DE20116480U1 - Care and treatment stand for large animals, especially for hoof care - Google Patents

Description

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Care and treatment stand for large animals, especially for hoof care.

The subject matter of the invention is a care and treatment stand for large animals, in particular for hoof care.

Caring for cows' hooves is an important and regular maintenance task. Brittle and cracked horn, which occurs due to a lack of care, can lead to serious and painful illnesses in the animals. Cows with claw diseases eat less feed and therefore their milk and fattening performance decreases.

Since large animals cannot usually be made to bend their legs for hoof trimming, it is necessary to use devices that force the animal to lift its leg. Hoof trimming stands must also ensure that the animal is secured and properly positioned so that it cannot move during treatment. Careful immobilization of the animal or the foot area is important because of the handling of dangerous cutting equipment, the risk of injury to the animal and operator, and the high level of precision required when trimming the hooves.

Hoof trimming stands are available in a wide variety of designs. Hoof trimming stands are common in which the animal is fixed in a metal frame and the foot to be treated, which is held in wrapping straps, is pulled up to the desired treatment height using winches. The animal is lifted in such hoof trimming stands using belly straps in order to give the hoof trimming stand a secure footing using the animal's gravity. It is not necessary and usually not desired for the animal to be lifted so high that it completely loses contact with the ground. Rather, the animal, which is usually very strong, should be deprived of the opportunity to exert its entire body weight on the hoof trimming stand.

At the same time, the weight of the animal stabilizes the hoof trimming stand so that it cannot tip over. However, the lifting described above, which places considerable pressure on the animal's stomach region, can endanger the ruminant and lead to colic.

There are also hoof trimming stands that can be moved on four rollers and have a platform on which the cattle stand during the trimming process.

The cattle must be led into the stall, e.g. via a guidance system. This means · .·· ; ··. .··. ; : .:

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the cattle are unnecessarily disturbed. The guidance system is expensive to purchase and, because it takes up a lot of space, usually has to be used outdoors.

There are also so-called tilting hoof care stands, where the animal is led sideways to a metal frame, strapped in using belts and brought into a horizontal position by tilting the metal frame. As a result, the animal lies on its side so that the hooves are accessible for treatment. The disadvantage here is the complex design and the need for a separate unit to lift the heavy animal into a horizontal position. The unusual position of the animal during treatment can also lead to complications such as calving and torsion of the abomasum.

The invention is based on the object of overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art described above and of providing a structurally simple and thus inexpensive care and treatment stand for large animals. Furthermore, in order to avoid injuries, the animal should be fixed and aligned in a standing position and the care and treatment stand should be mobile.

It has been shown that the use of belly straps can lead to injuries. Not only because of the constriction of the stomach region, but also because cows can twist in the belly straps and then often - because the belly straps do not offer any possibility of controlled lowering - can only be released from the care stall by falling. The care stall according to the invention makes it possible to do without the use of belly straps.

The above-mentioned object is achieved by a care stand arrangement according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the subclaims.

The care and treatment stand for large animals according to the invention, which is used in particular as a hoof care stand, is referred to for the sake of brevity as a care stand or care stand arrangement and is explained by way of example with reference to a cow as the large animal to be treated.

The grooming stand is mobile and consists of a frame-like structure that is at least temporarily open at the front and can be pushed over the animal, with side struts and devices for holding and lifting the claws.

The frame has dimensions that allow the frame to be pushed over the animal to be treated from behind and to allow the animal to be completely accommodated, so that the animal is essentially fixed in the frame in a standing position by the closely fitting side frames. The middle crossbars of the side frames can be designed to be lockable in different positions in order to fix the animal depending on its body dimensions. It is also advantageous if the middle crossbars are designed to be removable.

The care stand rests on at least two freely rotating suspended wheels. After

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the care stand has 2 freely rotating wheels at the front and 2 at the back. "Rotatably suspended" here means that

The rolling direction of the wheel can be changed by turning the wheel - not around the rolling axis but around the lane change axis.

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The rollers ensure that the care stall, which is connected to a head rail, can avoid any force exerted by the cow on the care stall by rolling, thus preventing the care stall from tipping over. Cows have immense strength. It is therefore important that the wheels of the care stall are mounted so that they can rotate around an axis so that they can change their rolling direction in response to the force.

Since the maintenance stand should be operated by one person, good maneuverability can be achieved by making at least one axle steerable. '25 It is important to maintain the bearing of the lane change axle with lubricants so that

sufficient mobility is maintained. This is particularly important if the care stall is used in free-range stables with manure-covered grid floors. Fully encapsulated stalls are advantageous.

