GB2085707A - A transportable feeder for livestock - Google Patents

Abstract

A transportable feeder for livestock comprises two elongate side frames 10 held spaced apart by cross members 16, 18. Along each side frame 10 there are provided a hay rack 14 and a feed trough 13 both of which are accessible from the exterior of the feeder. The space between the side frames provides a passage wide enough to permit a man to pass along the length of the feeder, between the side frames, so as to have convenient access to the hay racks and troughs. Removable gates 24 are provided at the ends of the passage. The feeder may be used to convert any shed to a wintering shed for livestock. The feeder may also be used outdoors and the two side frames may be separated and used individually. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A transportable feeder for livestock The invention relates to a transportable feeder for livestock.

In farming it is common practice, during the winter months, to house certain types of livestock, particularly sheep, under cover in a wintering shed. The shed normally requires to be divided up by barriers, and for feeding purposes the shed must also be provided with rows of feeders, such as hay racks and/or feed troughs, which must be accessible to the farmer for filling and cleaning. It is the normal practice therefore for a special wintering shed to be provided in which such feeders and barriers are permanent fixtures. However, since such sheds are only required during the winter months they remain largely unused during the rest of the year, when the livestock are in the open, since the permanent location of barriers and feeders within the shed means that it cannot be fully used for other purposes.Thus, in practice, when such sheds are not being used for wintering sheep they tend to be used only for temporary storage, or perhaps as temporary housings for tractors and otherfarm equipment.

Furthermore, the provision of conventional barriers and feeders often leads to difficulties in access to the feeders, and to a particular animal within the shed, when it is filled with livestock.

The present invention provides a transportable feeder which not only enables any well ventilated shed, barn or other building to be readily converted into a wintering shed, but also enables the feeders to be arranged in the most convenient manner for permitting access to the feeders and to the livestock.

According to the invention there is provided a transportable feeder for livestock comprising an elongate framework having along opposite longitudinal sides thereof feedstuff receptacles accessible from the exterior of the feeder, there being provided between said receptacles a passage wide enough to permit a man to pass along the length of the feeder, between the receptacles.

Thus a number of feeders according to the invention may be arranged end-to-end in any convenient arrangement within any well ventilated building which happens to be available. The feeders themselves may act as barriers between different groups of livestock, and yet the farmer may always obtain ready access to the feeding receptacles by walking along the passages down the centres of the feeders.

When a wintering shed is no longer required, the feeders, being transportable, may readily be removed from the building so that all the space within the bulding is available for some other pur pose. The feeders may themselves be used else where in the open.

It will thus be appreciated that by use of feeders according to the invention, a particular farm will require fewer feeders and will also be able to make the optimum use ofthe buildings available, leading to considerable savings in cost on both counts.

The elongate framework preferably comprises two elongate side frames, on which the receptacles are mounted, held in spaced apart relation by transverse connecting members, which are preferably detachable from the side frames so that the side frames may be separated and used independently.

In the feeder according to the invention, the central passage may have a floor supported above the ground by said framework. The clearance between the underside of the feeder and the ground is preferably sufficiently small to prevent animals passing beneath the feeder.

Two or more ground-engaging wheels may be provided on the framework, and the feeder may be in the form of a trailer having a drawbar, which is preferably removable, at one end thereof. The feeder may thus conveniently be towed into and out of position by a tractor. The framework of the feeder need be provided with only two wheels adjacent the end thereof remote from the drawbar, a support stand being provided at the end adjacent the drawbar.

The feed receptacles mounted on the framework may comprise open-work hay racks, troughs or a combination of the two. In the case where the receptacles are open-topped they may be provided with movable covers.

There may be mounted at one end or each end of the passage a closeable door or gate. Preferably the door or gate is readily detachable from the framework.

The following is a detailed description, by way of example, of an embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a transportable feeder suitable for use with sheep, Figure 2 is an end elevation of the feeder, Figure 3 is a view of a creep gate for use with the feeder, and Figures 4 to 11 are diagrams showing possible alternative layouts using feeders according to the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the transportable feeder comprises two parallel side frames 10 each comprising longitudinal side members 11 extending between square-section tubular end support posts 12.

Extending longitudinally of each side frame is a sheet metal feed trough 13 and, above the feed trough, a hay rack 14. The hay rack 14 is formed of open mesh along its front inclined face, and at its ends, and is closed along its rear side by a flat metal back panel 15.

As best seen in Figure 2, the two side frames 10 are held spaced apart at each end, in parallel backto-back relation, by an inverted U-shaped arch member 16, the downwardly extending legs 17 of the arch member being received in the open upper ends of the tubular support posts 12. The lower parts of the side frames 10 are held spaced apart by cross rods 18 and 19 which extend between the ends of the The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

lowermost longitudinal side members 11 adjacent the respective end posts 12. The cross rods 18 at one end serve as an attachment point for a detachable tow bar 20, and the cross rod 18 at the opposite end serves as an axle for ground-engaging wheels 21.

