Means and methods for cooling farm animals

Abstract

The present invention discloses means and methods for integration of a revolutionary cooling system in a bam using a cow management system comprising eating cells where the cow is free to move, and where the operative units are brought to the cow. In communication with the eating cells is provision for means for cooling the animal comprising chilled air and / or cool water, the cooling means aimable directly on specific areas of the cow's body, where cooling is needed and / or where heat is more efficiently conducted from a cow's body. The system can determine how much to cool the cow and also knows how to gently hint to a cow in the stall that it is time to vacate the cell. The present invention also discloses means and methods for integration of a revolutionary cooling system in a bam using a cow management system comprising eating cells where the cow is free to move, and where the operative units are brought to the cow. In communication with the eating cells is provision for means for cooling the animal comprising chilled air and / or cool water, the cooling means aimable directly on specific areas of the cow's body, where cooling is needed and / or where heat is more efficiently conducted from a cow's body. The system can determine how much to cool the cow and also knows how to gently hint to a cow in the stall that it is time to vacate the cell. The present invention discloses means and methods for integrating an efficient and revolutionary cooling system in a bam that comprises an FDR or the current commercially available "Meadow Sense" TM by Dairycs LTD (IL). Heatstroke in a dairy cow is a critical factor for the health of the cow and its continuously produce milk. Therefore, it is important to increase dissipation of excess body heat from a cow to the environment, especially on days when the environment is hot and humid. In existing dairy farms where there are milking parlors with waiting yards or dairy farms with static milking robots where the cow is routed to a milking area and arrives to be milked, the customary method of cooling the cows is by running fans over them while spraying water on them, thus removing excess heat from the cows, especially those cows that come into contact with the sprayed water. In order to ensure that as many cows as possible are cooled, the entire milking shed is cooled, for varying periods of time, by the spraying of the water, thus providing cooling for the entire shed in a partially controlled manner. However, the cooling is general, not specific to any cow and therefore cannot determine what a specific cow actually receives, nor can it provide what a specific cow actually needs. Many dairy farmers cool their cows by the method of moving the cows several times a day from the milking shed to a small, closed yard, where the cows are typically fairly densely packed. In the shed, the cows are subjected to massive ventilation and heavy water spraying, for example, half an hour, without any individual element or any control of the specific condition of any specific cow. Cows on the edge of a densely-packed group are likely to be overcooled and may therefore catch a cold, while cows in the center of a densely-packed group are likely to be undercooled and are therefore more likely to experience heat stress. Another method involves cooling the animals while they are in a food distribution line, where they are cooled. Cooling in the feeding line is more efficient than cooling in a cooling yard or shed and detectors can be used to detect whether or not there are cows in the feeding line so that these systems provide a solution which, although more efficient than the cooling yard or shed, is far from being economical and efficient. The system cools the cows but creates new problems, such as a waste of the water that does not impinge on a cow and the electricity used to drive the pumps and / or cool the water; the creation of a sludge of manure and water; inefficient cooling because the cooling is not fully controlled, occurring as it does only during waiting, the duration of which is ill- controlled; and does not provide individualized cooling during the times (feeding, lactating) when it is most likely to be needed. The present invention takes advantage of the fact that, in the revolutionary commercially-available Meadow Sense system, the cow is completely free to he down, to move around and to eat whenever it wants, without any limitations on standing up or moving. In systems like the Meadow Sense system or the system of the present invention, the manger line comprises eating cells, with each cell configured to hold one cow. Cells of this size are adequate for feeding the cows, since they are free to enter an empty stall at any time they desire. A cow will spend a total of between four and five hours in such a cell while eating, having about 7 to 12 meals a day with each meal having an average duration of thirty minutes. In addition, the manger line of the Meadow Sense system comprises a number of eating cells, where, typically, each cell can feed four or five cows, with the cows being free to come to an empty stall in a cell at any time it sees fit during the day. Therefore, the cow can receive localized, targeted and controlled cooling without a general flood of water and without unfocused general ventilation; and chilled air can be directed to specific areas of the cow's body so that the heat conduction of the cow is created in an effective way while the cow enjoys eating, without any need to force the cow in any way whatsoever. Moreover, cows are highly intelligent animals that understand very quickly what is good and pleasant for them so that a significant motive is created for the cow to come to a feeding stall not only to eat but also to enjoy a pleasant and effective cooling. The Meadow Sense system can also know how much to cool the cow and how to gently hint to a cow in a stall that it has been sufficiently cooled so that it is time for it to vacate the cell and to go elsewhere, such as to a lounging area. Literature reveals that, on average, about 70L of water is used per cow per day to wash the farm yard, milking parlour and milking equipment. Therefore, on average, a dairy farm with c. 400 cows uses about 28,000 L of water per day to wash the yard, milking parlour and milking equipment. Over a typical 270-day milking season, this amounts to more than 7,500,000 L of water for the average farm. Dairy wastewater (also referred to as dairy farm effluent, dairy soiled water, and dairy dirty water) is effluent produced from the washing down of milking parlours and holding areas, and consists of a dilute mixture of milk, urine, livestock faeces, detergents and sediment. It is hence an object of the invention to discloses methods and systems for sewage and wastewater saving when cooling farm animals, comprising at least one means for cooling the confined environment of an individual farm animal by either or both direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids by applying said fluids solely towards a member of a group consisting of at least one upper portion of at least one individual farm animal, at least one portion of a confined environment comprising the at least one individual farm animal, or any combination thereof.

