GB2121665A - Farrowing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Farrowing apparatus is disclosed comprising a farrowing pen or crate of elongate form to one end of which is attached a piglet confinement chamber having an opening through which the piglets can pass, by sliding down a ramp (54) during delivery. The crate has a side panel (26) which is pivoted at its upper edge and openable to allow the sow to enter or leave the crate laterally thereof. Attachment means (33, 34) provide for secure closure of the side panel (26). A confinement area is provided around the crate. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Farrowing apparatus The present invention relates to farrowing apparatus, that is apparatus for restraining the movements of a sow or gilt during farrowing for the safety of the piglets being delivered at that time.

As is known, the term "gilt" is one applied to a female pig up to and including the delivery of her first litter. A gilt, because only partly mature, is rather than a full-grown sow.

As used in this specification, however, the term "sow" will be used to include all female pigs capable of producing a litter of piglets, including gilts except where otherwise specified.

In one aspect of the present invention apparatus for confining a sow during farrowing comprises a pen in the form of an elongate open framework of bars the spacing of which is such to contain a sow and prevent her from turning around, and a piglet comfinement chamber at one end of the framework, the said framework incorporating a frame panel on a major side thereof, which panel can be open to allow the sow to turn round.

The present appratus is a development of the apparatus described in my British Patent no. 2029190 and in British Patent Application no. 81 25244 each of which relates to a piglet confimement chamber having an opening closed by a flap and an entrance ramp which in use is positioned against the rear end of a sow during farrowing so that the piglets as they are delivered can slide down the ramp and through the opening into the confinement chamber, being prevented from returning by the flap and the slope of the ramp the surface of which is too smooth for them easily to be able to climb it. The piglets are thus contained safely within a warm environment (the confinement chamber is heated) until they have developed sufficient awareness to avoid being crushed by the sow as she lies down.

The present invention also comprehends appartus for use in farrowing, comprising a sow confinement pen or crate in the form of an elongate framework of bars within which a sow can be confined and prevented from turning round, a piglet confinement chamber at one end of the said pen or crate and having an opening communicating therewith, and a surrounding wall defining an area around the sow confinement pen or crate, the latter having an opening along one side, closable by a frame panel, to allow the sow to turn round so that, having delivered the piglets into the piglet confinement chamber at the said one end of the sow confinement pen or crate, the said side frame panel can be released to allow the sow to turn round to bring her head up to the said one end.

Within the scope of the present invention there is also provided a farrowing crate having at one end an inclined ramp floor for cooperation with a piglet confinement chamber having an opening into which the lower end of the ramp can project when the confinement chamber is fitted to the said one end of the crate. To accommodate differences in the length of pigs, and to ensure that their rear end is closely adjacent the said one end of the crate during farrowing, the crate may be provided with a feed trough the position of which along the crate can be adjusted. Such a trough is of a size to occupy substantially the whole of the floor area across the width of the crate and the bulk of the trough prevents the sow from attempting to move forwardly.Additional bars can be provided to extend across the width of the crate to restrict the sow's movements so that in moving from a standing to a lying position she will lower her bulk gently thereby giving any piglets present beneath her adequate opportunity to escape without being crushed.

Since in use of the apparatus described above the sow will turn round to face the opposite end of the crate after farrowing it is necessary for the feed trough provided in the crate to be movable between two end positions, or for there to be provided two such feed troughs, one at each end.

The present invention also comprehends a method of farrowing comprising steps of confining a sow within a farrowing crate in the form of am elongate open framework of bars which prevent the sow from turning round, the framework having a piglet confinement chamber at one end thereof with an opening and an associated inclined ramp leading to the opening, in which the sow is first positioned, immediately before farrowing, with her rear end at the said one end of the farrowing crate and confined therein and after all the piglets have been delivered a side of the farrowing crate is opened to allow the sow to turn round so as to bring her head to the said one end of the crate.

Previous farrowing crates have served the function simply of restraining the sow and have not had associated piglet confinement chambers for receiving the piglets. These have therefore been free to move about the mother animal immediately after having been delivered and consequently are exposed to the chill factor of moving air streams or draughts and also to the risk of overlying if they should be trapped underneath the mother animal when she moves. The present invention provides the advantage, therefore, of keeping the piglets warm and safe from danger during farrowing whilst at the same time allowing the mother animal to get consciously close to the piglets duririg the important immediately post-natal period before the piglets are allowed out to suckle.Previously known farrowing crates have only had entrances at one or other end thereof and the sows have been introduced into the crates from the end. Obviously, the previously known crates would not be suitable for use in the method of the present invention since it would involve introducing the sow backwards through the open end in order to ensure that her rear is adjacent the piglet confinement chamber during farrowing.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a farrowing crate oncorporating the features of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the overall farrowing apparatus incorporating a farrowing crate as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2 comprises a pen generally indicated 11 having a perforated floor 12 raised from the ground and supported on a subframe of legs 1 3 and rails 14.

Side panels 15, 1 6 and an end panel 17 define three sides of the confinement area whilst a piglet confinement chamber generally indicated 18 defines the fourth side. Within the area defined by these walls and the piglet confinement chamber 1 8 is located a farrowing crate which is illustrated in more detail in Fig. 1.

