GB2051544A - Livestock handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for handling livestock such as sheep that are to be dipped comprises a temporary holding pen 1 which has a floor constituted by an endless belt mounted about rollers so that a sheep on the floor can be urged forwardly towards a cage 11. The cage 11 is mounted on a rotatable platform 17 and the cage may be rotated and subsequently tilted so that the floor of the cage 11 is inclined, the sheep thus being discharged hind quarters first into a sheep dip. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to livestock handling apparatus THIS INVENTION relates to livestock handling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for handling sheep.

Sheep have to be dipped in appropriate chemicals at appropriate times of the year to ensure the health of the sheep. In certain circumstances it is necessary to dip sheep as frequently as once a fortnight.

When dipping sheep, for satisfactory results to be obtained the sheep must be introduced to a pool of an appropriate chemical in such a way that the hind quarters or tail end of the sheep enter the chemical first. Subsequently the shepherd dipping the sheep must ensure that the sheep are completely submerged, and additionally must also ensure that the sheep stay within the pool of chemical for a predetermined minimum time.

It is the present practice, when sheep are to be dipped, for the sheep to be individually lifted and thrown or dropped in to the pool of chemical by hand. This is an arduous, unpleasant and time consuming task. The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus that may be utilised to facilitate the handling of livestock, such as sheep, when the sheep have to be dipped.

According to the broadest aspect of this invention there is provided a livestock handling apparatus, said apparatus comprising a cage, as herein defined, and means for introducing a head of livestock to said cage through an open end thereof when the cage is in a first position said cage being mounted so that the cage can be moved to a second position in which the open end thereof is directed towards a dip and so that at least the floor of the cage may subsequently be inclined so that the floor slopes downwardly towards the open end of the cage to discharge a head of livestock into said dip.

In this specification the word cage is used in a broad context and is not to be understood as being restricted solely to an animal enclosure formed of metal bars or mesh, but it is to be understood as meaning any means defining a chamber or cavity into which a head of livestock may be introduced. Thus the chamber or cavity must be of appropriate size to contain a head of livestock, and whilst the chamber or cavity may be made of metal bars or metal mesh in some embodiments of the invention the chamber may be formed at least partially or completely by panels of wood or other similar material.

Preferably the cage is mounted so that it can be turned about a substantially vertical axis, and preferably the cage is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position.

Advantageously the cage comprises a floor, two spaced side wails, and end wall at one end, the cage being open at the other end.

Preferably a wire mesh structure or the like is provided at said one end of the cage to surround the head of an animal when the animal is in the cage.

Preferably the floor of the cage forms part of, or is mounted on, a rotatable platform, the platform being rotatable in a horizontal plane.

Advantageously the horizontal platform is mounted above a second platform, the first platform being rotatably mounted on said second platform so that the first platform can rotate on the second platform.

Advantageously the first platform is mounted on the second platform by means of castors, rollers, roller bearings or the like.

Preferably the second platform is mounted to be tilted about an axis such that, when the cage is in its second position the floor of the cage may be tilted so that the floor of the cage slopes downwardly towards the open end of the cage.

Preferably catch means are provided releasably to retain the second platform in a horizontal position.

Preferably the second platform is supported by a support structure that incorporates an elongate member, the elongate member being mounted in bearings at either end thereof to permit rotation of the elongate member about the longitudinal axis thereof to permit said tilting of the platform.

Advantageously the means for introducing a head of livestock to said cage comprise a temporary holding pen, the temporary holding pen being aligned with the open end of the cage when the cage is in the first position thereof.

Preferably the temporary holding pen comprises two side walls and a floor.

Advantageously the temporary holding pen is provided with a gate at the end thereof adjacent said cage, said gate being movable from a position in which the end of the temporary holding pen adjacent the cage is closed to a position in which the end of the temporary holding pen adjacent the cage is open.

Advantageously the floor of the temporary holding pen is constituted by means that are movable towards said cage. Thus, preferably the floor of the temporary holding pen may be constituted at least partially by an endless belt mounted on appropriate rollers so that the upper exposed surface of the belt may move longitudinally of the temporary holding pen towards said cage.

