GB2139117A - Marking tape for animal husbandry - Google Patents

Abstract

A marking tape has a carrier formed by a layer 1 of plastics material and a fabric layer 2. An adhesive layer 3 permits the tape to be attached to an animal, after removal of a protective layer 4 which protects the adhesive prior to use. A facing layer 5 of a different colour from the plastics layer 1 is secured to the plastics layer 1 so that it is removed by frictional contact. Thus, if the tape is stuck onto the buttocks of an animal, frictional contact of an animal during service or bulling causes the facing layer to be removed, providing a clear indication to the herdsman of the condition of the animal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Marking tape for animal husbandry The present invention relates to a marking tape for use in animal husbandry.

A known form of marking for purposes such as identification of animals, particularly cattle, which are bulling or cows that have been served, uses a tube containing a dye. This is attached to an animal, and impact of another animal causes the tube to change colour. However, it is found that a tube tends to change colour anyway over a period of a few weeks, so this technique is not reliable. The present invention provides a tape for attachment to an animal and which has a facing removable from a carrier by frictional contact. The tape is adhered to the buttocks of an animal. The facing layer is removed when the animal is mounted by another by frictional contact between the facing layer and the other animal.

Preferably the facing layer and the carrier are different colours so that the herdsman can identify easily which cattle have been served or are bulling, and which are not.

The tape may be self-adhesive (possibly after removal of a release paper). It will generally still be desirable to apply a quick-setting adhesive to the animal before the tape is applied, to ensure reliable fixing.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the sole Figure shows the various layers of an adhesive tape according to the present invention.

The adhesive tape comprises a carrier formed by a layer 1 of plastics material coating a fabric layer 2.

The plastics material is flexible so that the tape may conform to the surface to which the tape is stuck.

The free surface of the fabric layer is coated with an adhesive 3 and a protection layer 4 covers the adhesive, the layer 4 being removed when the tape is to be stuck to an animal.

A facing layer 5 of a different colour from the plastics material layer 1 is attached to the plastics layer 1 so that frictional contact with the facing layer 5 causes it to be removed from the carrier. The facing layer 5 is weather resistant so that it may remain on the animal for a long time without deteriorating. A suitable material is applied as a (natural or synthetic) latex composition, which forms a rubbery layer. This can be rubbed off by the vigorous pummelling it receives during mounting, but is stable to such mild abrasion and weathering which it is likely to receive in normal circumstances.

In use an adhesive is applied to the area to which the tape is to be applied, the protection layer 4 is removed, and the tape is stuck onto the animal. The tape may either be in roll form, in which case lengths of tape are cut as necessary, or be in the form of an individual patch. When an animal is served or is bulling, the facing layer 5 is removed by frictional contact of another animal and this exposes the plastics material layer 1. Thus a clear indication is given to the herdsman of the state of the animal, and appropriate action can be taken.

In the case of animals to be served, the tape may be attached before serving is arranged to occur.

Subsequently a new, intact tape may be attached so that, at the next heat, it will indicate to the herdsman if the cow has "held". That is, the continuation in place of the top layer will serve to indicatepre- gnancy.

In general, a new tape should be applied one month after calving (or one month before serving is to occur), and replaced regularly until there is a positive pregnancy diagnosis. The herdsman can easily identify that part of the herd which bear tapes, and so he knows which animals require to be watched or given special attention.

1. A tape comprising a carrier having an attachment side and a removable facing layer secured to the opposite surface, wherein the securing of the facing layer to the carrier is such that the facing layer is removable from the carrier by frictional contact of an object with the facing layer.

2. Atape according to claim 1, wherein the carrier and the facing layer are different colours.

3. Atape according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the carrier comprises a layer of plastics material and a layer of fabric material, the facing layer being removably secured to the layer of plastics material.

