CA1243910A

CA1243910A - Animal feeder

Info

Publication number: CA1243910A
Application number: CA000517941A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Paul Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-09-10
Filing date: 1986-09-10
Publication date: 1988-11-01

Abstract

ANIMAL FEEDER

Abstract of the Disclosure The device disclosed includes an outer cage of bars through which cows may pass their heads and necks, but not their shoulders. The device includes an inner cage, which holds a cylindrical hay-bale. The arrangement is such that the cows must reach through the bars of the outer cage in order to reach the hay in the inner cage. The device includes a trough which extends between the two cages, so that any hay that falls from the cow's mouth while the cow has its head between the bars is caught in the trough. The feeder practically eliminates hay wastage.

Description

ANI~AL FEEDER

This invention relat~s to outdoor animal Fee~ers, o~
~he kin~ that are ~sed to pre~ent fod~er~ such as hay~
to cattle~

~AC~ROVND T0 THF INVENTION

Con~entional cattle feeders consist generall~ D~ a head-level rack for storins th~ h~ either loose or ~aled, and a trol~h in the area below the rack. The purpose of the troush i5 to catch ah~ ha~ that falls from the rack. The cattle ea~ both from the rack and fr~nl the troug~

Conventional cattle feeders have been generall~ ra~her waste~ul of ha~. In conventional out~oor fe~ders, as much a 30 percent o~ the hay can be lost, throush being scattere~ around, an~ either blown a~a~, or tra~lpled r .
Cattlo do not eat neatl~. The main ~anner in which the ~aste occurs is this, that the cow te~rs ~t a oale ~f ha~i b~ grip~in~ a tuft o~ ha~ in the mouth. The cow dra~s the tuft of ha~ out of the bale~ and aside, ~efare starting to eat the mouthful of ha~.
Inevitabl~, a prop~rtion af the ha~ in the tuft f~lls from the co~'~ ~outh during this phase~ That ~his fallen ha~ is ~asted has hitherto ~een accepted as an unfortunate ~LIt neressar~ factor in the feedins of cat~le~ being an inevitable consequence ~f the manner in which caws eat.

It is recognised in the invention that a feeder can be so construc~ed ~hat7 if and when the cow drops a portion of a mouth~ul o~ ha~, the feeder will make it possi~le for the dropped or spilled ha~ to be collected, ~nd to be re-presented to the cattle~ A
~eeder ccnstructed accordins to the invention is therefore ain,ed at havin~ a ~uch reduced wastage rate, a5 Lompared with conventional feeders~

~ENERAL DESC~IPTI0~ OE THE INVENTIOhl In the invention, the h~ is contained in an ~nner ~rame or c~ge~ The inner cage is surrMunded b~ an ~uter cage~ The outer cage is made from b~rs which are wide enough ~part that ~ cow can pas5 its head and neck throu~h the ~ars, ~et which are olose enou~h t~ether tha~ the shaulders o~ the cow c~nnot pass between the . , . ~

~ars .

The suter cage is ~pace~ hori~ontally ~r~m the inner Cageq 50 tha~ the co~ has tu reach throush the ~ars of the outer cage in order to reach the ha~ in the inner cage. A trough i5 SO place~q in relation tD the two cages, as ta catch an~ ha~ ~alling frD~ the COW'5 mouth while the COW7 5 head is ~etween the ~ar5.

In order for the cuw to drop an~ ha~ outside the feeder1 therefore, the cuw would ha~e to carr~ the ha~
a su~stantial distance, and then draw the hay backwards through the bars. It has been found that ~hen cattle se the fee~er of the invention, the chttle do not tend tD have hay in their mouths when the~ pull their hehds aut from ~etween the ~ars Df the outer cage; not, at le~st1 tu the e~:tent that ha~ i5 spilled ~rom the mouths o~ the cows in an~ significant quantit~

In the inventiDn, the reduced waste therefore can be attrihuted: ~a) to the sp~cing between the inner cage ~nd the outeP ca9e; SD) to the posi~iuning ~f the trou~h that Latches the spilled ha~ that ~alls between the two cages; and ~c) to the f~ct that the cow dues tend to eat more neatl~ while its head ~nd ~eck are between the ~ars~

It ma~ be o~served that COW5; when feeding from th~
feeder of the invention, spend n.ost of the feedin~ time eatins the ha~ in the trough part of the feede~, reaching up occa~ionall~ to pull down ~icre ha~ from the inner case1 rather than e~tins the hay directl~ from the bale~ It is recogni~ed in the invention that it is when a cow i5 pul ling ha~ from the ~ale, rather th~n when the cow i~ eatins from the trough, that wastage tends to occur -~ and the fact that, in the invention7 the cows tend to eat mainly from the trough, and n~t from ~he ~ale, is another contri~utory f~ctor in achievins the wast~ reduction that is possihle with the invention.