Vertically adjustable support legs 22 are received within the lower ends ofthetubularsupport posts 12 at the draw bar end of the feeder, and may be adjusted vertically and secured in position by removable pins 28 engageable with registering transverse holes in the legs 22 and posts 12.

Each end of the feeder is closed by a hinged open-mesh gate 24. The sides of the gate are provided with vertical hinge pins 25,26 by means of which the gate is attached to the end posts 12 respectively. Each pin passes freely through a short length of vertical tubing 27 or 28 welded to the adjacent support post 12. The pins 25 at one side of the gate are longer than the pins 26 at the other side, so that the gate may be opened by lifting it until the pins 26 disengage from the tubes 28 whereupon the gate may be swung open, being pivoted on the longer pins 25 which remain in engagement with the tubes 27.

When the feeder is in use the space between the side frames 10 provides an access passage so that a man may walk along the passage between the feedstuff receptacles. Each side frame provides a gap between the lower edge of the hay rack 14 and the upper edge of the trough 14 so as to permit access to the feed trough 13 from the passage within the feeder, for filling purposes. The height of the hay racks 14 is, of course, such that they are accessible by the sheep, and consequently they may be readily filled from above by a man standing in the central passage of the feeder.

Each support post 12 is formed in two parts connected together by a bar 64 welded within the lower end ofthe upper part and slidably received within the upper end of the lower part. The bar 64 is formed with a number of holes 65 which may be brought into register with a hole in the lower post part, a locking pin 66 being inserted through the registering holes. By this means the upper parts of the posts may be adjusted vertically with respect to the lower parts, thus permitting adjustment of the size of the gap between the feed trough 13 and the hay rack 14.

In the example shown the bottom of the feeder is open so that a man walking along the central passage walks along the ground, stepping over the cross rods 18 and 19 as necessary. However, if required, there may be mounted between the side frames 10 a wooden or metal floor above the ground on which the man may walk.

In the arrangement shown it is also necessary for a man entering or leaving the passage to duck beneath the cross bar of the upper arch 16. However, if required, the low arch 16 may be replaced by a higher arch, also of an inverted U-shape but with only the lower ends of the limbs of the U received within the upper ends of the end posts 12. The higher arch may thus provide sufficient clearance for a man to walk along the passage without stooping.

Preferably the clearance between the bottom of the feeder and the ground is low, say of the order of six inches, to prevent lambs passing beneath the feeder and thus becoming separated from the ewe.

Normally the low clearance will, in use, become filled with straw, making it even more difficult for a lamb to find its way beneath the feeder.

If required, movable covers may be provided both forthe troughs 13 and for the hay racks 14 and in Figure 2 such covers are shown on the right hand side only of the feeder.

The cover for the trough 13 is inclined and comprises a sheet metal baffle 29 extending the whole length of the feeder and having secured at opposite edges thereof metal tubes 30, 31. Each end of the upper metal tube 30 projects slightly beyond the end of the baffle 29 and is received within a wire loop 32 mounted on the adjacent end post 12. The tube 31 along the lower edge of the baffle 29 has spaced metal flanges 33 welded along its length. In one position of the baffle the flanges 33 straddle a metal tube 34 which extends along the front of the trough 13 so that the baffle is inclined at an angle across the trough 13, thereby preventing access of animals to the trough, from the front, if this is required.When it is wished to uncoverthe trough, the baffle is lifted and swung rearwardly to the position shown in chain lines in Figure 2 where the flanges 33 on the baffle straddle a tube 35 along the rear edge of the trough. The trough is thereby freed for access from the front by the animals.

Such a baffle arrangement is particularly useful where the side frames of the feeder are separated and used in creeps as described below with reference to Figures 9, 10 and 11. In this case the baffle 29 on one of the frames is swung to the position shown in Figure 2 so that access to the trough by ewes outside the creep is prevented, while lambs can obtain access to the trough from within the creep.

The coverforthe hay rack 14 comprises an angled metal sheet 36 having triangular end walls 37, split tubes 38 being welded along the front and rear edges ofthe sheet 36. The cover is pivotally mounted on the hay rack by engagement of pins 39 on lugs 40 in horizontal slots 41 in the end walls 37.

The arrangement is such that when access to the top of the hay rack is required for filling purposes, the cover is slid forwardly and then swung to the vertical position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, where it remains while the rack is filled. The cover may be retained in position across the rack by a hasp and staple arrangement as indicated at 42, or by a peg and pin arrangement as indicated at 43.

Figures 4 to 11 show diagrammatically how one or more feeders of the kind described above may be used in sheds, barns or other farm buildings to convert them into wintering sheds for sheep, or how they may be used outdoors.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown diagrammatically a barn 44 in which a number of feeders 9 of the kind described above are arranged longitudinally end-to-end within each half of the barn. The feeders may be moved into position manually or by use of a tractor. In the latter case, the draw bar 20 is removed from each feeder once it is in position. The gates 46 of the feeders furthest from the entrance 47 to the barn are removed from the ends of the feeders and positioned as shown so as to provide an extension, reaching to the rear wall of the barn, of the passage provided by the feeders. The end gates 48 of the feeders nearer the entrance 47 are connected bet ween adjacent side frames of the two feeders so as to bridge the gap between the ends of the feeders. A gate is not required at the end of each of the feeders adjacent the entrances 47.Thus, a man walking along the passage formed by each pair of feeders can step from the passage into the barn by opening any of the gates 46 and 48. This facilitates access to any part of the barn to deal with a particular sheep or lamb, and it also means that the animal may be removed from the barn along the passage if neces sary, thus avoiding the difficulty of carrying a par ticular sheep through a mass of other animals.

