GB2128880A

GB2128880A - A calving aid

Info

Publication number: GB2128880A
Application number: GB08231104A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Richard Hunter Gibbins; Carolyn Wendy Gibbins; Quidhampton Farm Richa Gibbins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-10-30
Filing date: 1982-10-30
Publication date: 1984-05-10
Also published as: GB2128880B

Abstract

A calving aid is in the form of a strop 10 which passes around the body. At each end of the strop, there is a quick-release device for securing a calving rope. The strop may be provided with a belt 12, 14 to keep it in place on the body. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A calving aid This invention relatesto a calving aid,foruse in assisting the birth of a calf. Cows regularly have difficulty in giving birth, and some form of assistance from the farmer or a vet is often necessary to pull the calffrom the cow.

It is standard practice to introduce a hand into the womb, and to secure a rope around the front legs and/orthe head of the unborn calf. These ropes, commonly called calving ropes, have an eye formed in one end which can be used to form a loop around the appropriate part of the cow's anatomy. Pulling on these ropes then helps to pull the calf from the cow.

Considerable force may be required to pull the calf out. Various schemes for applying a mechanical advantage to the ropes are already known. For example, a winch is sometimes used. A disadvantage ofthis however is that the winch operator gets no "feel" from the cow and he risks applying force at the wrong time and thus injuring the cow.

According to the present invention, there is provided a calving aid in the form of a strop adapted to be passed around the body (of the person assisting the cow) and quick-release devices at the ends of the strop for securing a calving rope or ropes to the strop while permitting the ropes to be quickly released.

With this aid, the person assisting the cow can use his bodyweightto pull on the calf, through the calving ropes.

It is importantthatthe rope or ropes be easily releasable. Sometimes the cow can become disturbed during a difficult birth and can start to kick out. In the absence of quick-release devices, the person assisting would not be able to distance himself quicklyfrom the cow.

The quick-release devices preferably are able to secure the rope to the strop at any point along the length of the rope, so thatthe person assisting can easily control his distance from the cow. Quick-release cleats, preferably including a fairlead for the rope, of thetype often used insmall sailing boats are particularly-suitable.

Preferably, the aid includes means by which the strop can be secured around the body, so that it is held in place even when no calving rope is secured to it.

The aid maythus be attached to a belt orto a suitable body harness.

In addition to the quick-release devices at the ends of the strop, at least one of the strop ends may have an eye through which a rope can pass. Then, when only one rope is being used, it can be passed first through the eye and then to the quick-release device on the other end of the strop, sothatthe load comes on both ends of the strop and prevents ittwisting around the body.

It is convenient if the materials of which the aid is made are easy to clean and sterilise.

The invention also provides the combination of a calving aid as setforth above with a set of calving ropes. If the ropes are different colours, it is easy to tell which rope is attached to which part of the calf. The set may comprise two orthree calving ropes each with an eye in at least one end.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa perspectiveviewofacalving aid according to the invention; and Figure 2 shows a detail of one end ofthe strop, on a larger scale.

Figure 1 shows a strop 10 made of Paraweb (Paraweb is a Registered Trade Mark). This material is extremely strong and is easy to clean and sterilise, since it has a smooth external finish. Between the ends of the strop 15 10,two belt straps 12 and 14 are attached, suitably by sewing. In use, no strain comes on these belt straps, so the strength oftheirjoin to the strop is not particularly important.

The end 16 of the belt strap 12 has a conventional two-ring buckle, and the free end 18 of the strap 14 is threaded through the rings, as shown, to fasten the aid tothe body. A keeper 20 forthe end of the strap 14 is provided.

The ends of the strop 10 are both the same. One of these ends is shown in Figure 2.A D-ring 22 is held in a folded-over end of a metal (e.g. aluminium) plate 24.

The end of the strop is passed through this ring and back on itself.Acleat26 (e.g. an open-sided Clamcleat -Clamcleat is a Registered Trade Mark) is riveted through the material ofthe strop 10 and through the metal plate. The rivets pass through only one thickness ofthe strop material, and not through the end of the strop which has passed through the D-ring. This end protects the ends of the rivets and prevents them catching on clothing. Finally, the free end of the strop is sewn back onto itself at 28.

In use, the strop is fastened to the body by doing up the belt straps 12,14. The ends ofthe strop then hang loose in front of the body. Because of the presence of the belt straps, it is possible to put on the aid before going outto a cavling which may, for example be at night and out in the open. One will then know that the aid is instantly available for use and that it will not be dropped on the wayto the cow.

Calving ropes are then secured to the calf in the conventional way. The ends ofthese ropes are cleated to the cleats 26, and the person assisting the cowcan then lean back and use his weight to pull onthe calf. If the cow starts to kick, it is easy to release the ropes from their cleats and to get out of the way. However whilst the aid is being used,the person assisting has both handsfreewhich can be a considerable advantage.

Plaited ropes, with an eye splice in one end, are particularly suitable for use with this aid. These ropes are available in different colours and are gripped well by Clamcleats. Although single-ended ropes are preferred and will be supplied as a part ofthis aid, it would also be possible to use the aid with conventional double-ended ropeswhich have an eye at each end.

CLAIMS (filed on 11-10-83) 1. A calving aid in the form of a strop adapted to be passed around the body (of the person assisting the cow) and quick-release devices at the ends ofthe strop for securing a calving rope or ropes to the strop while permitting the ropes to be quickly released.

