GB2156195A

GB2156195A - Pens for calves

Info

Publication number: GB2156195A
Application number: GB08508372A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Watson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-03-30
Filing date: 1985-03-30
Publication date: 1985-10-09
Also published as: GB2156195B; GB8508372D0

Abstract

Animal pens are formed by providing an annular structure partitioned by a plurality of baffles (12). Each pen is defined between two upstanding partitions converging towards a portion of the an inner peripheral wall (11) of the structure. Tether slide bars (19) are provided to retain an animal in a pen by preventing it moving through an open outer end. A sectoral shaped slatted floor (17) is provided for each pen at a determined height above a supporting surface. A container for milk is provided in the space defined by the inner peripheral wall (11) and teats (24) are provided one in each portion of the inner peripheral wall (11) at the inner end of each pen, the teats (24) being in liquid-tight piped communication with the container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pens for animals This invention relates to pens for animals primarily, but not exclusively, for weaning calves.

Thefirst few weeks in a life of a calf can determine its future health for whatever purposes it is being reared.

Heretofore, calves have been reared in groups howev er it has been fou nd that the calves form the habit of sucking each other and there is therefore the risk of urine being taken into their system, the very substance that nature had arranged to drain from them. After such a habit is formed, it never leaves them. To overcome this problem, separate weaning pens have been proposed arranged in rows. This requires a great amount of space. Hereinafter in the specification and claims the word 'annular' is used to embrace not only a ring-shaped structure but also a quasi-ring shaped or multi-sided structure.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention animal pens are formed by providing an annular structure partitioned buy a plurality of baffles with each pen being defined between two upstanding partitions converging towards a portion of the an inner peripheral wall of the structure which then forms an inner end ofthe pen, means being provided to retain an animal in a pen by preventing it moving through an open outer end.

Preferably, a sectoral shaped slatted floor is provided for each pen at a determined height above a supporting surface. Atray of corresponding shape is provided for location below said floor in each pen. A sectoral-shaped passageway is preferably provided flanked on opposite sides by adjacent pens to gain access to the space defined by the inner peripheral wall, a portion of which is cut-awayforaccess.

Preferably also, a containerfor milk is provided in the space defined by the inner peripheral wall and teats are provided one in each portion ofthe inner peripheral wall atthe inner end of each pen, the teats being in liquid-tight piped communication with the container.

Preferably further, the means comprises a tether slide bar positioned near to the inner end ofthe pen and to which a tether for attaching to the animal is secured. A meal bucket holder is provided in each pen conveniently secured to the portion of the inner peripheral wall at the inner end. Alternatively, a meal tray can be provided to rest on top of the inner peripheral wall and cover the container and pipes.

The partitions, the inner peripheral wall and slatted floor can be demountable from each other to enable the assembly of pens be collapsed and stored.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a set of components are provided erectible into an annular partitioned structure, the compartments of which are for use as animal pens, the set of components comprising a plurality of similar partition units comprising a baffle at one end of which a wall is provided angled thereto, said baffle having a series of floor supports projecting outwardly at right angles therefrom and said wall having projecting outwardly at the joined side two vertically-spaced apertured lugs and at the opposite free side two simiiarly spaced pins for engagement in the apertures of said lugs on an adjacent partition unit, and a series of sectoral-shaped slotted floors for location on the floor supports of adjacent baffles in each compartment.

An embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the assembly of animal pens; Fig. 2 shows a persective view of a detail of three pens side-by-side; and Fig. 3 shows an exploded view, the parts erectible to form an assembly of pens.

