GB2218611A

GB2218611A - Apparatus for feeding lambs

Info

Publication number: GB2218611A
Application number: GB8911612A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Henry Yates
Original assignee: NET TEX AGRICULTURAL Ltd
Current assignee: NET TEX AGRICULTURAL Ltd
Priority date: 1988-05-20
Filing date: 1989-05-19
Publication date: 1989-11-22
Also published as: GB8812012D0; GB8911612D0

Abstract

Apparatus (2) for feeding lambs (4), which apparatus (2) comprises a container (6) for feed for the lambs (4), at least two apertures (8) in the sides of the container (6) for affording the lambs (4) access to the feed in the container (6), and support means (10) for enabling the apparatus (2) to be suspended in use, the apertures (8) being sufficiently large that the lambs (4) are able to put their heads through the apertures (8) to gain access to the feed in the container (6), and the apertures (8) being sufficiently small that ewes are not able to put their heads through the apertures (8) to gain access to the feed in the container (6). <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LAMBS This invention relates to apparatus for feeding lambs.

In order that lambs quickly put on weight, it is usual to feed them with a special feed. This feed may be a proprietary bought-in concentrated feed which may be in the form of pellets. Alternatively, the special feed may be one that is specially mixed by a farmer and such a feed may be made from one or more varieties of corn, so that it may be made for example from one or more of wheat, barley, rolled barley, rolled oats and maize. The special feed for the lambs is expensive to buy or make and it is not intended for ewes. Since lambs and ewes usually feed together, a problem arises in ensuring that the lambs are able to eat the special feed but the ewes are not able to eat the special feed.

The technique of ensuring that lambs can feed whilst ewes cannot feed is often known as creep feeding.

Apparatus which is for feeding lambs and which prevent ewes from feeding from the apparatus is known as a creep feeder.

One known creep feeder is in the form of a trough which is provided with a hopper above it for receiving feed for the lambs. Bars are provided along either side of the trough, with the bars being so spaced that only the lambs can get their heads through the spaces between the bars and the ewes cannot get their heads through the spaces between the bars. Thus only the lambs can feed from feed in the trough. The trough is floor mounted and it is not always convenient to move such a known type of creep -feeder. Furthermore, such a known type of creep feeder is relatively expensive to make.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a new type of apparatus for feeding lambs, which apparatus is able to prevent ewes from feeding from the apparatus, and which apparatus is of an improved design when compared with a trough-type creep feeder.

Accordingly, this invention provides apparatus for feeding lambs, which apparatus comprises a container for feed for the lambs, at least two apertures in the sides of the container for affording the lambs access to the feed in the container, and support means for enabling the apparatus to be suspended in use, the apertures being sufficiently large that the lambs are able to put their heads through the apertures to gain access to the feed in the container, and the apertures being sufficiently small that ewes are not able to put their heads through the apertures to gain access to the feed in the container.

When the ewes try to put their heads through the apertures in the container, they just push the apparatus away since the apparatus is suspended in use. Thus the ewes tend quickly to learn that they cannot obtain feed from the container and they then leave the container alone so that it is free for use by the lambs. If the apparatus is appropriately suspended, as the ewes try to put their heads through the apertures, the apparatus can get pushed away and can tend to roll around the heads of the ewes, thus effectively moving the apertures away from the ewes.

Preferably, the container is cylindrical in cross section. The container may however be of other desired cross sectional shapes and one other preferred cross sectional shape is an octagonal shape. The container may be square or rectangular in cross section if desired.

Preferably, the container is one which has six of the apertures. The container may however have any desired and appropriate number of the apertures. The number of apertures employed depends to some extent upon the need to leave enough room for the lambs to stand around the apparatus. The number of apertures employed also depends to some extent on the overall size of the container. For example, there may be four apertures if desired in the container. Less than four apertures or more than four apertures may be employed and, for example, with a large enough container, there could be twelve apertures.

Preferably, the support means is a pair of swivel hook bolts. These bolts will usually extend from sides of the container. Generally, any suitable and appropriate type of support means may be employed. It is preferred that the support means is able to swivel or pivot to help to keep the container upright during use.

The apertures advantageously are such that they each have a straight flat top, and straight sloping sides which slope inwardly to meet a curved bottom. Thus the apertures may be generally in the shape of a shield.

Usually, the apparatus will include a lid. The lid is preferably a conical or frusto-conical lid.

Usually, the lid will be a removable lid. The lid can then be removed to enable the container to be filled up with the feed for the lambs.

Advantageously, the lid is held in position by a pair of releaseable locking devices. The releaseable locking devices may be cam action releaseable locking devices.

Advantageously, the apparatus of the invention includes a gravity fed hopper positioned inside the container.

Such a hopper may enable the feed to be directed to the bottom of the container.

The hopper may have a parallel sided chute section extending towards the bottom of the container. The hopper may also have a funnel section leading to the parallel sided chute section.