Description

MEANS AND METHODS FOR COOLING FARM ANIMALSFIELD OF THE INVENTION[1] The invention pertains to means and methods for cooling an individual animal and portions thereof.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[2] Heat stress remains one of the most important factors limiting production in dairy cattle. Cows, as well as other animals, are naturally cooled by evaporation, radiation, respiration, convection, and conduction. Dairy cows, in particular, attempt to maintain desired core temperatures through the processes of evaporation (skin), respiration (breathing), radiation (emittance), convection (transfer of thermal energy by air movement), and conduction (contact between surfaces where one surface has a higher thermal energy level than the other surface).[3] Heat stress significantly affects dairy cows’ productivity, health, reproduction and overall welfare. Among these effects, reduced milk yield is the most recognized. Although heat abatement using shade, fans and water is widely used in the dairy industry, the economic loss due to decreased milk yield by heat stress in lactating dairy cows is estimated to be over $1.2 billion. Warmer weather, often exacerbated by urban heat islands, increases the probability of heat stress occurring in a cow. It is predicted that milk loss due to heat stress will increase at a rate of 174 ± 7 kg / cow / decade in the 21st century, thus implementation of intensive cooling such as fans, water, and even air conditioning will become more critical to maintain productivity and positive economic returns, see Tao, Sha, et al. "Impact of heat stress on lactational performance of dairy cows". Theriogenology 150 (2020): 437-444. incorporated herein as a reference.[4] However, the implementation of intensive cooling uses resources and reduces the profitability of the dairy operation. For non-limiting example, there is the cost of the electricity and water used for the cooling process; and the used cooling water, typically mixed with animal urine and faeces and often mixed with animal bedding, must be disposed of as sewage. Water itself, an increasingly scarce resource, is a large and growing cost for dairy farms and disposing of liquid sewage is another large and growing cost.[5] The overuse of water can cause the animals' environment to become damp, humid or both, which can cause discomfort in the animals and can also increase the incidence of lesions or diseases such as mastitis, all of which reduce the animals' productivity, with illnesses or lesionsadding veterinary bills to the costs.[6] An effective indicator of the potential for heat stress, therefore, is the temperature -humidity index (THI). For example, rates of insemination and rates of pregnancy per artificial insemination, began to decrease when the average THI on the day of insemination exceeded 57 and 65, respectively, indicating reduced estrous activity and an impaired conception rate from heat stress. Similarly, in lactating dairy cows, metabolic heat production is strongly associated with milk production. Cows producing 31.6 kg / d of milk have a 17% higher metabolic rate than cows producing 18.5 kg / d (44.1 vs. 37.8 kJ / [kg of body weight] 0.75 / h, respectively). The increased metabolic heat production with higher milk yield results from greater food intake and the associated digestive and productive processes resulting from the greater food intake. However, because of the greater metabolic heat production, it is more difficult for high producing dairy cows to maintain a heat balance during heat stress, see Tao, Sha, et al. (2020).[7] Currently, spray water (2.3-25.7 L / cow per hour) and fans, in addition to shade, are the most commonly used forms of heat abatement. Although these systems can be effective, they also use large quantities of water and electricity, which can affect the profitability and sustainability of the dairy industry. In addition, the cost of electricity is continuing to rise and water availability is decreasing due to increasing population and, in some cases, changing rainfall patterns. These changes in price and availability also increase the need for a more efficient heat abatement system, one that uses less water and less energy.[8] A significant drawback of prior art systems is that water sprayed for cooling in excess of what is needed may increase the incidence of diseases such as leptospirosis or mastitis, see patent application No. US20220378008 (2020).[9] Other heat abatement methods that have been tested but have not been widely adopted, due to both inefficiency and cost, include air conditioning, which is a form of convective cooling, see US8397677 (2010) by CONCO TECHNOLOGY, INC (US), and conductive cooling. For conductive cooling, the amount of heat transfer depends on the conductive properties and temperature of the media, but, on the whole, this approach shows promise as an effective and efficient option. However, synthetic mattresses that have been used with this approach are a key risk factor for lesions, warranting further evaluation of conductive cooling in deep bedded systems. Patent US 8397677 discloses means and methods for conductive cooling of animals ina farm operation having a water supply, in which the animals are housed in a housing area that includes materials forming a bedding area with a heat exchanger beneath the materials in the bedding area. Such solutions for cooling an animal's lower portions are likely to fail, as the heat produced during feeding and lactating is not dissipated. Therefore, success is more likely by concentrating on cooling the animal's upper belly and back. See Fig. 1, showing a thermal image of a cow in pasture, as provided in the prior art and at currently available link linkhttps : / / www .youtube . com / watch?v=AOWzwejZzQk .

[0010] US granted patent US11528884 (2019) "Dairy farm with a single or multiple frontal elevated roads" by the inventor discloses a free dome range system comprising one or more elevated rails and mobile units that are autonomously or otherwise controllably movable along the elevated rail(s), optionally, at least one of the units is a mobile cooling unit (MCU). However, technology related to cooling the animals in the free dome range and by the MCU was not disclosed therein.

[0011] It is hence a long-felt need to have a cooling system directed to cooling each farm animal individually.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention discloses means and methods for integrating an efficient and revolutionary cooling system in a bam using an FDR or the current commercially available "Meadow Sense"™ by Dairycs Ltd (IL). Avoiding heatstroke in a dairy cow is a critical factor for the health of the cow and its ability to continuously produce milk.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a system for direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to either a confined environment surrounding and close to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal or at least one predetermined volume in a livestock farm, or both; the system characterized in that a delimited area and infrastructure thereof is provided communicable with at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with at least one module for administrating the fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal , the delimited area being selected from a group consisting of a stall, a feeding area, a drinking area, a medical treatment area, a doorway or a walkway.

[0014] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a system as defined above, wherein the system further comprising a sensor configured to detect an animal parameter selected from agroup consisting of THI, temperature of the at least one individual farm animal, identification of the at least one individual farm animal, time of entering the stall, thermal image of heat distribution at two or more portions of the at least one individual farm animal or any combination thereof.

[0015] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a system as defined in any of the above, wherein the system further comprising a processor configured to accept a user's predefined control or programing and to control the system in conformance with the predefined control or programing.

[0016] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a system as defined in any of the above, wherein the further comprising a sensor configured to detect a stall parameter selected from a group consisting of wind velocity, wind direction, blown air velocity, air humidity, blown air direction, ambient pressure, or any combination thereof.

[0017] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a system as defined in any of the above, wherein for a thermal parameter selected from a group consisting of THI, a thermal image of heat distribution at two or more portions of the at least one individual farm animal or any combination thereof, the thermal parameter is processed to determine the process of administrating the fluids to the at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal.

