A penning system including partitions and barriers movable from a deployed configuration, in which the partitions partition an area over a floor into spaces and in which the barriers enclose the spaces to define pens for penning animals, to a collapsed configuration, wherein the partitions and barriers are collapsed for cleaning the floor.

A hollow polymer stall divider for use in a barn permits lateral flexing when a cow presses against the stall divider while the stall divider asserts a lateral force against the cow to urge the cow to move into a proper position between adjacent stall dividers without causing injury to the cow. The polymer stall divider can be formed of a single polymer material having a unitary density throughout. Alternatively, the polymer stall divider can be formed of multiple sections of different densities of polymer material, and different types of polymer material. The different sections of polymer material can be plastic welded together or connected by plug members inserted into the adjoining ends of the sections and secured with adhesives or other bonding material to form line blanks that can be heated until softened sufficiently to be bent into a proper shape within a pre-formed mold.

A connector includes a cube, a first cylinder and a second cylinder. The cube includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth faces. The cube includes a first bore therein, the first bore having a first longitudinal axis. The first cylinder extends from the first face; the first cylinder includes a first hole therein, the first hole having a second longitudinal axis. The second cylinder extends from the second face; the second cylinder includes a second hole therein, the second hole having a third longitudinal axis. The first, second and third longitudinal axes are parallel to each other. In another aspect, a vent element includes a first piece and a second piece that is a mirror image of the first piece, each of the pieces having upper, middle and lower portions. In yet another aspect, a system is configured for removable attachment of an elongated tube to a surface.

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.

Disclosed is a flexible tubular device including a tubular wall that delimits a sealed chamber intended to be filled with a fluid. The tubular wall includes an elastomer matrix into which at least one reinforcement ply delimited by two longitudinal portions is incorporated. The at least one reinforcement ply has the general shape of a sleeve that extends inside the tubular wall to surround the sealed chamber; and the two longitudinal portions of the at least one reinforcement ply are juxtaposed relative to each other. Also disclosed is a rearing enclosure including such a device, and also a method for manufacturing the latter.

A system for milking a group of milking animals includes a stationary animal accommodation space having a fixed floor, a plurality of milking stations, and an animal-free space which is closed for the milking animals in the accommodation space and extends adjacent to the milking stations. The system also includes an automatic milking system that includes milking cups and a robot device movable relative to the milking stations, the milking cups being connectable automatically to the teats of a milking animal present in the milking station. The system further includes a milk discharge system having at least one flexible milk line that connects the milking cups to a milk storage tank. The flexible milk line is configured so that the robot device can move from the animal-free space into each of the milking stations while the milk line remains connected to the robot device.

An elongated vent includes a first piece and a second piece. The first piece has a first upper portion, a first middle portion and a first lower portion. The second piece is a mirror image of the first piece, the second piece having a second upper portion, a second middle portion and a second lower portion. The first and second pieces are joined together at their respective first and second middle portions, wherein each of the first and second middle portions includes a plurality of apertures therethrough, to form a perforated panel. The first and second upper portions form a first channel; the first and second lower portions form a second channel.

A system may provide for delivering a sequence of one or more soaking sprays at a station where an animal is present. The station may include a pressurized pipe supplying a liquid for the soaking spray, a valve and nozzle coupled to the pipe, and a control circuit coupled to the valve. The control circuit may be operable to determine the sequence of the soaking spray using a signal from an animal sensor that is configured to detect the presence of the animal at the station. The system may include an environmental sensor providing at least one signal to the control circuit. The signal from the environmental sensor may be used by the control circuit to determine the sequence for the soaking spray.

A system for milking a group of animals, in particular cows, comprising an accommodation space in which the animals roam freely, and a plurality of fixed milking stations. A milk storage tank is placed outside the accommodation space. An automatic milking system for automated milking of the animals comprises at least one autonomous self-propelled trolley with milking cups. The milking system automatically connects the milking cups of the trolley to the teats of the animal. A milk discharge system connects the milking cups to the milk storage tank. The milk discharge system comprises flexible milk lines which are connected to the trolley. The trolley is connected to each milking station through a connection in an animal-free space adjacent to the milking stations. The flexible milk line is configured so the trolley can travel from the animal-free space into each of the milking stations while connected to the trolley.

A barrier component is disclosed for an animal stall, comprising a curved, elongated body member of elastomeric material such as rubber. This body member has first and second end sections each adapted for engagement within a respective hollow pipe. Together the two hollow pipes and the barrier component provide a stall divider when mounted on a suitable set of brackets, poles or supports at the head end of a stall. The component has a collar formation at each end which defines an annular recess for receiving a hollow pipe end and shielding the end of the pipe from the animal.