Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K1/00—Housing animals; Equipment therefor
  • A01K1/0041—Rotary, round or circular animal barns
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01J—MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
  • A01J5/00—Milking machines or devices
  • A01J5/007—Monitoring milking processes; Control or regulation of milking machines
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K5/00—Feeding devices for stock or game ; Feeding wagons; Feeding stacks
  • A01K5/02—Automatic devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K5/00—Feeding devices for stock or game ; Feeding wagons; Feeding stacks
  • A01K5/02—Automatic devices
  • A01K5/0275—Automatic devices with mechanisms for delivery of measured doses

Definitions

• the present invention concerns a system for individual feeding of animals that each are provided with an information carrier containing data used for determining the need for feed of each single animal, a central control unit for registering data on the carrier and processing these for determining the actual amount and mixture of feed that the animal is needing, a feed station connected with the control unit and comprising at least one feed hopper and discharge means discharging into an eating-drinking trough which is provided in a carrousel having a number of feed spaces with each their trough, and that the animals' access to the carrousel occurs via a gate comprising registering means registering data on the carrier and transmitting these to the control unit.
• the invention furthermore concerns a method for individual feeding of animals that each are provided with an information carrier containing data which are used for determining the need for feed of each single animal as a central control unit is used for registering data on the carrier and processing these for determining the actual amount and mixture of feed that the animals is in need of, where the control unit gives off a signal to a feed station comprising at least one feed hopper and discharge means dis- charging into an eating-drinking trough at which the feeding is performed in an eating- drinking trough rotated in a carrousel with a number of feeding spaces where the animals are staying during the feeding, and that the animals' access to the carrousel is controlled via a gate.
• Systems comprising gates with antennae for registering animals passing through the gate, e.g. to a milking facility, are also known. These systems are registering which animals are passing and enables adaptation of a subsequent process, e.g. milking, to the individual animal.
• the data carrier may not only be used for establishing the individual need for feed of the animal with a technically simple and economically advantageous feeding system, but which also enables that only the animals having a real need for feed will get access to the feeding area, and which enables re- duction in the manual handling of the animals when these are to be sorted off the herd of one or the other ground.
• the carrier is provided with data about the feed need of the animal
• that second registering means are provided at the exit of the carrousel for updating and registering data on the carrier
• that third registering means are provided on the trough for registering remaining feed in the trough when the animal leaves the carrousel
• the control unit is arranged for processing data from the registering means for registering the real need for feed of the animal, and which opens the gate when the animal has accumulated sufficient need for feed and thereby is accepted after processing the signal from the carrier.
• the method according to the invention is peculiar in that the data of the information carrier are updated at the exiting of the animal after each visit in the carrousel, at least with information about the time for the last feeding, that the control unit processes data from the registrations, that the real need for feed of the animal is registered, and that the gate is opened if it is registered that the animal has accumulated sufficient need for feed and is then accepted after registering and processing data on the carrier.
• the applied trough may be used as a combined eating and drinking trough, or as eating trough only.
• the control unit may be provided with a program which is not opening the gate or gates to the feeding carrousel if the animal is returning too quickly.
• the data stored may thus also contain information about the time of the latest feeding(s), and hereby there may be registered a time interval before the next accepted time for feed- ing.
• transponders may be active and may e.g. be arranged for emitting a sound/vibration signal which indicates to the animal that it is now being accepted for feeding.
• the feeding system is arranged for continual apportioning of whole feed round the clock.
• the animals will be possible for the animals to eat at the time of the day when they want.
• gates in the form of so-called selective gates when entering a concentration area at the entrance to the carrousel enables rejective selection of animals for feeding.
• the selective gates thus allow the animals to come into the concentration area around the carrousel, and by entering the carrousel itself, a sensor/antenna is used for register- ing the individual animal for determining the actual amount or composition of feed.
• a separating gate registering the actual animal, either giving access to the resting area for the animal or to a separation area in accordance with a signal from the central control unit.
• a registration may be performed by registering the yielded milk from previous milkings.
• Other conditions may be registration of bad health condition due to lack of desire to eat.
