WO2009127821A1

WO2009127821A1 - Calf rearing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2009127821A1
Application number: PCT/GB2009/000965
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hamilton John Morton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-04-15
Filing date: 2009-04-15
Publication date: 2009-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 2010-10-15

Abstract

The present invention relates to a calf rearing apparatus for containment of suckling calves with provision for attendance of a cow into the apparatus to enable the calves to suckle the cow at periodic intervals. The calf rearing apparatus comprises a suckling bay formed by an elongate passageway (10) defined by two spaced apart opposed side walls (12) and having a platform (14) there between, the passageway (10) having an access gate (16) and an exit gate (18) at opposite ends of the passageway (10), and a one or more walled enclosures (20) for housing a calf or calves (22).

Description

CALF REARING APPARATUS

This invention relates to a calf rearing apparatus for containment of suckling calves with provision for attendance of a cow into the apparatus to enable the calves to suckle the cow at periodic intervals.

Accordingly, the present invention is a calf rearing apparatus having a suckling bay formed by an elongate passageway defined by two spaced apart opposed side walls and having a platform there between, the passageway having an access gate and an exit gate at opposite ends of the passageway, and one or two multi-walled enclosures for housing calves, the or each enclosure having one wall formed by one side wall of the passageway.

Preferably, the level of the platform is raised above the floor level of the enclosed area in the or each enclosure. The platform desirably has a ramp leading to the access gate and a ramp departing from the exit gate of the passageway. Preferably also, the or each enclosure has a slatted or perforated floor area with a collection tank therebelow. The enclosure also beneficially has a part area over which a heated mat extends.

Preferably also, operating mechanisms are provided for controlling the opening and closing movements of the gates, the mechanism including linked first and second ram and cylinder arrangements with the exit gate being closed when the access gate is open and vice versa.

Preferably further, a feeding trough is provided on one side wall of the passageway for use of a cow to get feed from while in the suckling bay. The trough preferably extends into a space above an enclosure. The feeding trough is beneficially supplied with feed from a hopper mounted thereabove and having a chute to direct the feed into the trough. Ideally, a movement stop device is provided on each side wall inward of the access gate, the devices each having a rod rotatable vertically on mountings in/on the respective side wall and carrying in the lower half of its height a radial arm. The rods preferably have an operating mechanism for linking and movement controlling a third ram and cylinder arrangement to operate together in a counter-rotational manner to open with the radial arm in a position parallel to the side walls and to each other or to close with the arms in alignment to each other transverse of the side walls. The arm may be a bar or a paddle and may be curved.

Desirably, the bay has ground-engaging wheels and the or each wall of the or each enclosure are pivoted to each other such that they can collapse into the respective side wall of the bay whereby, with a towing hitch mounted at one end of the passageway, the apparatus has a capability of being towed between different locations on a farm. The ramps and collection tanks, when empty, are preferable hingedly mounted to the respective end and side walls of the bay and are hinged into a closed position for transport when the collection tanks are empty. Catch means may be provided to retain the ramps and collection tanks in a closed position.

The suckling bay may ideally be installed with the platform at ground level and each enclosure below ground level. Each enclosure may be subdivided into two or more pens by one or more partitions. Each partition desirably extends from the inside of the outer wall of the enclosure inwardly to stop short of the respective side wall of the suckling bay. Where two or more partitions are provided, they are linked together and movement controlled by a fourth ram and cylinder arrangement positioned under the floor of the platform. Each partition is beneficially in two halves connected together by a vertical hinge to more easily allow movement of the partitions. Provision is beneficially made to monitor the comings and goings of a cow into and out of the passageway. This provision may be two sets of light sensitive cells arranged between opposite side walls of the suckling bay and spaced apart lengthwise thereof.

A cow identifier reading means may be provided on the inside of a side extension of one side wall provided in front of the access gate and which is capable of reading cow identification information obtained from a tag or electronic tag such as an RFID tag or a chip or similar device provided on a cow.

In an embodiment in which the partitions are fixed, the bay may be formed as a truck with rollers on axles secured to the platform, the rollers running on a floor or on rails mounted in or on a floor. Advantageously, control means over the calf rearing apparatus and its operating mechanisms is provided so that access to the apparatus can be granted or refused to a particular cow or cows based on data stored in a memory that is accessible to the control means and on cow identification data obtained from the cow identifier.

