GB2221161A

GB2221161A - Foaling alarm

Info

Publication number: GB2221161A
Application number: GB8913928A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Carr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-06-18
Filing date: 1989-06-16
Publication date: 1990-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 2009-06-16
Also published as: GB8814572D0; GB2221161B; GB8913928D0

Abstract

Apparatus for automatically activating an alarm when a mare lies down preparatory to foaling, comprises a headcollar 11 carrying a battery-operated ultra-sonic transmitter 20, gravity switches, and pressure-operated switches 16 on the cheek straps 12 of the headcollar. Closure of a gravity switch when the mare lies down, simultaneously with closure of a pressure switch 16 when the mare presses her head against the ground at the onset of labour, causes operation of the transmitter 20. A receiver 35 in the roof of the stable activates an alarm upon reception of an ultra-sonic signal from the transmitter. A latching device holds the transmitter energised should the mare raise its head from the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

FOALING ALARM This invention relates to the breeding of hoses and has for its object to provide a method and apparatus for automatically activating an alarm when a mare lies down preparatory to foaling.

The breeding of horses is a long term business.

Many hours are spent in the study of pedigrees and records before a selection of stallion and mare is made. After mating, the mare has to be looked after for eleven months before a foal can be expected. The value of a foal and mare can be very high indeed, and should the attendant miss the foaling which is extremely rapid, then despite all efforts the result can be heartbreaking tragedy and financial disaster if the foal or mare should die or be injured.

The majority of mares foal betweeen 7pm and 6am. The diligence of people sitting up is an aspect breeders can justly be proud of. It is remarkable how few foalings go unobserved in those breeds, such as the Thoroughbred or the Arab, where stud management sets itself the task of observing and attending every foaling. The safety aspect is one that every stud should have. Nevertheless statistics show that foaling mares have the second highest mortality rate among domestic animals. It is believed that that the reason for the high mortality rate is the failure of the studman to attend the mare in time to assist in the birth. A substantial number of mares foal without any apparent warning and, due to the speed of foaling, it is vital to recognise the first sign of labour.

As is well known in the art, a mare lies down on one side preparatory to foaling, and the present invention arose from the observation that, on the onset of labour, a mare presses the side of her head against the ground.

Thus, according to the invention, there is provided a method of automatically activating an alarm when ä mare lies down on one side preparatory to foaling, comprising utilising the pressure between the head of the mare and the ground at the onset of labour to generate a signal, and utilising the signal to activate the alarm. The signal can conveniently be generated by an electric circuit energised in response to operation of a pressure sensor by the pressure between the head of the mare and the ground. The pressure sensor may comprise a micro-switch or a pressure transducer.

The means for generating the above mentioned signal are preferably mounted on a headcollar adapted to be fitted on a mare.

Thus, according to the invention, there is also provided apparatus for automatically activating an alarm when a mare lies down on one side preparatory to foaling, comprising a collar adapted to be fitted around the head of the mare, detecting means mounted on the collar and operable to provide a signal in response to pressure exerted on the collar by the mare fitted with the collar, pressing the side of her head against the ground at the onset of labour, and alarm means operable in response to said signal to provide said alarm.

The detecting means preferably comprises a transmitter arranged to be positioned centrally behind the ears of a mare fitted with the headcollar, and an energising circuit having pressure sensors on opposite sides of the headcollar, the pressure sensors being arranged so that one of the sensors is actuated to energise the circuit and transmit a signal from the transmitter when a mare fitted with the headcollar lies on one side and presses her head on the ground, and the alarm means includes a receiver adapted to be energised by said signal from the transmitter. The pressure sensors are preferably mounted on the cheek straps of the headcollar, that is on the straps which extend along the cheeks on the head of the mare.