Conveniently a ramp may be provided to facilitate the entry of a head of livestock into the temporary holding pen.

Preferably the apparatus is intended to introducing sheep into a sheep dip, the tempo rary holding pen and the cage being dimensioned to accommodate a sheep.

According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a method of dipping sheep comprising the steps of introducing a sheep into a cage as herein defined through an open end thereof, moving the cage and so that the open end is directed towards a sheep dip and tilting at least the floor of the cage to discharge the sheep into the dip.

Preferably said moving sheep comprises the step of rotating or turning the cage about a vertical axis.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of part of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with the apparatus in one condition; Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 with the apparatus in a second condition; Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the apparatus in said one condition, taken from one end; Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the apparatus in said second condition taken from the other end; and Figures 6, 7 and 8 are top plan views of the apparatus showing the apparatus in various conditions during a cycle of operation of the apparatus.

Turning to Fig. 1 an apparatus for handling livestock such as sheep intended for use when inserting sheep into a sheep dip and the apparatus comprises a temporary holding pen 1 which is formed by two vertical panels 2, 2 of wood or similar material, the panels being maintained in vertical spaced parallelism by appropriate brackets 4 joining the top edges of the panels. The pen 1 is open at both ends and in dimensional to receive a sheep. A short ramp 5 or the like may be provided to provide access to the temporary holding pen, the ramp being located at the entry end of the temporary holding pen 1.As can be seen most clearly from Fig. 4 the floor of the temporary holding pen 1 is provided with a longitudinally extending endless belt 6 which is mounted on appropriate transverse rollers 7, the arrangement being such that the uppermost surface of the belt 6 may be moved longitudinally of the temporary holding pen 1.

At the exit end of the temporary holding pen 1 a gate 8 is provided, the gate serving to block the exit end. The gate 8 comprises a vertical frame work mounted on two parallel arms 9 which extend horizontally immediately adjacent the inner surface of of the panels 2 and 3 respectively towards the entry end of the temporary holding pen 1, the arms being pivotally mounted at their ends that are closest to the entry end of the pen 1. A handle 10 is provided mounted on one of the arms 9 to enable the gate to be pivoted upwardly, when desired, about the pivoted ends of the arm 9. The handle 10 extends upwardly from the arm 9 and protrudes over the top of the panel 3. Thus the gate 8 can be moved so that the exit end of the temporary holding pen 1 is clear permitting a sheep to pass through the exit.

Mounted in front of the temporary holding pen 1 is a holding cage 11. The cage 11 is formed by two spaced parallel vertical side walls 12, 1 3 which are formed of panels of plywood or similar material, and a transverse short end wall 14. A forwardly protruding platform 1 5 extends from the top of the short end wall 14, and a wire mesh assembly 1 6 extends upwardly from the forwardly extending platform 15, and rearwardly to a point on top of the side walls 1 2 and 13, the perimeter of the assembly being attached to the various panels. As shown in Fig. 1 initially the cage 11 is aligned with the temporary holding pen 1, one end of the cage, which is an open end opposite to the end wall 14, being located immediately adjacent the gate 8 at the exit end of the temporary holding pen 1.A transverse rod may interconnect the upper parts of the walls 12, 1 3 at the open end of the cage 11 to maintain the rigidity of the cage.

It is to be appreciated that the temporary holding pen is dimensioned to accommodate a single sheep, and similarly the cage 11 is also dimensioned to accommodate a single sheep, the wire mesh structure 1 6 being intended to accommodate the head of the sheep so that the sheep can see out of the cage and will not be unduly frightened.

The floor of the cage 11 is constituted by a part of circular platform 1 7. The platform 1 7 protrudes beyond the floor area of the cage 11. The circular platform 1 7 is mounted, by means of rollers 18, or castors or roller bearings or the like, on a second circular platform 1 9 which is located immediately beneath the first circular platform 1 7 so that the first platform may rotate about a central vertical axis. The lower circular platform 1 9 is provided with an upwardly extending stop member 20 and the upper platform 1 7 is provided with two spaced downwardly depending stop members 21 which engage with the stop member 20 when the platform has been rotated to two separate end positions respectively. These two separate end positions will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The lower platform 1 9 is supported, at its underside by a support structure 22, the support structure being mounted on an elongate rod 23 which is parallel with the panels 2, 3 forming the temporary holding pen 1.

