GB2216383A

GB2216383A - Animal pens

Info

Publication number: GB2216383A
Application number: GB8905049A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Alexander Harper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-03-04
Filing date: 1989-03-06
Publication date: 1989-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-06
Also published as: GB8905049D0; GB2216383B

Abstract

Animal movement confining apparatus comprises two elongated baffle members (10) both hung on first pivotal anchorages (12) to enable the members (10) to be swung independently apart and together. Stay means for each member (10) holds the respective member (10) in any selected fixed stationary position relative to the other member (10). The first anchorages (12) are spaced apart transversely at a predetermined distance to enable an animal to be located between the members (10) when the members (10) are approximately parallel. Front and rear animal restraining elements (26) extend transversely between the members (10) to prevent forward and rearward movement of an animal located in the space defined by the members (10) and elements (26). <IMAGE>

Description

MOVEMENT CONFINING APPARATUS FOR ANI:4ALs.

This invention relates to movement confining apparatus for annals and is particularly concerned wit apparatus for use, for example in confining cows during delivery of a calf or for fostering a calf with a cow or for restraining a cow during suckling by a calf.

Accordinyly, the present invention is anirnal movement confining apparatus comprising two elongate baffle members both hung or to be hung on first pivotal anchorages to enable the members to be swung independently apart and together, stay means for each member to hold the respective member in any selected fixed stationary position relative to the other me;;nber, the first anchorages being spaced apart transversely at a predetermined distance to enable an animal to be located between the members when the members are approxi.nately parallel, and front and rear animal restraining elements extending or to extend transversely between the members to prevent forward and rearward movement of an animal located in the space defined by the members and elements.

Preferably, the stay means for each member is secured between a second pivotal anchorage and the respective member. The stay means are preferably lengthextensible stays.

Preferably also, under body belts are provided on one meinoer to be positioned under an animal located between the members and secure to the other member.

Preferably further, the longitudinal axis of each member is horizontally oriented. The members are preferably similar and each has a rectangular portion at the hanging end thereof with a narrower rectangular extension projecting outwardly from the upper part of the portion. The members are preferably of openwork.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which : Fig. 1 is a plan view of an animal confining apparatus according to the present invention showing the apparatus in an open and in a closed position, the latter being shown in broken line; Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus in a closed position; and Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing, animal movement confining apparatus comprises two elongate baffle members 10 both hung or to be hung as shown on first pivotal anchorages 12 to enable the members 10 to be swung independently apart and together between in-use open and closed positions, and an out-of-use position.

The longitudinal axis of each member is horizontally oriented. The members 10 are similar and, as can be seen in Fiy. 3, each has a rectangular portion at te hanging end thereof with a narrower rectangular extension projecting from the upper part of the portion.

The members 10 are of openwork and forned of a stanchion 14 to which three horizontal bars 16 are secured with three uprights 18 supporting them apart The first anchorages 12 each comprise a pair of mountings which are vertically spaced apart. The first anchorages 12 are also spaced apart transversely at a predetermined distance such as to enable an animal to be located between the members 10 when the members 10 are approximately parallel, ie. in a normally closed position.

Stay means for each member 10 are secured between a second pivotal anchorage 20 and the respective member 10 to hold the respective member 10 in any selected fixed stationary position between the inFuse open or closed positions. The stay means are telescopically length-extensible stays 22 securable together by a pin 24 engagable through a hole provided on the outer sleeve of the stay 22 and any one of a longitudinal series of holes provided on the inner tube or rod of the stay 22.

Front and rear animal restraining elements 26 are provided to extend transversely between the members 10 (as shown in Fig. 1 in broken line) to prevent forward and rearward movement of an animal located head first in the space defined by the members 10 and elements 26. The elements 26 are chains. A series of pegs 23 are provided projecting fro;n the top of middle horizontal bar 16 of one member 10 as shown in Fig. 3, both at the forward and the rearward ends of the bar 16. The chains are fast with the other member 10 and are secured to the one member 10 by locating a link of the chain over the respective peg 23. The selected peg 23 chosen is determined by that one which gives the tightest hold around the animal.

Under body belts 30, shown in Fig. 3 hanging from one member, are provided on said one member 10 to be positioned under an animal transversely in between the members 10 and secured to the other member 10.

The apparatus when not in use can be swung against the wall on which the anchorages 12, 20 are mounted.

This is done by disconnecting the stays 22 from their respective members 10 and the chains from the other member 10. This then allows the stays 22tin their retracted state to be swung inwards towards the first anchorages 12, and then the members 10 to be swung towards and extend beyond the second anchorages 20.

For use, the members 10 are swung out, and the stays 22 are connected thereto. Initially the members 10 are positioned in the in-use open position as hereinbefore described. An animal, for example a cow, is led into the apparatus and is tethered on tether rail 32. The members 10 are then, one by one, brought into the closed position. The front element 26 is then thightened and the desired link placed over the selected peg 28. The rear elenent 26 is then similarly positioned. The under belts 30 are then put in position.

In this position of the apparatus, the cow is confined and cannot move backwards, frontwards or sideways. It is also supported from moving downwards. The apparatus can then be used to introduce a calf to the cow without the cow being able to react violently and injure the calf, for example when a cow rejects a calf and does not allow it to have access to a teat of the udder. Alternatively, if the cow requires assistance in the delivery of a calf, then this apparatus is also beneficial in positioning the cow for ease of farmer or veterinary surgeon in the delivery.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the inventidn hereinbefore described.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. Animal movement confining apparatus comprising two elongate baffle members both hung or to be hung on first pivotal anchorages to enable the members to be swung independently apart and together, stay means for each member to hold the respective member in any selected fixed stationary position relative to the other member, the first anchorages being spiced apart transversely at a predetermined distance to enable an animal to be located between the members when the members are approximately parallel.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein front and rear animal restraining elements are provided extending or to extend transversely between the members to prevent forward and rearward movement of an animal located in the space defined by the members and elements.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the stay means for each member is secured between a second pivotal anchorage and the respective member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the stay means are length-extensible stays.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one oE the preceding Claims, wherein under body belts are provided on one member to be positioned under an animal tp be located between the members and secured to the other member.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the longitudinal axis of each member is horizontally oriented.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the members are similar and each has a rectangular portion at the hanging end thereof with a narrower rectangular extension projecting outwardly from the upper part of the portion. *

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the members are of openwork.

9. Animal confining apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.