The apparatus advantageously includes weather protection means for helping to stop rain entering the apertures and so spoiling the food.

The weather protection means may be a flange which extends outwardly from the container. Preferably, the flange slopes downwardly.

The weather protection means may also be formed by the rim of the lid if the lid is sufficiently large to extend beyond the sides of the container.

The apparatus of the invention may include suspension means for suspending the container by the support means.

The suspension means may include one or more straps.

The strap or straps can then be employed to hang the apparatus from, for example, a tree in a field or a beam in a barn. The straps may be made of any desired and appropriate type of material.

The suspension means, for example the straps, may be adjustable in length so that the height of the container and, more especially, the height of the apertures above the ground can be adjusted for ease of feeding for the lambs.

Rope, strong string or cord may also be employed instead of the straps. Chains can also be employed.

The suspension means may also include a tripod arrangement so that the strap or straps or other flexible means employed can be attached to the tripod with the container then hanging from the tripod.

The apparatus may include size adjusting means for adjusting the size of the apertures. The size adjusting means may be an apertured cage, for example an apertured wire cage.

The container may be made of any desired and appropriate materials including wood, metals and plastics materials. The lid will usually be made of the same material as the container.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows first apparatus for feeding lambs; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the first apparatus; Figure 3 shows second apparatus for feeding lambs; Figure 4 is a plan view of part of the second apparatus shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through the part of the second apparatus shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 illustrates how the apparatus shown in Figure 3 may be modified to include a gravity fed chute; Figure 7 is an enlarged section through part of the gravity fed chute; Figure 8 is a top plan view of part of third apparatus for feeding lambs; and Figure 9 is a side view of part of the third apparatus shown in Figure 8.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown apparatus 2 for feeding lambs 4. The apparatus 2 comprises a container 6 which is provided with six apertures 8insides of the container 6 as shown. The apparatus 2 also includes support means in the form of swivel hook bolts 10 for enabling the apparatus 2 to be suspended in use.

As shown in Figure 1, the apertures 8 are sufficiently large that the lambs 4 are able to put their heads through the apertures' 8 to gain access top the feed in the container 6. The apertures 8 are sufficiently small that ewes 12 are not able to put their heads through the apertures 8 to gain access to the feed in the container 6. The container 6 is cylindrical in cross section and as the ewes 12 push against the container 6, it moves away from the ewes 12 and tends to roll around their heads. The ewes 12 thus soon learn that they cannot obtain feed from the container 6 and they thus leave the apparatus 2 alone, whereby the lambs can feed as is required.

In addition to the size of the apertures 8, the illustrated shape of the apertures 8 is also advantageous in ensuring that the lambs 4 can get their heads through the apertures 8 but the ewes 12 cannot get their heads through the apertures 8. The apertures 8 each have a straight flat top, and sloping sides which slope inwardly to meet a curved bottom. Thus the apertures 8 are generally in the shape of a shield.

The apparatus 2 includes a frusto-conical lid 14. The lid 14 is a removable lid which can be removed to enable the container to be filled with feed for the lambs when the container is empty. The feed is placed in a gravity fed chute 15. The lid 14 is held in position by a pair of cam action releasable locking devices which will be described in more detail herein below.

The apparatus 2 includes weather protection means in the form of a flange 16 which extends outwardly from the container 6. As can be seen, the flange 16 is positioned above the apertures 8. It does not project so far that it will interfere with the lambs 4 feeding through the apertures 8. The flange 16 does however project sufficiently far to help stop rain running off the top of the apparatus 2 and dripping into the apertures 8, where it could wet or ruin the feed for the lambs.

The apparatus 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes suspension means comprising three chains 18, 19, 20 and a tripod 22. The tripod 22 supports a ring 24 and the chains 18, 19, 20 are attached to the ring 24. The chains 18,19,20 also attach to the bolts 10 as shown. Because the bolts 10 are able to swivel, the container 6 will always tend to hang vertically from the chains 18,19,20 even when the container 6 is being pushed by lambs 4 and/or ewes 12. The ring 24 is suspended from a hook 25 which is secured by a nut 27 to the top of the tripod 22. The tripod 22 is separable into component parts as shown for ease of storage and transportation.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4, there is shown second apparatus 2 for feeding lambs 4. Similar parts as in Figures 1 and 2 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding.

In Figures 3, 4 and 5 it will be seen that the chains '18, 19, 20 have been replaced by chains 18, 20.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 also show in more detail the above mentioned cam action releaseable locking devices, these being locking devices 2. Each locking device 26 comprises a locking lever 28 which is pivotally mounted on a boss part 30 and which extends to bear on a skirt portion 32 of the lid 14. The container 6 shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 is octagonal in cross section and can best be seen from Figure 4.

Figure 5 shows most clearly the shape of an aperture 8 and it will be seen that the aperture 8 has a straight flat top 34, and straight sides 36 which slope inwardly to meet a curved bottom 38.