The transmitter may be arranged to transmit a radio, ultra-sonic or infra-red signal to a corresponding receiver in the roof of a stable housing the mare when one of the pressure sensors is actuated. Alternatively, the transmitter may be arranged to emit a continuous transmission of electromagnetic or other waves, the detecting means being operable to interrupt the transmission and thereby provide a signal when one of the pressure sensors is actuated. The transmitter preferably includes two signal-emitting transducers facing in opposite directions and arranged so that one of the transducers is facing upwardly when the mare is lying down on either side. There is then no risk of deflection of the signal being transmitted from the upwardly facing transducer to the receiver in the roof of the stable.

The detecting means preferably also includes gravitational sensors arranged so that at least one of the gravitational sensors is actuated when a mare fitted with the headcollar lies on either side with a side of her head on the ground, the detecting means being operable only when at least one of the gravitational sensors and at least one of the pressure sensors are actuated. This ensures that the alarm will not be activated by operation of the pressure sensors when the mare is standing upright, for example by the mare pressing one side of her head against a wall of the stable.

The detecting means preferably also includes a latching device operable to hold the circuits in the energised or de-energised condition responsive to operation of the sensors, so that the alarm continues to be operated in a case where the mare lifts her head after pressing her head down on the ground.

One form of apparatus in accordance with the present invention for automatically activating an alarm when a mare lies down preparatory to foaling, will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a headcollar forming part of the apparatus, Figure 2 is a view of the head of a mare fitted with the headcollar, and a receiver located above the mare for reception of signals from a transmitter on the headcollar, and Figures 3a, 3b, 3c show different settings of a gravitational sensor unit of the apparatus.

The headcollar shown in Figure 1 comprises an annular muzzle strap 10, an annular neck strap.11, and two cheek straps 12 arranged one on each side of the headoollar, the ends of the cheek straps 12 being secured by buckles 13 to the muzzle and neck straps. Each cheek strap is formed on the outer surface thereof, intermediate its ends, with a pouch 16 which houses a pressure sensor in the form of a pressureoperated microswitch. The neck strap 11 is formed by upper and lower bands 17, 18, the ends of which are interconnected by two buckles 19. The upper band 17 of the neck strap is fitted with a container 20 which houses an electric battery, an amplifier, an ultra-sonic transmitter, and a gravitational sensor unit. When the headcollar is fitted to a mare, as shown in Figure 2, the two buckles 19 are adjusted to position the container 20 centrally on the marer The pressure-operated microswitches on the cheek straps 12 are electrically connected by wires 21 to the circuitry in the container.

The gravitational sensor unit 25 shown in Figure 3 comprises two gravity switches 26, 27 each consisting of a short length of tube 28 closed at its ends and containing a small quantity of mercury 29 and a pair of contacts 30 which project into the interior of the tube at one end thereof. The two tubes 27 are mounted flat on a support plate 31 wit the tubes diverging from one another at an angle of approximately 60 degrees and the contacts located at the divergent end of the tubes. Figure 3a shows the sensor unit 25 in an upright position in which the support plate 31 is vertical and the two switches 26, 27 are arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of the vertical centre line of the plate 31 with th contacts at the upper ends of the two tubes.When the sensor unit is tilted from the upright position onto its left hand side as shown in Figure 3b, that is tilted in an anticlockwise direction about a horizontal axis normal to the support plate 31, the tube of the left hand switch 26 is inclined downwards with the contacts at the lower end and the mercury flows down the tube into the lower end thereof and bridges the contacts.

Similarly, when the sensor unit is tilted from the upright position onto its right hand side as shown in Figure 3c, the mercury flows down the tube of the right hand switch 27 and bridges the contacts at the lower end of the tube. The gravitational sensor unit is mounted in the container 20 and arranged so that, when the headcollar is mounted on a mare, the sensor unit is in the upright position with the switches 26, 27 positioned one on each side of the head of the mare when the mare is standing erect. The contacts in the left hand switch 26 will then be bridged by the mercury when the mare lies down on her left hand side , and the contacts in the right hand switch 27 will be bridged by the mercury when the mare lies down on her right hand side.

