An animal head gate includes head gate doors each having a squeeze bar to trap the neck mounted between upper and lower rails. Adjustment of the spacing between the bars uses an eccentric crank operated by lever which cooperates with two manual latches on a rail at maximum and minimum spacing. A neck sweep bar is mounted on one gate and movable from a retracted position to a position forward of the squeeze bar across the head gate so as to engage the neck of the animal in front of the squeeze bar and to turn the neck and head. The head gate is held closed by front and rear abutment members each of which is formed as a roller which rotates to reduce friction under load. Each gate includes an upstanding torsion bar which twists when forces are applied to the squeeze bars from impact with the animal.

Free stall systems having free stall units arranged in a substantially parallel relationship having coated rail members. The coated rail members comprising an elongated fiberglass material manufactured by grinding a starting fiberglass material prior to a coating being applied. The starting fiberglass material can be reclaimed and reused from other industries such that the fiberglass material may be cut to remove unwanted metal end portions and/or cut to a desired size prior to the grinding and coating steps. The coated fiberglass material can be coated with a UV-resistant material or other coating to maintain the longevity of the fiberglass member during its use. The coated fiberglass apparatus may be utilized in free stall systems, gates, fencing materials and other applications where a solid fiberglass rod or hollow fiberglass tube having a desired coating is desired.

An animal enclosure including a plurality of members defining an interior of the enclosure. One of the plurality of members includes a first member having a frame structure and door assembly formed by a plurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical wires. At least two of the horizontal wires of the frame structure form a hook positioned inside the defined opening. The door assembly is coupled to the frame and moves between open and closed positions. The door assembly includes a first door and a second door removably coupled to one another. The enclosure also includes a latch assembly for releasing the door assembly from the frame structure. In the closed position, at least one horizontal wire of the first door and at least one horizontal wire of the second door are coupled to the hooks formed by the at least two horizontal wires of the frame structure.

An animal enclosure including a plurality of members defining an interior of the enclosure. One of the plurality of members includes a first member having a frame structure and door assembly formed by a plurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical wires. At least two of the horizontal wires of the frame structure form a hook positioned inside the defined opening. The door assembly is coupled to the frame and moves between an open and closed positions. The door assembly includes a first door and a second door removably coupled to one another. The enclosure also includes a latch assembly for releasing the door assembly from the frame structure. In the closed position, at least one horizontal wire of the first door and at least one horizontal wire of the second door are coupled to the hooks formed by the at least two horizontal wires of the frame structure.

A controlled access entrance gate, comprising a frame or structure (11) that defines an entry area (I1), an exit area (I2) and a transit area (P) of a user (U), a actuation unit (13), which allows the passage of one or more subjects (U), an electronic control unit (14) and a plurality of sensors or cameras (15, 16). The sensors or cameras (15, 16), which can also be used as an independent kit and can be associated with any type of passage or area to be controlled, are suitable for detecting the data relating to the distance (DT) between each sensor (15, 16) and each subject (U) present in the entry area (11) or in the exit area (I2) or in the passage area (P) and the speed, trajectory and tracking parameters of the subject (U). An electronic control unit (14) receives and processes data through interpolation processes and machine-learning and/or deep-learning algorithms, so as to autonomously learn the characteristics of the passage and predict the forms and probabilistic directions of each subject (U) inside the volume corresponding to the entry (I1) and exit (I2) areas and to the transit area (P) of the passage.

A gating system comprising a gate, footplate, latch, c-bracket, and parallel structural members which provides infinite mounting points to connect gates to slotted floor slates with a footplate. The gating system simplifies the design, manufacture, installation, and operation of animal management.

An apparatus for assisting the forward movement of animals in a livestock alleyway includes a pivot structure, an actuator and an arm assembly. The pivot structure is rotatably mounted to the alleyway. The actuator connects between the alleyway and the pivot structure for rotating the pivot structure between first and second positions. The arm assembly is pivotably mounted to the pivot structure for rotation between a first extended position and a second retracted position. The arm assembly is biased toward the first extended position and is able to extend and retract in a telescoping fashion. The pivot structure and the arm assembly are arranged for positioning above livestock animals in the alleyway and yet also for pivoting from such a retracted position to a position for urging the forward movement of a livestock animal without interfering with an animal that may be positioned under the apparatus.

Tools for smart farming, including devices, management systems and methods of livestock management are provided.

A demountable alley stop for preventing livestock from backing up in process alleys, comprises a deflectable triangular arm component hingedly engaged with an alley stop framework wherein the resting position of the triangular arm component extends into the process alley. The triangular arm component comprises a rearward-facing deflection arm component engaged at its distal end to the distal end of a forward-facing backstop arm component. The proximal ends of the deflection arm component and the backstop arm component are engaged with a bracing arm component. The juncture of the deflection arm component and the backstop arm component is provided with a resilient pliable hose for contacting process alley side rails when the triangular arm component is deflected out of the process alley. The alley stop framework is provided with a resilient hose to stop the bracing arm component when the triangular arm component returns to its resting position.

The present invention discloses a free dome range (FDR) where dairy animals have a free access to their stall to concurrently eat and to be milked. The FDR comprises a plurality of stalls; at least one of said stalls is characterized by a front side and rear opposite side into which a dairy animal is at least temporarily accommodated, head fronting said front side; a plurality of main living areas (MLAs); at least one of said MLAs is in connection with at least one of said stalls by means a plurality of gates. The FDR further comprising a substantially horizontally positioned elevated rail system comprising a plurality of elevated rails, and a plurality of mobile milking units (MMUs), each of said MMUs is configured to transport on said elevated rail to a dairy animal at its stall, and milk the animal while it is eating.