An animal rear leg position control device includes a body having a lower side; a first lateral side; a second lateral side; a front end; a rear side, where a longitudinal direction is defined by a line extending from the front end to the rear side; a first transition area defines a first rear corner of said body; and a second transition area defines a second rear corner of said body, where the front end is configured to be turned towards a front part of a milking stable when the body is in an operative position, and the rear side is configured to be turned towards a rear part of a milking stable when said body is in the operative position in the milking stable. The first rear corner and the second rear corner are positioned at different longitudinal positions in the longitudinal direction of the body.

An apparatus (300) for applying at least one stimulus to an animal for controlling the animal or animal positions is disclosed. The apparatus (300) is configured to be worn by the animal and comprising a housing (305 carrying at least one stimulus device (350a, 350b, 350c, 350a′, 350b′, 350c′) that is configured to apply at least one stimulus to the animal at two or more levels of intensity. The stimulus is applied on a basis of a control signal received from at least one controller (310) that is in electronic communication with the at least one stimulus device (350a, 350b, 350c, 350a′, 350b′, 350c′).

An apparatus (200) for controlling an animal or animal positions by applying one or more form of stimulus is disclosed. The apparatus (200) comprises at least one position sensing device (240) that is configured to detect at least one position of at least part of the animal as at least one position value. At least one controller (210) is operatively connected to at least one position sensing device (140). The controller (210) is programmed to read and compare the at least one position value with at least one predetermined value relating to the at least one position for determining if at least one control action is required. The control action relates to transmitting of at least one control signal to the stimulus device (250) to administer at least one form of stimulus to the animal that is able to be sensed by the animal.

A method of animal corralling and tracking includes: implanting an electronic device within an animal, the electronic device comprising one or more processors with non-transitory memory; receiving, with the electronic device, a GPS (global positioning satellite) signal defining a current location of the animal; selecting, on a digital map, acceptable GPS coordinate locations forming one or more geographic regions with one or more perimeter boundaries; wirelessly programming the electronic device with the selected acceptable GPS coordinate locations; wherein the electronic device non-transitory memory is programmed to: determine if the current location of the animal is approaching the one or more perimeter boundaries, outside of the one or more perimeter boundaries, within a predetermined distance of the one or more perimeter boundaries, or at the one or more perimeter boundaries; and electronically prodding the animal, using the electronic device, based on the determination.

A system for increasing feed/drink attempts made by juvenile animals during an early period of life of the juvenile animals includes: at least one visual stimulus, the at least one visual stimulus including a neck member being attachable to a component of the system such that the neck member is movable with respect to the component, the neck member having an indicating portion for indicating a location of at least one feed/drink source. In operation, the indicating portion repeatedly alternates between a movement toward and a movement away from the location of the at least one feed/drink source.

An expelling device is provided that is configured to incite an animal to exit from of a milking stable in which the animal is standing during a milking session. The milking stable has a front wall element and lateral wall elements and is configured to house an animal that is being milked in the milking stable with the head directed to and close to the front wall element. The expelling device includes a sheet configured to move vertically from an elevated position to a position adjacent to a front end of the milking stable and adjacent to a lateral wall element of the milking stable.

A method of animal corralling and tracking includes: implanting an electronic device within an animal, the electronic device comprising one or more processors with non-transitory memory; receiving, with the electronic device, a GPS (global positioning satellite) signal defining a current location of the animal; selecting, on a digital map, acceptable GPS coordinate locations forming one or more geographic regions with one or more perimeter boundaries; wirelessly programming the electronic device with the selected acceptable GPS coordinate locations; wherein the electronic device non-transitory memory is programmed to: determine if the current location of the animal is approaching the one or more perimeter boundaries, outside of the one or more perimeter boundaries, within a predetermined distance of the one or more perimeter boundaries, or at the one or more perimeter boundaries; and electronically prodding the animal, using the electronic device, based on the determination.

A front element for stalling an animal in a free stall, that is better suited than earlier devices to the morphology and movements of the animal to be contained, helping guide the animal when it is positioning itself, standing up and/or lying down in its free stall. Such a front element can be implemented in a pair in a front structure, in order to delimit the internal space I of said free stall.

An apparatus (300) for applying at least one stimulus to an animal for controlling the animal or animal positions is disclosed. The apparatus (300) is configured to be worn by the animal and comprising a housing (305 carrying at least one stimulus device (350a, 350b, 350c, 350a, 350b, 350c) that is configured to apply at least one stimulus to the animal at two or more levels of intensity. The stimulus is applied on a basis of a control signal received from at least one controller (310) that is in electronic communication with the at least one stimulus device (350a, 350b, 350c, 350a, 350b, 350c).

A data communication apparatus comprising: a plurality of data communication devices comprising a sensor operable to output contextual data associated with a wearer, a plurality of haptic energy generators operable to output a haptic energy toward skin of the wearer, and a control system operable to maintain a data feedback loop with the wearer by causing the plurality of haptic energy generators to output the haptic energy responsive to one of the contextual data and an external data source in data communication with the control system; an electrical network operable to transmit data and power between the plurality of data communication devices; and a wearable structure comprising a biocompatible material shaped to house the plurality of data communication devices and the electrical network, maintain a plurality of air gaps between the plurality of data communication devices, and define a skin contacting surface that is directly engageable with the skin.