4. Atape according to any preceding claim having an adhesive layer at the attachment side.

5. Atape according to claim 4, having a protection layer removably attached to the adhesive layer.

6. Atape according to any preceding claim wherein the facing layer comprises or is derived from a (natural or synthetic) rubber latex.

7. An adhesive tape substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

8. A method of marking an animal comprising attaching a tape according to any one of the preceding claims to the animal at the attachment side of the tape.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Marking tape for animal husbandry The present invention relates to a marking tape for use in animal husbandry. A known form of marking for purposes such as identification of animals, particularly cattle, which are bulling or cows that have been served, uses a tube containing a dye. This is attached to an animal, and impact of another animal causes the tube to change colour. However, it is found that a tube tends to change colour anyway over a period of a few weeks, so this technique is not reliable. The present invention provides a tape for attachment to an animal and which has a facing removable from a carrier by frictional contact. The tape is adhered to the buttocks of an animal. The facing layer is removed when the animal is mounted by another by frictional contact between the facing layer and the other animal. Preferably the facing layer and the carrier are different colours so that the herdsman can identify easily which cattle have been served or are bulling, and which are not. The tape may be self-adhesive (possibly after removal of a release paper). It will generally still be desirable to apply a quick-setting adhesive to the animal before the tape is applied, to ensure reliable fixing. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the sole Figure shows the various layers of an adhesive tape according to the present invention. The adhesive tape comprises a carrier formed by a layer 1 of plastics material coating a fabric layer 2. The plastics material is flexible so that the tape may conform to the surface to which the tape is stuck. The free surface of the fabric layer is coated with an adhesive 3 and a protection layer 4 covers the adhesive, the layer 4 being removed when the tape is to be stuck to an animal. A facing layer 5 of a different colour from the plastics material layer 1 is attached to the plastics layer 1 so that frictional contact with the facing layer 5 causes it to be removed from the carrier. The facing layer 5 is weather resistant so that it may remain on the animal for a long time without deteriorating. A suitable material is applied as a (natural or synthetic) latex composition, which forms a rubbery layer. This can be rubbed off by the vigorous pummelling it receives during mounting, but is stable to such mild abrasion and weathering which it is likely to receive in normal circumstances. In use an adhesive is applied to the area to which the tape is to be applied, the protection layer 4 is removed, and the tape is stuck onto the animal. The tape may either be in roll form, in which case lengths of tape are cut as necessary, or be in the form of an individual patch. When an animal is served or is bulling, the facing layer 5 is removed by frictional contact of another animal and this exposes the plastics material layer 1. Thus a clear indication is given to the herdsman of the state of the animal, and appropriate action can be taken. In the case of animals to be served, the tape may be attached before serving is arranged to occur. Subsequently a new, intact tape may be attached so that, at the next heat, it will indicate to the herdsman if the cow has "held". That is, the continuation in place of the top layer will serve to indicatepre- gnancy. In general, a new tape should be applied one month after calving (or one month before serving is to occur), and replaced regularly until there is a positive pregnancy diagnosis. The herdsman can easily identify that part of the herd which bear tapes, and so he knows which animals require to be watched or given special attention. CLAIMS

1. A tape comprising a carrier having an attachment side and a removable facing layer secured to the opposite surface, wherein the securing of the facing layer to the carrier is such that the facing layer is removable from the carrier by frictional contact of an object with the facing layer.

2. Atape according to claim 1, wherein the carrier and the facing layer are different colours.

3. Atape according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the carrier comprises a layer of plastics material and a layer of fabric material, the facing layer being removably secured to the layer of plastics material.

4. Atape according to any preceding claim having an adhesive layer at the attachment side.

5. Atape according to claim 4, having a protection layer removably attached to the adhesive layer.

6. Atape according to any preceding claim wherein the facing layer comprises or is derived from a (natural or synthetic) rubber latex.

7. An adhesive tape substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

8. A method of marking an animal comprising attaching a tape according to any one of the preceding claims to the animal at the attachment side of the tape.