The care stand is either directly or indirectly connected to a head rail and is thereby secured at the front end. This is done, for example, using chains or rods that are attached to the care stand on one side and to the head rail on the other. Chains are preferred. The fastening devices do not have to be attached directly to the head rail, but can also be attached to the floor. The head rail is fixed and is usually firmly attached to the floor by means of struts. The head rail holds the animal's head and fixes it in place in a detachable manner.

Conventional feeding grids are generally used as head grids. It is particularly advantageous if the head grid is attached to a floor threshold - for example a substantially rectangular concrete threshold - and the care stand with the floor frame open at the front is pushed against the floor threshold and firmly attached using the fastening device. A chain with shackles or a strut is suitable as a fastening element. Feeding grids that are suitably attached to concrete thresholds are often found in free-stall pens.

Feeding grids are also known as self-locking feeding grids, where when the animal moves its head through the feeding opening towards the feeding side, it is brought into a catching position in which the animal cannot pull its head out. When the animal moves its head towards the food, the feeding opening moves from the access position to the catching position. In manually operated feeding grids, the feeding grid also consists of a fixed frame-shaped grid section, between which there are slit-like feeding openings, but in which catching rungs are arranged that can be pivoted using an operating rod. Depending on the position of the operating rod, the slit-shaped feeding openings between the fixed frame grid sections are opened or closed for the animal's head by the pivoting catching rungs.

It has proven to be advantageous if the lower frame part, i.e. the U-shaped floor frame, is solid and heavy in order to give the frame as low a centre of gravity as possible. The floor frame can also be filled for this purpose, for example with cement. The considerable weight of the floor frame prevents the cow from being able to lift the care stall. The floor frame is preferably made of round tubes and - to minimise the risk of injury - preferably has no protruding overhangs on the inside and top. The tube preferably ends at the front with a smooth pipe cut-off that is essentially at a right angle.

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A hoist at the rear end of the care stand is used to lift the animal's hind feet. The hoist in the side area of the care stand is used to lift the front feet.

The maintenance stand and the mounts for the wind-up device can be manufactured essentially as a welded construction. The wheels are conventional

commercially available wheels, e.g. with rubber tires or plastic wheels. Plastic wheels are more suitable. _r

If you want to cut or groom the claw of the animal you are grooming, you can connect the foot to a clamping and lifting device (referred to above as the winding device) and lift it into a position suitable for grooming. The lower leg of the animal you are grooming is secured in the clamping device, which consists of a tensioning device - in the simplest case a loop - and a wind-up belt. The belt is advantageously guided over a winding spool that has a locking pinion into which a spring-loaded locking pawl that can pivot about a joint axis engages. The clamping and lifting device raises the claw into a position suitable for grooming.

The equipment required for the hoof care stand, such as fixing belts, support tables for animal feet and manure collectors, are manufactured in the usual way and are available for purchase as accessories.

An embodiment of a hoof care stand according to the invention is shown schematically in the drawings. They show:

Fig.l a side view of the care stand,
Fig.2 the care status from above and
Fig.3 the care stand from behind.

5 The care stand (1) shown in the figures consists essentially of a rectangular

shaped base frame, which is connected by two vertical rear posts (2), two vertical front posts (3), upper, middle and lower side cross braces (4,5,6), as well as front and rear upper cross braces (7,8) connecting the side frames (13) and a rear lower cross brace (10).

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The rear post (2) and front post (3) together with the upper, middle and lower side cross braces (4,5,6) form the side frame (13). The right and left side frames are identical. The middle side cross brace (5) is preferably designed to be removable.

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Seen from above, the upper side cross struts (4) and the front and rear upper cross struts (7,8) connecting the side frames (13) form a rectangle.

The front frame is open at the bottom when viewed from the front and is limited at the top by the upper front cross brace (7).

The rear frame (15) is formed - as can be seen from the top view according to Fig. 3 - downwards by a rear lower cross strut (10) and upwards by a rear upper cross strut (8).

The lower frame (floor frame (14)) is more solid (approx. twice the tube diameter) than the other frame parts and is formed by the lower cross braces (6,10). The floor frame is U-shaped and open at the front.

The individual frame parts are designed as tubes that are connected at an angle by welding, inserting or using pipe bends (26). The cross braces are aligned horizontally. The posts are vertical. The rear and front wheels (11,12) are mounted so they can rotate freely/steer around the track change axis (23).

The lifting device (18) for the rear feet is located on the lower side cross-brace (6) and is held in place by a shaft/holder (20) that can be removed. The holder (20) is preferably anchored by inserting it (25) into the base frame (14). The foot is clamped in place by straps (not shown), lifted by means of the lifting device (18) 5 and fixed against a round iron bracket (19) for holding the foot.

The cow stands on the standing area (21), which is formed by the floor area, e.g. of a free-stall barn. The care stall itself has no floor area.

