GB2154418A

GB2154418A - Livestock food holder

Info

Publication number: GB2154418A
Application number: GB08504117A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Vernon Roge Dowdeswell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-02-21
Filing date: 1985-02-18
Publication date: 1985-09-11
Also published as: GB8404564D0; GB8504117D0

Abstract

A livestock food holder primarily for sheep comprises a container for receiving a block (13) of silage or other food e.g. on a pallet (6) and having a pair of pivoted side gates (2) of railing or similar form for head access by sheep (S) to the silage (B), the side gates (2) being moved inwardly by the sheep (S) as the silage (B) is consumed. The lower parts of the side gates (2) have inwardly directed trays (24) which collect silage dropped during feeding and which also undercut the silage (B) on inward movement of the side gates (2). The side gates (2) are pivotally suspended from the roof (4) for such inward movement and the roof (4) can be raised to lift a side gate (2) to the open position for insertion of a block (B) of silage into the container and removal of an empty pellet (6) e.g. by fork lift operation. Modifications include an openable end gate (3) for end wise insertion of a block (B) of silage into the container (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Livestock food holder The object of this invention is to provide a livestock food holder primarily for use in feeding sheep, e.g.

with silage whereby consumption ofthe food is controlled and waste is keptto a minimum. This and other practical advantageswill be apparent from the following description.

According to the invention a livestock food holder is characterised by a container for receiving food such as a block of silage, the container having at least one movable side or end member or gate having openings each forthe passage of the head of a sheep or other livestock into the containerfor access to food therein, the member or gate being movable towards the food bythe sheep or other livestock as the food is consumed and is provided with a receptacle at its lower part for receiving food dropped during feeding.

A practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the holder, and FIGURES 2 and 3 are end views showing the operation ofthe holder.

Modifications are subsequently described.

The holder is shown in the nature of a sheep rack for use in a field but may be capable of other use as referred to later and consists of a container 1 having side and end members 2,3 of open or railing form for receiving food such as a block B of silage and is provided with an overhanging roof 4. The base 5 of the container 1 is arranged to receive a removable pallet 6 for ease of loading the container 1 by a tractor mounted forklift attachment or similar mechanism.

The side members or side gates 2 ofthe container consist of spaced apart vertical bars 20 secured between upper and lower longitudinal rails 21, 22, the spacing apart of the bars 20 being sufficient to pass the head and neck of sheep only with some clearnace but otherwiseto prevent entry of any further part of its body. The end members 3 are of similar construction i.e. spaced vertical bars 30 secured between upperand lower cross rails 31,32.

The major part ofthefeeding is effected through the side gates 2 and forthis purpose they are longerthan the end members orwalls 3 and they are also movable for controlled feeding and to minimise wastage of dropped food. For suitable operation in this way each side gate 2 is shown pivotally suspended or hinged at 42from an upper part of the container 1 such asfrom roof cross members 40 carried by the upper cross rails of the end walls 3, so that each side gate 2 can swing inwardlytowardsthe block B of silage in the container 1.Each side gate 2 also has an inwardly directed receptacle ortray24 carried along itsloweredge,the inner side ofthe tray 24 being open and providing a bottom edge 26 which rests on the top surface ofthe pallet 6 and against the base ofthe silage block Bso as to have an undercutting action in relation to the block.

The bottom edge 26 is shown downwardly lipped at 260forsuch action.

On sheep S inserting their heads between the bars 20 and feeding or grazing from the silage block B and as the latter is consumed, the sheep press bytheir breasts against the lower rail 22 of the side gate 2 and so move it inwardly in order to gain further access to the block B. However inward movement of the gate 2 and tray 24 is prevented or resisted by the base ofthe block B whilst silage torn away from the block by the sheep falls into the tray 24. Thus the sheep are obliged to consume the loose silagefrom thetray 24 and then from the base of the block B before further inward movement ofthe gate 2 and tray 24 can take place to enable them to further reach the block.Not only is the loose silage consumed but also it is very largely prevented by the tray 24 from falling to the ground where it would be trampled on and otherwise spoilt and wasted. Thus wastage hitherto of the order of twenty per cent is reduced to a very minimal amount.