Figures 6 and 7 show the manner in which a single feeder may be used in a small shed 49. In this case the gate 50 at the end of the feeder within the shed provides access to the sheep within the shed.

Figure 8 shows how a feeder may be used as a drenching race. In this case sheep within the shed 51 are guided by hurdles 52 into one end ofthe passage through the feeder and are thereby constrained to pass along the passage while being drenched.

As previously mentioned, the two side frames of each feeder may be separated, by removing the arches 16 and cross bars 18 and 19, and used inde pendently. The side frames, each carrying a hay rack and a feed trough, may be individually mounted on a wall or on vertical supports, for example between the supports in a Dutch barn. Alternatively the halves of the feeder may be connected together end-to-end by using the arches 16 and/or the gates 24 as con necting members. The complete feeder, or groups of feeders arranged end-to-end, may also be used out doors. Where a number of feeders are arranged end-to-end the gates 24 at the adjacent ends of the feeders are opened so as to extend longitudinally of the feeders and bridge the gaps between the ends of the feeders, thus forming a continuous passage.

The separated halves of the feeders may also be used in various creep arrangements as shown in Figures 9 to 11. Thus, in Figure 9 the two halves of a single feeder are shown arranged at an angle to one another with the hay racks and feed troughs facing outwardly. The closer ends of the feeder halves are connected by a creep gate 53, and the more widely separated ends are connected by a hurdle 54 and a creep gate 55. A feed trough for lambs 56 is provided within the creep. As is well known, each creep gate is formed with an aperture of such a size that only lambs may pass through to feed from the inner trough 56, while the sheep feed from the external troughs and hay racks on the feeder halves.The inner trough 56 may be omitted if the baffles 29 on the feeder halves are used as described previously to make one of the troughs on the feeder halves only accessible from inside the creep.

Figure 3 shows a suitable form of adjustable creep gate comprising a rectangular frame 57 having two fixed vertical posts 58 and an adjustable vertical post 59. The space between the post 59 and each of the posts 58 may be adjusted by moving the post 59 to a different position on horizontal cross bars 60 between the fixed posts 58, the post 59 being secured in position by a pin and hole connector. Thus the aperture through which the lambs pass may be adjusted to any required size.

Figure 10 shows an alternative larger form of creep wherein the four halves of two feeders are arranged in the form of a square with a creep gate 61 at each corner.

Figure 11 shows an arrangement providing a multiple creep/holding area and a race. In this case the six halves ofthree feeders are arranged to form a group, with creep gates between their adjacent ends and a further feeder 62 is connected to the creep by hurdles 63 so as to form a race.

Claims (15)

1. A transportable feeder for livestock comprising an elongate framework having along opposite longitudinal sides thereof feedstuff receptacles accessible from the exterior of the feeder, there being provided between said receptacles a passage wide enough to permit a man to pass along the length of the feeder, between the receptacles.

2. A feeder according to claim 1, wherein the elongate framework comprises two elongate side frames held in spaced apart relation by transverse connecting members.

3. A feeder according to claim 2, wherein the transverse connecting members are detachable from the side frames whereby the side frames may be separated and used independently.

4. A feeder according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the central passage has a floor supported above the ground by said framework.

5. Afeeder according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the clearance between the underside of the feeder and the ground is sufficiently small to prevent animals passing beneath the feeder.

6. A feeder according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein two or more ground-engaging wheels are provided on the framework.

7. A feeder according to claim 6, in the form of a trailer having a drawbar at one end thereof.

8. A feeder according to claim 7, wherein the drawbar is removable.

9. Afeeder according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the framework is provided with two wheels adjacent the end thereof remote from the drawbar, a support stand being provided at the end adjacent the drawbar.

10. A feeder according to any of the preceding claims wherein the receptacles mounted on the framework comprise open-work hay racks, feed troughs or a combination of the two.

11. A feeder according to claim 10, wherein the receptacles are open-topped and are provided with movable covers.

12. Afeeder according to claim 11, wherein the movable coverforthe open-topped feed trough comprises a baffle one edge of which is mounted longitudinally above the trough and the lower edge of which is selectively engageable with opposite upper edges of the trough so as to provide access to the trough from only one side or the otherthereof, depending on the position ofthe baffle.

13. A feeder according to any of the preceding claims, wherein there is mounted at one end or each end of the passage a closeable door or gate.

14. A feeder according to claim 13, wherein the door or gate is readily detachable from the framework.

15. A transportable feeder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.