This crate comprises two end frames 19, 20 each comprising an inverted generally Ushape frame member having a bight portion and two legs. Spanning the end frames 19, 20 are a pair of longitudinal bars 21, 22 attached to the end frames adjacent the connection region between the bight portion and the legs. Two further fixed longitudinal bars 23, 24 span corresponding legs of the end frames 19, 20 and the latter bar, 24, has a plurality of downwardly projecting stub bars 25 in the form of an open curtain to prevent the sow from leaving the crate by passing beneath the bar 24 whilst nevertheless allowing the bar 24 to be sufficiently high not to obstruct the upper row of the sows nipples when she is lying on her side to allow the piglet to drink.

The other legs of the end frames 19, 20 are spanned by a side frame generally indicated 26 and comprising three parallel longitudinal bars 27, 28 and 29, the latter again having the depending "curtain" of stub bars 30.

These longitudinal bars 27, 28, 29 are joined by frame transverse bars 31, 32 which are secured to the upper longitudinal bar 27 at their upper ends and carry outwardly projecting flat securement brackets 33, 34 at their lower end for attachment by means of conventional lynch pins to the respective legs of the end frames 19, 20. Pivotal movement of the frame 26 is achieved by mounting the ends of the upper longitudinal bar 27 over stub shafts 35, 36 secured to the associated legs of the end frames 19, 20.

The upper fixed bars 21, 22 carry two pairs of attachement brackets in the form of cylindrical mounts 37, 38 and 39, 40 which are transversely aligned across the length of the crate to receive a mounting bar or rod 41 to carry a feed trough 42 which is suspended from the bar 41 by two links 43, 44. Two adjustment arms 45, 46 joined pivotally to a lower end of each of a respective one of the links 43, 44 are joined at their free ends by a transverse rod 47. The arms 45, 46 have a row of holes in them for receiving upstanding studs 48, 49 secured to a cross member of the end frame 1 9 or the end frame 20. Thus, the longitudinal position of the trough 42 can be determined by selection of the apertures in the arms 45, 46 engaged with the pins 48, 49 to determine the effective available length of the crate for the sow.When it is desired to turn the sow round with her head at the other end the bar 41 is removed from the mounts 37, 38 and the assembly repositioned at the other end of the crate on the mounts 39, 40.

The lower bar 24 of the fixed side frame and the lower bar 29 of the pivoted side frame each carry corresponding cylindrical mounts 50, 51 and 52, 53 for receiving an anti roll bar which restricts the movement of the sow to prevent her lying down suddenly and thus crushing the piglets.

In addition, the end frame 20 has an associated ramp 54 inclined downwardly towards the piglet confinement chamber 55 shown in Fig. 2. This has an opening 56 closable by a pivoted flap 57.

In use of the apparatus the sow can be introduced into the crate through one side by turning the frame 26 about the pivots 35, 36, and can be encouraged to remain with her rear at the end 20 by adjustment of the longitudinal position of the trough 42 so that when farrowing her rear end is overlying or closely adjacent the ramp 54 ensuring that the piglets upon delivery slide down this through the opening 56 into the piglet confinement chamber 55 where they remain warm and dry and safe from danger during the first few hours of their life. Once farrowing is completed the frame 26 can be opened to allow the sow to turn round with her head against the piglet confinement chamber opening 56 and the trough 42 moved to this end where it lies somewhat above the level of the opening 56 allowing the sow to feed without obstructing the opening 56.

The enclosure 1 8 also includes a subsidiary chamber having an opening 60 allowing the piglets access to the area within the pen 11 surrounding the crate when they are old enough to require the extra room for movement.

Claims (11)

1. Apparatus for confining a sow during farrowing, comprising a pen in the form of an elongate open framework of bars the spacing of which is such as to contain a sow sufficiently closely to prevent her from turning around, the said framework incorporating a frame panel on a major side thereof, which panel can be opened to allow the sow to turn round.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further including a piglet chamber at one end of the framework.

3. Apparatus for use in farrowing, comprising a sow confinement pen or crate in the form of an elongate framework of bars within which a sow can be confined sufficiently closely to be prevented from turning round, a piglet confinement chamber at one end of the said pen or crate and having an opening communicating therewith, and a surrounding wall defining an area around the sow confinement pen or crate, the latter having a frame panel along one side openable to allow the sow to turn round.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at one end of the pen or crate there is provided an inclined ramp floor for cooperation with a piglet confinement chamber having an opening into which the lower end of the ramp can project when the confinement chamber is fitted to the said one end of the crate.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the said pen or crate is provided with a feed trough the position of which along he crate can be adjusted to accommodate variation in the length of individual sows to be confined within the crate.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, in which the said feed trough has dimensions such as to occupy substantially the whole of the width of the pen or crate.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which there are further provided additional bars extending across the width of the pen or crate to restrict the sows movement and prevent a rapid change from a standing to a lying position.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the feed trough is provided with movable attachment means enabling it to be fitted at one of two positions at each end of the pen or crate.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, further comprising an additional transverse bar removably mounted to the crate in the vicinity of the said ramp leading to the piglet confinement chamber, and operable to prevent a sow confined in the pen or crate from moving backwards onto the ramp.

10. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of farrowing comprising the steps of: confining a sow within a farrowing crate in the form of an elongate open framework of bars capable of preventing the sow from turning round, the framework having a piglet confinement chamber at one end thereof with an opening and an associated inclined ramp leading to the opening; positioning the sow, immediately before farrowing with her head at the end opposite the said one end of the farrowing crate and confined therein; and after delivery of the litter of piglets, opening one side of the farrowing crate to allow the sow to turn round to a position with her head at the said one end of the crate.

1 2. A method of farrowing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.