GB2254535A

GB2254535A - Cattle walker for showing cattle

Info

Publication number: GB2254535A
Application number: GB9204333A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-03-01
Filing date: 1992-02-28
Publication date: 1992-10-14
Also published as: GB9204333D0

Abstract

A cattle walker for training cattle for showing comprises a frame having a transverse breast bar (25) and provision (21) for tethering animals to restrain the animals heads above the breast bar. Mounting means (13) carried by the frame are configured to receive connections for elevation and tilting of the frame, particularly the ends of a tractor front unloader, which facilitates elevational control of the walker in relation to height of the head restraint and fore and aft positioning of the breast bar relative to the head restraint. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Cattle walker for showing cattle DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a cattle walker for showing cattle, to be known as the "Showman cattle walker".

The showing of cattle, eg. cows, bulls etc., calls for them to be lead at walk in a manner which shows off their features. It is necessary to train the animals to accept a head collar or halter and to be lead at walk. This alone is time-consuming and it is also desirable to train the animal to walk with its head elevated.

With a view to getting the cattle to accept the authority of a head collar and to train cattle to walk side by side it has been proposed to attach a transverse bar to the rear of a tractor by way of the three-point linkage provided on the rear of a tractor. This provides a restraint and the pull of the tractor is able to overcome any resistance on the part of the animal.

However, the existing proposal does not provide adequate means of controlling the stance of the animal, in particular its head positioning.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved cattle walking apparatus.

According to the present invention there is provided a cattle walker comprising a frame having a transverse breast bar and having provision for tethering animals to restrain the animals' head above the breast bar, and mounting means carried by the frame and configured to receive connections for elevation and tilting of the frame, the mounting configuration facilitating elevational control of the walker in relation to the height of the head restraint and fore and aft positioning of the breast bar relative to the head restraint.

According to a preferred embodiment, the mounting means is configured to receive connections comprising two pairs of spaced connections and it is particularly convenient for those connections to be provided by a front loader lifting attachment as fitted to or for fitting to a tractor, or lift truck or the like.

Typically the twQ pairs of spaced connections will be at the ends of a pair of movable arms and a pair of tilting control arms, eg. extendable and retractable rams. A suitable lifting attachment could be purpose-designed, but for convenience it is proposed to utilise the front loading mechanism provided on tractors and the like.

The mounting means may comprise a pair of brackets received slidably on a frame member for positioning at the appropriate transverse spacing to line up with the front loader lifting attachment of the vehicle with which the walker is to be used. By using such as a front loading connection the heads of the animals can be lifted into the air whilst the breast bar keeps them in check. The fore and aft positioning of the breast bar can be altered by means of the tilt control rams of the lifting attachment. The ability to hold the animals' heads high gives rise to a more stylish presentation.

Furthermore, tethering the animals to the front of a tractor and with it moving backwards gives a better view of the animals.

According to another embodiment, the mounting means is configured to mate with the conventional threepoint linkage fitted to the rear of a tractor.

Conveniently it comprises a pair of laterally spaced pins and a third connection point disposed generally vertically above and centrally between the pair of pins.

The transverse breast bar and the provision for tethering the animals are set back from the three-point mounting provision. A distance of the order to 4ft (-l.22m) allows space for an attendant and in conjunction with the elevation of the tethering position above the lower connection points of the three-point linkage (say of the order of 5ft (1.52m)) ensures that movement of the linkage gives the desired controlled movement of the breast bar relative to the tethering position.

Tethering of the animals is preferably by way of tie-up rings carried from pins received in selected holes of the frame, typically on a further transverse bar spaced above the breast bar and parallel to it. The spacing is chosen to suit the size of animals to be walked, and the breast bar may be adjustably mounted with respect to the tethering position, say from 2 to 3ft (0.2 to 0.9m) apart. The frame may be either adjustable in width, conveniently in a telescopic manner with pins for locating atthe desired width, or of fixed width, with that width determined by the number of cattle to be accommodated. Preferably the apparatus is provided with side rails extending rearwardly from the frame to be disposed parallel to the intended position of the animals and providing a side restraint for same.

Preferably the side rails are fixed although, for convenience, they may be hinged to the frame member for stowage or transportation purposes.

The present invention will now be described further by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention and showing its application as a cattle walker, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the front of a tractor is shown schematically at 1 including a pair of forwardly extending raisable and lowerable lift arms 3 and the associated actuating rams 5 which together provide two pairs of connections 7, 9 by way of connecting pins and R-clips. The animal walker comprises a frame made up of a transverse bar 11 of box section and which, in the illustrated embodiment, has side extension parts lla, b which are slidably received within the box section for adjusting the width of the apparatus. Holes 10 in the member 11 and lla, b can be aligned for setting the width of the apparatus by insertion of pins 12 and R clips.