[0018] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a system as defined in any of the above, wherein the either or both direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to the at least one individual farm animal and the at least one specific portion of the at least one individual farm animal is provided in a manner selected from a group consisting of continuously, discontinuously, comprising at least one train of pulses, with a homogeneous intensity, with a heterogenous intensity, at a homogeneous temperature, with a homogeneous humidity, at a heterogeneous temperature, with a heterogeneous humidity or any combination thereof.

[0019] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a system for direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to individual farm animals, in a confined environment comprising at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal; the system comprising one or more stalls, and at least one member of a group consisting of a front elevated rail or a rear elevated rail above one or more of the stalls, a plurality of mobile units movable along the rail, wherein least one of those mobile unit is amobile unit with cooling capacities configured to cool an animal in need or portions thereof at time it is within the stall; and wherein the system characterized by that a stall and infrastructure thereof is provided in connection with modules for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with modules for administrating the fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal.

[0020] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a system as defined in any of the above, wherein the system further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect at least one animal parameters selected from a group consisting of THI, temperature, humidity, animal identification, time of entering the stall, wind flow and wind direction, air flow air flow velocity, air flow humidity, air flow direction, ambient pressure, user's predefined control or programing, thermal image of heat distribution at two or more of animal's portions.

[0021] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a system as defined in any of the above, wherein animal's parameters selected from a group consisting of THI, thermal image of heat distribution at two or more of animal's portions are processed and determine the process of administrating the fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal.

[0022] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a system as defined in any of the above, wherein either or both direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to individual farm animals, to a confined environment of at least one predetermined portion of the at least one individual farm animal is provided in a manner selected from a group consisting of continuously, discontinuously, comprising at least one train of pulses, with a homogeneous intensity, with a heterogenous intensity, at a homogeneous temperature, with a homogeneous humidity, at a heterogeneous temperature, with a heterogeneous humidity or any combination thereof.

[0023] It is another object of the present invention to disclose in a system for direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to individual farm animals, to a confined environment comprising at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal, at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and at least one module for administrating the fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal, provided in connection with a stall configured to accommodate the at least one individual farm animal and infrastructure thereof.

[0024] It is another object of the present invention to disclose the least one module as defined in any of the above, wherein the module is provided in connection with at least one sensor configured to detect at least one animal parameter selected from a group consisting of THI, temperature, humidity, animal identification, time of entering the stall, wind flow and wind direction, air flow air flow velocity, air flow humidity, air flow direction, ambient pressure, user's predefined control or programing, thermal image of heat distribution at two or more of animal's portions.

[0025] It is another object of the present invention to disclose the least one module as defined in any of the above, wherein animal's parameters are selected from a group consisting of THI, thermal image of heat distribution at two or more of animal's portions are processed and determine the process of administrating the fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal.

[0026] It is another object of the present invention to disclose the least one module as defined in any of the above, wherein either or both direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to at least one predetermined portion of the at least one individual farm animal is provided in a manner selected from a group consisting of continuously, discontinuously, comprising at least one train of pulses, with a homogeneous intensity, with a heterogenous intensity, at a homogeneous temperature, with a homogeneous humidity, at a heterogeneous temperature, with a heterogeneous humidity or any combination thereof.

[0027] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a method of cooling a confined environment of an individual farm animal, comprising steps of providing the animal a free stall to feed, groom, be milked and / or be cooled; if required, cooling the animal individually at one or more of its portions, by one or more individually applied cooling means, by applying one or more individual cooling programs, until cooling is not required.

[0028] It is another obj ect of the present invention to disclose a method as defined in any of the above, the method further comprising step of configuring at least one sensor to detect animal's parameters selected from a group consisting of THI, temperature, humidity, animal identification, time of entering the stall, wind flow and wind direction, air flow air flow velocity, air flow humidity, air flow direction, ambient pressure, user's predefined control or programing, thermal image of heat distribution at two or more of animal's portions.

[0029] It is another obj ect of the present invention to disclose a method as defined in any of the above, the animal parameter is selected from a group consisting of THI, thermal image of heatdistribution at two or more of animal's portions are processed and determine the process of administrating the fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal.

[0030] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a method as defined in any of the above, the method further comprising a step selected from a group consisting of providing a system for direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to either a confined environment surrounding and close to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal or at least one predetermined volume in a livestock farm, or both; the system characterized in that a delimited area and infrastructure thereof is provided communicable with at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with at least one module for administrating the fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal , the delimited area being selected from a group consisting of a stall, a feeding area, a drinking area, a medical treatment area, a doorway or a walkway; providing at least one stall and infrastructure thereof; the stall and infrastructure thereof in communication with modules for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with modules for administrating the fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal; and when required, either or both direct and indirect timely administrating temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids in a manner selected from a group consisting of continuous manner, discontinuous manner, a combination of continuous and at least one train of pulses, in a homogeneous intensity, a heterogenous intensity, a train of pulses comprising both homogeneous and heterogenous intensity, in a homogeneous temperature and / or humidity, in a homogeneous temperature and / or humidity and any combination thereof.

[0031] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a system for saving fresh water when cooling at least one farm animal, comprising at least one means for cooling configured to apply either or both direct and indirect timely administrated temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids, to either a confined environment surrounding and close to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal or at least one predetermined volume in a livestock farm, or both; the system characterized in that a delimited area and infrastructure thereof is provided communicable with at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with at least one module for administrating the fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal, the delimited area being selected from a group consisting of a stall, a feeding area, a drinking area, a medical treatmentarea, a doorway or a walkway; the fluids applyable towards a member of a group consisting of at least one upper portion of the at least one farm animal, at least one predetermined portion of at least one confined environment, at least one non-upper portion of the at least one farm animal or any combination thereof.

[0032] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a method of reducing usage of fresh water when cooling at least one farm animal, the cooling by means of either or both of direct and indirect timely administrated temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids, to either a confined environment surrounding and close to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal or at least one predetermined volume in a livestock farm, or both; the system characterized in that a delimited area and infrastructure thereof is provided communicable with at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with at least one module for administrating the fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal , the delimited area being selected from a group consisting of a stall, a feeding area, a drinking area, a medical treatment area, a doorway or a walkway; the method comprising a step selected from a group consisting of providing the cooling to a confined environment comprising the at least one farm animal, applying the fluids towards the at least one farm animal when eating its stall, or any combination thereof.