It will be seen from Figure 3 that the lid 14 is sufficiently large that it extends over the sides of the container 6. Thus the extending rim part of the lid 14 helps to stop rain entering the apertures 8 and so wetting or spoiling the feed in the container 6.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7,.the apparatus 2 shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 is shown with a gravity fed hopper 40 positioned inside the container 6. Figure 6 shows different types of hopper and how they may be located at a low position shown to the left of Figure 6, or at a high position shown to the right of Figure 6. Generally, it will be seen that the hopper 40 is able to direct feed to the bottom of the container 6.

This helps to avoid any tendency for the feed to fall out through the apertures 8 during filling up of the container 6 when the lid 14 is removed. Also, as the feed is eaten, feed in the hopper 40 can then fall to the bottom of the container 6. Further, the feed can be inserted into the container 6 whilst the lambs 4 are eating with their heads through the apertures 8 and the feed will then not fall on the heads of the lambs. It will be seen that the hopper 40 has a funnel section 42 which leads to a parallel sided chute section~44. The chute section 44 can be made as a separate item as shown in Figure 7. The chute section 44 is provided with a flange 46 for locating as shown in Figure 6.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, there is shown a container 6 forming part of third apparatus for feeding lambs. The container 6 is surrounded by size adjusting means in the form of an apertured wire cage 48 having apertures 50. The apertures 50 are defined by wire baffle sections 52 which are held together to form the cage 48 by a top wire 54 and a bottom wire 56. The baffle sections 52 are wider at the bottom than the top to conform generally to the shape of the apertures 8. The cage 48 can be rotated clockwise and anti-clockwise by any desired amount to increase and decrease the size of the apertures 8 by the baffle sections 52. The cage 48 is locked in a desired position by a pair of wing nuts 58 and bolts 60.The size adjusting means thus enables the apertures 8 to be adjusted in size as required, for example as the lambs grow and get bigger, or for different breeds of lambs which may vary in head size.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected, Thus, for example, the apparatus 2 shown in Figure 1 may be made with a container 6 which is 30 inches (76cm) tall, and 20 inches (51cm) in diameter. Such a container 6 preferably has six apertures 8 but a container with a larger diameter could have more apertures whilst a container with a smaller diameter could have less apertures. Also, the cross sectional shape of the container 6 may be varied whilst still providing apparatus 2 which is economical of space, economical of materials and efficient in use. The containers 6 may be made from any desired and suitable materials including metals, wood and moulded and sheet plastics materials. As an alternative to hanging the container 6 from two or three sides as shown in the drawings, the container 6 could be hung from a single strap, chain, cord, rope or other flexible member, for example using a support member running centrally through the container 6. Other types of locking devices 26 may be employed so that the locking devices may be other types of clamps or twist and locking devices such as bayonet fixing devices. The baffle sections 52 can be made of a solid material rather than wire, and other types of size adjusting means may be employed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for feeding lambs, which apparatus comprises a container for feed for the lambs, at least two apertures in the sides of the container for affording the lambs access to the feed in the container, and support means for enabling the apparatus to be suspended in use, the apparatus being sufficiently large that the lambs are able to put their heads through the apertures to gain access to the feed in the'container, and the apertures being sufficiently small that ewes are not able to put their heads through the apertures to gain access to the feed in the container.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the container is cylindrical in cross section.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the container has six of the apertures.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the support means is a pair of swivel hook bolts.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the apertures are such that they each have a straight flat top, and straight sloping sides which slope inwardly to meet a curved bottom.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a lid.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the lid is a conical or frusto.oonical lid.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 in which the lid is a removable lid.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8 in which the lid is held in position by a pair of releaseable locking devices.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the releaseable locking devices are cam action releaseable locking devices.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a gravity fed hopper positioned inside the container.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the hopper has a parallel sided chute section extending towards the bottom of the container.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the hopper has a funnel section leading to the parallel sided chute section.

14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including weather protection means for helping to stop rain entering the apertures and so spoiling the food.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 in which the weather protection means is a flange which extends outwardly from the container.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 in which the flange slopes downwardly.

17. Apparatus according to claim 6 and claim 14 in which the weather protection means is formed by the rim of the lid, the lid being sufficiently large to extend beyond the sides of the container.

18. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including suspension means for suspending the container by the support means.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 in which the suspension means includes one or more straps.

20. Apparatus according to claim 18 or claim 19 in which the suspension means is adjustable in length so that the height of the container and therefore the height of the apertures above the ground can be adjusted for ease of feeding for the lambs.

21. Apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 20 in which the suspension means includes a tripod arrangement for enabling the container to hang from the tripod arrangement.

22. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including size adjusting means for adjusting the size of the apertures.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 in which the size adjusting means is an apertured wire cage.

24. Apparatus for feeding lambs, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.