GB2173082A

GB2173082A - Animal inspection apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2173082A
Application number: GB08506877A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Adam Mowat
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-03-16
Filing date: 1985-03-16
Publication date: 1986-10-08
Also published as: GB8506877D0

Abstract

Animal inspection apparatus comprises a positioning enclosure 2 for an animal, and a cradle member 3, 4 or 5. The enclosure 2 is adapted to hold an animal adjacent the cradle member and the cradle member is adapted to receive and support the animal in suitable attitude for inspection. A side wall 27 of the enclosure is openable to allow the transfer of the animal therefrom to the cradle member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Animal inspection apparatus This invention relates to animal inspection apparatus.

Farmers often have to inspect, treat, or administer drugs to their livestock. It can be very difficult to carry out these operations on a struggling animal being held on the ground. Ideally the animal would be held firmly, and comfortably, at a height and position that wasconvenienttothefarmer.

According to the present invention there is provided animal inspection apparatus comprising a positioning enclosure having an entrance for an animal, and a cradle member,theenclosure being adaptedtohold the animal stationary beside the cradle member, and the cradle member being adapted to receive the animal and hold it in an attitude for inspection, the enclosure being openable to allow transfer ofthe animal therefrom to the cradle member.

The cradle member may be movable between a first position in which the animal is transferred to itfrom the adjacent enclosure and a second position remote from the enclosure where the animal may be inspected. It may be movable to a third position for dismounting the animal.

Preferably, the animal inspection apparatus is mounted on a trailer and thus the apparatus can be moved to the area of a farm where the animals are kept.

Preferably also, a plurality of cradle members are provided, each cradle member being rotatably mounted on a common rotating bearing.

Preferably also, the cradle memberssupportthe backoftheanimal and preventtheanimalfrom turning over.

Preferablyalso, the footspace available to the animal in the positioning enclosure is restricted allowing the operatorto overbalancethe animal more easily when the animal is being transferred to the cradle member.

Preferably also, on reaching the third dismounting position the cradle membertips automatically and the animal rolls from the cradle onto the ground.

Embodiments ofthe present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. lisa plan view of animal inspection apparatus according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a front view of the animal inspection apparatus of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, animal inspection apparatus, according to the present invention, and general ly shown at l,comprises a positioning enclosure 2 and three cradle members 3, 4, 5, all being mounted on a trailer 6.

The positioning enclosure 2 is mounted on a side portion 6A of the trailer 6 and is made from a metal frame having a floor 20 and walls 21 ofplywood panels Entry to the enclosure 2 is gained through two non-return flaps 22, 23 which are reached by a ramp 24 from ground level.

The enclosure is in three portions: the decoy portion 2Awhere a decoy animal, in this case a sheep, is positioned; the middle portion 2B where the sheep which is to be transferred to the cradle 3 stands; and the entrance portion 2C.

Thefloor20 ofthe middle portion of the enclosure 2B is provided with inwardly and downwardly sloping portions 25 with a level floor portion 26 between them.

The panel 27 on the inside wall of the middle portion 2B is attached, via elastic ropes (not shown), to the frame ofthe enclosure. By applying a downward force to a wooden block 28 provided on the panel 27 an operatorcan lowerthe panel 27 and gain access to the middle portion ofthe enclosure 2B. When the force is released from the block 28 the panel 27 returns to the raised position.

The cradle members 3, are in theform of a framework having a central portion 30 with two upwardly and outwardly sloping portions 31,32, roughly defining a shallow U-shape in end view.

The cradle members3 are each tiltably mounted at 33 on the end portions of arms 7 which extend radially from a central bearing 8. Each cradle 3 is also linked to the central bearing 8 by a shock absorber 4 and a spring 5.

A spring biased locking pin 9 provided on the trailer 6allowsthe operatorto securethe cradle members3 and prevent them from turning on the central bearing 8.