The mounting means comprises a pair of plates 13 spaced apart to receive the ends of the arms and rams and apertured for passage therethrough of locating pin means 17 for the purpose of attaching the apparatus to the front loader lifting means.

The transverse bar 11 and extension lla, b have a plurality of holes 20 to receive tie-up rings 21 carried by pins 23 and retained in the bar by way of R clips.

The number of rings fitted will depend on the number of cattle to be tethered and will be typically four to six.

Spaced from the bar 11 and substantially parallel thereto is a breast bar 25 conveniently of round or rectangular bar and carried from legs 31 extending downwardly from the ends of members lla, b. The breast bar is telescopically adjustable for width. Also extending from the legs are side rails 33, 35. In the illustrated embodiment these are fixed extending perpendicular to the transverse bar 11 and limit sideways movement of the cattle.

An animal fitted with head collar 30 is tied up to a ring 21 by way of rein 32. It will be understood that elevation of the arms 3 determines the height of the bar 11 and thus the height and elevation of the animals' head by virtue of the rein attached to the tie-up ring 21 whilst the extension and retraction of the rams 5 serves to pivot the apparatus about the arm connection and thereby determines the fore and aft position of the breast rail 25. Control of the breast rail with the animal restrains their forward movement.

By gradually adjusting the controls of the front loader lifting attachment the cattle can be trained to walk in the most stylish manner, eg. head forward and raised.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is illustrated an embodiment of cattle walker for fitting to the threepoint linkage as provided on the rear of a tractor. The apparatus has a frame including a transverse breast bar 125, a further transverse bar 111 disposed above and parallel to bar 125 and having provisions for tethering animals in the manner described with reference to Figure 1, and side rails 133, 135. Extending forwardly from the bar 111 are two arms 130 and at their ends two leg members 132 which carry at their lower end a respective pin 134 for connection with the pair of spaced transverse connections of the tractor three-point linkage (not illustrated). A member 136 connecting the legs 132 intermediate their ends carries brackets 142 to receive the third connection of the three-point linkage.

In a preferred construction the legs 132 have a length of approximately lift (1.52m) and the arms a length of 4ft (1.2m). The side rails have a depth of the order of 1.07m. This embodiment of the apparatus may also incorporate this adjustable features as described with reference to Figure 1.

In use this device is mounted to the rear of a tractor and animals to be walked tethered to the provisions on bar 111. Actuation of the three-point linkage serves to move the horizontal position of the breast bar 125 relative to the bar 11 and can also be used to adjust elevation of the walker.

Claims

1. A cattle walker comprising a frame having a transverse breast bar and having provision for tethering animals to restrain the animals' head above the breast bar, and mounting means carried by the frame and configured to receive connections for elevation and tilting of the frame, the mounting configuration facilitating elevational control of the walker in relation to the height of the head restraint and fore and aft positioning of the breast bar relative to the head restraint.

2. A cattle walker as claimed in claim 1 in which the mounting means is configured to receive connections comprising two pairs of spaced connections.

3. A cattle walker as claimed in claim 2 in which said connections are provided by a front loader lifting attachment as fitted to or for fitting to a tractor, or lift truck or the like.

4. A cattle walker as claimed in claim 2 in which the two pairs of spaced connections are at then ends of a pair of movable arms and tilting is controlled by a pair of tilting control arms.

5. A cattle walker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the mounting means comprise a pair of brackets received slidably on a frame member for positioning at the appropriate transverse spacing to line up with the connections for the elevational lifting means.

6. A cattle walker as claimed in claim, 4 in which the fore and aft positioning of the breast bar is altered by means of tilt control rams of the tilting attachment.

7. A cattle walker as claimed in claim 1 in which the mounting means is configured to mate with the conventional three-point linkage fitted to the rear of a tractor.

8. A cattle walker as claimed in claim 7 in which the mounting means comprises a pair of laterally spaced pins and a third connection point disposed generally vertically above and centrally between the pair of pins.

9. A cattle walker as claimed in claim 7 or 8 in which the transverse breast bar and the provision for tethering the animals are set back from th three-point mounting provision and with the tethering position set above the lower connection points of the three-point l-inkage.

10. A cattle walker as claimed in any one the preceding claims in which tethering of the animals is by way of tie-up rings carried from pins received in selected holes of the frame.

11. A cattle walker as claimed in claim 10 in which the tie-up rings are carried on a further transverse bar spaced above the breast bar and parallel to it.

12. A cattle walker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the frame is adjustable in width.

13. A cattle walker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising side rails extending rearwardly from the frame to be disposed parallel to the intended position of the animals and providing a side restraint for same.

14. A cattle walker as claimed in claim 13 in which the side rails are hinged to the frame.

15. A cattle walker constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings of figure 1 or figure 2.