2. Acaiving aid asclaimed in Claim 1, wherein the

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A calving aid This invention relatesto a calving aid,foruse in assisting the birth of a calf. Cows regularly have difficulty in giving birth, and some form of assistance from the farmer or a vet is often necessary to pull the calffrom the cow. It is standard practice to introduce a hand into the womb, and to secure a rope around the front legs and/orthe head of the unborn calf. These ropes, commonly called calving ropes, have an eye formed in one end which can be used to form a loop around the appropriate part of the cow's anatomy. Pulling on these ropes then helps to pull the calf from the cow. Considerable force may be required to pull the calf out. Various schemes for applying a mechanical advantage to the ropes are already known. For example, a winch is sometimes used. A disadvantage ofthis however is that the winch operator gets no "feel" from the cow and he risks applying force at the wrong time and thus injuring the cow. According to the present invention, there is provided a calving aid in the form of a strop adapted to be passed around the body (of the person assisting the cow) and quick-release devices at the ends of the strop for securing a calving rope or ropes to the strop while permitting the ropes to be quickly released. With this aid, the person assisting the cow can use his bodyweightto pull on the calf, through the calving ropes. It is importantthatthe rope or ropes be easily releasable. Sometimes the cow can become disturbed during a difficult birth and can start to kick out. In the absence of quick-release devices, the person assisting would not be able to distance himself quicklyfrom the cow. The quick-release devices preferably are able to secure the rope to the strop at any point along the length of the rope, so thatthe person assisting can easily control his distance from the cow. Quick-release cleats, preferably including a fairlead for the rope, of thetype often used insmall sailing boats are particularly-suitable. Preferably, the aid includes means by which the strop can be secured around the body, so that it is held in place even when no calving rope is secured to it. The aid maythus be attached to a belt orto a suitable body harness. In addition to the quick-release devices at the ends of the strop, at least one of the strop ends may have an eye through which a rope can pass. Then, when only one rope is being used, it can be passed first through the eye and then to the quick-release device on the other end of the strop, sothatthe load comes on both ends of the strop and prevents ittwisting around the body. It is convenient if the materials of which the aid is made are easy to clean and sterilise. The invention also provides the combination of a calving aid as setforth above with a set of calving ropes. If the ropes are different colours, it is easy to tell which rope is attached to which part of the calf. The set may comprise two orthree calving ropes each with an eye in at least one end. The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa perspectiveviewofacalving aid according to the invention; and Figure 2 shows a detail of one end ofthe strop, on a larger scale. Figure 1 shows a strop 10 made of Paraweb (Paraweb is a Registered Trade Mark). This material is extremely strong and is easy to clean and sterilise, since it has a smooth external finish. Between the ends of the strop 15 10,two belt straps 12 and 14 are attached, suitably by sewing. In use, no strain comes on these belt straps, so the strength oftheirjoin to the strop is not particularly important. The end 16 of the belt strap 12 has a conventional two-ring buckle, and the free end 18 of the strap 14 is threaded through the rings, as shown, to fasten the aid tothe body. A keeper 20 forthe end of the strap 14 is provided. The ends of the strop 10 are both the same. One of these ends is shown in Figure 2.A D-ring 22 is held in a folded-over end of a metal (e.g. aluminium) plate 24. The end of the strop is passed through this ring and back on itself.Acleat26 (e.g. an open-sided Clamcleat -Clamcleat is a Registered Trade Mark) is riveted through the material ofthe strop 10 and through the metal plate. The rivets pass through only one thickness ofthe strop material, and not through the end of the strop which has passed through the D-ring. This end protects the ends of the rivets and prevents them catching on clothing. Finally, the free end of the strop is sewn back onto itself at 28. In use, the strop is fastened to the body by doing up the belt straps 12,14. The ends ofthe strop then hang loose in front of the body. Because of the presence of the belt straps, it is possible to put on the aid before going outto a cavling which may, for example be at night and out in the open. One will then know that the aid is instantly available for use and that it will not be dropped on the wayto the cow. Calving ropes are then secured to the calf in the conventional way. The ends ofthese ropes are cleated to the cleats 26, and the person assisting the cowcan then lean back and use his weight to pull onthe calf. If the cow starts to kick, it is easy to release the ropes from their cleats and to get out of the way. However whilst the aid is being used,the person assisting has both handsfreewhich can be a considerable advantage. Plaited ropes, with an eye splice in one end, are particularly suitable for use with this aid. These ropes are available in different colours and are gripped well by Clamcleats. Although single-ended ropes are preferred and will be supplied as a part ofthis aid, it would also be possible to use the aid with conventional double-ended ropeswhich have an eye at each end. CLAIMS (filed on 11-10-83)

1. A calving aid in the form of a strop adapted to be passed around the body (of the person assisting the cow) and quick-release devices at the ends ofthe strop for securing a calving rope or ropes to the strop while permitting the ropes to be quickly released.

2. Acaiving aid asclaimed in Claim 1, wherein the strop is provided with meansforsecuring ittothe body, when no calving rope is secured to the strop.

3. A calving aid as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the securing means comprise two belt straps with a buckle, attached to the strop between its ends.

4. Acalving aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the quick-release devices comprise cleats which will hold a rope against a pull in one direction, but will release the rope when a pull in a different direction is applied to the tail of the rope.

5. A calving aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a ring is provided at at least one end of the strop.

6. A calving aid as claimed in any preceding claim, made of materials which can be easily cleaned and sterilised.

7. A calving aid as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the strop is made of Paraweb.

8. A calving aid as claimed in any preceding claim, in combination with a set of calving ropes.

9. A calving aid as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the calving ropes are different colours.

10. A calving aid substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawing.