A system and a method for observing piglet birth is provided. The method comprises detecting at a first detection zone, infrared electromagnetic radiation from a first radiation zone including at least a first area of a first delivery zone of a first farrowing sow or gilt, identifying a first event indicative variation in the detected infrared electromagnetic radiation, the first event indicative variation being indicative of a piglet birth, and determining a first piglet birth event by means of the identification of the first event indicative variation.

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.

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.

In one or more arrangements, a system for tracking, coordination, and/or control of livestock birthing operations is presented. In one or more arrangements the system includes a backend system and one or more personal electronic devices communicatively connected to the backend system. The personal electronic devices are configured to provide a user interface for workers to monitor and update information for a set of farrowing livestock animals in the backend system. In one or more arrangements, the system provides a platform implemented by operations coordination software on the backend system and the user interface on the personal electronic devices. The platform is designed to serve as the epicenter of day-to-day operations in livestock operations, tracking and providing critical information about employee performance, animal health, animal production, and link with and/or control performance of automated agricultural equipment and/or third-party technologies.

A farrowing crate has front and rear wall assemblies and first and second sidewalls that extend between the front and rear wall assemblies. The sidewalls have arcuate lower edges supported above a floor to allow piglets to pass thereunder, and outwardly bowed middle portions. The arcuate lower edges of the sidewalls are spaced apart a sufficient distance from each other to accommodate a sow's legs to allow the sow to turn around in the crate. The outwardly bowed middle portions are spaced apart from each other a sufficient distance to accommodate a sow's head and rear end to allow the sow to turn around in the crate. The sidewalls have straight upper edges that are spaced apart approximately the same width as the front and rear wall assemblies to provide open access into the top of the crate while discouraging a sow from attempting to climb out of the crate.

A heat source that emits infrared radiation; a reflective sheet surrounding the heat source with a first emission area tuned to direct infrared energy directly downward out of the first emission area; and an outer sheet surrounding the reflective sheet with an insulation gap between the outer sheet and the reflective sheet with a second emission area directed downward out of the insulation gap.

A heat source that emits infrared radiation; a reflective sheet surrounding the heat source with a first emission area tuned to direct infrared energy directly downward out of the first emission area; and an outer sheet surrounding the reflective sheet with an insulation gap between the outer sheet and the reflective sheet with a second emission area directed downward out of the insulation gap.

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.

A gestation stall gate assembly includes a gate support, a gate pivotably coupled to the gate support, and a gate control assembly. The gate is pivotable between an inwardly open position, a closed position, and an outwardly open position. The gate control assembly is configured to (i) allow the gate to pivot from the closed position to the inwardly open position when a sow pushes against the gate to pivot the gate toward the inwardly open position, (ii) prevent the gate from pivoting from the closed position to the inwardly open position for a second time until the gate is pivoted from the closed position to the outwardly open position, and (iii) allow the gate to pivot from the closed position to the outwardly open position when the sow pushes against the gate to pivot the gate toward the outwardly open position.

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.