• sort off animals having too high or reduced activity This may be registered by the central control unit via the data carrier. Such a change in activity may e.g. be caused by heat/rut or sickness.
• the sorting off occurs by making the gate so that the ani- mals are directed into the separation area for separate handling and treatment.
• the control system may also be used for registering lack of activity in the case of no animals going into the feeding area. Such a registering may possibly be shown on a display or by a print in the shape of a separate report. In such a situation, the user does not need to be present in the stable in order to register the animals which have not gone to or have been denied access to the feeding area and/or the carrousel.
• the system with an concentration area outside the carrousel where the animals are passing through the selective gates from a surrounding resting area.
• the animals may be able to pass through the gates between the resting area and the concentration area outside the carrousel itself.
• the access to the carrousel may occur by a selection gate situated at the entrance to the carrousel, ensuring individual feeding when the animal occupies a feed space in the carrousel.
• the system will preferably be arranged with an emptying device that empties and reg- isters the feed left in the eating-drinking trough.
• an emptying device that empties and reg- isters the feed left in the eating-drinking trough.
• This dosing unit is situated at a suitable location in the stable together with the feed hopper giving off the individually determined amount of feed to the dosing unit.
• the dosing unit is connected with a conveyor which may be of different kind, and which at its other end is provided with a discharge means ensuring that the feed is filled into the trough.
• the discharge means may be screw conveyors, funnels or similar.
• the conveyor is preferably a conveyor belt. This may be arranged pivotably for being pivoted in over a trough in the carrousel or, alternatively, a conveyor may be mounted fixed at a level above the carrousel so that this may freely turn under the carrousel. In this situation, in the carrousel there may be provided a filling tube or similarly discharging in proximity of the discharging means of the conveyor with purpose of reducing distance in the free fall of the feed and thereby reducing the risk of waste.
• the central feeding control with one feeding facility for all the animals and with individual possibility for feeding and composition of feed will mean that each single animal can be offered completely fresh untouched feed both day and night. Since the animals are only accepted for access for feed when a certain time has elapsed since the last feeding, the animals will eat the entire amount of feed discharged. The risk that the animals are only consuming the tasty and leaving the remaining part for subsequently going back into the facility again when hunger appears is thus avoided. Thus it is ensured that the animals receives the desired nutrient composition. On the basis of the central control it will be possible to perform a changing of the feed in the course of the day.
• the feeding system may create balance between the need of the animal and the composition of the of the allocated feed. This also means that the feeding system may easily be used for feeding experiments as results in the form of yield, weight, activity may be registered quickly. Furthermore, such experiments may be performed with a number of animals without involving other animals in a herd.
• the system according to the invention will be placed in a round stable giving a supplementary advantage in the form of natural ventilation.
• a good natural ventilation may be achieved due to very great driving height.
• ventilation located at the top will result in a strong effect.
• Manual work with adjusting the ventilation system may thus be reduced simultaneously with optimising air renewal.
• an improved climate is achieved as the improved ventilation has to imply less condensation. Due to a central air vent at the centre of the stable, large air renewal will occur without any substantial draught arising therefrom.
• a round building will furthermore be more stable and resistant to storm than a four- sided. Also, an extension may easily be provided by building a further "ring" containing further resting spaces.
• Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a stable with a system according to the invention
• Fig. 2 shows a side view of the stable shown in Fig. 1
• Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a stable with a system according to the invention
• Fig. 2 shows a side view of the stable shown in Fig. 1
• Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a stable with a system according to the invention
• Fig. 2 shows a side view of the stable shown in Fig. 1
• Fig. 2 shows a side view of the stable shown in Fig. 1
• Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of elements forming part of the system according to the invention.
• a round stable 1 consisting of rings of bed boxes 5 and slatted floors 6.
• a concentration area 7 is provided to which the animals get access through gates 8.
• the gates 8 are controlled by a central control unit 9. With the system, it is thus possible to get the cows into the concentration area 7. Via an entrance 10, they may therefrom be led into the carrousel as there is provided a gate (not shown) also here.