The ultra-sonic transmitter may be of any suitable construction known in the art and designed to emit ultra-sonic waves when both the gravity switch and the pressure-operated microswitch associated with one side of the headcollar are closed, that is when a mare fitted with the headcollar is lying down on one sides as to close the associated gravity switch and simultaneously pressing the side of her head against the ground so as to close the pressure switch in the pouch on the cheek strap on the underside of her head.The gravity switch and the pressure switch associated with one side of the headcollar are connected in parallel with the gravity switch and pressure switch associated with the other side of the headcollar, and the gravity switch and the pressure switch associated with each side of the headcollar are connected in series with the electric supply so that no battery power is used when the mare is standing up.

The transmitter is provided with two transducers positioned one on each side of the container 20 and arranged to emit ultra-sonic waves in opposite directions away from each other so that, when the mare lies down and the transmitter is energised, one of the transducers will direct ultra-sonic waves in an upward direction.

The transmitter includes a latching dircuit arranged to hold the transmitter in the energised condition, and thereby continue to emit ultra-sonic waves even though one or other of the gravity and pressure switches open after initially being closed.

The apparatus also includes a receiver 35 (Figure 2) adapted to be mounted above a mare fitted with the headcollar and to be energised upon reception of ultra-sonic waves from the transmitter on the headcollar. The receiver 35 is adapted, when energised, to activate an alarm which may be in a nearby house. A control box 36 is arranged to energise the receiver 35 for test purposes.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of automatically activating an alarm when a mare lies down on one side preparatory to foaling, comprising utilising the pressure between the head of the mare and the ground at the onset of labour to generate a signal and utilising the signal to activate the alarm.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said signal is generated by an electric circuit energised in response to operation of a microswitch or compression of a pressure transducer by the pressure between the head of the mare and the ground.

3 Apparatus for automatically activating an alarm when a mare lies down on one side preparatory to foaling, comprising a collar adapted to be fitted around the head of the mare, detecting means mounted on the collar and operable to provide a signal in response to pressure exerted on the collar by the mare, fitted with the collar, pressing the side of her head against the ground at the onset of labour, and alarm means operable in response to said signal to provide said alarm.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the detecting means are operable in response to said pressure only when the headcollar, fitted on a mare, is in a position resulting from the mare lying on one side and pressing the side of her head against the ground.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the detecting means comprises a transmitter arranged to be positioned centrally behind the ears of a mare fitted with the headcollar, and an energising circuit having pressure sensors on opposite sides of the headcollar, the pressure sensors being arranged so that one of the pressure sensors is actuated to energise the circuit and transmit a signal from the transmitter when a mare fitted with the headcollar lies on one side and presses her head on the ground, and the alarm means includes a receiver adapted to be energised by said signal from the transmitter.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit an ultra-sonic signal, and the receiver is adapted to operate the alarm means upon reception of said signal.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the transmitter includes two signal-emitting transducers facing in opposite directions and arranged so that one of the transducers is facing upwardly when a mare fitted with the headcollar is lying down on either side.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 5-7, wherein the detecting means includes gravitational sensors arranged so that at least one of the gravitational sensors is actuated when a mare fitted with the headcollar lies on her side with a side of her head on the ground, the detecting means being operable only when at least one of the gravitational sensors and at least one of the pressure sensors are actuated.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the detecting means includes a latching device operable to maintain the detecting means in the operated condition in response to energisation of said circuit.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 5-9, in which the headcollar comprises a muzzle strap, a neck strap, and two cheek straps interconnecting the muzzle and neck straps and adapted to extend along opposite sides of the head of a mare fitted with the headcollar, wherein the pressure sensors are mounted one on each of the cheek straps.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the transmitter is mounted on the top of the neck strap, and the neck strap is provided with two buckles arranged one on each side of the transmitter to enable the transmitter to be positioned centrally on the head of a mare fitted with the headcollar.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 5-11 in which the headcollar is fitted on a mare in a stall in a stable, wherein said receiver is located inside the stable directly above the stall.

13. A method of automatically activating an alarm when a mare lies down on one side preparatory to foaling, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. Apparatus for automatically activating an alarm when a mare lies down on one side preparatory to foaling, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.