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.

Animal watering stations having a liquid piping system including watering lines, a supply line, and a return line. The supply line supplying liquid simultaneous to all watering lines and the return line returning of liquid to a liquid reservoir. In this way, a circulation of the liquid can be realized in at least parts of the liquid piping system and on the other hand the parallel fluidic circuit of the watering lines enables an easy adapting of the liquid pressure at the drinking valves.

Animal watering stations having a liquid piping system including watering lines, a supply line, and a return line. The supply line supplying liquid simultaneous to all watering lines and the return line returning of liquid to a liquid reservoir. In this way, a circulation of the liquid can be realized in at least parts of the liquid piping system and on the other hand the parallel fluidic circuit of the watering lines enables an easy adapting of the liquid pressure at the drinking valves.

A livestock water fountain comprises a first water chamber, a water inlet near the bottom of the first water chamber, and a thermostat in the first water chamber position above the inlet adjacent a preset low-water level in the chamber so as to measure the temperature of the water near the surface of the water. The fountain maybe divided into dual chambers with a wall having a lower passageway for fluid communication which can be plugged to limit water to one of the chambers when water consumption decreases in cold weather.

A livestock water fountain comprises a first water chamber, a water inlet near the bottom of the first water chamber, and a thermostat in the first water chamber position above the inlet adjacent a preset low-water level in the chamber so as to measure the temperature of the water near the surface of the water. The fountain maybe divided into dual chambers with a wall having a lower passageway for fluid communication which can be plugged to limit water to one of the chambers when water consumption decreases in cold weather.

An intake valve and a drain system are located in the lower portion of a stanchion or outer pipe which is preferably dimensioned so that these structures can be located below the frost line underground so as not to be subject to freezing. The intake valve structure includes a body which fits tightly within the stanchion and which has a central bore which receives, at its uppermost end, the lower end of the conduit. The lower end of the bore is fitted with threads or other convenient means for connecting a conduit representing a source of water which is under sufficient pressure to allow the water to rise in the stanchion conduit and fill the basin. The improvements to the prior art include a stand or stabilizing means to secure the city water vertical outlet port at least about four to six inches above the bottom of the outer pipe. This facilitates removal of the intake valve structure from the city water outlet port. Other improvements include a reinforced pivot axis on the flapper, training and raised flappers, and ribs inside the bowl to assist unscrewing the intake valve structure.

An intake valve and a drain system are located in the lower portion of a stanchion or outer pipe which is preferably dimensioned so that these structures can be located below the frost line underground so as not to be subject to freezing. The intake valve structure includes a body which fits tightly within the stanchion and which has a central bore which receives, at its uppermost end, the lower end of the conduit. The lower end of the bore is fitted with threads or other convenient means for connecting a conduit representing a source of water which is under sufficient pressure to allow the water to rise in the stanchion conduit and fill the basin. The improvements to the prior art include a stand or stabilizing means to secure the city water vertical outlet port at least about four to six inches above the bottom of the outer pipe. This facilitates removal of the intake valve structure from the city water outlet port. Other improvements include a reinforced pivot axis on the flapper, training and raised flappers, and ribs inside the bowl to assist unscrewing the intake valve structure.

An intake valve and a drain system are located in the lower portion of a stanchion or outer pipe which is preferably dimensioned so that these structures can be located below the frost line underground so as not to be subject to freezing. The intake valve structure includes a body which fits tightly within the stanchion and which has a central bore which receives, at its uppermost end, the lower end of the conduit. The lower end of the bore can be fitted with a metal fitting and a guide washer. The improvements to the prior art include a second drain over the top of the bowl via indents. A concave collar under the bowl guides the water-carrying pipe. A new flapper has a boot type pressure point and a metal pivot assembly. A new valve is overmolded using a hard plastic interior and a soft plastic top.

A water nipple controlled by the animal has a valve seat inside a housing. The valve member has an elongate valve shaft providing a forward end at the circular discharge mouth for operation by the animal. A resilient body on the valve member defines a convoluted or serpentine water flow path for flow of water along the flow path through the housing with the flow path defining a rate of flow of the water. A resilient ring is mounted on the valve shaft spaced the valve seat and the forward end with an outside edge of the resilient ring adjacent to and spaced from the inside surface of the housing so as to define an annular channel therebetween through which the water passes so that the resilient ring restricts direct flow of water from the valve seat to the discharge mouth to prevent excess squirting of the water.