• the dosing unit 17 is provided outside the carrousel and is part of a feed system which furthermore comprises a whole feed mixer, a distributing table 18 and a number of feed hoppers 19,20,21 for different kinds of feed. It is possible to use more feed hoppers than those shown, and it will be possible to use different kinds of feed, e.g. turnips, concentrated feed, etc.
• feed system 22 which in general is designated with 22. All supply for feeding all the animals takes places via the feed system 22, reducing handling and transport of feed.
• the feed may be transferred directly from a near storage building 24, either by machines, truck or via conveyors from silos or similar storage compartments.
• the feed system 22 may be provided with several conveyors leading into the discharging means 15.
• a screw conveyor 25 may also be provided, connecting one of the feed hoppers 21 directly with the discharge means 15.
• the conveyors 16,25 may be disposed pivotably so that they may be swung outside the path of the carrousel or al- ternatively, they may be disposed at such a height that the carrousel may freely rotate under the conveyors.
• the dosing unit 17 is connected with the central control unit 9, and when a cow 2 is registered, a control signal 26 is transmitted to the dosing unit, which consequently composes the correct individual amount of feed for the animal in question.
• a control signal 27 is transmitted back to the control unit as an indication that the amount of feed is allocated.
• an area 33 used for calving there is furthermore provided an area 33 used for calving.
• a separate feed table 34 is also provided.
• the separate feed tables 31,34 are suitably provided in immediate proximity of the feed system 22 so that feeding may be performed easily. This may possibly occur by the conveyor 16 being pivoted in over the feed tables 31,34.
• a weighing unit 41 which registers the amount of remaining feed, properties of the milk in the form of temperature, cell count etc. Weighing may occur by the trough having self-emptying bottom which at a particular position is released by a finger so that remaining feed falls down on weigh belt under the carrousel.
• the milk is preferably registered during milking so that the result is registered and processed when milking is finished.
• a signal 43 is transmitted to the central control unit 9, and the central control unit may possibly transmit a return signal 42 as indication of correct reception.
• a scale 44 weighing the cow.
• a signal 45 is transmitted to the central control unit.
• a signal 46 may be returned as documentation of correct reception.
• a return signal may simultaneously be used for controlling opening and closing the separation gate 29 for directing a cow to the separation area 30 if this appears to be necessary.
• 34 designates a technicians' room located in association with the stable 1, and where a number of technical functions are situated, including the central control unit 9.
• the separate building is, via a footwalk 35, connected to the stable, and inside the stable there is a gangway 36 extending across the whole resting area.
• the stable is constructed as a round stable with an upwardly tapering roof 37 as shown in Fig. 2, the farmer will have a good overview over the whole stable from the gangway 36.
• the gangway 36 serves as access route to the carrousel 4.
• a circular gangway may be disposed over the carrousel.
• a glass housing may be provided over the carrousel in order to get an overview over the entire stable.
• the stable building will, due to its great height, establish a good natural ventilation. Vents 38 situated centrally at the top of the building will thus provide good ventilation via an upwardly directed air flow coming in via gills 39 located in the wall 40.
• the gills 39 may be arranged opening with regard to the wind direction for avoiding draught in the stable.
• four selection gates 8 are provided, used for through passage of the animals from the resting area 5 to the concentration area 7. At these gates it is checked whether a cow 2 has just eaten. If this is the case, the cow will not be accepted and will therefore not get access to the concentration area 7 and thereby to the carrousel 4. This will only be the case outside milking hours.
• the central control unit may be programmed so that a cow which has just eaten, will be allowed access at the time of the start of the milking carrousel. However, due to the selective access only allowed for at certain time intervals, the cows will be accustomed to going into the concentration area 7 for feeding and/or milking at suitable times.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Husbandry (AREA)
• Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
• Birds (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Feeding And Watering For Cattle Raising And Animal Husbandry (AREA)

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• 2000
  • 2000-09-04 DK DK200001313A patent/DK200001313A/da not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2001
  • 2001-09-04 AU AU2001285722A patent/AU2001285722A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-09-04 EP EP01964945A patent/EP1315415A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-09-04 WO PCT/DK2001/000581 patent/WO2002019807A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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