AnQther ~enefit of the fact that the head of the ~DW i~
restricted and con~ine~ during feeding is that the more domin~nt or asgres~ive COW5 are prevented from interferins with the feeding of the weaker cow~

Naturallyl the two cages should not be 50 far ~p~rt that the cow cannot reach the h~ in the inner cageO
The Fattle should be able to reach far eno~gh into the feeder tha~ even tbe final strands ~f ha~ f~on: ~ bale c~n ~e taken into the mouth and eaten~

~3~

A ke~ feature D~ the invention i5 the recognition that wastage can be reduced ~asicall~ b~ not pre~en~ing the fodder directl~ to the cow but b~ ~,aking C;ure that the cow ha5 to pass its head and part o~ its neck between.
~ars before it can re~ch the fodder.

The ~eeder of the invention is particularl~ suitable for use with c~lindrical ha~-bal~s~ As will be seen from the description which follows~ a whole herd o~
cows can feed ~rom a sin~le cylindrical bale simultaneDusl~, ~et ea~h cm~ receives adequ~te access to the ha~.

The feeder o~ the ihvention i5 extre~el~ simple as resards its construc~ion. and the feeder i5 tough and sturdy; it can be tipped on its side, fnr examplel for transport purposes~ ~nd can be stacked and generall~
manh~ndled without ~eing damaged.

DETAIEED I~ES~RIPTIC~N CIF PREFERRED EM~QI~IMENT

The invention will now be further described by making re~erence to an exemplar~ e~bodiment of ~he invention, which is shown in the acro~F~nying drawings~ In the drawings9 Fi~ 1 is ~ persPectiVe elevation of an ani~al ~eeder which embodies the invention7 shown in us~ with cattle feeJing fro~, a ha~-~ale;
Fig ~ i5 ~ persPectiVe view9 partl~ from above Df the feeder of Fi~ 1.

~he cattle feeder unit shown comprises an outer-cage 5~, which rest~ on legs 5~ on the sround~ ~The feecler might alternativel~ be mounted on wheels, for mobilit~.) The outer-cage 58 comprises a series o~ verticall~
disp~sed outer-cage-bars ~1~ which are spaced apart b~
such a distance that a t~pical ~arm cow can pass it~
head and neck through and betwee~ the bars, but cannot pass its shoulders between ~he bars.

The outer-caye 58 constitutes an enclosure whith i5 rectan~ular when viewed in plan, ie from above. The c~ge ~8 i5 self-supportingg being braced b~ corner pleces ~7.

The o~tQr-cage 5~ i5 proYided with ra~ters 6~.
Suspe~ded frQm the rafters ~8 are a set of semicircular 51at5 ~q~ These sla~s ~9 are arran~ed to supp~rt a c~lindric~l ha~-bale 71 ~lith the axis of the ha~-b~le , disposed hori~ontall~. The slat~ ~ form an inner-cage 78~ which is oPen ahove7 tD allow the hay--bale 71 t~ ~e loaded into the inner-ca~e 78, using a front-en~-lnad~r or other suita~le hoisting apparat~s.

The ~la~s ~q are also supp~rted underneath k~ n~eans of the struts 7~. The inner-cas~ 78 serv~s to support the hay-~ale 71, and to keep th~ ha~-bale coherent~ while the haY-bale gets smaller ~as the cows eat the ha~).
Ha~-bales are generall~ tied up with twine, or even wire, which should be renloved before the cattle start to eat the ha~.

As to the di~ensions of ~he particula~ ~nit shown, the diamete~ 81 of the semicircle of the slats ~ i5 approximatel~ ~75 cm, which is a suitable si~e for accon,~odating the t~pic~l farm ha~-~ale 71.