[0033] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a system for reducing production of sewage and wastewater when cooling at least one farm animal, comprising at least one means for cooling configured to apply either or both direct and indirect timely administrated temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids, to either a confined environment surrounding and close to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal or at least one predetermined volume in a livestock farm, or both; the system characterized in that a delimited area and infrastructure thereof is provided communicable with at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with at least one module for administrating the fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal , the delimited area being selected from a group consisting of a stall, a feeding area, a drinking area, a medical treatment area, a doorway or a walkway; the fluids applyable toward at least one member of a group consisting of an upper portions of the at least one farm animal, at least one portion of a confined environment comprising the at least one farm animal or any combination thereof.

[0034] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a method for reducing production of sewage and wastewater when cooling at least one farm animal, the cooling by means of eitheror both of direct and indirect timely administrated temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids, to either a confined environment surrounding and close to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal or at least one predetermined volume in a livestock farm, or both; the system characterized in that a delimited area and infrastructure thereof is provided communicable with at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with at least one module for administrating the fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal , the delimited area being selected from a group consisting of a stall, a feeding area, a drinking area, a medical treatment area, a doorway or a walkway; comprising a step selected from a group consisting of providing the cooling to a confined environment comprising the at least one farm animal, by applying the fluids solely towards sat at least one farm animal when eating its stall, or any combination thereof.

[0035] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a system for preventing mastitis in at least one dairy animal cooled by applying in an imprecise manner a mist of water towards the at least one dairy animal; comprising a member of a group consisting of means for providing the at least one dairy animal with a well-aimed air flow towards the at least one dairy animal's teats; and means for cooling the confined environment of the at least one dairy animal by either or both direct and indirect timely administrated temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids by applying the fluids towards at least one predetermined portion of the at least one individual dairy animal or any combination thereof.

[0036] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a method of preventing mastitis in dairy cattle cooled by applying in an imprecise manner mist of water towards the animal; the method additionally comprising a step selected from a group consisting of providing the at least one dairy animal with a well-aimed air flow towards the at least one dairy animal's teats; applying cooling to the confined environment of the at least one dairy animal by either or both direct and indirect timely administrated temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids by applying the fluids towards at least one predetermined portion of the at least one dairy animal, or any combination thereof.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0037] Embodiments of the presently disclosed close-coupled cooling systems and methods will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numeralsdesignate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. The following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities of the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0038] Figures 1-5 illustrate means and methods, individually applied and specifically administered, for cooling of a confined environment of an individual farm animal, according to a few embodiments of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] The terms "dairy animal" and "cow" refer hereinafter to a farm animal that may need cooling, typically a milk-producing farm animal such as a cow, sheep, goat, horse or pig. A plurality of such farm animals will be referred hereinafter as "dairy cattle" or "cows".

[0040] The terms "individual animal" and "individual farm animal" interchangeably refer hereinafter to at least one specific, well defined animal, e.g., cow No. 295 and / or at least one portion thereof, e.g., higher belly and neck portions of cow No. 295. The term also refers to a plurality of specified animals and / or specified portions thereof; e.g., Cows No. 295 and 684; and / or higher belly of cows No. 576 and 846; and neck portions of cows No. 996, 446 and 002.

[0041] The verb "to cool" refers hereinafterto changing measurable parameters such as, but not limited to, an individual animal's temperature or the humidity of its environment, as well as its subjective feeing of coldness or warmth, and may include actions of cooling, venting, air conditioning, wetting, drying, deicing, heating, and any combination thereof.

[0042] The term "rail" or "railing" interchangeably refer hereinafter to a stall's wall(s), fence(s), gate(s), column(s), and adjacent or surrounding construction(s). The rail or railing can comprise either a static or a movable structure.

[0043] The term "confined environment" refers hereinafter to the environment surrounding, touching or encapsulating an individual animal. Typically, the confined environment is delimited by rails. Commonly, the confined environment will not contain a large number of dairy cattle. In some exemplary embodiments, each confined environment will contain, at most, 1 dairy animal. In other embodiments, each confined environment will contain, at most, 5 dairy animals. Typically, but not necessarily, no confined environment will contain more than 10 dairy animals.

[0044] The terms "mean", "system operation units" and "modules" are interchangeably used hereinafter.

[0045] The term "elevated rail" refers hereinafter in a non-limiting manner to a suspended or otherwise raised rail, path, road, throughfare, plateau, cable, etc.

[0046] The term "user" refers hereinafter and in a non-limiting manner to a member of a group comprising, a dairy operating system, a milking-institute operating system, a managing person of the bam and a managing person of a milking institute.

[0047] The present invention discloses means and methods for integration of a revolutionary cooling system in a bam using a cow management system comprising eating cells where the cow is free to move, and where the operative units are brought to the cow. In communication with the eating cells is provision for means for cooling the animal comprising chilled air and / or cool water, the cooling means aimable directly on specific areas of the cow's body, where cooling is needed and / or where heat is more efficiently conducted from a cow's body. The system can determine how much to cool the cow and also knows how to gently hint to a cow in the stall that it is time to vacate the cell.

[0048] The present invention discloses means and methods for integrating an efficient and revolutionary cooling system in a bam that comprises an FDR or the current commercially available "Meadow Sense"™ by Dairycs Ltd (IL).

[0049] Avoiding heatstroke in a dairy cow is a critical factor for the health of the cow and its ability to continuously produce milk. Therefore, it is important to increase dissipation of excess body heat from a cow to the environment, especially on days when the environment is hot and humid.

[0050] In existing dairy farms where there are milking parlors with waiting yards or dairy farms with static milking robots where the cow is routed to a milking area and arrives to be milked, the customary method of cooling the cows is by running fans over them while spraying water on them, thus removing excess heat from the cows, especially those cows that come into contact with the sprayed water. In order to ensure that as many cows as possible are cooled, the entire milking shed is cooled, for varying periods of time, by the spraying of the water, thus providing cooling for the entire shed in a partially controlled manner. However, the cooling is general, not specific to any cow and therefore cannot determine what a specific cow actually receives, nor can it provide what a specific cow actually needs.

