GB2287634A

GB2287634A - Livestock feeding apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2287634A
Application number: GB9405929A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alwyn Jeffels
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-03-25
Filing date: 1994-03-25
Publication date: 1995-09-27
Also published as: GB9405929D0

Abstract

Livestock feeding apparatus 20 for dispensing food (hay) to livestock comprises a plurality of walls 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b arranged to define a receptacle 23 for receiving a quantity of food. The walls 22a, 22b adapt to the volume of food remaining in the receptacle 23 by pivoting about pivots 27 springs 28 are provided for biasing the walls 22a, b to hold the food. <IMAGE>

Description

LIVESTOCK FEEDING APPARATUS This invention relates to livestock feeding apparatus of the type for dispensing fodder, for example, hay or silage, to livestock. The feeding apparatus of the invention is particularly, though not exclusively, suitable for dispensing fodder effectively without wasting large quantities of fodder material.

A known feeding device comprises a generally cylindrical cage having a flat base and a fixed vertical wall extending upwards from the base. The vertical wall comprises a plurality of vertical bars which are spaced apart from each other in order to permit livestock to eat fodder placed inside the cage. The top surface of the known feeder comprises an open structure of bars, or mesh, or both. This apparatus is capable of accepting cylindrical bales of fodder, for example hay or silage, which bales are placed in the apparatus with a flat surface of the bale adjacent the base. The feeding apparatus may be located at remote locations on a farm.

One of the problems with known feeding apparatus is that a substantial quantity of fodder is always left behind at the centre of the apparatus. Livestock, particularly smaller livestock for example sheep, cannot reach into the apparatus and eat the remaining portions of food. If this portion of left over fodder is not removed it eventually turns foul and can contaminate fresh fodder placed in the apparatus. Removing or clearing out the remaining portions of fodder is inconvenient especially since the apparatus tends to be heavy, awkward to handle and situated at remote locations.

Furthermore, fodder is wasted and the apparatus requires refilling more frequently.

The invention provides livestock feeding apparatus which comprises one or more surfaces which are adapted to adjust to the quantity of food material placed in the apparatus.

According to the invention there is provided livestock feeding apparatus for dispensing food materials to livestock which comprises a plurality of walls arranged to define a receptacle for receiving a quantity of food material in use; at least one of said walls is a moveable wall, moveable from a first position in which food material can be loaded into the receptacle, to a second position in which the wall adapts to the volume of food material remaining in the receptacle, wherein at least one of the walls comprises an array of apertures adapted to permit food material to be eaten by livestock, and biasing means for biasing the at least one moveable wall towards the second position.

In known livestock feeding apparatus sheep have difficulty in reaching food material at the centre of the apparatus. The livestock feeding apparatus of the invention has the advantage that it is more effective because the apparatus adapts to the quantity of fodder remaining in the receptacle. Livestock can eat all of the food material and there is no wastage or need to clean or remove left over fodder. Furthermore, the apparatus has the advantage that livestock with short necks, for example sheep, are not prevented from reaching food material towards the centre of the receptacle.

Preferably, two opposing walls are moveable towards each other to adapt to the volume of food material remaining in the receptacle. In this construction of livestock feeding apparatus the two walls move towards each other as the food material is eaten.

The moveable wall may be pivotally mounted and pivots between the first position and second position. As the wall slopes inwards towards the food material it channels food material downwards making it easier for the livestock to eat the remaining food.

The biasing means may be a spring or other resilient member.

The tension in the spring is selected so that the moveable wall is urged against the food material. Therefore, as food material is eaten the wall moves to ensure that livestock can still reach the fodder towards the centre of the apparatus until all the food material is eaten.

Preferably, the biassing means extends between the two moveable walls.

Preferably, the receptacle is rectangular. A rectangular receptacle has the advantage that it is capable of accepting square, rectangular or cylindrical bales of food material. The cylindrical bales are loaded into the livestock feeding apparatus vertically ie. with the bales upright and the flat surfaces of the bale in a substantially vertical plane. Known livestock feeding apparatus are arranged to accept cylindrical bales with their flat surfaces parallel to the ground. As the flat surface of cylindrical bales is large, when compared to other bales, sheep are able to jump up onto the bale or apparatus. This creates two problems, first the sheep can become stuck on the top of the feeder and secondly the sheep urinates and defecates on the food material and spoils it.

The livestock feeding apparatus according to the invention overcomes this problem by having the cylindrical bale upright with the bale presenting a curved upper surface making it difficult for a sheep to remain on the bale and secondly the upper surface area is smaller.

Preferably the apertures are slots defined by a plurality of bars arranged to allow food material to be eaten by livestock.

Preferably, the apertures are square holes defined by wire mesh.