The inner-cage 78 has an axial lensth 87 of 15Q C~11 which, again~ acc~modates the t~pical ha~-bale 71~ The oL~ter-cage 58 is ~15 cm in axial length, and ~4S cm wide. The height of the ou~er-cage 58 is 175 cm~ The outer-cage-bars ~1 are spaced a distance 8~ apart~
which i5 about ~cn~

The i~ner-cage 78 corresponds in diameter to that of a c~lindrichl hay hale~ As the hay i consumed, the si~e of the bale of course is reduced: however, the fact that the slats of the inner-c~ge are selri~circular in shape serve~ to keep the graduall~-re~ucing b~le presented to the co~s in a virtuall~ unchanging fashion9 until the bale has ~e~n almost ~ull~ cansumed.
The slats ~9 serve to keep the bale not onlY coher~nt~
~ut serve also to kYep its lower face cylindrical~ as the ~ale is consumed, and as the hale collapses down into the inner-cage. The manner in which the cattle can draw ha~ from the ~ale therefore tends to remain constant until the ~ale i~ almost con~umeda In some other kinds of feeder, the ~sanner in ~hich the ha~ is presented to the cattle gradually changes as the ~ale shrinks, whereas in the illustrated feeder the ha~
i~ pr sented in the favourable manner of the invention aln,ost the whole time.

In the illustrated ~eeder~ alsD, when a fresh bale i5 loaded into the feeder, the remaining hay from the ~lmost-~onsumed earlier bale is presented ~irst to the COW51 ~nd i5 not cDvered and abscured ~ the additi~n of the Fresh baie.

The distance ~ fro~ the slats ~q of the inns~r-cage 7 ., ~

, tD the bars ~1 ~f the outer-cage 5~ should be set so that a cow can reach ha~ in the inner-cage 78 b~
passing its head and neck throLIgh the outer-cage-bars bl, and the cow can thus take ha~ from wi-thin the inner-cage 78 into its n,ou~h. The dimension B~ is the distance measured at the top oF the cage. In t-he invention, this distance can be set 50 as to combine efficie~t feeding with ver~ low wastage. The distance ~ varies with the t~pe of cattle, in that s~me bree~s o~ cattle have considerabl~ longer necks ~ie the distance fronl the furthest reach of the mauth and tongue, to the shoulder~ than other breQds. For exanlple, for dair~ Holsteins~ the ~istance ~q should be ar~und 35 cm, wherQas for Herefords, and other beef cattle, the distance ~ should be around ~5 cm.

The buttom of the outer-cage 58 is proviJed with floor-boards ~1, which extend ~ver the full area o~ thr~
outer-cage 58. The outer-cage-bars ~1 are filled-i~ at the lower ends b~ n.eans of side-~alls q6. The floor-boards 91 and ~ide-wall~ 9~ farm a trough ~7.
' The trough q7 r~oeives an~ ha~ that is torn fronl th~
hay-bale 71 within the inner-cage 78 b~ the COW5~ and dropped or spilled. The side-walls 96 prevent th~
loose strands o~ ha~ from being carried off b~ the ~ ~"~

1~
wind~

It is pre~erred~ in the inventionl th~t the outer-cage-oars 61 he disposed verticall~. If the bars were to slope inwards, ie if the bottons of the bar~
were to be further fran the cows than the tops ~f the bars, then the co~ 5 mouth would be clear of the trough be~ore the CQW had withdr~wn its hea~ from between the bars. The tendenc~ would then be for some o~ the hay to ~e ~catte~ed outside the trough, and lost. If the bars were to slope outwards~ the COLI5 would tend to stri~e their fore-feet on the ~attom ends of the bars.
When the b~rs are vertical, bath these effects are minimised. Alsoq when the bars are vertical, con~tructiQn of the feeder is thereb~ simplified.

The slats 6~ supp~rt the ha~-bale ~1 a dis~ance q~
~which t~pically i5 8~ cm) above the ground. It h~s been found that with the bale 71 and trough q7 thus disposed, T,an~ cattle can be fed quickl~ and efficientl~, and llithout one cow interfering wi~h ~nother. In the particular unit shown~ it will be noted th~t there are ~ltogether ~ sp~ces that can be occupied b~ cows ~ie ~ spa~es between the bars ~1) including the spaces down both sides o~ the curved c~lindrical ~urfaces O~c the bale, and alsu the spaces ~long both end~faces of the bale. It has been folmd to 1~, ~ : :

be not at all unusual fDr all ~6 spaces to ~e occupied simultaneDusl~, each b~ a respecti~e cow.

