GB2154117A

GB2154117A - Cubicle trainer for cattle

Info

Publication number: GB2154117A
Application number: GB08404204A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael James Drew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-02-17
Filing date: 1984-02-17
Publication date: 1985-09-04
Also published as: GB2154117B; GB8404204D0

Abstract

A cubicle trainer for cattle comprises a grid structure (1) with grid spacings such that the cattle can step through it but close enough to prevent them lying down. It is arranged for fitting in the aisle of a cubicle house so that the cattle are obliged to use the cubicles for resting. It may be supported on insulating feet (5) so that an electric fencer (12) can be connected to it for initial training purposes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cattle training and restraining device Modern methods of cattle management for dairy and other purposes involves the use at night or in winter of a so-called cubicle house in which they are protected from the weather. This is a ventilated structure containing one or more sunken aisles off which a number of cubicles extend, each being in the form of a rail enclosure opening on to an aisle and sized for the reception of one animal so that it can lie on bedding in the cubicle with its rump towards the aisle. In this way most of the excreta are deposited away from the bedding and in the aisle so as to be easy to clean out by machinery.However, some at least of the animals, typically cows or heifers, require a period of training so that they become accustomed to using the cubicles for lying in, and even when trained will sometimes develop a habit of lying only partly in the cubicle or even wholly in the aisle so that rump and udders become heavily soiled. In the case of cows this necessitates considerable cleaning before milking, and in any event the usual training involves tying them in the cubicles at night which means considerable trouble and labour for the herdsman. Moreover, since the training is in the form of physical restraint, the animals tend to react against it, so the effect of training tends to wear off after a while, and there will always be some that insist on lying in the aisle, so getting very dirty and subject to rheumatic and other ailments.On some farms attempts are made to deter animals from lying in the aisles by distributing impediments such as concrete blocks or old car tyres so as to make it uncomfortable.

However, these not only impede the cattle but have to be removed each time the aisles are cleared out, e.g. by a tractor-mounted scraper. This involves extra labour and mess.

According to the invention a cubicle trainer and restraining device for use in the aisle of a cubicle house comprises a grid structure of conductive material having grid spacings such that animals can step through it, the structure being supported clear of the floor by insulating supports which extend outwardly so as to space the edges of the grid away from the edges of the cubicles.

Preferably the insulating supports are arranged to terminate somewhat short of the cubicle edge, and may comprise outwardly curved legs formed of steel tube secured to the grid at one end and provided with a double coating of insulating material such as P.V.C. tubing. This coating may be shrunk on as a first layer, which implies a fairly thin coating, and this may be followed by a much thicker covering such as tubing of the kind used for water pipes to serve as a wearing surface and for further insulation. This further tubing may be plugged at the distal end to prevent the ingress of water.

The spacing between the grids and the edge of the cubicle allows for excreta from an animal occupying the cubicle to fall into the aisle and if the animal is lying down allows it a slight but not excessive projection over the aisle. Not only this, however, but the insulation on the feet enables the device to be connected to an electric fencer, so that when being trained the animals can be actively discouraged from adopting a position in the cubicle where they project more than is necessary into the aisle.

One form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure lisa plan view of part of a cubicle house with a trainer and restraining device, and Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation of the same.

In the drawing a grid 1 is composed of a pair of end rails 2 and 3 which may be of square section steel tube, and these are connected by further parallel rails 4 of the same material which are welded to the end rails. This structure, forming a grid, is spaced away from the ground by a number of feet 5 located at the corners of the structure and extending downwards and outwards therefrom.

Typically, when used for cattle the tube section may be about 36mm. square and the spaces between the parallel rails 4 may be about 300mm. so that the total width is about 1044mm., while the spacing above the ground is about 180mm. As will be seen from Figure 2 the legs 5 are curved so as to project laterally beyond the sides of the grid 1, and they project about 280mm. on each side. This size, totalling as it does a width of some 1600mm., is appropriate for an aisle width of 1800mm., which is a common width for such structures. The length of the grid may be of the order of 1800mm. so that, as it lies in the aisle with limited freedom to move sideways, it is not likely to become jammed between the sides of the aisle.This is important for two reasons; first it is convenient to be able to slide one or more units in or out of a cubicle house, and second, although cattle will walk through the grid, they may come in contact with it accidentally, and the risk of injury to them is reduced if the grid is free to move. At the same time, however, it is undesirable for the sides of the grid to be nearer than about 180mm. to the edges 6 of the cubicles, so that there is room for an animal to get part of its anatomy appreciably over the edge 6 without contacting the grid.