[0051] Many dairy farmers cool their cows by the method of moving the cows several times a day from the milking shed to a small, closed yard, where the cows are typically fairly densely packed. In the shed, the cows are subjected to massive ventilation and heavy water spraying for, for example, half an hour, without any individual element or any control of the specificcondition of any specific cow. Cows on the edge of a densely-packed group are likely to be overcooled and may therefore catch a cold, while cows in the center of a densely-packed group are likely to be undercooled and are therefore more likely to experience heat stress.

[0052] Another method involves cooling the animals while they are in a food distribution line, where they are cooled. Cooling in the feeding line is more efficient than cooling in a cooling yard or shed and detectors can be used to detect whether or not there are cows in the feeding line so that these systems provide a solution which, although more efficient than the cooling yard or shed, is far from being economical and efficient. The system cools the cows but creates new problems, such as a waste of the water that does not impinge on a cow and the electricity used to drive the pumps and / or cool the water; the creation of a sludge of manure and water; inefficient cooling because the cooling is not fully controlled, occurring as it does only during waiting, the duration of which is ill-controlled; and does not provide individualized cooling during the times (feeding, lactating) when it is most likely to be needed.

[0053] The present invention takes advantage of the fact that, in the revolutionary commercially- available Meadow Sense system, the cow is completely free to lie down, to move around and to eat whenever it wants, without any limitations on standing up or moving. In systems like the Meadow Sense system or the system of the present invention, the manger line comprises eating cells, with each cell configured to hold four or five cows. Cells of this size are adequate for feeding the cows, since they are free to enter an empty stall at any time they desire.

[0054] A cow will spend a total of between four and five hours in such a cell while eating, having about 7 to 12 meals a day with each meal having an average duration of thirty minutes. In addition, the feeding trough of the Meadow Sense system comprises a number of eating cells, where, typically, each cell can feed four or five cows, with the cows being free to come to an empty stall in a cell at any time it sees fit during the day. Therefore, the cow can receive localized, targeted and controlled cooling without a general flood of water and without unfocused general ventilation; and chilled air can be directed to specific areas of the cow's body so that the heat conduction of the cow is created in an effective way while the cow enjoys eating, without any need to force the cow in any way whatsoever.

[0055] Moreover, cows are highly intelligent animals that understand very quickly what is good and pleasant for them so that a significant motive is created for the cow to come to a feeding stall not only to eat but also to enjoy a pleasant and effective cooling. The Meadow Sense system can also know how much to cool the cow and how to gently hint to a cow in a stall that it has been sufficiently cooled so that it is time for it to vacate the cell and to go elsewhere, such as to a lounging area.

[0056] Literature reveals that, on average, about 70L of water is used per cow per day to wash the farm yard, milking parlour and milking equipment. Therefore, on average, a dairy farm with c. 400 cows uses about 28,000 L of water per day to wash the yard, milking parlour and milking equipment. Over a typical 270-day milking season, this amounts to more than 7,500,000 L of water for the average farm. Dairy wastewater (also referred to as dairy farm effluent, dairy soiled water, and dairy dirty water) is effluent produced from the washing-down of milking parlours and holding areas, and consists of a dilute mixture of milk, urine, livestock faeces, detergents and sediment. It is hence an object of the invention to discloses methods and systems for sewage and wastewater saving when cooling farm animals, comprising at least one means for cooling the confined environment of an individual farm animal by either or both direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids by applying the fluids solely towards a member of a group consisting of at least one upper portion of at least one individual farm animal, at least one portion of a confined environment comprising the at least one individual farm animal, or any combination thereof.

[0057] Embodiments of close-coupled cooling systems of the present invention and methods of using the systems will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. Figures 2 to 5 schematically illustrate, in a non-limiting and out-of-scale manner, methods and means of implementing close-coupled cooling, namely systems, modules and kits for cooling at least one portion of an individual farm animal

[0058] Figures 2 to 5 further disclose a set of embodiments, each of which pertains to systems or methods for direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to at least one portion of at least one individual farm animal a. The figures also present animals located in their stalls and within the infrastructure of the stall; at least one of the or its infrastructure being in communication with one or more modules configured for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids, and in communication with one or more modules configured for administrating the fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal.

[0059] Reference is now made to Fig. 2. Illustration 101 shows a cow standing within its stall, head 10 facing its feed 2, e.g., at milking time. Railing 13 positioned beside the cow, parallel to the cow's main longitudinal axis. When needed, a cooling module connected to at least one rail (e.g., illustration 102) provides fluid to one or more hot and / or sensitive portions of the cow, such as the upper belly and back, the neck, the torso, the face, etc. In some embodiments of the invention, a rail-connected cooling system comprises one or more vents, such as airconditioning unit (duct-) 22, or an interconnected array of units, such as 21-23, each of which may comprise one or more venting grills 20 configured to flow air sideway (20a), forwards (20c) or backwards.

[0060] Such individually applied and particularly focused ventilation is useful for de-wetting and drying specific portions of a cow, such as its teats, thus avoiding the mastitis so commonly caused by nonspecific wetting of cows during cooling.

[0061] In some embodiments, a rail-connected cooling system flows cool / wet air in ducts (20a) provided within or otherwise in communication with the rail or the stall's infrastructure; see e.g., column 51C and / or elevated rail, suspended road or ceiling member 52C in Fig. 3.

[0062] Still in Fig. 2, reference is now made to illustration 103, showing a rail-connected cooling module according to some embodiments of the invention. In this embodiment86, showing a rear (11) view of the cow in its stall, the stall comprises one or more air conditioning units 21- 23, shown at the cow's left side. Each of those units is configured, when needed, to flow (25) cool / wet air towards the cow or its proximate environment and to individually vent / cool at least one portion of the cow. Additionally, or alternatively, as shown on the cow's right side, one or more air conditioning units (21r-23r) vents air towards the cow's right side while, at the same time, water nozzle 26 wets (27) the cow and / or its proximate environment, so that cooling is more effective when the environmental air is dry (or not-humid).

