GB2342644A

GB2342644A - Livestock transport module

Info

Publication number: GB2342644A
Application number: GB9923996A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Owen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-10-16
Filing date: 1999-10-12
Publication date: 2000-04-19
Also published as: GB9822494D0; GB9923996D0

Abstract

A stackable module for the transport of livestock comprises a housing means (10, 16) which has an apertured upper floor (18) above base wall (12), creating a sump (26) for receiving animal waste through said upper floor. The box also has at least one cavity wall through which fresh air can be supplied into an animal compartment, preferably at a controlled temperature. The module may be divisible by removable panels and a drinking water supply and lighting to facilitate monitoring by a camera may be provided. Further, temperature monitoring means or means for delivering a mist or fog into the module may be provided. One side wall is openable for access and hinged roof sections may drop open on inverting the module.

Description

Transport of Livestock This invention relates generally to the transport of livestock such as calves, sheep, goats, pigs, deer and other animals, and more specifically concerns a stackable module for use in a modular transport system utilising said modules.

With the advent of more stringent regulations governing the transport of livestock, it will be possible only to transport animals over relatively shorter distances without affording the animals rest periods between travelling periods. The stipulated conditions under which animals must be rested would apparently require the animals to be unloaded and held in permanent lairage facilities during rest periods. Relatively few such facilities currently exist, and use of such a facility creates the risk of cross-contamination of animals currently in the lairage with those previously held in the facility.

A primary aim of the present invention is to contribute to a solution to this problem.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a stackable module for transport of livestock, said module having a base wall and an inner floor raised above the base wall to create a sump, the inner floor being constructed in use to allow passage of at least liquid waste materials from animals within the module into the sump.

Preferably, the inner floor is also constructed to allow passage of solid waste materials from the animals within the module into the sump.

Each module preferably has four walls each of which has a solid lower section and an upper section adapted for the passage of air.

Another aspect of the invention also relates to a modular animal transport system comprising a transport unit supporting a line of stacks of modules each having four walls adapted to pass air, and fan means on the unit for forcibly blowing or drawing air through the modules.

One such transport system may comprise a transport unit having a fan means at the front for drawing air from the back of the unit to the front thereof through all the stacks of modules in the line.

Preferably, the two aspects of the invention are used in combination with one another. In this case, provided also that animal density conditions within the module are complied with, the module provides the basis of a system which allows livestock to be trans-shipped between different transport units and held and rested for periods of time without unloading the animals from the module. This greatly reduces stress on the animals due to manual handling and avoids risk of contamination due to resting the animals in a permanent lairage facility. The stackable module serves as a mobile lairage.

Further features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment, making reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stackable module for holding livestock; Figure 2 shows a module in vertical line cross-section; Figure 3 shows an inverted module; Figure 4 shows a vehicle carrying stacks of the modules; Figure 5 shows an exemplary stack of modules in more detail; Figure 6 shows a simplified module in perspective; Figure 7 shows the simplified module in vertical section; Figure 8 shows the simplified module when inverted; and Figure 9 shows a vehicle carrying stacks of the simplified modules.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a stackable module for housing livestock such as young pigs, comprises an outer framework 10 of steel, aluminium or plastics material, having a base wall 12 and four corner pillars 14. Within this framework is fixedly housed a box 16 having a floor 18 (see Figure 2), side walls 20, and roof 22. One side wall 24 is openable on a side hinge to enable entry of animals into the box. The box 16 may conveniently be made of rotationally moulded plastics material.

The floor 18 is apertured, as can be seen at 24 in Figure 2, and is positioned above the base wall 12 of the outer framework 10 to create a sump 26 into which waste material from the animals is received through the apertured floor 18.

The floor 18 is also divided into three hinged sections 18A, 18B, 18C and likewise the roof into two hinged sections 22A, 22B, so that, as shown in Figure 3, the sump 26 can be emptied and cleaned by inverting the module, whereby the floor and roof sections drop open.

The walls and roof of the box have apertures such as 28 through which in use a flow of fresh air may enter the box, preferably with fan assistance. For this purpose, at least one wall of the box may be a cavity wall, with an outer skin having an aperture for the entry of fan blown air into the cavity and the inner skin having an array of spaced small holes for entry of air into the livestock compartment of the box. A preferred system for supplying the box with services is later described with reference to Figure 5.

The livestock compartment of the box may also be divisible into sections by suitable removable partitioning (not shown).

Figure 4 exemplifies a vehicle trailer carrying stacks of the above-described modules. Each stack (and the modules in the stack) is held in place on opposite sides by hinged posts 30.

As shown in Figure 5, the posts 30 may constitute the means by which fanassisted fresh air and other services may be supplied to the modules in a stack.