Generally, individual components of the apparatus can be dismantled to form a flat packed unit to facilitate transportation and storage of the apparatus. Livestock feeding apparatus is primarily needed during the winter months. In summer the apparatus can be dismantled and packed flat for storage.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side elevation and plan view of a known construction of livestock feeding apparatus, Figure 2 is an isometric view of a livestock feeding apparatus according to the invention, Figure 3 is a side elevation and plan view of the livestock feeding apparatus shown in figure 2 with a bale of food material loaded, Figure 4 is a side elevation of the livestock feeding apparatus shown in figure 2 showing detail of the biassing means, and Figure 5 is a side elevation of an alternative arrangement of biassing means.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a known construction of livestock feeding apparatus, which comprises a generally cylindrical cage 1 with a base 2 and top 3. A plurality of bars 4 extend between the base 2 and top 3. The bars define a plurality of slots 5 through which livestock can eat at food material placed in the apparatus. The apparatus is adapted to dispense only food material of, for example hay or silage, in the form of a cylindrical bale. Sheep can jump up onto the relatively flat top 3 and urinate and defecate on the food material placed in the feeding apparatus. Furthermore, sheep, being animals with short necks, cannot reach food material at the centre of the apparatus. This results in food wastage and the apparatus requires frequent cleaning to remove left over fodder which would otherwise rot and contaminate fresh food material.

Figure 2 is an isometric view of livestock feeding apparatus according to the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 20, which comprises four walls 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b which define a receptacle 23 adapted to accept a quantity of food material in use. Each of the two walls 22a, 22b are pivotally mounted via pins 27 to the side walls 21a, 21b so that the walls can pivot inwards as food material is eaten. As the walls pivot inwards they define a channel or trough (see Figures 4 and 5) which guides the remaining food material downwards thereby making it easier for the livestock to eat the last portions of food material in the receptacle. Bars 24 in walls 22a, 22b define slots 25 through which livestock may eat food material placed in the receptacle 23. In an alternative construction the walls can comprise wire mesh with square holes or an array of apertures which allow livestock to eat the food material.

Biasing means in the form of springs 28 urge the moveable walls 22a, 22b towards food material placed in the receptacle 23. As the quantity of food decreases the springs cause the walls 22a, 22b to move inwards. This means that sheep or other livestock can eat the remaining portions of food material in the apparatus.

The side walls 21a, 21b can be covered with sheet material 26, for example sheet metal or plastic, to prevent livestock from eating from the sides and becoming trapped by the moveable walls.

The livestock feeding apparatus can accommodate square, rectangular or cylindrical bales of food material. Figure 3 shows the livestock feeding apparatus of Figure 2 with a cylindrical bale 30 of food material loaded in the receptacle 23. The upper curved surface 31 prevents sheep from jumping up onto the top of the bale. Furthermore, the size of the surface area of surface 31 means that sheep are much less likely to become stuck.

Figure 4 and 5 show two arrangements of biasing means. In Figure 4 springs 28 are attached to the walls 22a, 22b and to the walls 21a, 21b. This arrangement has the advantage that the walls pivot independently of each other. In Figure 5 springs 28 extend directly between the walls 22a, 22b. This arrangement uses half as many spring elements and would be cheaper to manufacture. The springs 28 can be protected by guards to prevent food material from adhering to the springs and impairing their operation. In both arrangements as the walls 22a, 22b move inwards they define a channel 40 which guides food material downwards and enables livestock to eat the remaining portions of food in the receptacle.

The livestock feeding apparatus of the invention can be dismantled and packed flat (with the walls 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b stacked on top of each other) to facilitate transportation to remote locations on a farm. In a further construction the walls 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b can be hinged so that they can fold inwards to from a flat packed unit without the need to completely detach and dismantle the apparatus into its individual components. Locking means in the form of bolts or pins may be used to secure the components together once the apparatus has been erected.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Livestock feeding apparatus for dispensing food materials to livestock which comprises a plurality of walls arranged to define a receptacle for receiving a quantity of food material in use; at least one of said walls is a moveable wall, moveable from a first position in which food material can be loaded into the receptacle, to a second position in which the wall adapts to the volume of food material remaining in the receptacle, wherein at least one of the walls comprises an array of apertures adapted to permit food material to be eaten by livestock, and biasing means for biasing the at least one moveable wall towards the second position.

2. Livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which two opposing walls are moveable towards each other to adapt to the volume of food material remaining in the receptacle.

3. Livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the moveable wall is pivotally mounted and pivots between the first position and second position.

4. Livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the biasing means is a spring or other resilient member.

5. Livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the biassing means extends between the two moveable walls.

6. Livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the receptacle is rectangular.

7. Livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the apertures are slots defined by a plurality of bars arranged to allow food material to be eaten by livestock.

8. Livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which the apertures are square holes defined by wire mesh to allow food material to be eaten by livestock.

9. Livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which individual components of the apparatus can be dismantled to form a flat packed unit to facilitate transportation and storage of the apparatus.

10. Livestock feeding apparatus as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.