The legs 5 are formed from steel tube which, conveniently, is first bent to shape after which a shrunk-on sleeve of polythene is applied to form an insulating coating. A further covering in the form of a thick-walled polythene pipe is then forced over the sleeve, and its open end is plugged with a watertight plug. This construction effectively seals the leg from water and other liquids and at the same time provides a low-friction foot which slides easily over the concrete floor of the aisle. It also serves as electrical insulation. The legs 5 are then welded to the corners of the grid, as shown.

When in use for training purposes initially, a gate may be put in position across the aisle 7 as shown at 8, so as to separate for example the first four stalls or cubicles (these are typically formed from pipework as shown) from the rest, and these may be closed off by closing a further gate (not shown) across the opening 9 in the outer wall 10 of the building. Thus four cubicles are separated from the rest to serve as a training area. Animals for training are introduced into this area and a connection is made to a terminal 11 from an electric fencer 12. The animals will in any event treat the grid 1 as an obstacle which they will step through to get into the cubicles and they will be free to stand about in the aisle if they wish. The grid will however effectively prevent them from sitting or lying in the aisle.This they can only do by entering one of the cubicles, and these are so sized that occupation by a single animal is possible only by going in forwards. They do have room however to lie down but any attempt to back out without getting up is met by the administration of the usual small electric shock from the fencer 12.

Most animals, after a very short experience of the above training will thereafter react by properly using a cubicle and will not lie in the aisle even if the grid unit is removed.

In some cases however a few animals may revert to a former practice of lying in the aisles, and a number of units may be joined together by loops and pegs 13 and 14 respectively, provided in alternate positions on the front and rear edges of the grid. Part of a further grid joined in this way is shown in Figure 2 at la. In order to prevent electrical contact with an end wall, further legs 15 may be provided, offset from each other, on the front and rear of each grid.

The above description mentions typical dimensions and it will be appreciated that these will follow the building design. For example, the aisles may be wider, in which case the width of the unit will be increased so that it is spaced a suitable distance from the edges of the cubicles.

Claims

CLAIM 1.The invention as set forth. New claims or amendments to claims filed on 12 April '85. Superseded claims 1 New or amended claims: CLAIMS

1. A method of training for farm animals to suit them for cubicle housing, which comprises introducing into an aisle which serves as an entry to and a drainage channel from the cubicles of a cubicle housing a conductive structure supported on feet from which it is insulated, such structure occupying the majority of the width of the aisle and being of grid-like construction with such proportions that the animals can step through it without touching any conductive parts, and connecting the structure to an intermittent shockproducing voltage source for a time sufficient to train the animals to walk through into the cubicles and remain there without encroaching on the aisle.

2. A cubicle trainer and/or restraining device for farm animals for use in the aisle of a cubicle house comprising a grid-like structure having leg supports for supporting it clear of the aisle floor and spaced from a cubicle front in such a way as to hinder an animal from adopting a reclining position in a cubicle with part of its body outside the cubicle, the grid spacing being such that the animal can easily walk through the grid structure.

3. A cubicle trainer and/or restraining device for farm animals for use in the aisle of a cubicle house comprising a grid-like structure of conductive material having grid spacings such that animals can step through it, the structure being supported clear of the floor by insulating supports and means being provided for connection of the structure to an electrical supply.

4. A cubicle trainer according to claim 3 wherein portions are provided extending outwardly of the structure to contact an edge of the aisle so as to space the corresponding edge of the grid-like structure away from the edge of the cubicle.

5. A cubicle trainer according to claim 4 wherein the said portions are constituted by some or all of the insulating supports.

6. A cubicle trainer according to claim 5 wherein an insulating support comprises a metal leg attached at one end to the structure and curved downwardly and outwardly and having at least its lower portion covered by an insulating material.

7. A cubicle trainer according to claim 6 wherein the insulating material is applied by shrink wrapping.

8. A cubicle trainer according to claim 7 wherein a further semi-rigid insulating and abrasion-resistant tubular member is applied over the already insulated support by a force fit.

9. A cubicle trainer according to claim 8 wherein the outer end of the tubular member is seaied by a plug.

10. A cubicle trainer substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.