[0063] Reference is now made to illustration 104, schematically showing two embodiments of the invention. On the right side of the cow, there is a unified (integrated) air conditioning unit 28, configured by means of shape and size to at least partially envelop cow hot and / or heatsensitive portions of the cow. Unit 28 can be in communication with a rail or it can be standalone. On the cow's left side, an inflatable cooling cushion 31 is schematically illustrated. Thus, in some embodiments of the invention, a small cushion 30 is provided beside the cow in its stall. When the cow is standing in its stall and needs cooling, a cushion can be inflated to gently contact a hot and / or heat-sensitive portion (31) of the cow and cold fluids, such as cold brine solution, chilled water or condensed gas can flow into the inflated cushion to provide the needed cooling for the cow. Heat exchangers 30a may be used to flow the cool fluids 30b into the cushion, and flow the relatively hot fluids 30c out of the cushion. A nonlimiting example of a heat-exchanger system is the commercially-available Sunrain Ltd (CN) system 30a. (See the currently available link http: / / il.sunrain-hotwater.com / heat-pump-accessories / titanium- heat-exchanger-for-pool-heat-pump .html) .

[0064] The air-conditioned fluids can be pretreated in one or a few central heat exchanging and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) facilities. The cushion can be incommunication with one or more rails or with the stall's infrastructure (see e.g., column 51C and / or the elevated rail, suspended road or ceiling member 52C in Fig. 3), or it can be standalone.

[0065] Reference is now made to illustration 105, schematically depicting a rear (11) view of a cow in a stall. The cow is individually cooled by two embodiments of the invention. On the cow's left side there is an array of two or more inflatable or otherwise maneuverable cooling cushions 32 and 33, one type being applied when needed to the cow's lower (or back) portion(s) and a second type being applied when needed to the cow's (left) upper (or front) portion(s). Additionally, or alternatively, at least one fan 40 is located above the cow, to stream air 41 and / or mist water 42 towards the cow when needed.

[0066] In some embodiments of the invention, shown on the right side of the cow, a combined cooling system is provided to cool the cow when needed. The system comprises, e.g., a cooling (inflatable or not) cushion 31, here gently supporting the cow's belly; one or more air conditioning units 23r configured to vent 25 at least one portion (her an uppermost portion) of the cow, and a water nozzle 26 configured to mist the cow or its environment, thereby providing a cool wet bulb air temperature around the cow. One or more of the above is configured to operate at the required time, acting on the required portion of a specific (individual-) cow.

[0067] Reference is now made to Fig. 3, schematically illustrating a free dome range system (106) comprising inter alia at least one front, middle and / or rear elevated rail (or road, surface, path etc. 51R). In some embodiments of the invention, the elevated rail is, in at least one of its portions, structured in a manner selected from a group consisting of a continuous (intact-) cover, and non-continuous cover of the floor, e.g., by having a web structure (51W). Mobile units are movable along this suspended structure (51 R) in autonomous or otherwise controllable manner. At least one of those mobile unit is a cooling cart (50), a mobile unit with cooling capacities, or a mobile milking unit configured to cool at least one portion of a cow in need of cooling while it is being milked. An infrastructure-carried air conditioning system (51C) may be provided in communication with the stalls, with the free dome system and / or with the infrastructure of the milking area, see 51C for example; the image is currently available at https: / / www.dreamstime.com / factory-air-conditioning-vent-ducts-closeup-large- image233456336. The cooling cart (50) is configured to stand above or above and beside the cow, and to cool 25a-f the cow when needed, with or without integration with any cooling means defined herein.

[0068] Reference is made again to Fig. 3, schematically illustrating in a non-limiting manner a method of cooling an individual cow in a free dome milking system 106. The cow enters (1c) of itsown will to a free stall to eat, be milked or be cooled, or any combination thereof. While standing within the stall, the cow (lb, head 10 front) is free to eat its feed (2), to be milked (14, milking modules are not shown), be cooled by cart 50 and / or by the structures directly or indirectly connected with its stall (22, 52), or any combination thereof. An embodiment of a method of cooling an individual cow in a free dome system therefore comprises steps of providing in a free dome range system at least one stall for at least one cow, where the stall comprises a place to feed, be milked be cooled or any combination thereof. Cooling of at least one portion of a cow in need of cooling can be individually applied, to the portion(s) of the cow that need it, by one or more individually-applied cooling means, using one or more individual cooling programs, until cooling is no longer needed. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the cow itself can request cooling.

[0069] The actions of opening and closing the cooling means (air conditioning, water, mist, cushions, etc.) for a particular stall, for non-limiting example by individually-administered HVAC- pretreated and heat exchanged fluids, can be used for either (attracting an animal to a stall, or discouraging it from staying in its stall.

[0070] Reference is made again to Fig. 4, schematically illustrating means (107) and method of cooling an individual cow in a free dome milking system, according to some embodiments of the invention. The system comprises a stall (not shown here) within which a cow is positioned with its head (10) facing its feed (2). A mobile unit with a cooling capacity is located above the cow, movable along an elevated rail 52. In this method of cooling, the individual cow freely enters into a free stall, where means to be fed, milked and / or cooled are located. If required, at least one step of individually cooling at least one portion of the cow is provided, by one or more individually-applied cooling means, controlled by one or more individual cooling programs, until cooling is no longer needed.

[0071] System 107 can comprise one or more remote sensors, e.g., a camera for thermal imaging 61, a thermometer, such as a dry or wet bulb thermometer, a sensor configured to measure a temperature-humidity index, such as temperature and humidity sensors 63, or proximity sensors configured to indicate a cow's current location. Other sensors can comprise one or more sensors configured to detect heat stress, a sensor to measure skin temperature 65, an acoustic sensor to measure the cow's heartbeat rate 66, an accelerometer, a velocity sensor, a distance sensor, or a sensor to read a cow' identifier(s). Sensors such as an accelerometer can be embedded in, for non-limiting example, a cow's neck or leg tag 67. The neck or leg tag can also comprise the cow's identifier(s).