Some wastage may occurfrom feeding between the bars 30 ofthe fixed endwalls3 but since access to the block B is soon prevented such wastage is also minimised and dropped silage retained by a lower cross board or plate 33 to each end wall 3. If desired the end walls 3 can be closed or provided with more closely spaced bars 30 so thatfeeding in effect is confined to the side gates 2.

When the side gates 2 are both at their innermost positioins the access afforded is such that the remainder ofthe block B can be totally consumed.

Having regard to the swinging movement of each side gate 2 and the movement of the trays 24 on the pallet 6, each tray 24 is pivotally carried by the lower rail 22 preferably with a restricted action so that undue downward inclination from the side gate 2 is avoided i.e.during loading oftheholderwith afresh block B.

Forthis purpose a rearward upper flange 27 of the tray 24 is shown entering the lower rail 22 of box section so that the flange 27 can abut upper and lower internal faces of the box section rail 22, the lowerface having some inward inclination to provide a suitably positioned fulcrum for the flange 27. The trays 24 may have upstanding end boards 28 (Fig. 1) to prevent entry of small sheep into the container between the ends of the gates 2 and end walls 3.

The pallet 6 is located in the container 1 e.g. by longitudinal channel members 60 at its underside engaging over longitudinal members 50 of the container base structure 5 suitable provision being preferably made for centralised location ofthe pallet 6 between the end walls 3.

After removal of an empty pallet 6 by liftforks of a tractor, a loaded pallet 6 is similarly transported and loaded into the container 1 and onto the longitudinal base members 50.

In order to open the container 1 for this purpose the cross members 40 ofthe roof4 are shown privotally mounted at41 on the end wall upper cross rails 31 so that it can be swung upwardlyto lift one of the side gates 2 for clear access into the container 1. The roof4 is retained in this position by releasable stays 44 and the other side gate 2which remains in a lower position may be swung outwardlyto disengage its tray 24 clear The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

ofthe pallet 6 i.e. so as not to hinder pallet removal and replacement. A removable locking pin at 45 secures the roof 4 in the closed position to the upper rail 31 or to each rail.

The pallet 6 is shown provided with a central longitudinal row of upstanding spikes 66 for retaining a block B of silage on it particularlywhen a block is transferred from a trailer or the ground by lift forks onto a pallet 6, the spikes 66 retaining the block B on the pallet 6 as the forks are withdrawn from under the block. In use the trays 24may abut the spikes 66 at their innermost positions.

When feeding horned sheep (as distinct from rams which are usually separately fed) the side gates 2 and end walls 3may have horizontal bars instead ofthe vertical bars 20, 30, the horizontal bars being a sufficient vertical distance apart to admit only the head and neck of a sheep but affording adequate side space forthe horns when a sheep withdraws its head so that there is little or no risk ofthe head becoming trapped bythe horizontal bars.

In addition to the controlled feeding and reduction of wastage, the silage is protectively housed against adverse weather and thus kept in good condition. The holder can be readily and quickly loaded and pallet removal effected bytractorfork lift operation and likewise loading of pallets with blocks of silage in a compiete forklift handling procedure.

In an alternative arrangement loading may be effected through an openable end gate3 or other closure at one or both ends of the container 1. The gate 3 may be swung down to provide a ramp for endwise insertion of a loaded pallet 6 into the container 1 and removal of an empty pallet. This arrangement may particularly apply where the holders are used in relationto pens e.g. in a building.Thusa holderortwc or more holders arranged end to end can be positioned between two pens for feeding access to the side gates 2 from sheep or other animals in respective pens. Pallet loading is effected at that end ofthe holder accessible from a gangwayalongsidethe pens.

Loading of a subsequent pallet maythen displace a previous empty pallet 6 in an endwise direction for removal.

The end gate 3 or closure may carry guide means such as rollers about transverse axes and which are engaged by the channel members 60 of a pallet 6.

Similarly the longitudinal members 50 in the base 5 of the or each container 1 may be replaced by a series of rollers two receive the channel members 60 and along which a pallet or pallets 6 can be easily moved in an endwise direction as a fresh loaded pallet is inserted into the container 1 and an empty pallet removed.

