A system for heating animals. The heating system uses an elongated curved reflector around an elongated infrared light source to reflect heat off of the elongated curved reflector and onto piglets provided in the piglet creep of a farrowing crate. The system has a reduced thermal gradient to efficiently transfer heat to animals, such as piglets, without overheating other nearby animals, such as sows.

A detector for detecting a signal from one or more feeders. A processor is in communication with the can be configured with an artificial intelligence module and a library of pre-recorded action events and for comparing the signal with the library of pre-recorded action events and determining a likely action event. A warning device can be in communication with the processor for providing an output in response to the likely action event. At least one false positive sensor in communication with either the processor or the warning device or both of the processor and the warning device can be used for stopping the output from the warning device upon a predetermined condition.

This invention describes a device method of moving an animal from one location to another by manipulating the local environment. This invention describes a method to use newborns natural instincts to find warmth to move newborns to a safe area. This invention describes an improvement to a nesting or whelping box, constructed with a pig rail and a heat source to protect the newborns to keep them from being smothered or dying from hypothermia.

A farrowing system including a farrowing pen adapted to receive a sow, a feed dispenser adapted to dispense feed to the sow received in the farrowing pen according to a first feeding pattern, at least one heating element providing heat to a portion of the farrowing pen, a birth detection sensor for detecting a birth of a piglet from the sow, and a controller operatively connected to the birth sensor, to the feed dispenser and to the at least one heating element for switching from the first feeding pattern to a second feeding pattern and for activating the at least one heating element upon detection of the birth. There is also provided a method for operating a farrowing system and a method for dispensing feed to a farrowing sow.

An apparatus for raising livestock includes one or more confinement pens together with alleyways for transfer of the animals from one location to another. The apparatus includes one or more cameras for obtaining images of all animals in the containment area. A processor is provided for analyzing the images, the processor being arranged to allocate an arbitrary identification to each animal and to track all animals continually to maintain the allocation. From this tracking various data related to individual animals or the animals as a group can be obtained to assess their characteristics and to provide an indication to the worker of the animal to be extracted. The processor can be arranged to detect by image analysis of the image a quantity of feed and/or water in a feeder and to obtain images of the farrowing pen including the sow confinement area and at least one piglet confinement area.

An apparatus for raising livestock includes one or more confinement pens together with alleyways for transfer of the animals from one location to another. The apparatus includes one or more cameras for obtaining images of all animals in the containment area. A processor is provided for analyzing the images, the processor being arranged to allocate an arbitrary identification to each animal and to track all animals continually to maintain the allocation. From this tracking various data related to individual animals or the animals as a group can be obtained to assess their characteristics and to provide an indication to the worker of the animal to be extracted. The processor can be arranged to detect by image analysis of the image a quantity of feed and/or water in a feeder and to obtain images of the farrowing pen including the sow confinement area and at least one piglet confinement area.

An apparatus for raising livestock includes one or more confinement pens together with alleyways for transfer of the animals from one location to another. The apparatus includes one or more cameras for obtaining images of all animals in the containment area. A processor is provided for analyzing the images, the processor being arranged to allocate an arbitrary identification to each animal and to track all animals continually to maintain the allocation. From this tracking various data related to individual animals or the animals as a group can be obtained to assess their characteristics and to provide an indication to the worker of the animal to be extracted. The processor can be arranged to detect by image analysis of the image a quantity of feed and/or water in a feeder and to obtain images of the farrowing pen including the sow confinement area and at least one piglet confinement area.

A housing structure with an opening and an adhesive is combined to the bottom of the housing structure for adhering the housing structure to the skin of an animal. A pocket accessible through the opening in the housing structure for inserting and holding a warning device in direct contact with the skin of the animal through the opening. The housing structure of the adhesive patch can comprise a base layer comprising a bottom side on which the adhesive layer is attached.

A farrowing system including a farrowing pen adapted to receive a sow, a feed dispenser adapted to dispense feed to the sow received in the farrowing pen according to a first feeding pattern, at least one heating element providing heat to a portion of the farrowing pen, a birth detection sensor for detecting a birth of a piglet from the sow, and a controller operatively connected to the birth sensor, to the feed dispenser and to the at least one heating element for switching from the first feeding pattern to a second feeding pattern and for activating the at least one heating element upon detection of the birth. There is also provided a method for operating a farrowing system and a method for dispensing feed to a farrowing sow.

An improved pet birthing box for animals having a clear enclosure structured and arranged to prevent accidental smothering of puppies by their mothers suitable for use in early life to keep pets contained and safe due to the sides of the box to be erected quickly to mimic a natural den shape thereby aiding puppies get moving faster while being able to be folded down flat for quick storage