The ends of the rod 23 are mounted in bearings 24, 25 that are provided on the top of a wooden support structure 27 that rests on the ground. The bearings are provided with appropriate grease nipples or the like, and the arrangement is such that the rod 23 may rotate about its own axis, thus tilting the lower platform 1 9. The upper platform 17, whilst being rotatable relative to the lower platform 19, is securely connected to the lower platform 1 9 so that, on tilting of the lower platform 1 9 the upper platforms 1 7 does not become separated from the lower platform and thus the upper platform, and the cage mounted thereon will also be tilted.

A portion 26 of the support structure 22 protrudes beyond the edge of the platform 1 9 adjacent one side edge of the wooden support structure 27 that supports the platforms 1 9 and 1 7. A pivotal catch 28 is mounted on the support structure 27, the catch having an arm portion 29 that prtrudes upwardly from the point of pivotal support thereof, the arm portion 29 carrying a hooked end 30 adapted to engage with the portion 26 of the supporting structure that protrudes beyond the edge of the platform 1 9 when the platform is in a horizontal position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the catch 28 thus retaining the platform 1 9 in a horizontal position.The member 28 also has an arm 31 that extends horizontally from the point of pivoted support of the catch, the catch 28 thus having a bell crank configuration. The support structure 27 may also be provided with a stop member 32 against which the arm 29 abuts when the catch is in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be appreciated that by depressing the arm 31, for example by pushing the arm down with a foot, the hook shaped portion 30 may be moved away from the protruding portion 26, thus permitting the platform to be tilted. The catch is spring biassed to the locking or latching position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A guard 33 is provided which protrudes from one side edge of the temporary holding pen 1 for a purpose that will become clear in the light of the following description.

In operating the apparatus described above initially the apparatus will be located in position so that a sheep dip 34 is located to one side of the apparatus as is shown in Figs. 6 to 8. A first sheep will be driven up the ramp 5 into the temporary holding pen 1. The sheep may be pushed from behind, and the sheep will travel forwardly into the temporary holding pen 1 since the endless belt 6 will rotate about the rollers 7 carrying the sheep forwardly into the temporary holding pen 1. The forward progress of the sheep will be terminated by the gate 8. With the open end of the cage 11 aligned with the exit end of the temporary holding pen 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the gate 8 is then opened by lifting the handle 10, moving the gate above the head of the sheep. The sheep is then driven or pushed into the cage 11, the head of the sheep then being surrounded by wire mesh assembly 16.The gate 8 is then closed and a second sheep may be then driven into the temporary holding pen 1. Whilst the second sheep is being driven into the temporary holding pen 1 the platform 1 7 is rotated from its initial position in which the first one of the stops 21 provided on the upper platform 17 engages the stop 20 provided on the lower platform 19, through an angle of approximately 90 , to a second position in which the second stop 21 on the upper platform 17 engages the stop 20. Thus the longitudinal axis of the cage 11 is now transverse to the axis of the temporary holding pen 1, the open end of the cage 11 now being directed towards the sheep dip 34.The sheep is unable to reverse out of the cage 11 during this rotation since the guard 33 provided on the temporary holding pen 1 effectively blocks the open end of the cage 11 whilst the platform 1 7 is being rotated. This is the condition of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 6.

Subsequently the arm 31 is depressed, releasing the hook shaped portion 30 of the catch 28 from the protruding portion 26 of the assembly supporting the lower platform 19, thus enabling the entire cage to be tilted about the axis of the support rod 23. As the cage is tilted so the floor becomes inclined, the sheep is unable to retain its grip and the sheep falls, hind quarters first, into the sheep dip 34. This is the condition of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 5 and 8. Once the sheep has fallen into the sheep dip the shepherd can ensure that the sheep is immersed in a satisfactory manner, and the cage 11 can be returned to its initial position, the second sheep then being introduced to the cage, while a third sheep enters the temporary holding pen.

