) is able to control each light (18) independently of the other lights (18). In some situations, the control of the lights (18) causes a predetermined desired response in the chickens. In some cases, the predetermined desired response overcomes or circumvents an undesirable situation recognised by the controller from analysis of the signals from the cameras (20).

A ring clip for connecting two wire mesh panels. The clip has a first arm and a second arm. The arms connected at respective first ends by a hinge. A second end of the first arm defines a recess which is adapted to receive a second end of the second arm when the clip is in a closed condition. The first arm includes a first tab, and the second arm includes a second tab, such that, in the closed condition the first and second tabs are substantially opposed. The first and second tabs are substantially misaligned laterally.

A ring clip for connecting two wire mesh panels. The clip has a first arm and a second arm. The arms connected at respective first ends by a hinge. A second end of the first arm defines a recess which is adapted to receive a second end of the second arm when the clip is in a closed condition. The first arm includes a first tab, and the second arm includes a second tab, such that, in the closed condition the first and second tabs are substantially opposed. The first and second tabs are substantially misaligned laterally.

A plenum flooring system installed over high density insulation panels, preventing heat loss to ground and intrusion of ground moisture. The system includes one or more flooring segments, each containing at least one surface opening to the plenum space, and a plenum ventilation system. The ventilation system includes a blower and air inlet openings in seals arranged along the perimeter of the plenum flooring segments at the walls of the interior of a poultry house. The blower withdraws air from the plenum space through the surface opening of the flooring segment and discharges it into the poultry house, creating a continuous flow of air to maintain uniform flooring surface temperatures and remove moisture that migrates to the plenum space from manure on the perforated flooring surface due to moisture gradient, then a refrigerated dehumidifier/air circulation unit to condense moisture in the air and discharges that liquid to the house exterior.

A plenum flooring system installed over high density insulation panels, preventing heat loss to ground and intrusion of ground moisture. The system includes one or more flooring segments, each containing at least one surface opening to the plenum space, and a plenum ventilation system. The ventilation system includes a blower and air inlet openings in seals arranged along the perimeter of the plenum flooring segments at the walls of the interior of a poultry house. The blower withdraws air from the plenum space through the surface opening of the flooring segment and discharges it into the poultry house, creating a continuous flow of air to maintain uniform flooring surface temperatures and remove moisture that migrates to the plenum space from manure on the perforated flooring surface due to moisture gradient, then a refrigerated dehumidifier/air circulation unit to condense moisture in the air and discharges that liquid to the house exterior.

A laying nest is provided with an improved ejection system, in which the risk of expelling eggs together with the hens is suppressed. The floor of the laying nest can rotate in both directions. Thanks to this arrangement, at first it can be rotated in a first direction for inclining it towards the egg collection area and ensuring that all the laid eggs are removed; next, it can be rotated in a second, opposite direction for inclining it towards the hen coop and thus expelling the hens from the laying nest. In a preferred embodiment, the driving arrangement of the ejection system of the laying nest is entirely arranged below the floor of the laying nest, so as to not occupy room in the laying nest and to be protected from manures and dirt that may be present in the laying nest.

A vehicle and method of tending to an elevated agriculture includes a base extending from a forward base portion to a rearward base portion, a support frame, an elevated platform, a guide rail, and a drive unit. The elevated platform is connected to the support frame such that the elevated platform is positioned vertically above the base and horizontally between the forward and rearward base portions. The elevated platform is configured to selectively, vertically raise upward from a lower height toward a higher height. The guide rail extends vertically upward from the elevated platform and horizontally surrounds at least a portion of the elevated platform for bounding an operator atop the elevated platform. The drive unit is configured to selectively direct horizontal movement of the base with the elevated platform thereon for supporting the operator on the elevated platform while moving the elevated platform within the agriculture facility.