Conveniently, parameters such as suckling duration for a calf or calves in a particular bay or bays can be controlled and monitored by the control means.

Advantageously, the control means can direct a cow to a designated calf or calves for feeding or can enable specific access for said calf or calves to the cow.

Conveniently, the control means comprises computing hardware, database software and a user interface which can be web-based. Advantageously, each enclosure or pen is optionally provided with deployable shutter means so that a calf or calves is/are nudged away from the cow when a preset suckling time has elapsed.

Conveniently, in the embodiment where the bay is formed as a truck the deployable shutter means prevents calves' heads from protruding into the passageway and into the path of the moving truck. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a calf rearing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention showing operative mechanisms for components of the apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figurei with the operating mechanisms omitted and showing locations of a cow and four calves in an enclosure in a suckling position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a movement stop device of the apparatus of Figure 1 , the device being, shown in a closed position showing also the hind legs of a cow in the passageway.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a calf rearing apparatus according to a second embodiment in which two enclosures are provided, one on each side of the bay, each enclosure being sub-divided by two partitions;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified calf rearing apparatus of that shown in Figure 4, modified in that three partitions are shown and the outer wall of each pen is provided with an access door; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a bay of a calf rearing apparatus formed into a truck, the other parts of the apparatus being omitted for clarity; and

Figure 7 is a plan view of the bay of a calf rearing apparatus formed into a truck, the apparatus shown having a plurality of calf enclosures arranged along the elongate passageway.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a calf rearing apparatus of a first embodiment has a milking bay formed by an elongate passageway 10 defined by two spaced apart opposed side walls 12 and having a platform 14 therebetween. The passageway 10 has an access gate 16 and an exit gate 18 at opposite ends of the passageway 10. Two multi-walled enclosures 20 for housing calves 22 are provided, one enclosure 20 being provided outward of each side wall 12 with said side wall 12 of the enclosed area forming one of the walls of the respective enclosure 20. The level of the platform 14 is raised above the level of the enclosed area in the or each enclosure for easy access to the cow's teats by the calves for suckling. The platform 14 has a ramp 24 leading to the access gate 16 and a ramp 24 departing from the exit gate 18 of the passageway 10. Each enclosure 20 has a slatted or perforated floor area 26 with a collection tank 28 therebelow. The collection tank 28 has an inlet/outlet port for emptying the contents of, and water cleaning the inside of, the tank 28. The port 30 has a removable cap 32. Each enclosure 20 also has a part area over which a heated mat 34 extends as shown. When the apparatus is positioned near farm buildings, the mat 34 can be integrated into a hot water system in the buildings to enable hot water to circulate through the heat mats 34. Operating mechanisms are provided for controlling the opening and closing movements of the gates 16, 18, the mechanism including linked first and second ram and cylinder arrangements 36 with the exit gate 18 being closed when the access gate 16 is open and vice versa. A feeding trough 38 is provided on one side wall 12 of the passageway 14. The trough 38 extends into a space above a heated mat part 34. A movement stop device is provided on each side wall 12 inward of the access gate 16. The devices each have a rod 40 rotatable vertically on mountings in/on the respective side wall 12 and carrying in the lower half of its height a radial arm 42. The rods 40 have an operating mechanism for linking and movement controlling a third ram and cylinder arrangement 44 to operate together in a counter-rotational manner to open with the radial arm 42 in a position parallel to the side walls 12 and to each other or to close with the arms 42 in alignment to each other transverse of the side walls 12 as shown in Figure 3. The arm 42 is a paddle as shown, but may simply be a bar. The bay has pneumatic ground-engaging wheels (not shown) and the or each wall of the or each enclosure 20 are pivoted to each other such that they can collapse into the respective side wall 12 of the bay whereby, with a towing hitch (not shown) mounted at one end of the passageway 14 and connected to a tractor or other prime mover, the apparatus has a capability of being towed between different locations on a farm. The ramps 24 and collection tanks 28, are hingedly mounted to the respective end and side walls of the bay and are hinged into a closed position for transport when the collection tanks are empty. Catch means are provided to retain the ramps and collection tanks in a closed position. Provision is made to monitor the comings and goings of the cow 46 into and out of the passageway 14.

