GB1596618A

GB1596618A - Livestock feeding ring means

Info

Publication number: GB1596618A
Application number: GB5039876A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SALOP FENCING CO Ltd
Current assignee: SALOP FENCING CO Ltd
Priority date: 1977-12-01
Filing date: 1977-12-01
Publication date: 1981-08-26

Description

(54) LIVESTOCK FEEDING RING MEANS (71) We, SALOP FENCING COM PANY LIMITED, a British Company of Ennerdale Road, Harlescott, Shrewsbury SY1 3NR, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to feeding rings for livestock especially cattle and consisting basically of a ring of railing or similar wall formation, the spaces or openings in the ring so provided enabling livestock to gain access to foodstuff or fodder such as hay placed within the ring.

The object of this invention is to provide improved feeding ring means whereby wastage of foodstuff or fodder from the ring is minimised during feeding.

According to this invention feeding ring means comprises an inner feeding ring for receiving foodstuff placed therein and having in combination therewith an outer ring which in use is positioned about and laterally spaced from the inner ring, the walls of the rings having spaces or openings therein so that livestock may gain access through the outer ring for drawing foodstuff such as hay from within the inner ring, the space between the rings serving to receive excess foodstuff or hay which is dropped during feeding.

In practice the construction and arrangement is as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I is a plan view of a feeding ring arrangement embodying the invention, and Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in axial plane section.

The arrangement consists of an inner feeding ring 1 provided with an outer feeding ring 2 concentrically about it so as to define an annular space 3 between the rings The inner ring 1 may be of conventional railing form consisting of upper and lower ring members 10, 11 connected by vertical spaced apart upright members 12 such as rods, bars or tubes, the spaces between the latter providing feeding spaces 13 so that an animal may draw hay from within the ring 1 by pulling out mouthfuls. The number of feeding spaces 13 provided in this way is usually twenty but more or less may be provided as required.

The inner ring 1 may be of the order of seven feet (two metres) in diameter so as to receive a large cylindrical bale of appropriate diameter e.g. of the kind now currently in use in agriculture.

Thus the inner ring 1 is initially filled by the bale and as the animals take out hay at the feeding spaces 13 a considerable amount drops to the floor and which hitherto has been trampled on or otherwise spoilt and thus wasted.

However, by the provision of an outer feeding ring 2 in accordance with this invention, hay dropped during feeding falls or largely falls into the annular space 3 between the rings 1, 2 where it is subsequently eaten by the animals or may be collected and returned to the inner ring 1.

The outer ring 2 is of similar construction consisting of upper and lower ring members 20, 21 united by uprights 22 which in this case may provide twenty eight feeding spaces 23 but, here again, the number of such spaces may be varied according to requirements. (Note for clarity in Figure 2 the uprights 12, 22 of one ring are not shown behind those of the other).

The arrangement of the outer spaces 23 enables a cow or similar animal to gain sufficient access to a feeding space 13 of the inner ring 1 and would usually eat the hay with its mouth positioned between the rings 1,2 so that excess hay drops to the ground in the space 3 between the rings 1, 2 where it can also be readily reached by the animal.

The diameter of the outer ring may be of the order of ten feet (three metres) so as to provide an annular space of one foot six inches (50 cm) but these and other dimensions quoted herein are given by way of practical example and may be varied as required. Radial spacing members 4 are shown between the rings 1, 2 so as to maintain a substantially concentric arrangement of them.

In accordance with usual practice the lower part of each ring 1, 2 may be closed by sheet metal or other suitable material at 15 and 25 whilst the rings 1, 2 may be of square, rectangular or other form in plan.

Furthermore the feeding spaces 13, 23 or other suitable spaces may be provided in any suitable manner in the walls of the rings 1, 2. Sheet metal or other suitable flooring may be provided for one or both rings 1, 2 and/or to the annular space 3.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Livestock feeding ring means comprising an inner feeding ring for receiving foodstuff placed therein and having in combination therewith an outer ring which in use is positioned about and laterally spaced from the inner ring, the walls of the rings having spaces or openings therein so that livestock may gain access through the outer ring for drawing foodstuff such as hay from within the inner ring, the space between the rings serving to receive excess foodstuff or hay which is dropped during feeding.

2. Livestock feeding ring means according to claim 1 wherein the outer feeding ring is of circular form and is positioned in use in a substantially concentric manner about the inner ring of corresponding circular form in order to define a space of annular form between the rings.

3. Livestock feeding ring means according to claim 1 or 2 wherein spacing members are provided which are located in use between the rings to maintain their relative spacing.

4. Livestock feeding ring means substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The diameter of the outer ring may be of the order of ten feet (three metres) so as to provide an annular space of one foot six inches (50 cm) but these and other dimensions quoted herein are given by way of practical example and may be varied as required. Radial spacing members 4 are shown between the rings 1, 2 so as to maintain a substantially concentric arrangement of them. In accordance with usual practice the lower part of each ring 1, 2 may be closed by sheet metal or other suitable material at 15 and 25 whilst the rings 1, 2 may be of square, rectangular or other form in plan. Furthermore the feeding spaces 13, 23 or other suitable spaces may be provided in any suitable manner in the walls of the rings 1, 2. Sheet metal or other suitable flooring may be provided for one or both rings 1, 2 and/or to the annular space 3. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Livestock feeding ring means comprising an inner feeding ring for receiving foodstuff placed therein and having in combination therewith an outer ring which in use is positioned about and laterally spaced from the inner ring, the walls of the rings having spaces or openings therein so that livestock may gain access through the outer ring for drawing foodstuff such as hay from within the inner ring, the space between the rings serving to receive excess foodstuff or hay which is dropped during feeding.