In this embodiment ofthe invention shearing apparatus 10 and scanning apparatus 11 are provided.

The shearing apparatus 10 is located adjacentthe movable panel 27 and the scanning apparatus 11 is located atthe front-right-hand portion ofthe trailer 6B.

When a farmerwishes to scan his pregnant ewes, for example, hetowsthetrailer6tothe most convenient location and herds the ewes towards the rearofthetrailers.Afirsteweiscoaxedupthe ramp 24, through the non-return flaps, the entrance portion 2C and middle portion 2B into the decoy portion 2A of the positioning enclosure 2. The sheep blocks the view ofthefollowing sheep, which are unaware they are entering a dead-end and are therefore more willing to enter the enclosure 2.

The second sheep into the enclosure 2 is forced to stand in the middle portion ofthe enclosure 2B. Afirst operatorthen lowers the movable panel 27, by applying a downward force to the wooden block 28, and with the help of a second operator, lifts the sheep from the enclosure onto the adjacent cradle 3, as is shown in Fig. 2.

The sloping floor portions 25 provided in the middle portion ofthe enclosure 2B force the sheeps' feet close togetherand makesthesheepeasiertooverbalance into the cradle 3.

The first operatorthen uses the shearing apparatus 1 to remove some wool from the underside ofthe sheep where the scanning apparatus 11 isto be applied.

Once the sheep has been sheared the locking pin 9 is released and the cradles rotated 120 around the central bearing 8.

The sheep is now adjacentthe scanning apparatus 17 and a third operator can carryoutthe scanning operation with relative ease as the sheep is usable to move and the area where the scanner is applied is easily accessible.

As the scanning operation is in progress another sheep is transferred from the positioning enclosure 2 to the following cradle 4 and prepared for scanning.

When scanning is complete the cradles are rotated through a further 120 and an automatic trip mechanism causes the cradle 3 to tip, the sheep rolling from the cradle 3 onto the ground.

In other embodiments ofthe present invention apparatus for dosing animals orfortrimming animals feet may be provided.

Thus, the present invention makes the inspection andtreatmentofanimals easierforthe farmer. The provision of a trailer, making the apparatus portable, allows several farm.ers to share the use of the inspection apparatus.

Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

Claims

1. Animal inspection apparatus comprising a positioning enclosure having an entrance for an animal, and a cradle member, the enclosure being adapted to hold the animal adjacentthe cradle member, and the cradle member being adapted to receive the animal and supportthe animal in an attitudefor inspection, the enclosure being openabletoallowtransferofthe animal therefrom to the cradle member.

2. Animal inspection apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cradle member is movable between a transfer position adjacentthe enclosure and an inspection position remote from the enclosure.

3. Animal inspection apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the cradle member is movable between the transfer position, the inspection position and a dismounting position remote from the enclosure and the inspection position.

4. Animal inspection apparatus as claimed in Claims 1,2 or 3, wherein the apparatus is mounted on a vehicle.

5. Animal inspection apparatus as claimed in any one ofthe preceding Claims, wherein the cradle membersupportsthe animal in the supine position.

6. Animal inspection apparatus as claimed in any one ofthe preceding Claims, wherein thefootspace area availableto the animal in the enclosure is less than the body area available to the animal.

7. Animal inspection apparatus as claimed in any one ofthe preceding Claims, wherein the cradle member may be tipped over to dismount the animal.

8. Animal inspection apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein means are providedfortipping the cradle member over automatically, to dismountthe animal, on reaching the dismounting position.

9. Animal inspection apparatus as claimed in any one ofthe preceding Claims, wherein a plurality of cradle members are provided.

10. Animals inspection apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the cradle members are rotatably mounted on a common rotating bearing.

11. Animal inspection apparatus as claimed in any one ofthe preceding Claims, wherein animal shearing equipment is provided on the apparatus.

12. Animal inspection apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein animal scanning equipment is provided on the apparatus.

13. Animal inspection apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.