The invention relates to pre-conditioning an animal(s) to (the risk of) heat stress. The invention provides a control device for controlling a lighting device to illuminate at least one animal in a space, wherein the control device is configured to: obtain prediction data indicative of a value of an environmental condition in said space during a future time period; determine said value of the environmental condition based on the prediction data; determine a prediction of heat stress of the at least one animal in said space during the future time period if said value of the environmental condition falls within a predefined limit for heat stress; control, upon determining said prediction of heat stress, a lighting device to illuminate the at least one animal in said space with a lighting characteristic at least partly before said future time period.

Some embodiments of the present livestock structures comprise a floor, wherein the floor is configured to support livestock housing; a roof, wherein a majority of the roof is substantially parallel to the floor; and one or more supporting structures configured to support the roof; in some embodiments, the floor comprises a non-zero slope. Some embodiments of the present livestock structures comprise a passageway extending a majority of a distance between a first side and an opposing second side of the structure, wherein the passageway is positioned at an elevation that is below an elevation of the floor.

The first object of the invention is a production line for rearing and/or breeding insects and/or larval forms of insects of the order Coleoptera and/or Diptera, characterized in that it comprises: at least one breeding line (14) for breeding insects for laying feed thereon and a flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system (1) with a closed flow of heating-cooling medium for heating/cooling the feed on the breeding line (14). The second object is a method for breeding insects including a step of rearing and/or breeding insects and/or larval forms of insects using a production line according to the invention. A further object is a method for breeding insects using a flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system during the breeding. Another object is the use of a flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system (1) with a closed flow of heating-cooling medium for heating/cooling the feed on the breeding line (14).

A heating system for an animal enclosure system comprising at least one heat transfer plate having at least one heated surface on a first face and at least one mounting surface on an opposing second face, wherein the or each mounting surface comprises at least one mounting member for sliding the heat transfer plate into a recess within an animal enclosure.

An animal warming enclosure which is suitable for enclosing large animals, such as newborn calves, and protecting them during inclimate weather. The enclosure can be mounted on a vehicle, such as a truck, and the animal will be transported while other chores are completed. The animal will remain warm and can be returned to an appropriate location, such as a barn, when the chores are completed. The enclosure is fluidically connected to the exhaust system of the vehicle so that warm exhaust is used to provide heat for the enclosure.

A reptile hide assembly including, at least one reptile hide comprising a hollow structure constructed of a translucent heat resistant material having at least one opening to provide access and egress for a small creature, a plurality of removably-coupleable tubular structures and at least one elevating stand configured to provide viewing to an observer of the small creature within the reptile hide. The device may be modularly assembled.

A climate control system is operated by receiving climate information from climate control input devices at one or more plugin modules. The climate information is communicated from the plugin modules to a main control unit, which determines operating instructions for climate output devices and air inlets. When it is detected that the main control unit is not operational, the control system switches to a standby control unit if so equipped. The climate information is then communicated from the plugin modules to the standby control unit. The standby control unit determines operating instructions for the climate output devices and air inlets based on the climate information. When it is detected that the standby control unit is also not operational, the plugin modules switch to an autonomous mode such that operating instructions for the climate output devices and air inlets are determined by the plugin modules.

A livestock-housing ventilation system for delivering air to the interior of a livestock housing comprises: a first air inlet arranged to provide a stream of ambient air to the interior of the housing: an outlet for air to be exhausted out of the housing: a reversible fan configurable to operate in a first airflow direction, in which the fan directs a flow of air from the housing towards the outlet, or a second airflow direction, in which the fan directs air away from the outlet and into the housing: a recirculation damper arranged between the reversible fan and the outlet; and a controller for controlling the fan. A controller for a ventilation system and a livestock-housing are also provided.

A ventilation apparatus for ventilating a building. The ventilation apparatus comprises a casing comprising: a cavity for housing a removable heat-exchange cartridge; a service door providing access to the cavity; a primary and secondary pathways fluidly connecting the inside of the building to the outside of the building, wherein the primary pathway and the secondary pathway cross the cavity along about perpendicular axes; a primary ventilator for forcing an airflow in the building through the primary pathway; and a controllable secondary ventilator for forcing a controllable airflow through the secondary pathway. The ventilation apparatus, when the casing houses the heat-exchange cartridge, has the primary ventilator forcing an inflow of air through the primary pathway, and (ii) the controllable second ventilator for controllably forcing either an outflow or an inflow of air through the secondary pathway. The ventilation apparatus, without heat-exchange cartridge, has only inflow(s) forced through the pathway(s).

An apparatus for drying piglets immediately after birth includes a container shaped and arranged for receiving up to three or four of the piglets having an opening arrangement for manual insertion by the worker of the piglets to be confined within the container during a drying period. The container has a system for applying air movement and optionally heat to the piglets while confined with the container for drying and a release arrangement having a door controlled by a settable timer or a system for detecting when the piglets are dry for allowing release from the container of the piglets after a sufficient drying time period has elapsed. The container includes a base mounted in each farrowing crate and a cover portion which is removable from one crate to another.