The arrangements are preferably operated pneumatically but can be operated hydraulically. In use, with two calves in each enclosure, i.e. one per each teat of a cow 46, a cow 46 can enter the passageway 14 and the calves 22 can suckle. The movement stop device is provided for the arms 42 to locate in front of the hind legs of a cow (see Figure 3) to prevent the cow 46 kicking a calf 2. Also, the apparatus can be used with a cow who has one or more teats not producing milk due to a mastitis infection in which case instead of two calves in the enclosure only one calf can be enclosed. After a period of time, estimated by the farmer, the exit gate 18 is opened and the cow can walk away and then return later and the suckling process can be repeated.

In a second embodiment as shown in Figure 4 and in which like parts are denoted by like numerals, the calf rearing apparatus is installed with the platform 14 at ground level and each enclosure below ground level. The apparatus has two enclosures 20. There is no heated mat 34 shown and no ramps provided.

Each enclosure 20 is sub-divided into three pens 50 by two partitions 52. Each partition 52 extends from the inside of the outer wall of the enclosure 20 inwardly to stop short of the respective side wall of the bay. The two partitions 52 are linked together by link 54 which is movement controlled by being connected by tie 56 to the outer end of the ram 58 of a fourth ram and cylinder arrangement 60. The arrangement 60 is positioned under the floor of the platform 14. Each partition 52 is in two halves connected together by a vertical hinge 62 to more easily allow movement of the partitions 52.

Provision is made to monitor the comings and goings of a cow into and out of the passageway 10. This provision comprises two sets of light sensitive cells arranged as shown between opposite side walls of the bay and spaced lengthwise thereof as shown, each set having one light emitting cell 64A and one light receiving cell 64B arranged opposite to each other. When the respective sets of cells are occluded by the presence of a cow it is indicative that said cow is fully and correctly entered into the passageway and the gate can then be closed. A cow identifier reading means may be provided on the inside of a side extension of one side wall provided in front of the access gate and which is capable of reading cow identification information obtained from a tag, electronic tag such as an RFID tag or a chip or similar device provided on a cow

In this embodiment, the access gate 16 and exit gate 18 operate vertically about a horizontal axis rather than laterally about a vertical axis. The gates 16, 18 are operated by the first and second ram and cylinder arrangements 36. A control box 48 is provided within which a computer is provided which automates and controls operations of the different moving parts.

In a modification of the second embodiment shown in Figure 4, three rather than two partitions are provided and small access doors 70, vertically hinged are shown. While the doors 70 are above the floor level and the pens below floor level, it is not necessary to have ramps internal of the pens.

In a third embodiment as shown in Figure 5, and in which like numerals denote like parts, the partitions 52 are static and the bay is formed as a truck with two spaced sets of rollers 72 on axles secured to the platform 14. The rollers 72 run on rails 74. One set of rollers 72, shown as at the end of the exit gate 18, is provided with a motor 76 which may be electric powered or otherwise. To allow the movement of the bay along the tracks, the location of the control box 48 is raised to be above the height of the enclosure wall. In this embodiment the third ram and cylinder arrangement can be provided above the bay or below the platform 14 of the bay. Detail of the bay formed as a truck is shown in Figure 6. In this embodiment there may also be provided deployable shutter means on the enclosures (not shown) which rise when the truck has arrived at said enclosure so that a calf or calves can gain access to the cow. Once the suckling period is complete these shutters descend so that the head of the calf or calves can no longer protrude into the truck or passageway and so are not susceptible to being hit by the moving truck.

In all embodiments, a hopper 78 with a chute 80 is provided to direct the meal into the trough 38. In all embodiments it is possible that a plurality of calf enclosures which can each be provided as separate modules can be arranged together along the length of an elongate passageway as shown by way of example in Figure 7.

In use of the second and third embodiments, the cow, when located in the bay is static. The partitions are moved in turn to bring the calves in a pen into access to the cow's teats for suckling, a different cow being used for each set of four calves i.e. two in each enclosure on opposite sides of the bay.

