GB2117620A

GB2117620A - Reducing piglet mortality

Info

Publication number: GB2117620A
Application number: GB08304430A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Lay
Original assignee: MEDATA SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: MEDATA SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1982-03-30
Filing date: 1983-02-17
Publication date: 1983-10-19
Also published as: GB8304430D0

Abstract

Apparatus for use in conjunction with, or forming part of, a pig farrowing crate (1) comprises means, such as a fan (5), to blow air into the lower part of the crate below the udder of a sow standing in the crate, through apertured pipe (6). Means are provided to sense (10, 12) the presence of a standing sow so that the air blowing means can be activated only when a standing sow is detected. Thus piglets are deterred from standing in the hazardous position beneath the sow's udder. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for use with, or forming part of, a pig farrowing crate During the farrowing of a sow, it is usual for her to be in a farrowing crate which provides restrictions on her movement. The crate permits the sow to stand up or to lie down and there is a space between the ground and the lowermost rail or bar of the crate which allows the newly born piglets to escape from, and to return to, the crate as they wish.

One of the main reasons why so many newly born piglets fail to survive is that they are squashed by the sow shortly after their birth. The piglets tend to congregate beneath the sow's udder when she is standing in the crate and some of them fail to move out of the way and are squashed when she lies down on the floor of the crate.

The present invention seeks to provide means for reducing mortality in newly born piglets due to them being squashed beneath the sow.

The invention seeks to provide such apparatus which can be attached to a conventional pig farrowing crate or, alternatively, to provide a pig farrowing crate incorporating such apparatus.

According to the present invention, apparatus for use with, or forming part of, a pig farrowing crate comprises means for blowing air into at least the lower part of the crate which, in use, would be between the floor and the udder of a sow standing in the crate, and means for sensing the presence of a sow standing in the crate, and for causing air to be blown into the crate only when a standing sow is detected.

The invention reduces the number of piglets which are squashed beneath the sow by discouraging them from going beneath the sow when she is standing in the crate. When the apparatus senses the sow is standing in the crate, air is blown into the space in the crate beneath her udder when the piglets tend to congregate, the piglets find the air objectionable and move away out of the crate. When the sow decides to lie down, there are few, if any, piglets in the space that she takes up when she lies on the floor of the crate. As soon as she lies down, the sensor causes the blown airto be switched off and the piglets then re-enter the crate.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure lisa side elevation of apparatus for use with a pig farrowing crate in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 1 attached to a pig farrowing crate; Figure 3 is a side elevation of apparatus forming part of a pig farrowing crate in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 2, a conventional farrowing crate for a sow consists of a structure 1 having dimensions such as to permit a sow to stand or lie in the crate but not to allow her to turn round. The structure may be formed from any sufficiently strong material and tubular metal is often employed. In use, there is a space beneath the bottom rail 3 and the ground 4through which piglets can leave and re-enter the crate, suitably to a creep compartment (not shown) adjacent the side of the crate and within which the piglets can move freely.

The apparatus in accordance with the invention, shown in Figure 1, is adapted for attachment to the crate las shown in Figure 2. The apparatus comprises an upright duct member 4, surmounted by an electrically operated fan 5, while the base of the duct member 4 communicates with the middle of a substantially horizontal tube 6 closed at its ends 7.

Tube 6 is provided with a plurality of vents 8, for example 13. The vents 8 are spaced horizontally along the tube 6 and are positioned so that they deflect air from the fan 5 somewhat downwardly, for example adjacent vents can deflect the air at angles of 15 and 30 to the horizontal.

Mounted on duct member 4, by means of a height-adjustable sliding clamp 9, is an electro-optical sensor 10 attached to a power supply by lead 11.

The sensor may be of any conventional type, for example it may comprise an infra-red transmitter which co-operates with a receiver 12, (see Figure 2), intended to be adjustably mounted on the crate 1 at the opposite side of the crate to the sensor 10.

Sensor 10is connected via lead 13 to the operating mechanism of fan 5. Alternatively a photoelectric cell may be used.

