GB2338166A

GB2338166A - Sheep dipping apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2338166A
Application number: GB9812356A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Gardiner
Original assignee: RON GARDINER TRAILERS
Current assignee: RON GARDINER TRAILERS
Priority date: 1998-06-09
Filing date: 1998-06-09
Publication date: 1999-12-15
Also published as: GB9812356D0

Abstract

Sheep dipping apparatus 1 comprising a container 8 for sheep dipping chemicals and a retaining means 13 for retaining one or more sheep in a standing position, adapted to be moveable between a first position above the container and a second position within the container where sheep dipping chemicals may be bought into contact with the sheep. The retaining means accommodates up to ten sheep and comprises a standing area 6 for sheep, for example a horizontal meshed platform, meshed cage or harness. Exit and entry areas for the sheep, in the form of loading 12 and unloading ramps 11, are detachably mounted on the retaining means. The loading ramp is located adjacent the loading pen 2 and the unloading ramp is located adjacent the drip pen 10. The apparatus is vehicularly transportable and may be made from a self assembly kit.

Description

1 2338166 -i- APPARATUS The present invention relates to a sheep dipping

apparatus and method.

Existing methods for dipping sheep are somewhat rudimentary. One method in widespread use simply involves introducing sheep into a hole in the ground in which the liquid dipping chemicals are contained. In addition to the difficulties involved in coaxing unwilling sheep into a liquid filled hole, this method represents an inefficient use of dipping chemicals. Moreover distressed sheep will normallv have to be forced to remain under the liquid surface by manual coercion with an appropriate tool.

Few mechanical apparatuses are known for dipping sheep. One such apparatus comprises a tank filled with liquid dipping chemicals into which sheep are introduced. Again, there are problems associated with coaxing the sheep into the tank and keeping them there for a sufficient amount of time for the dipping chemicals to have the desired effect.

Another sheep dipping apparatus comprises a tank of liquid chemicals having ramped sides situated below a horizontally retractable floor. Sheep are introduced onto the floor above the tank and as the floor is retracted the sheep are plunged into the liquid via the ramped s-'.,les of the tank.

it will be apparent fro-in the above discussion that there is a need for a more humane method of dipping sheep. The rudimentary prior art methods and apparatuses can cause sheep considerable distress. Moreover, the existing methods and apparatuses are inefficient in terms of chemical usage and in terms of manpower. in the letter sense, it can take considerable manual effort to coax unwilling sheep into the dipping chemicals and to keep them Chere for long enough for the --hem-'.cals to have thelr cie.,3.red effect.

The present invention is based on the recognition that existing methods and apparatuses for dipping sheep are wholly unsatisfactory.

Thus viewed from one aspect the present invention provides a sheep dipping apparatus comprising a container for sheep dipping chemicals and a retaining means for retaining one or more sheep in a standing position, wherein said retaining means is adapted to be moveable between a first position above the tank and a second position within the tank whereat sheep dipping chemicals may be brought into contact with said sheep.

There are many advantages of the apparatus according to the invention. The controlled movement of the retaining means between the two defined positions is such that the sheep maintain a substantially upright stance and are therefore exposed to minimum disturbance. Thus the apparatus is capable of achieving total submersion of sheep in a manner which serves to prevent any distress to the sheep. The controlled manner in which the sheep are introduced into the chem-.cals eliminates manual handling of the sheep and therefore reduces operator contact with the dipping chemicals. The apparatus is straightforward to use and substantially maintenance free. Moreover, significantly less volume of dipping chemicals is required to achieve the desired effect.

A further advantage of the apparatus of the -Jnvent-J-n is that a number of sheep may be dipped. simultaneously. Typically, eight to ten sheep may be dipped at the same time in a procedure lasting about one minute. This advantage is partly attributable to the minimal distress caused to the sheep whereby the effective volume they occupy is significantly reduced.

PreferahIv, the apparatus of the invent-Joi-, -JS adapted to be operahle and tr ansport- able by any vehicle -=j by a tractor.

The apparatus of the invention may be provided with exit and entry areas for the sheep. These may conveniently be pull-out sheep loading and unloading ramps which may be detachably mounted on the retaining means. The sheep loading ramp may be located adjacent a loading pen. The sheep unloading ramp may be located adjacent a drip pen. An apparatus comprising an exit housing, an entry housing, a loading pen, a drip pen, together with a retaining means and container as hereinbefore defined may be provided as a selfassembly kit thereby making sheep dipping a much more straightforward task than is the case with prior art methods.

Preferably, the retaining means comprises a standing area for one or more sheep (eg a platform) which maintains a substantially horizontal configuration in movement between first and second positions. Particularly preferably the platform is meshed to allow ingress of liquid chemicals as the platform is lowered into the container. This minimises the disturbance to the sheep. The retaining means as a whole may comprise a cage or a harness which is conveniently arranged to expose sheep to the dipping chemicals in the container. For example, the cage may be meshed to allow ingress of chemicals.

Movement of the retaining means in and out of the dipping chemicals may be achieved by any conventional means. Preferably the means are such that the speed of the movement may be controlled to further prevent distress to the sheep. Thus a simple pulley/rope arrangement, cant-ilever arrangement, cam arrangement or pneumatic ar-rangement may be used. Preferably, hydraulic means are used. In one embodiment of the invention, the retaining means may be moved by-the forks of a fork lift vehi-cle. This reduces the -number of mechanical parts and reduces cv-er-all costs.

1 By way of example only, the present invention will be illustrated in a non-limitative sense with reference to the following drawings:

Figure 1 in which a cross-section of the apparatus according to the invention is illustrated.

With reference to Figure 1, a sheep dipping apparatus 1 comprises an entry ramp 12 connected to a loading pen 2. The loading pen is separated from a retaining means 13 by a gate 4. The retaining means itself comprises a cage construction with a hydraulic platform 6. The hydraulic mast 5 serves to lower the platform to the bottom of the tank 8 and is controlled by control means 3. A drip pen 10 is separated from the containment means by a gate 9 and is connected to an unloading ramp 11.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A sheep dipping apparatus comprising a container for sheep dipping chemicals and a retaining means for retaining one or more sheep in a standing position, wherein said retaining means is adapted to be moveable between a first position above the container and a second position within the container whereat sheep dipping chemicals may be bought into contact with said sheep.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 adapted to accommodate up to ten sheep.

3. An apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or 2 adapted to be vehicularly transportable.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any proceeding claim comprising an exit and an entry area for sheep.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said exit and entry area are detachably mounted on the retaining means.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein said exit and entry area are loading and unloading ramps respectively.

r

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the loading ramp is located adjacent a loading pen.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said unloading ramp is located adjacent a drip pen.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said retaining means comprises a standing area for said sheep.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said standing area comprises a horizontal platform.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said platform is meshed.

12. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said retaining means comprises a cage or harness.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said cage is meshed.

14. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said retaining means is moveable between first and second positions using control means, wherein said control means is capable of controlling the speed of movement.

15. A self-assembly kit for sheep dipping comprising an exit housing, an entry housing, a loading pen, a drip pen, together with a retaining means and container as defined in any of the preceding claims.

16. An apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1.