The ha~ in the trough ~7 i~ ha~ that has been torn down ~rom the bale; and the action of jU5t one cow in tearing down ha~ therefore ~Ct5 to keep the trough supplied with fodder for the other COW5.

Other kinds of fodder ma~ he added into the trough ~7 to supplement the hay~

Although dimensions have ~een quoted in the aboYe description, it should be noted that the inYention i~
not limited to the particular dimensions ~iYen. The dimensions ~iYen are merel~ examples which h~ve been found to be ef~ective.

Claims

CLAIM 1. Animal feeders characterised:
in that the feeder includes an inner-cage, an outer-cage, and a trough;
in that the inner-cage is suitably dimensioned and arranged for receiving a hay-bale of hay, and for containing the hay-bale as hay is taken from the hay-bale for consumption by an animal using the feeder;

in that the inner-cage is to arranged that the animal can reach and tear hay from the hay-bale and can draw the said hay torn from the hay-bale from within the inner-cage;
in that the outer-cage-bars are so spaced and arranged that the animal can pass its head and neck through the outer-cage-bars, but cannot, in substance, pass its shoulders through the outer-cage-bars;

in that the outer-cage surrouds the inner-cage;

in that the inner-cage and the outer-cage are spaced far enough apart, in the horizontal sense, that the animal can only reach the hay within the inner-cage by passing the whole of its head and at least a part of its neck through the outer-cage;

in that the horizontal spacing between the inner-cage and the outer-cage is such that, when the animal draws hay into its mouth from within the inner-cage, the animal is constrained to carry the said hay a substantial distance before the animal can withdraw its head and mouth completely from between the outer-cage-bars;

in that the trough is so positioned as to catch and contain spilled hay that falls downwards from the animal's mouth as the animal carries the said hay it has drawn from the inner-cage;

and in that the trough extends so far, in the direction from the inner-cage towards the said animal using the feeder, as to catch hay that falls downwards from the animal's mouth at the point where the animal's mouth is about to pass out completely from between the outer-cage-bars.
CLAIM 2. Feeder of claim 1, further characterised:
in that the inner-cage is so dimensioned and arranged as to receive and contain a hay-bale of cylindrical shape;
and in that the inner-cage is so arranged that the surfaces of the hay bale that are presented to the feeding animals through the inner-cage are a portion of the cylindrical curved surface of the hay-bale and portions of both of the end-faces of the cylindrical hay-bale.
CLAIM 3. Feeder of claim 3, further characterised:

in that the outer-cage-bars are disposed vertically.
CLAIM 4. Feeder of claim 3, further characterised:

in that the trough includes side-walls;

and in that the side-walls are disposed in line with, and between, the outer-cage-bars.
CLAIM 5. Feeder of claim 2, further characterised:

in that the inner-cage comprises a series of slats of semicircular shape;

and in that the slats are so arranged as to support the hay-bale well-clear above the level of the trough.
CLAIM 6. Animal feeder, characterised:

in that the feeder includes an inner-cage, an outer-cage, and a trough;

in that the outer-cage comprises a series of outer-cage-bars, each standing vertically, and arranged to form an enclosure of rectangular outline in its plan view;

in that the trough occupies the whole area of the floor of the outer-cage;

in that the outer-cage-bars are so spaced apart that a cow can pass its head and neck through and between the outer-cage-bars, but not its shoulders;

in that the inner-cage comprises a series of semicircular slats, which are arranged to support a cylindrical hay-bale resting on the slats with its axis horizontal;

in that the outer-cage completely surrounds the inner-cage, and is spaced therefrom horizontally by such a distance that a cow can reach the hay of a hay-bale that is resting on the slats only by passing both its head and a portion of its neck through and between the outer-cage-bars;

and in that the said horizontal distance between the outer-cage and the inner-cage applies at all points around the sides and both ends of the said hay-bale.
CLAIM 7. Feeder of claim 6, further characterised:

in that the outer cage is rectangular, and is approximately 245 cm wide, and 215 cm long;

in that the semi-circular slats which comprise the inner cage are approximately 150 cm in diameter;

in that the inner cage is approximately 150 cm in length;

and in that the inner cage is so arranged that the lowermost point of a hay bale resting in the inner cage is approximately 80 cm above ground level.