The invention relates to a rack (10) for receiving fattening poultry cages, (20) comprising: a frame structure (12), a plurality of levels (14) for receiving a plurality of fattening poultry cages (20), and a plurality of conveying means (16) associated with each of the levels (14). The means of conveyance (16) are arranged in such a way that they transport the cages (20) located in the rack (10) within the respective level (14) to and/or away from a unloading point (30). Further, the invention relates to a fattening poultry cage (20) for arrangement in such a rack (10). Finally, the invention relates to a system of racks (10) and cages (20) according to the invention. The system may comprise an industrial truck (22) with lifting means for removing cages (20) from or feeding cages into the rack (10), the lifting means comprising a plurality of fork carriages (24) arranged vertically one above the other and movable in a vertical direction relative to one another.

A colony basket and method of using the same for handling poultry from DOC through the growing process and on to a production facility comprising a harvesting system, a loading system, a transport system, an unloading and storing system, hanging system and cleaning system. The system and method performs the steps of harvesting and colonizing live poultry into a singly stackable and transportable colony basket, stacking and loading the trays on a transport, unloading and temporarily storing the poultry for subsequent processing. The system and method further includes the use of a modular colony basket for interchangeable use with the described system.

An animal relocation system and method comprising a perimeter net system a trapping net system, and a flushing device, wherein the flushing device channels the animal through the perimeter net system and into the trapping net.

Poultry birds in a multi-compartment cage can be removed by placing openings to each compartment on a first side of the cage, and covering each opening with a spring-loaded door wherein the spring loading is provided by an over-center spring. During transport of the birds in the cage compartment, the spring loading of each door is sufficient to prevent any bird from exiting the cage. At the delivery point, the entire cage can be tilted to the side of the openings at an angle sufficient to cause the birds to slide against and open the spring-loaded door beyond the spring's center, thereby causing the door to completely open. After the birds have slid out of the cage, the doors can be closed. Poultry birds are loaded into the cage compartments via a second door in each compartment, and each second door is disposed on a second side of the cage.

In accordance with example embodiments, a system may include a supply unit, a first transfer unit, a second transfer unit, and a gas chamber. In example embodiments, the supply unit may include a plurality of compartments and each compartment may have a moving device configured to move contents of the compartment from a first end of the compartment to a second end of the compartment. In example embodiments the first transfer unit may include a second moving device. In example embodiments, the second transfer unit may include a third moving device. In example embodiments the first transfer unit may be configured to receive contents from each compartment of the supply unit and move the contents to the second transfer unit, and the third moving device may be configured to move the contents to the gas chamber.

An unloader for a poultry inspection and vaccination transporter. The unloader has a horizontally disposed unloader bar that is operable between a carry position, in which the poultry is carried on a hanger of the transporter, and an unload position, in which vertical displacement of the unloader bar between the poultry and the hanger urges the poultry from its suspended position in the hanger to release the poultry from the hanger. The unloader bar may be operated by cooperative engagement of a vertically disposed shaft to which the unloader bar is connected, with an ramp assembly disposed in a traversal path of the transporter.

The invention relates to broiler containers having a floor and side walls defining an inner volume which is designed and configured to receive and accommodate at least five live broilers, wherein the broiler container is designed and configured to be stackable with broiler containers of the same construction and has at least one ventilation opening and at least one air outflow opening, which broiler container is characterised in that the broiler container comprises at least one segment of a ventilation or air outflow column which extends through the inner volume and has at least one ventilation or air outflow opening at a distance from the side walls, wherein each segment of the ventilation or air outflow column is designed and configured for connection to corresponding segments of broiler containers of the same construction and also for connection to an active ventilation system. The invention relates also to a unit comprising at least two containers, to an arrangement comprising a unit and a ventilation system, to a transport trailer, to a poultry slaughterhouse, and to a method for ventilating the broilers.

A handling system for transport units of live poultry in a slaughterhouse, includes an inlet station, a transfer line to receive drawer-like cages extracted from supporting frames of the transport units, and an extraction device. Between the inlet station and the transfer line a rigid receiving structure of the two stacks of drawer-like cages is interposed, vertically displaceable between a position of simultaneous receipt of the two stacks of extracted drawer-like cages and a separate depositing position of the drawer-like cages of each stack onto the transfer line.

An animal relocation system and method comprising a perimeter net system a trapping net system, and a flushing device, wherein the flushing device channels the animal through the perimeter net system and into the trapping net.

A method of enhancing the growth of an animal is provided. The method includes causing the animal to ingest or absorb an effective amount of one or more Fe III complex compounds, including but not limited to Fe III complexes comprising ligands bound to the iron centre selected from amino acids or -hydroxy acids, o-hydroxy benzoic acids or pyridine-2-carboxylic acids, such as ferric quinate, ferric tyrosine, ferric DOPA and ferric phenylalanine. Compounds which are structural and/or functional variants, derivatives and/or analogs of the foregoing compounds, as further described herein are also disclosed. Methods for inhibiting, reducing, or preventing biofilm formation or buildup on a surface; the treatment of, inhibition of growth of, and inhibition of colonization by, bacteria, both in biological and non-biological environments; disinfecting surfaces, potentiating the effects of antibiotics and other anti-microbial agents, and increasing the sensitivity of bacteria and other microorganisms, to anti-microbial agents are also provided.