For this purpose, each post 30 may carry, at the appropriate level, lugs 32 for securing the modules and, as exemplified by fitting 34, couplings for input of treated air into two opposite cavity walls of the box. Couplings may also be incorporated for a drinking system, lighting, a monitoring camera and a temperature monitoring probe. Ducting and cables for these purposes may be incorporated into the post, power being derived from the tractor unit of the vehicle when the trailer is operatively connected thereto.

Overall, the stackable module for serving as a mobile lairage is designed to comply with all the relevant animal transport requirements defined in European Commission Document COM (97) 336, amending EC Directive 70/156/EEC.

A simplified module for use in a simplified transport system is shown in Figures 6 to 9. Similar reference numerals to those used in connection with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 are used for similar parts.

The module 50 shown in Figure 6 is generally similar to that shown in Figure 1 except that the apertures 28 of the first embodiment are replaced, in the front and back walls of the module, by vertical grilles 52 capable of more freely passing air. Additionally, the box is not intended to have any cavity walls, so the side walls of the module are also simplified.

The simplification of the module is also apparent from the vertical cross-sectional view of Figure 7.

From Figure 8, it can be seen that the module can be emptied and cleaned by inverting it, in like manner to the first embodiment of module and as described with reference to Figure 3.

Figure 9 shows a line of stacks of the modules 50 loaded on a vehicle trailer.

Simplified locking posts 54 serve only to lock the modules in position, and they do not incorporate any fittings 34, as hitherto described for the first embodiment in connection with Figure 5.

Instead of passing air through the modules via such locking posts, air is passed through the modules by means of fans 56 housed in a chamber 58 at the front of the vehicle trailer. The fans draw air right through the entire line of module stacks from the back of the trailer, as indicated by the arrows 60. Possibly, a chamber 62 at the rear of the trailer may house means for controlling the temperature of the air passed through the line of module stacks. The fans can be operated at full power when the vehicle is stationary, and may be switched off or operated at reduced power when the vehicle is travelling.

Claims

Claims 1. A stackable module for transport of livestock, said module having a base wall and an inner floor raised above the base wall to create a sump, the inner floor being constructed in use to allow passage of at least liquid waste materials from the animals within the module into the sump.
2. A stackable module for transport of livestock, said module having at least one wall apertured to provide for the entry of air into the livestock compartment.
3. A module according to claim 2, having at least one wall of cavity construction via the interior of which the air enters the livestock compartment.
4. A module according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the wall is apertured to enable the air to enter the livestock compartment adjacent the floor of said compartment.
5. A module according to claim 4, wherein the air enters the livestock compartment via ducting on the exterior of the said wall.
6. A module according to any of claims 2 to 5, having means enabling the air to be blown by one or more fans into the livestock compartment.
7. A module according to any of claims 1 to 6, having at least one openable side wall for entry of animals into the module.
8. A module according to any of claims 1 to 7, incorporating means enabling access of animals within the module to a drinking liquid.
9. A module according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the space within the module is divisible by removable panels.
10. A module according to any of claims 6 to 9 when appendant to claim 1, wherein the inner floor of the module comprises hinged sections adapted to fall open when the module is inverted.
11. A module according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the roof of the module comprises hinged sections adapted to fall open when the module is inverted.
12. A module according to any of claims 1 to 11, comprising an open framework carrying a box for housing the livestock, the box having a base, an inner floor raised above the base and side walls, adapted to receive a cover.
13. A module according to claim 12, wherein each side wall has a solid lower section and an upper section adapted for passage of air.
14. A module according to claim 13, wherein one side of the box is open and the framework carries an openable or removable gate for closing said open side of the box.
15. A module according to claim 14, wherein the gate is side hinged at one side of the module and a securing means is provided at the opposite side.
16. A module according to any of claims 1 to 15, having lighting for the livestock compartment enabling monitoring by use of a camera.
17. A module according to any of claims 1 to 16, having temperature monitoring means for the livestock compartment.
18. A module according to any of claims 1 to 17, having means for delivering a mist or fog into the livestock compartment.
19. A transport system for the transport of livestock, comprising at least two stacked modules according to any of claims 1 to 18, and means for retaining the modules in position in the stack.
20. A system according to claim 19, having means for controlling the temperature of air entering the modules.
21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the retaining means comprises a side post.
22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the side post carries means for conveying services to animals in the modules.
23. A system according to claim 22, in combination with power supply means for powering the supply of services to the modules.
24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the power supply means is onboard the vehicle.
25. A system according to claim 23, wherein the power supply means is external to the vehicle, for example being a ship's power supply.
26. A system according to claim 19 or claim 20, comprising a line of stacks of modules, and means for blowing or drawing air through the line of module stacks from end to end.
27. A stackable module for transport of livestock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or to Figures 6 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.
28. A transport system for the transport of livestock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.