Alternatively, in the third embodiment, the bay is moved as required between each pen to bring the cow's teats into alignment with the open end of the pen as illustrated in Figure 7 where a plurality of calf enclosures are shown arranged along the elongate passageway. In a simplified modification of each of the three embodiments only one enclosure may be provided on one side of the suckling bay or a plurality of enclosures may be provided on one side of the suckling bay only.

In a second modification of each of the three embodiments, where the apparatus is remote from buildings, the heat mats may be electrically heated by suitable means such as a car battery or electric generator.

Variations and other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above and as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A calf rearing apparatus comprising a suckling bay formed by an elongate passageway defined by two spaced apart opposed side walls and having a platform there between, the passageway having an access gate and an exit gate at opposite ends of the passageway, and a one or more walled enclosures for housing a calf or calves whereby the calf or calves can have direct access to the cow in the suckling bay.

2. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the level of the platform is raised above the floor level of the enclosed area in the or each enclosure.

3. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the bay is installed with the platform at ground level and each enclosure below ground level.

4. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the platform has a ramp leading to the access gate and a ramp departing from the exit gate of the passageway.

5. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the or each enclosure is subdivided into two or more pens by one or more partitions.

6. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the or each partition extends from the inside of the outer wall of the enclosure inwardly to stop short of the respective side wall of the suckling bay.

7. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein when two or more partitions are provided said partitions are linked together and movement controlled by a ram and cylinder arrangement positioned under the floor of the platform.

8. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein each partition is in two halves connected together by a vertical hinge to more easily allow movement of the partitions.

9. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each enclosure has a slatted or perforated floor area with a collection tank therebelow.

10. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each enclosure has a part area over which a heated mat extends.

11. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed any preceding claim, wherein the suckling bay has ground-engaging wheels and the or each wall of the or each enclosure are pivoted to each other such that they can collapse into the respective side wall of the bay whereby, with a towing hitch mounted at one end of the passageway, the apparatus has a capability of being towed between different locations on a farm.

12. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed any preceding claim, wherein the bay may be formed as a truck with rollers on axles secured to the platform, the rollers running on a floor or on rails mounted in or on a floor.

13. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed any preceding claim, wherein operating mechanisms are provided for controlling the opening and closing movements of the gates, the mechanism including linked first and second ram and cylinder arrangements with the exit gate being closed when the access gate is open and vice versa.

14. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed any preceding claim, wherein a feeding trough is provided on one side wall of the passageway for use of a cow to get feed from while in the suckling bay.

15. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed any preceding claim, wherein a movement stop device is provided on each side wall inward of the access gate, the devices each having a rod rotatable vertically on mountings in/on the respective side wall and carrying in the lower half of its height a radial arm.

16. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the rods have an operating mechanism for linking and movement controlling a ram and cylinder arrangement to operate together in a counter-rotational manner to open with the radial arm in a position parallel to the side walls and to each other or to close with the arms in alignment to each other transverse of the side walls.

17. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the arm may be a bar or a paddle and may be curved.

18. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed any preceding claim, wherein means for monitoring the comings and goings of a cow into and out of the passageway are provided.

19. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the monitoring means comprises two sets of light sensitive cells arranged between opposite side walls of the bay and spaced apart lengthwise thereof.

20. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the monitoring means comprises a cow identifier reading means that is provided on the inside of a side extension of one side wall provided in front of the access gate, the reader being capable of reading cow identification information obtained from a tag or electronic tag such as an RFID tag, chip or similar device provided on a cow.

21. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, control means over said calf rearing apparatus, its operating mechanisms and monitoring means is provided so that access to the apparatus can be granted or refused to a particular cow or cows based on data stored in a memory that is accessible to the control means and on cow identification data obtained from the cow identifier reading means.

22. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in Claim 21 , wherein, parameters such as suckling duration for a calf or calves in a particular bay or bays is controlled and monitored by the control means.

23. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the control means is capable of directing a cow to her own particular calf or calves for feeding or can enable specific access for said calf or calves to their mother.

24. A calf rearing apparatus as claimed in any one of Claim 21 to Claim 23 wherein the control means comprises computing hardware, database software and a user interface which can be web-based.

25. A calf rearing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.