Such procedure enables loaded pal lets to be deli vered by a fork lift tractor along the gangway for subsequenttransverse endwise movement into the holder i.e. on the lowered end gate 3 ofthe latterand without need to turn thetractortowardsthe holder. In such an arrangementtherewould be no need to raise the movable side gates 2 and a roof 4 would not be necessary for indoor use thus enabling access to be gained into the container 1 ofthe or each holderfor removal of an empty pallet 6.

Claims

1. Alivestockfood holdercharacterised bya container for receiving food such as a block of silage, the container having at least one movable side or end member or gate having openings each for the passage of the head of a sheep or other livestock into the containerfor accessto food therein, the memberor gate being movable towards the food bythesheep or other livestock as the food is consumed and is provided with a receptacle at its lower part for receiving food dropped during feeding.

2. A livestock food holder according to Claim 1 wherein the or each movable side or end member or gate includes spaced apart bars to provide openings between them each for the passage of the head of a sheep or other livestock into the containerfor access to food therein.

3. Alivestockfood holderaccording to claim 2 wherein the spaced apart bars are vertically andlor horizontally arranged.

4. A livestockfood holder according to claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the or each receptacle provided at the lower part of its movable side or end member or gate is open at its inner side so as to have an undercutting action in relation to a block of silage or other food within the container.

5. A livestock food holder according to any ofthe preceding claims wherein a pair of opposed movable side or end members or gates are provided each movable towards one another and to a block of silage or otherfood between them within the container as said silage oriood is consumed by sheep or their livestock.

6. A tçvestackfood holder according to any ofthe preceding clams wherin the or each movable side or end member or gate is pivotally suspended or hinged about a honzontaZ axis from an upper part of tre containersuch as from roof strcture to the latter so as to nave an inward swinging movement towards 9 block of silage or other food within the container as said silage orfood Is consumed by sheep or other livestock.

7. A livestockfood holder according to any of the preceding claims wherein the or each receptacle is carried for pivotal movement from the lower part of its movable side or end member or gate about a horizontal axis parallel with the latter.

8. A livestock food holder according to claim 7 wherein the or each receptacle is carried for restricted pivotal movement from the lower part of its movable side or end member or gate.

9. A livestock food holder according to any of the preceding claims wherein the container is adapted to removably receive a palletforthe insertion of a block of silage or other food thereon into the container and removal of an empty pallet e.g. by fork lift operation.

10. A livestockfood holder according to claim 9 wherein the or each palletfor use in conjunction with the container is provided with upstanding spikes for the retention of a block of silage or other food thereon.

11. A livestock food holder according to any of the preceding claims wherein at least one movable side or end member or gate can be raised or otherwise opened forthe insertion of a block of silage or other food into the container e.g. on a pallet and for removal of a pallet therefrom.

12. A livestock food holder according to claim 11 wherein at least one movable side orend memberor gate is carried by a raisable upper part or roof structure ofthe container for lifting opening movementtherewith.

13. A livestock food holder according to claim 12 wherein the raisable upper part or roof structure ofthe container is pivotally mounted on the latter about a horizontal axis so that it can be swung upwardly to lift the movable side or end member or gate to the open position.

14. A livestock food holder according to any of the preceding claims wherein at least one end or side member or gate ofthe container is arranged to be swung down to provide a ramp for insertion of a block of silage or other food into the container e.g. on a pallet and removal of a pallettherefrom.

15. A livestock food holder according to claim 14 wherein the end or side member or gate of the container and/orthe container is or are provided with a guide means such as rollers to facilitate insertion of a block of silage or other food into the container e.g. on a pallet or removal of a pallet therefrom when the end or side member or gate is in the swung down position.

16. A livestock food holder according to any ofthe preceding claims wherein the or each receptacle at the lower part of its side or end member or gate is provided with upstanding end boards to prevent entry thereat into the container by sheep or other livestock.

17. A livestockfood holder according to any of the preceding claims wherein at least one end member or gate ofthe container is openable for insertion of a block of silage or other food into the container, at least one said movable side member or gate being provided to the container for access to food therein by sheep or other livestock.

18. A livestockfood holder when substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.