Disclosed is a swing-arm suitable for a headlock-type barrier, the swing-arm including: a tubular arm defining an axis of extension, the tubular arm being intended to pivot about a first transverse axis relative to a fixed base; and a return member adapted to ensure a return of the tubular arm to a first position about the first transverse axis, characterized in that the return member is arranged inside the tubular arm.

A barn for housing dairy cows includes a feeding and milking area, and a pasture area. The feeding and milking area comprises a plurality of feeding stations, each feeding station including: a manger configured to permit a cow to obtain dry feed; a waterer configured to permit the cow to obtain drinking water; and a head lock configured to releasably secure the cow in the feeding station while the cow is being milked. The pasture area is configured to permit a plurality of cows to lay down. The pasture area includes a raised bed composed of a bedding material and having a predetermined slope selected to facilitate removal of excess liquid from the pasture area.

A livestock stanchion with an improved support yoke including at least one releaseable support yoke comprising a mounting member fixed to and projecting upward from a horizontal rail. A support space formed in an upper end of each mounting member supports a locking bar. A removable pin for a support yoke crosses the upper region of a support space to prevent dislodging of the locking bar. The mounting member can be a plate or have a generally V, U, H, circular, arcuate or poloygonal shaped cross section.

A system for milking a group of animals, in particular cows, comprises an accommodation space for keeping the animals. The accommodation space is configured such that the animals can walk around freely in the accommodation space, and contains fixed milking stations. The milking stations each comprise an entry opening for entry of a milking animal from the accommodation space to the milking station. The entry openings of the milking stations are permanently open. An automatic milking system is provided for automatic milking of animals present in the milking stations. The milking stations comprise a drinking system which is configured to provide water for the animals. The drinking system of the milking stations is the only drinking facility for the animals to meet their daily water needs. The accommodation space is configured such that the animals in the accommodation space can walk freely from the accommodation space to each entry opening.

A barn for housing dairy cows includes a feeding and milking area, and a pasture area. The feeding and milking area comprises a plurality of feeding stations, each feeding station including: a manger configured to permit a cow to obtain dry feed; a waterer configured to permit the cow to obtain drinking water; and a head lock configured to releasably secure the cow in the feeding station while the cow is being milked. The pasture area is configured to permit a plurality of cows to lay down. The pasture area includes a raised bed composed of a bedding material and having a predetermined slope selected to facilitate removal of excess liquid from the pasture area.

An improved locking device is provided for one a livestock head gate in which two doors rollingly engaged on an overhead guide shaft for roving movement of said two doors toward one another into a closed position bracing a livestock animal between said doors and away from one another into an open position releasing said livestock animal. Primary and secondary shaft-receiving and locking members have respective first and second through-holes therein for receipt of the overhead guide shaft. A spring-receipt member is fixed to the primary shaft-receiving member for cooperation with a spring that tilts the primary shaft-receiving member into a locking position. The secondary movable locking member is retained beside the primary member in a manner enabling both tilting therewith and displacement relative thereto so as to bite onto the shaft at the perimeter of the second through-hole in the locking position.

An improved locking device is provided for one a livestock head gate in which two doors rollingly engaged on an overhead guide shaft for roving movement of said two doors toward one another into a closed position bracing a livestock animal between said doors and away from one another into an open position releasing said livestock animal. Primary and secondary shaft-receiving and locking members have respective first and second through-holes therein for receipt of the overhead guide shaft. A spring-receipt member is fixed to the primary shaft-receiving member for cooperation with a spring that tilts the primary shaft-receiving member into a locking position. The secondary movable locking member is retained beside the primary member in a manner enabling both tilting therewith and displacement relative thereto so as to bite onto the shaft at the perimeter of the second through-hole in the locking position.

An apparatus for immobilizing cattle with a horizontally oriented inside ladder and a horizontally oriented outside ladder that is parallel to the inside ladder. The inside ladder is configured to slide laterally relative to the outside ladder. The top rail of the inside ladder is parallel to and spaced apart from the top rail of the outside ladder, and the bottom rail of the inside ladder is parallel to and spaced apart from the bottom rail of the outside ladder. The inside and outside ladders each comprises a plurality of vertically oriented, equally spaced rods that extend from the top rail to the bottom rail. The proximal end of the inside ladder is attached to a hydraulic cylinder that slides the inside ladder laterally relative to the outside ladder.

An apparatus for immobilizing cattle with a horizontally oriented inside ladder and a horizontally oriented outside ladder that is parallel to the inside ladder. The inside ladder is configured to slide laterally relative to the outside ladder. The top rail of the inside ladder is parallel to and spaced apart from the top rail of the outside ladder, and the bottom rail of the inside ladder is parallel to and spaced apart from the bottom rail of the outside ladder. The inside and outside ladders each comprises a plurality of vertically oriented, equally spaced rods that extend from the top rail to the bottom rail. The proximal end of the inside ladder is attached to a hydraulic cylinder that slides the inside ladder laterally relative to the outside ladder.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a cervical spine extender (CSE) having an adjustable separation distance between restraint members. In an illustrative example, the CSE may, for example, be selectively operable between at least an extended mode and a collapsed mode. The CSE may, for example, be coupled to a headgate. For example, when an animal is restrained in the headgate, the restraint members of the CSE may, for example, be disposed caudally to the head and rostrally to the headgate. The restraint members may, for example, be coupled to the headgate by extension arms. Various embodiments may advantageously permit adjustment of a separation distance to effectively accommodate operation with different sized animals.