The care stand is attached to the fastening means holder (28) using the fastening means (29), e.g. using a chain, on a head rail (31) in such a way that the front part of the floor frame strikes the concrete threshold (30). Not shown is the animal in the care stand whose head is fixed in the head rail (31).

To trim a cow’s hooves, proceed as follows: The cow is secured in a conventional feeding fence (31) firmly anchored to the ground.

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The care stall is then moved over the cow from behind and firmly connected to the feeding fence (31) at the front, e.g. by chains (29), directly or indirectly. The cow is now secured in the care stall and a belt can be placed around the cow's front fetlock joint and the fetlock joint slowly raised by winding up a crank (18). The claw is raised to a position suitable for cutting and the fetlock joint is pulled towards a round iron bracket (19) for foot support by gradually lifting it, which can be designed to accommodate the foot, e.g. with padding, and is secured by gently placing it on it.

The holder (20) for fastening the front foot winch (18) is bent outwards with the floor frame at an angle of approximately 30° relative to a vertical so that the foot is pulled away from the cow's body and the front foot claw can be worked on away from the care stand. Preferably, the winch device (18) is also attached in such a way that the foot is led out from the side of the interior of the frame.

To pull up the hind legs, a belt is placed around the cow's hock and the opposite end of the belt is hooked onto the crankshaft (17) at a suitable point for the respective leg. By turning the shaft (19), the belt is rolled up over the middle rear cross brace (9) until the hind foot is brought close to the middle rear cross brace (9). The pulling effect of the belt then secures the hind foot to the middle rear cross brace (9) and positions it appropriately to be cut out. The middle rear cross brace at the rear end of the care crate is advantageously removable and can be attached at different heights. Belts such as those used in car seat belts can be used as belts.

The middle rear crossbar (9) and/or crankshaft (17) do not have to be attached directly to the rear posts (2) but can advantageously be attached to them at a distance to the rear via an attachment frame.

Claims (12)

1. Care stand arrangement for large animals, consisting of a substantially frame-like care stand ( 1 ) which is open at the front and can be rolled over the animal, with wheels ( 12 ) and lateral struts ( 4 , 5 ) and devices for holding the raised feet of the animal ( 17 , 18 ), characterized in that - the care stand ( 1 ) has wheels ( 12 ) at least at the rear, which are freely mounted on the floor frame ( 14 ) of the care stand ( 1 ) for a change of track direction and space the floor frame ( 14 ) of the care stand ( 1 ) from the floor ( 21 ) in such a way that it can roll so that the care stand can be moved laterally to a certain extent at least at the rear when force is applied by the animal in the care stand, - the care stall arrangement has an immovable, stationary head rail ( 31 ) which fixes the animal in the care stall and - The head rail ( 31 ) and the care stand ( 1 ) are detachably connected in two parts, directly or indirectly, for locking the care stand ( 1 ) via fastening means ( 29 ). 2. Nursing stand arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wheels in the front area can be lowered in order to allow the frame in the front area to rest on the ground. 3. Grooming stand arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a wind-up device ( 17 ) for the hind feet is located on the rear longitudinal side of the grooming stand ( 1 ). 4. Care stand arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the belt of the wind-up device ( 17 ) for the hind feet is guided over a central rear crossbar ( 9 ), the central rear crossbar ( 9 ) serves as a support for the hind foot guided upwards and the central rear crossbar ( 9 ) is preferably fastened in receptacles of different heights for use depending on the size of the animal to be treated. 5. Grooming stand arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a wind-up device ( 18 ) for the front feet is located on the front longitudinal side of the grooming stand. 6. Care stand arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the wind-up device ( 18 ) for the front feet is detachably connected to the lower frame in a receptacle ( 20 ) and the receptacles ( 20 ) are attached on both sides to the lateral lower cross strut ( 6 ) in the region of the front half of the floor frame ( 24 ). 7. Nursing stand arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a front central cross brace can be inserted. 8. Nursing stand arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor frame ( 14 ) is U-shaped and formed in one piece. 9. Nursing stand arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wheels ( 11 and/or 12 ) are attached to the floor frame ( 14 ) by means of outriggers ( 23 ) spaced apart ( 22 ). 10. Care stand arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims; characterized in that the floor frame ( 14 ) is made of tubes with a tube diameter that is at least three times as large as the tube diameter of the rear or front posts ( 2 , 3 ). 11. Nursing stand arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor frame ( 14 ) has a weight such that the center of gravity of the nursing stand ( 1 ) is located in the lower third of the total height of the nursing stand ( 1 ). 12. Nursing stand arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor frame ( 14 ) has tube ends or tube end surfaces at its front end which are designed to rest against a surface of a floor threshold ( 30 ) and to align the floor frame ( 14 ) at a right angle to this surface.