Referring to the drawings, an assembly often animal pens are formed by providing an annular structure whose upstanding inner peripheral wall 10 is formed by an eleven sided fabrication in which each side 11 is of similar dimensions and one of which is omitted. Each pen in plan is sectoral in shape and defined betvveen two upstanding radial partitions or baffles 12 which converge towards and are secured to the respective side of the wall 10. The partitions at the inner sides, have downwardly-extending pegs 13 which engage th rough the apertures in apertured lugs 14 provided on the wall 10 at opposite laterals of each side 11.Each partition 12 is carried on support legs 15 and on the or each planar side has floor supports 16 extending outwardly at right angles thereto and inwardly of each pen and on which a slatted floor 17 of sectoral shape can rest leaving sufficient space thereunder to accommodate a slurry tray 18 if required. A tether slide bar 19 is provided upright on one partition of each pen and to which a tether rope or chain forattaching tothe animal issecured.Ameal bucket ring holder 20 is provided to extend into each pen as shown and is conveniently secured to the side ofthewall 10 at the inner end ofthe pen. A eleventh area of similar shape and dimensions to a pen is provided to serve as a passage 21 for access to the area defined by the wall 10.A container 23 is provided in this area, and a milk teat 24 is provided for each pen in the respective side 11, the teat being in liquid-tight piped communication with the container 23 whereby an animal in the pen can suck at the teat and thereby receive milk water from the container 23. The pipes 22 to the teats are grouped together and secured as a cluster at or nearthe container ends ofthe pipes 22 with a weight attached thereto to serve to weight the cluster two the bottom of the container 23. The container 23 is open-topped and a lid (not shown) can be provided for positioning thereover. Thereabove an annularconcavetrough (not shown) can be provided in which foodstuffs can be located for consumption by the animals as an alternative arrangement to the meal buckets.In this embodiment tether bars 19 are provided as means to retain an animal in its pen, howeverthe means could be an outer end wall, barrier orthe like. Also,the meal-bucket holder and a water bucket holder can be mounted on the outer end wall inwardly of the pen.

A hayorfodderrack (notshown) can be provided on top of each alternate partitions to serve animals in adjacent pens.

The structure is designed to be readily demountable as shown in Fig. 3 so that the parts can be stored at timesoftheyearwhen itis not longer required, thereby allowing the space in a shed, previously occupied by the structive, to be utilised for other purposes.

The slatted floors 17 are of wood and the partitions may be solid and of wood orof metal sheet secured to a metal framework and or may incorporate insulation board.

Alternatively, the partitions may be made of vertically diagonally or horizontally spaced wooden bars orthe like.

The structure may alternatively be erected from a series of eleven partition units (not shown) equivalent to partition 12 each formed with partofthe inner peripheral wall 10 joinedthereto and having atthe joined side ofthe wall two vertically-spaced apertured lugs and at the free side of the wall two vertically spaced pins for engagement in the apertures ofthe lugs of an adjacent partition unit.

A bar 30 can be provided having two spaced recesses into which the lug 15 of partitions on both sides of the passageway 21 may sit to space the partitions apart and provide some rigidity.

Claims

1. Animal pensareformed by providing an annularstructure partitioned by a plurality of baffles with each pen being defined between two upstanding partitions converging towards a portion ofthe an inner peripheral wall of the structure which then forms an inner end ofthe pen, means being provided to retain an animal in a pen by preventing it moving through an open outer end.

2. Structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a sectoral shaped slattedflooris provided for each pen at a determined height above a supporting surface.

3. Structure as claimed in Claim 2, wherein a tray of corresponding shape is provided for location below said floor in each pen.

4. Structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a sectoral-shaped passageway is provided flanked on opposite sides by adjacent pens to gain access to the space defined by the inner peripheral wall, a portion of which is cut-away for access.

5. Astructureasclaimed in Claim 1,2,3, or4, wherein acontainerformilkis provided in the space defined by the inner peripheral wall and teats are provided one in each portion ofthe inner peripheral wall of the inner end of each pen,theteats being in liquid-tight piped communication with the container.

6. Structure as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims wherein the means comprises a tether slide bar positioned nearto the inner end of the pen and to which a tether for attaching to the animal is secured.

7. Structure as claimed in Claim 1,2,3,4,5 or6, wherein meal bucket holder 18 is provided in each pen conveniently sacured to the portion of the inner peripheral wall at the inner end.

8. Structure as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to 6, wherein a meal tray is provided to rest on top of the inner peripheral wall and coverthe container and pipes.