IES20020496A2 - An animal diversion system - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal raceway (1) has an entrance (4) above which is mounted a signal receiving antenna (21) connected to a controller (20) which causes a ram (14) to operate a gate (13) over two exits (11, 12). An animal can have a transponder fixed to its tail prior to entering the raceway (1) so that, on passing beneath the antenna (21), the ram (14) causes the gate to close the exit (11) and divert the animal out the exit (12). <Figure 1>

Description

The present invention relates to animal husbandry and in particuiarto the care of animals in milking parlours and animal houses.

In animal husbandry, very often one or more animals, for example, one or more cows, have to be separated from the herd for treatment of one kind or another, whether it be simple dosing, examination or insemination. This is usually carried out by sending the animal through some form of walkway or crush and then at the exit of the walkway or crush, diverting those animals into a separate pen or area while allowing the other animals to carry on out the other or normal exit.

Because of the shortage of labour on farms, there is usually little help available so that it can be very difficult for the one person on his or her own to perform this task. This has led to the provision of automatic diverting systems. Essentially, such an automatic diverting system comprises a walkway or crush having an entrance and an exit assembly which comprises two exits and includes a diverter gate for closing off 0 one exit to divert animats entering the walkway through one gate or the other. If it is necessary to hold back a particular cow, then that cow is identified and the entrance gate behind the cow is closed to hold back following cows and the diverter gate is operated to turn it through the exit and into the pen. As the cow leaves the exit, she activates a switch and ail the gates return to the normal position. With such a system, at present there is provided a processing unit such as, for example, a PC and a controller for operating the various gates and some means of identifying each cow. Generally, this requires that each cow has to have attached thereto, a permanent transponder in the form of an ear tag or a neck collar. Then, if it is desired to .divert a particular cow, the number or code of the cow is keyed into the PC and the operation takes place automatically. It is necessary to have a PC available in the milking parlour which PC is integrated with some form of central processor. Generally, such systems are part of a more elaborate and complex animal husbandry system and are often purchased as an add-on system for use in conjunction with an existing system. Thus, because it is, as stated, necessary to have a PC integrated with a processor, farmers are buying this system as an add-on to an existing system.

What many farmers require is a stand-alone system which is simple and easy to operate.

Secondly, it is necessary to provide a transponder on each cow. This leads to considerable difficulties as the transponders tend to get damaged, they fall off the cows, and so on. Since, while they are individually inexpensive, collectively the provision of them is a major expense.

What essentially is required is for the farmer to be able to divert the cows in the milking parlour without the need for a PC and without the need to have a transponder on each cow. What is required by the farmer is a simpler and less elaborate system than has been provided heretofore.

The present invention is directed towards this object.

StatementsOf Invention According to the invention, there is provided a diverter gate for an animal house comprising an elongate raceway having an entrance mounting an entrance gate and an exit assembly comprising two exits and including a diverter gate for closing off one exit to divert animals entering the raceway through the other exit, and means operable, on receipt of a signal, to operate the gates characterised in that the means is a transducer removably attached to the animal.

Preferably, the transducer is mounted on a clip for attachment to a cows tail.

In one embodiment of the invention, the means to attach the transponder to the cows tail comprises a loop of a flexible material attached to the transponder and a free piece for engaging within the loop to allow the loop to be securely attached to an animals tail. Preferably, the flexible material is an elasticated material.

In one embodiment of the invention, the transponder comprises a body member having a through-hole and the loop is led through the hole whereby pulling the loop through the hole increases or decreases the size of the loop.

Ideally, the loop is of elasticated cord and the dimensions of the hole and cord are such that when the cord is unstretched, it is held securely within the hole and when stretched, its reduced cross-section allows easy withdrawal.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the signal-receiving antenna is positioned so that it rests above an animal’s back as it enters the animal raceway.

Ideally, the signal-receiving antenna is height adjustable. The advantage of this is that it may be moved into a position to suit smaller or larger animals allowing the signal to be consistent. The signal receiving antenna also acts to make the animals more submissive as they have to drop their heads to enter the raceway and pass underneath it, thus preventing them from getting excited or startled by the experience of the animal in front of them. Keeping the animals in a calm and submissive state is very important as excited animals are extremely difficult to work with and often injure themselves.

Detailed Description nf the Invention The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a raceway according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the raceway in one position of use, F!g. 3 is a plan view of the raceway in another position of use, and Fig. 4 is a plan view of a transponder used in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated an animal raceway 1 comprising uprights 2 mounting longitudinal side bars 3 having an entrance, indicated generally IE 0 2 0 4 9 6 by the reference numeral 4, mounting saloon entrance gates 5 operated by pneumatic rams 6 and an exit assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, having two exits, identified by the arrows 11 and 12, across which is mounted a diverter gate 13 operated by a pneumatic ram 14. The exit 11 connects with a diverting chute 15, not shown in Fig. 1, but shown diagrammatically in Figs. 2 and 3, although on the opposite side of the raceway. This diverting chute 15 incorporates a limit switch 16. The rams 6 and 14 and the diverter switch 16 are all connected to a controller 20 having a signal receiving antenna 21.

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is illustrated a transponder 22 mounted in a grip support 23 carrying a loop 24 of cord 25 and a tail portion 26. The loop 24 and the tail portion 26 are manufactured from a suitable material such as an elasticated cord. The tail portion 26 can slide within the grip support 23. The use of elasticated cord provides a force-fit.

In operation, when the farmer wishes to divert a cow into the diverting chute 15, the farmer slips the loop 24 onto the animal’s tail and pulls the tail portion 26 in the direction of the arrow A. The tail portion 26 which is of elasticated cord will slip easily through the grip support 23 and on relaxing the pulling force, it will be retained securely. The animal then proceeds through the raceway 1 and when the animal passes the antenna 21, the ram 6 is operated as soon as the animal passes through the saloon entrance gates 5 and closes the entrance gates 5 behind the cow. At the same time, the diverter gate is moved from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3 and the cow passes through the diverting chute 15 when it will impinge against the switch 16 to cause the controller 20 to move the diverter gate 13 into the position illustrated in Fig. 2 and to open the entrance gate 5 to allow further cows to pass through. it will be appreciated that there are major advantages in the system according to the present Invention In that it Is a stand alone system and operates by putting a transponder on the particular animal required to be diverted. This is only put on if a cow or animal needs to be diverted and is removed when the necessary treatment or indeed once the diversion has taken place. By placing the transponder on the cows tail is by far and away easiest and least dangerous for the farmer.

In the specification the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising” or any variation thereof and the terms '‘include, includes, included and including” or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the claims.

Claims (5)

1. A diverter gate for an animal house comprising an elongate raceway having an entrance mounting an entrance gate and an exit assembly comprising 5 two exits and including a diverter gate for closing off one exit to divert animals entering the raceway through the other exit, and signal receiving means operable, on receipt of a signal, to operate the gates characterised in that the means is a transducer removably attached to the animal. 10

2. A diverter gate as claimed in ciaim 1, in which means to attach the transponder to the cows tail is provided and comprises a loop of a flexible elastomeric material attached to the transponder and a free piece for engaging within the loop to allow the loop to be securely attached to an animals tail.

3. A diverter gate as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the transponder comprises a body member having a through-hole and the loop is led through the hole whereby pulling the loop through the hole increases or decreases the size of the loop.

4. A diverter gate as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the signal receiving means comprises height adjustable signal-receiving antenna positioned so that it rests above an animal's back as It enters the animal raceway.

5. A diverter gate substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.