The apparatus can be readily attached to one side of crate 1, as illustrated in Figure 2. Thus, tube 6 is held adjacent the bottom rail 3, by means of support straps 14, while the duct 4 has clamped thereto a channel member 16 which can be adjusted in height to a position where it can lodge over the top rail 17 of the crate. The apparatus can be adjusted horizontally to the optimum position to blow air beneath the sow's udder. It will be appreciated that this simple attachment enables the apparatus to be adapted to many sizes and designs of farrowing crate.

In use, the optical sensor 10 and reflector device 12 are positioned at a height so that they sense a sow standing in the crate. The electrical signal produced by the sensor is used to switch on the fan 5 to cause air to be blown beneath the sow. The curtain of air thus blown beneath the sow is positioned so as to discourage piglets from standing beneath the sow's udder and rear quarters when the sow is standing in the crate. The apparatus is attached to that side of the crate 1 adjacent the creep compartment and thus air is directed away from the creep compartment. The piglets, therefore, can move into the creep compartment away from the air curtain.When the sow lies down in the crate, her body is below the level of the sensor 10 and this senses that she is no longer standing in the crate and causes the fan 5 to be switched off, thus stopping the air from being blown into the bottom of the crate and allowing the piglets to return to the crate from the creep compartment.

The apparatus can be constructed of any suitable material such as pve tu bing. The dimensions can vary as desired. The fan 5 may be of any suitable type and adapted for use with voltages in any particularly country.

Figures 3 and 4 show an apparatus forming an integral part of a specially designed farrowing crate 20.

The lowermost rail 21 of the crate 20 is of tubular form and has a plurality of vents 22 formed in that side wall of a rail 21 which faces into the crate. The vents may be similar two those shown in Figures 1 and 2. A fan 23 is mounted on the crate 20 and one or more of the substantially vertical tubes 24, forming part of the crate, also serve as the duct from the fan 23 to the vents 22 in the rail 21. A sensor unit 26, similar to sensor 10 of Figures 1 and 2, is mounted on attachment means 28 which can slide vertically so that the sensor is movable vertically on the tube 24. If desired, the tube 24 may be adapted so that it can be moved horizontally along the side of the crate. The rear end of the crate 20 has lower extended sidewall portions 30 formed with corrugations 31. These corrugations can receive rear restraining means for the sow, such as a bar removably positioned across the rear of the crate.

The operation of the apparatus is the same as that described with reference to Figures 1 knd 2 in that the sensor 26 senses the presence of a standing sow and causes air to be blown beneath her udder but, when the slow lies down, the sensor causes the air flow to stop.

As an alternative, the fan 5 of Figures 1 and 2 or 23 of Figures 3 and 4 may be omitted and the air supplied from a source of compressed air, such as a compressor or compressed air cylinder. In this case, air can be supplied from the cylinder directly into tube 6 or rail 21 through a suitable valve or at any other convenient point, for example in duct 4 or tube 24. The air is controlled in response to the sensor unit, as previously described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with, or forming part of, a pig farrowing crate comprising means for blowing air into at least the lower part of the crate which, in use, would be between the floor and the udder of a sow standing in the crate and means for sensing the presence of a sow standing in the crate and for causing air to be blown into the crate only when a standing sow is detected.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air blowing means comprises a fan, a vented tube positioned, in use, at the lower part of the crate and duct means between the fan and the vented tube.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tube vents are so positioned that air blown therethrough is directed at an angle to the horizontal towards the floor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air blowing means comprises a vented tube, positioned, in use, at the lower part of the crate and means for supplying compressed air to the vented tube.

5. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing means comprises an infrared transmitterjreceiver.

6. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein means are provided for adjusting the height of the sensing means relative to the floor level.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims intended for use with a pig farrowing crate and including and means for attaching the apparatus to the crate.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the air blowing means comprises a vented tube positioned, in use, at the lower part of the crate and wherein the attaching means comprises straps for attaching the vented tube adjacent a lower rail of the crate and channel means to engage an upper rail of the crate.

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6 when forming part of a pig farrowing crate.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the air blowing means comprises a vented tube forming the lowermost rail of the crate and means for blowing air through the vents.

11. Apparatus for use with, or forming part of, a pig farrowing crate substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A pig farrowing crate provided with apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.