[0072] Reference is still made to Fig. 4, showing a cow in its stall. The surface temperature of the cow can be measured by analyzing its thermal image, which shows increased heat in its lower belly and upper neck. To cool it, a mobile unit comprising cooling means 50 on rail 52 is commanded to approaches the cow. The current thermal image is translated into a cooling specification. In this example, a strong and cool air flow 25(A) is directed towards the remotely-located lower- belly portion of the cow; a less strong and colder air flow 25(B) is directed to its upper belly portion; whilst a less strong and less cold air flow 25(Q is directed towards the cow's upper neck portion.

[0073] According to some embodiments of the invention, either or both direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal is provided in a manner selected from a group consisting of a continuous manner, a discontinuous (pulse like-) manner, at least one train of pulses, at a homogeneous intensity (i.e., fluid flow rate, fluids pressure), a heterogenous intensity, at a homogeneous temperature, at a homogeneous humidity, or any combination thereof.

[0074] This scheme of individually-applied streams of cold air lasts until one of the following is true: (i) the cow leaves the stall; (it) a thermal image of the cow so that the thermal image of the cow's body shows the cow's normal temperature profde; (Hi) physiological parameters, such as skin heat and heartbeat are changed to the cow's normal values; and (iv) milking, eating, drinking and / or movement patterns are altered to the cow's normal values.

[0075] In some embodiments, the cooling system comprises feedback so that real-time sensor measurements can be used to alter the cooling conditions, as described above, and also to operate one or more cooling modules in sequence or in parallel. In some embodiments, cooling modules can be added or removed during a cooling sequence.

[0076] For non-limiting example, a cow comes to a stall and is thermally imaged and / or otherwise sensed to overheated, different venting units (e.g., 21-23, 40) are operated simultaneously, applying a water fog by various water misting sprayers (26, 27, 42). Following the water fog, when the cow stays in its stall and the overheating has been reduced, other cooling means may be applied, such as a gentle air flow from vent unit 31 and / or inflating cooling cushion 31. The means of determining overheating can be selected from, e.g., THI, temperature, humidity, animal identification, time of entering the stall, wind flow and wind direction, air flow, velocity of blown air, humidity of blown air, direction of blown air , ambient pressure, predefined control or programing, a thermal image of heat distribution in a plurality of portions of the animal.

[0077] Reference is still made to Fig. 5, showing a cow in its stall. Illustration 108 shows a cooling mobile unit 50 movable on rail 52, where the rail is positioned substantially parallel to the cow's main longitudinal axis when stands in its stall; and cart 50 applies a cooling cushion in to the cow's upper belly and neck. Similarly, illustration 109 depicts a mobile cooling unit 50 movable on rail 52, where the rail is positioned substantially perpendicular to the cow's main longitudinal axis when it stands in its stall; and cart 50 applies a venting unit 28 to the cow's upper belly and neck.

[0078] While embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings and / or described in the specification, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited to these embodiments. It is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims set forth below.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system for direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to either a confined environment surrounding and close to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal or at least one predetermined volume in a livestock farm, or both; the system characterized in that a delimited area and infrastructure thereof is provided communicable with at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with at least one module for administrating said fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal , said delimited area being selected from a group consisting of a stall, a feeding area, a drinking area, a medical treatment area, a doorway or a walkway.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect an animal parameter selected from a group consisting of THI, temperature of said at least one individual farm animal, identification of said at least one individual farm animal, time of entering the stall, thermal image of heat distribution at two or more portions of said at least one individual farm animal or any combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to accept a user's predefined control or programing and to control said system in conformance with said predefined control or programing,4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect a stall parameter selected from a group consisting of wind velocity, wind direction, blown air velocity, air humidity, blown air direction, ambient pressure, or any combination thereof.

5. The system according to any of claim 2, wherein, for a thermal parameter selected from a group consisting of THI, a thermal image of heat distribution at two or more portions of said at least one individual farm animal or any combination thereof, said thermal parameter is processed to determine the process of administrating said fluids to said at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein either or both direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to said at least one individual farm animal and said at least one specific portion of said at least one individual farm animal is provided in a manner selected from a group consisting of continuously, discontinuously, comprising at least one train of pulses, with a homogeneous intensity, with a heterogenous intensity, at a homogeneous temperature, with a homogeneous19RECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91)humidity, at a heterogeneous temperature, with a heterogeneous humidity or any combination thereof.

7. A system for direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to individual farm animals, in a confined environment comprising at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal; the system comprising one or more stalls, and at least one member of a group consisting of a front elevated rail or a rear elevated rail above one or more of said stalls, a plurality of mobile units movable along said rail, wherein least one of those mobile unit is a mobile unit with cooling capacities configured to cool an animal in need or portions thereof at time it is within said stall; and wherein the system characterized by that a stall and infrastructure thereof is provided in connection with modules for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with modules for administrating said fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect at least one animal parameters selected from a group consisting of THI, temperature, humidity, animal identification, time of entering the stall, wind flow and wind direction, air flow air flow velocity, air flow humidity, air flow direction, ambient pressure, user's predefined control or programing, thermal image of heat distribution at two or more of animal's portions.

9. The system according to any of claims 7 and 8, wherein said animal's parameters selected from a group consisting of THI, thermal image of heat distribution at two or more of animal's portions are processed and determine the process of administrating said fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal.

10. The system according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein either or both direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to individual farm animals, to a confined environment of at least one predetermined portion of said at least one individual farm animal is provided in a manner selected from a group consisting of continuously, discontinuously, comprising at least one train of pulses, with a homogeneous intensity, with a heterogenous intensity, at a homogeneous temperature, with a homogeneous humidity, at a heterogeneous temperature, with a heterogeneous humidity or any combination thereof.

11. In a system for direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to individual farm animals, to a confined environment comprising at20RECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91)least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal, at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and at least one module for administrating said fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal, provided in connection with a stall configured to accommodate said at least one individual farm animal and infrastructure thereof.

12. The modules of claim 11, provided in connection with at least one sensor configured to detect at least one animal parameter selected from a group consisting of THI, temperature, humidity, animal identification, time of entering the stall, wind flow and wind direction, air flow air flow velocity, air flow humidity, air flow direction, ambient pressure, user's predefined control or programing, thermal image of heat distribution at two or more of animal's portions.