The cycle of operation of the device will then be repeated until all the sheep have been dipped.

It is to be appreciated that whilst the invention has been described with reference to one particular embodiment, many modifications may be made to the invention. For example one particular type of gate has been disclosed.

This gate could, of course, be replaced by a vertically moving or "portcullis" type gate.

Also it is to be appreciated that whilst the invention has been described specifically with reference to a manually operated version, the entire apparatus could be automated. Thus, hydraulic rams or other devices could be provided which, in response, to a control signal, open the gate, force a sheep into the cage, close the gate, rotate the cage, tilt the platform supporting the cage and return the cage to its initial position. It is envisaged that, for commercial reasons, the above described manually operated version of the invention will be preferred, but it is to be clearly under stood that such an automated version would be within the scope of the present invention.

Of course, such an automated version may be provided with photo electric means or the like to detect the position of sheep within the apparatus to ensure satisfactory operation of the apparatus, and a control device, which may incorporate a micro processor or the like, to control the various rams or other devices.

Claims (23)

1. A livestock handling apparatus, said apparatus comprising a cage, as herein defined, and means for introducing a head of livestock to said cage through an open end thereof when the cage is in a first position said cage being mounted so that the cage can be moved to a second position in which the open end thereof is directed towards a dip and so that at least the floor of the cage may subsequently be inclined so that the floor slopes downwardly towards the open end of the cage to discharge a head of livestock into said dip.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cage is mounted so that it can be turned about a substantially vertical axis.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the cage is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position.

4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cage comprises a floor, two spaced side walls, an end wall at one end, the cage being open at the other end.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein a wire mesh structure or the like is provided at said one end of the cage to surround the head of an animal when the animal is in the cage.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the floor of the cage forms part of, or is mounted on, a rotatable platform, the platform being rotatable in a horizontal plane.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the horizontal platform is mounted above a second platform, the first platform being rotatably mounted on said second platform so that the first platform can rotate on the second platform.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the first platform is mounted on the second platform by means of castors rollers, or roller bearings.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the second platform is mounted to be tilted about an axis such that, when the cage is in its second position the floor of the cage may be tilted so that the floor of the cage slopes downwardly towards the open end of the cage.

10. An apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein catch means are provided releasably to retain the second platform in a horizontal position.

11. An apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 10 the second platform is supported by a support structure that incorporates an elongate member, the elongate member being mounted in bearings at either end thereof to permit rotation of the elongate member about the longitudinal axis thereof to permit said tilting of the platform.

1 2. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for introducing a head of livestock to said cage comprise a temporary holding pen, the temporary holding pen being aligned with the open end of the cage when the cage is in the first position thereof.

1 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 2 wherein the temporary holding pen comprises two side walls and a floor.

1 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 2 or claim 1 3 wherein the temporary holding pen is provided with a gate at the end thereof adjacent said cage, said gate being movable from a position in which the end of the temporary holding pen adjacent the cage is closed to a position in which the end of the temporary holding pen adjacent the cage is open.

15. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 2 to 14 wherein the floor of the temporary holding pen is constituted by means that are movable towards said cage.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the floor of the temporary holding pen may be constituted at least partially by an endless belt mounted on rollers so that the upper exposed surface of the belt may move longitudinally of the temporary holding pen towards said cage.

1 7. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 2 to 1 6 wherein a ramp is provided to the entry of the temporary holding pen.

1 8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the temporary holding pen is provided, and the cage are dimensioned to accommodate a sheep.

1 9. A method of dipping sheep comprises the steps of introducing a sheep into a cage as herein defined through an open end thereof, rotating the cage and so that the open end is directed towards a sheep dip and tilting at least the floor of the cage to discharge the sheep into the dip.

20. A method according to claim 1 8 wherein said moving sheep comprises the step of rotating or turning the cage about a vertical axis.

21. An apparatus for handling livestock substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of dipping sheep substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.