GB2328159A

GB2328159A - Animal Feeding apparatus and feed

Info

Publication number: GB2328159A
Application number: GB9817523A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Llewlyn White; Hamish Charles Anderson
Original assignee: GEO L WHITE Ltd
Current assignee: GEO L WHITE Ltd
Priority date: 1997-08-13
Filing date: 1998-08-13
Publication date: 1999-02-17
Also published as: GB9817523D0; GB9717024D0

Abstract

Animal feeding apparatus for introducing feed directly into the digestive tract of an animal, comprises a first tube 1 provided with an enlarged free end 3 profiled to enable easy entry into an animal's mouth and down its digestive tract without causing injury to the animal. A second tube 7 is connected to the other end of said first tube 1 and is for conveying animal feed between pumping means 11 and said first tube. The pumping means 11 are such that a substantially constant flow of feed is, in use, delivered along both tubes and into the digestive tract of the animal. Animal feed for use with the apparatus is disclosed as being a suspension of solids in a liquid which may include propylene glycol, a yeast culture medium, one or more electrolytes, calcium carbonate.

Description

ANIMAL FEEDING APPARATUS This invention relates to animal feeding apparatus and in particular to animal feeding apparatus for introducing animal feed directly into the digestive tract of an animal, that is to say, by-passing the animals mouth and introducing feed directly into, for instance, part of the stomach system of the animal.

It is known to introduce animal feed directly into the stomach system of, for instance, a cow by threading a tube through the nose of the animal and in to the stomach system. This has been used to introduce small amounts of liquid into the animal or to evacuate gas from the animal in the case of a condition known as 'bloat'.

If a large amount of feed, for instance in the form of a liquid suspension, is introduced into the animal in this way, then there is a high likelihood that the tube will become blocked.

There is a need to introduce into an animal, such as a ruminant animal, a large quantity of animal feed, particularly when certain conditions apply. Reference will be made hereinafter to a ruminant animal in the form of a cow although it should be appreciated that the present invention has application with regard to other animals.

There are at least two situations where it is desirable to introduce a large quantity of animal feed, known as a drench, directly into the cow's stomach system. These two situations are when a cow has recently calved and when a cow is in an anorexic condition.

In either of the conditions mentioned above, treatment can be effected by so-called mass drenching in which a quantity of animal food, perhaps in the form of a liquid suspension of between 25 and 30 litres, is fed directly to the animal's stomach system. In this way it is possible to introduce sufficient energy input into the animal effectively to treat the condition. The term "drenching" is used herein to indicate the administration of a liquid feed (for instance, a suspension of solids in a liquid) orally to an animal.

According to the present invention there is provided animal feeding apparatus for introducing feed directly into the digestive tract of an animal, the apparatus comprising a first tube provided with an enlarged free end profiled to enable easy entry into an animal's mouth and down its digestive tract without causing injury to the animal, a second tube connected to the other end of said first tube and for conveying animal feed between pumping means and said first tube, said pumping means being such that a substantially constant flow of feed is, in use, delivered along both tubes and into the digestive tract of the animal.

Preferably said first tube is a straight tube but one with sufficient flexibility to bend and enable it to go round corners while being threaded into and along the animal's digestive tract. For instance, said first tube may be in the form of a plastics pipe surrounded by a wire in spiral formation. Such an arrangement can be easily cleaned and sterilised. The surrounding wire coil is preferably made of stainless steel. The arrangement should preferably be such that, in operation, no distortion, such as a kink, should appear in the tube. Otherwise, there will be a need for an increased pressure of pumping the animal feed into the animal.

Preferably the enlarged or bulbous end of the first tube is connected to the remainder of the tube in such a way that it is not readily separable therefrom. The abovementioned outer stainless steel coil sleeve provides a tough exterior to the tube and enables the animal to grip the tube firmly, using its teeth, without damaging the tube.

The pumping means may be provided by any appropriate pump which is capable of delivering a substantially constant flow of animal feed into the tubes. Preferably the pumping means is in the form of a rotary pump which may be hand powered or powered by means of a motor, for instance, an electric motor. For example, a diaphragm pump may be used.

The feed applied to the animal by means of the apparatus of the invention may be any suitable feed and is typically a suspension of solids in a liquid. Typically the feed applied to the animal may be of the order of 630 Kg for an average cow. Preferably the feed amounts to at least 3% of the animals body weight, more preferably from 3 to 5% and typically about 4%.

The animal feed may include propylene glycol which will provide an energy source to the microbial flora within the animals digestive system.

The animal feed may also include a yeast culture medium which has the effect of repopulating the gut providing a medium on which bacteria can grow. It may be in the form of non-active or dead yeast or a mixture of yeasts.

The animal feed may further include one or more electrolytes providing a balanced pH for the overall system.

Furthermore, the animal feed may include calcium carbonate which provides a mass requirement for milk and will reduce the possibility of a condition known as hypercalcaemic drench.