13. The modules according to any of claims 11 and 12, wherein said animal's parameters selected from a group consisting of THI, thermal image of heat distribution at two or more of animal's portions are processed and determine the process of administrating said fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal.

14. The modules according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein either or both direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to at least one predetermined portion of said at least one individual farm animal is provided in a manner selected from a group consisting of continuously, discontinuously, comprising at least one train of pulses, with a homogeneous intensity, with a heterogenous intensity, at a homogeneous temperature, with a homogeneous humidity, at a heterogeneous temperature, with a heterogeneous humidity or any combination thereof.

15. A method of cooling a confined environment of an individual farm animal, comprising steps of providing said animal a free stall to feed, groom, be milked and / or be cooled; if required, cooling said animal individually at one or more of its portions, by one or more individually applied cooling means, by applying one or more individual cooling programs, until cooling is not required.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising step of configuring at least one sensor to detect animal's parameters selected from a group consisting of THI, temperature, humidity, animal identification, time of entering the stall, wind flow and wind direction, air flow air flow velocity, air flow humidity, air flow direction, ambient pressure, user's predefined control or programing, thermal image of heat distribution at two or more of animal's portions.21RECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91)17. The method according to any of claims 15 and 16, wherein said animal parameter is selected from a group consisting of THI, thermal image of heat distribution at two or more of animal's portions are processed and determine the process of administrating said fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal.

18. The method according to any of claims 15 to 17, further comprising a step selected from a group consisting of a. providing a system for direct and indirect timely administration of temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids to either a confined environment surrounding and close to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal or at least one predetermined volume in a livestock farm, or both; the system characterized in that a delimited area and infrastructure thereof is provided communicable with at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with at least one module for administrating said fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal , said delimited area being selected from a group consisting of a stall, a feeding area, a drinking area, a medical treatment area, a doorway or a walkway; b. providing at least one stall and infrastructure thereof; said stall and infrastructure thereof in communication with modules for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with modules for administrating said fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal ; and c. when required, either or both direct and indirect timely administrating temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids in a manner selected from a group consisting of continuous manner, discontinuous manner, a combination of continuous and at least one train of pulses, in a homogeneous intensity, a heterogenous intensity, a train of pulses comprising both homogeneous and heterogenous intensity, in a homogeneous temperature and / or humidity, in a homogeneous temperature and / or humidity and any combination thereof.

19. A system for saving fresh water when cooling at least one farm animal, comprising at least one means for cooling configured to apply either or both direct and indirect timely administrated temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids, to either a confined environment surrounding and close to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal or at least one predetermined volume in a livestock farm, or both; the system characterized in that a delimited area and infrastructure thereof is provided communicable with at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity-22RECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91)conditioned fluids and with at least one module for administrating said fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal, said delimited area being selected from a group consisting of a stall, a feeding area, a drinking area, a medical treatment area, a doorway or a walkway; said fluids apply able towards a member of a group consisting of at least one upper portion of said at least one farm animal, at least one predetermined portion of at least one confined environment, at least one non-upper portion of said at least one farm animal or any combination thereof.

20. A method of reducing usage of fresh water when cooling at least one farm animal, said cooling by means of either or both of direct and indirect timely administrated temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids, to either a confined environment surrounding and close to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal or at least one predetermined volume in a livestock farm, or both; the system characterized in that a delimited area and infrastructure thereof is provided communicable with at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with at least one module for administrating said fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal , said delimited area being selected from a group consisting of a stall, a feeding area, a drinking area, a medical treatment area, a doorway or a walkway; said method comprising a step selected from a group consisting of providing said cooling to a confined environment comprising said at least one farm animal, applying said fluids towards said at least one farm animal when eating its stall, or any combination thereof.

21. A system for reducing production of sewage and wastewater when cooling at least one farm animal, comprising at least one means for cooling configured to apply either or both direct and indirect timely administrated temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids, to either a confined environment surrounding and close to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal or at least one predetermined volume in a livestock farm, or both; the system characterized in that a delimited area and infrastructure thereof is provided communicable with at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with at least one module for administrating said fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal , said delimited area being selected from a group consisting of a stall, a feeding area, a drinking area, a medical treatment area, a doorway or a walkway; said fluids applyable toward at least one member of a group consisting of an upper portions23RECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91)of the at least one farm animal, at least one portion of a confined environment comprising said at least one farm animal or any combination thereof.

22. A method for reducing production of sewage and wastewater when cooling at least one farm animal, said cooling by means of either or both of direct and indirect timely administrated temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids, to either a confined environment surrounding and close to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal or at least one predetermined volume in a livestock farm, or both; the system characterized in that a delimited area and infrastructure thereof is provided communicable with at least one module for producing temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids and with at least one module for administrating said fluids to at least one predetermined portion of at least one individual farm animal , said delimited area being selected from a group consisting of a stall, a feeding area, a drinking area, a medical treatment area, a doorway or a walkway; comprising a step selected from a group consisting of providing said cooling to a confined environment comprising said at least one farm animal, by applying said fluids solely towards sat at least one farm animal when eating its stall, or any combination thereof.

23. A system for preventing mastitis in at least one dairy animal cooled by applying in an imprecise manner a mist of water towards said at least one dairy animal; comprising a member of a group consisting of a. means for providing said at least one dairy animal with a well-aimed air flow towards said at least one dairy animal's teats; and b. means for cooling the confined environment of said at least one dairy animal by either or both direct and indirect timely administrated temperature- and humidity- conditioned fluids by applying said fluids towards at least one predetermined portion of the at least one individual dairy animal or c. any combination thereof.

24. A method of preventing mastitis in dairy cattle cooled by applying in an imprecise manner mist of water towards said animal; said method additionally comprising a step selected from a group consisting of a. providing said at least one dairy animal with a well-aimed air flow towards the at least one dairy animal's teats; b. applying cooling to the confined environment of said at least one dairy animal by either or both direct and indirect timely administrated temperature- and humidity-24RECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91)conditioned fluids by applying said fluids towards at least one predetermined portion of the at least one dairy animal, or c. any combination thereof.25RECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91)

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