The above-mentioned ingredients of the animal feed may be used particularly in the case where a cow has just calved and is in need of a post-calving drench. In the case where the animal feed is to be in the form of an anorexic drench, where the gut of the animal may not be functioning properly, a somewhat different animal feed composition may be desirable. Such a composition may include propylene glycol and an ingredient based on one or more yeast material and one or more electrolytes.

In addition, the composition may include a materials such as corn sugar (maize sugar) to provide a more or less instantaneous energy source. Furthermore, the composition may include a material such as alfalfa (lucerne) which is a form of grass.

It may be heat dried and ground to a very fine condition and will provide a fibrous source to the animals. It may also provide a protein supply to enable the bacteria to grow.

Typically there would be no calcium carbonate in an anorexic drench.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows animal feed apparatus for introducing feed directly into the digestive tract of an animal.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the apparatus shown is for use, in particular, to introduce a mass drench into the stomach system of a cow. The apparatus includes a tube 1, several feet in length, and comprising an inner plastics tube and an outer sheath of coiled stainless steel. At its free end tube 1 terminates in a bulbous nozzle 3, all surfaces and edges of which are either straight or rounded so that there are no sharp edges on the exterior of that nozzle 3. At its other end tube 1 is provided with a rubber or plastics hand grip 5.

Attached to tube 1, at the end remote from nozzle 3, is a reinforced plastics tube 7 which is, typically, several feet longer than tube 1. At or near the point of attachment of tube 7 to tube 1 there is located a nose grip or lead 9.

Tube 7 is attached, at the end remote from tube 1, to a rotary hand pump 11 having extending therefrom a metal pipe 13.

In use, pipe 13 is introduced into a liquid animal feed and tube 1 is fed into the digestive tract of a cow by its mouth, holding the tube by means of hand grip 5.

When the tube is inserted into the cow up to the hand grip 5, the nose lead 9 is attached to the nose of the animal and holds the tube 1 in position relative to the animal. The handle 15 of pump 11 is then turned with a reasonably constant motion thereby drawing liquid feed up pipe 13 into tube 7 and tube 1 and into the stomach system of the animal.

It has been found that a mass drench of perhaps 25 to 30 litres may be applied to the cow with a more or less constant flow provided by the rotary pump and without any feeding problems. By contrast, use of a pump which does not provide a reasonably constant flow can lead to problems such as the triggering of peristalsis which in turn my lead to introduction of the liquid feed into the lungs of the animal.

Claims

1. Animal feeding apparatus for introducing feed directly into the digestive tract of an animal, the apparatus comprising a first tube provided with an enlarged free end profiled to enable easy entry into an animal's mouth and down its digestive tract without causing injury to the animal, a second tube connected to the other end of said first tube and for conveying animal feed between pumping means and said first tube, said pumping means being such that a substantially constant flow of feed is, in use, delivered along both tubes and into the digestive tract of the animal.

2. Animal feeding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first tube is a straight tube with sufficient flexibility to bend and enable it to go round corners while being threaded into and along the animal's digestive tract.

3. Animal feeding apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said first tube is in the form of a plastics pipe surrounded by a wire in spiral formation.

4. Animal feeding apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the surrounding wire coil is made of stainless steel.

5. Animal feeding apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the enlarged end of the first tube means is connected to the remainder of the tube means in such a way that it is not readily separable therefrom.

6. Animal feeding apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the pumping means is provided by any appropriate pump which is capable of delivering a substantially constant flow of animal feed into the tubes.

7. Animal feeding apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the pumping means is in the form of a rotary pump which may be hand powered.

8. Animal feeding apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the pumping means is an electric pump.

9. Animal feeding apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the pump is a diaphragm pump.

10. Animal feeding apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the feed is a suspension of solids in a liquid.

11. Animal feeding apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the total feed applied to the animal is at least 3% of the animals body weight.

12. Animal feeding apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the feed amounts to 3% to 5% of the animals body weight.

13. Animal feed for use in the animal feeding apparatus of any preceding claim wherein said feed includes propylene glycol.

14. Animal feed according to claim 13 wherein said feed includes a yeast culture medium in the form of non-active or dead yeast or a mixture of yeasts.

15. Animal feed according to claim 14 wherein said feed includes one or more electrolytes.

16. Animal feed according to claim 15 wherein said feed includes calcium carbonate.

17. Use of the animal feeding apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 12 in conjunction with the animal feed of any of claims 13 to 16 in the case where a cow has just calved.

18. Animal feed according to any of claims 13 to 16, wherein said feed includes corn sugar.

19. Animal feed according to claiml8 wherein said feed includes alfalfa.

20. Use of the animal feeding apparatus of any of claims 1 to 12 in conjunction with the animal feed of claim 8 or 19 in the case where the animal feed is to be in the form of an anorexic drench.

21. Animal feeding apparatus substantially as herein described.

22. Animal feeding apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.