GB2449900A - Livestock handling apparatus for attachment to the side of a vehicle - Google Patents

Livestock handling apparatus for attachment to the side of a vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2449900A
GB2449900A GB0710938A GB0710938A GB2449900A GB 2449900 A GB2449900 A GB 2449900A GB 0710938 A GB0710938 A GB 0710938A GB 0710938 A GB0710938 A GB 0710938A GB 2449900 A GB2449900 A GB 2449900A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
compartment
opening
shutter
handling livestock
livestock
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0710938A
Other versions
GB0710938D0 (en
Inventor
Peter Alexander
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0710938A priority Critical patent/GB2449900A/en
Publication of GB0710938D0 publication Critical patent/GB0710938D0/en
Publication of GB2449900A publication Critical patent/GB2449900A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K1/00—Housing animals; Equipment therefor
    • A01K1/02—Pigsties; Dog-kennels; Rabbit-hutches or the like
    • A01K1/0236—Transport boxes, bags, cages, baskets, harnesses for animals; Fittings therefor
    • A01K1/0272—Boxes, bags, cages, baskets, harnesses especially adapted for transport in or on automobiles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K1/00—Housing animals; Equipment therefor
    • A01K1/06—Devices for fastening animals, e.g. halters, toggles, neck-bars or chain fastenings
    • A01K1/0613—Devices for immobilisation or restraint of animals, e.g. chutes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K3/00—Pasturing equipment, e.g. tethering devices; Grids for preventing cattle from straying; Electrified wire fencing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62K—CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
    • B62K27/00—Sidecars; Forecars; Trailers or the like specially adapted to be attached to cycles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62K—CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
    • B62K27/00—Sidecars; Forecars; Trailers or the like specially adapted to be attached to cycles
    • B62K27/10—Other component parts or accessories
    • B62K27/12—Coupling parts for attaching cars or the like to cycle; Arrangements thereof

Abstract

A livestock handling apparatus 10 comprising a compartment 14 adapted to receive an animal through a first opening 16 therein. A shutter (20, fig 3) is provided which is adapted to close the first opening 16 via use of a foot pedal (25, fig 3). The apparatus can be detachably mounting to a side of a vehicle such as an all terrain vehicle (ATV) using attachment means 38. At least one ground engaging wheel 11 is located on an opposite side of the compartment from the attachment means. The compartment has at least a partially open floor adjacent the first opening. In use the first opening faces in the direction of the ATV and can be used to trap an animal such as a calf safely.

Description

Improvements in or relating to livestock handling The present invention
relates to an apparatus for handling livestock.
Conventional methods for administering treatments to livestock animals, such as tagging, dehorning, castrating and vaccinating, typically involves either: rounding up the animals and administering the treatment centrally, or a handler administrating the treatment separately to each animal in the field. However, neither of these methods are ideal. Rounding up a large number of animals is laborious and time consuming, whereas administrating the treatment separately to each animal in the field poses a safety risk to the handler in the field, as the handler is in danger from other animals, particularly mothers of calves.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for handling livestock which obviates or mitigates one or more of the disadvantages referred to above.
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for handling livestock comprising: a compartment adapted to receive a livestock animal through a first opening therein, the compartment having at least a partially open floor adjacent the first opening; a shutter adapted to close the first opening; attachment means for detachably mounting the apparatus to a side of a vehicle; and at least one ground engaging wheel located on an opposite side of the compartment from the attachment means.
Preferably, the first opening of the compartment faces substantially in the direction of travel of the vehicle.
Preferably, the apparatus is adapted to be mounted to an all terrain vehicle. More preferably, the apparatus is adapted to be mounted to a quad bike.
Preferably, the shutter is moveable between a first position in which the first opening is open and a second position in which the first opening is closed.
Preferably, the shutter is slidably moveable between the first position and the second position.
Preferably, the shutter is releasable from the first position to the second position such that when released the shutter moves from the first position to the second position.
Preferably, the apparatus further comprises means for releasing the shutter from the first position to the second position.
Preferably, the release means is located remotely from the shutter.
Preferably, the means for releasing the shutter from the first position to the second position include mechanical release means.
Preferably, the mechanical release means is a foot switch.
Preferably, the mechanical release means includes at least one cable-operated pulley connected between the shutter and the release means.
Preferably, the mechanical release means includes locking means to lock the pulley when the shutter is in the first position.
Preferably, the compartment further includes a second opening to allow access thereto.
Preferably, the compartment further includes a gate for closing the second opening.
Preferably, the compartment includes a floored portion at an opposite end from the first opening.
Preferably, the gate is adapted to close either the second opening of the compartment or the floored portion of the compartment.
Preferably, at least a portion of the side of the compartment includes wire mesh.
Preferably, the means for detachably mounting the apparatus to a vehicle includes at least one ball hitch.
Preferably, the at least one ball hitch is adjustable such that the apparatus may be mounted to a plurality of different sized vehicles.
Preferably, the at least one ball hitch is adapted such that the apparatus may pivot with respect to the vehicle.
Preferably, the means for detachably mounting the apparatus to a vehicle includes two ball hitches.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figures 1 to 4 are perspective views of an apparatus for handling livestock in accordance with the present invention.
The apparatus 10 is adapted to be mounted to an all terrain vehicle (ATV) (not shown). The apparatus 10 is particularly suited to be mounted to a quad bike, or the like.
The apparatus includes a ground engaging wheel 11 (best shown in figures 1, 2 and 4). The ground engaging wheel 11 supports the apparatus 10 when it is mounted to an ATV.
With reference to figures 1 to 4, the apparatus 10 comprises a frame 12 which defines a compartment 14.
The compartment 14 has a first opening 16 located at the front portion of the frame 12. The floor 18 of the compartment 14 adjacent the first opening 16 is at least partially open.
With reference to figure 3, the apparatus 10 further comprises a shutter 20 which is adapted to close the first opening 16. The shutter 20 is moveable between a first position in which the first opening 16 is open (as illustrated in figure 3) and a second position in which the first opening 16 is closed.
The shutter 20 is slidably moveable between the first position and the second position. The frame 12 is provided with shutter runners 22 which guides the shutter 20 between the first position and the second position.
The shutter 20 is releasable from the first position to the second position.
As illustrated in figure 3, the apparatus 10 also comprises a pulley system 24 and foot switch 25 (an example of mechanical release means) for releasing the shutter 20 from the first position to the second position.
The pulley system 24 includes a plurality of cable-operated pulleys 26 between the shutter 20 and the foot switch 25. The cable-operated pulleys 26 guide a cable 28 around the frame 12 between the shutter 20 and the foot switch 25. The pulley system 24 holds the shutter 20 in a suspended state in the first position with a locking means (not shown).
Operation of the foot switch 25 unlocks the locking means and causes the shutter to be released from the first position to the second position, thus closing the first opening 16. The foot switch 25 may be located on an ATV beside a driver's foot remote from the shutter 20.
The compartment 14 also includes a second opening 30 (as best shown in figure 2). The second opening allows access to the compartment 14. The compartment 14 also has a gate 32 which closes the second opening 30.
The compartment 14 includes a floored portion 34 at the rear portion of the frame 12. The gate 32 is adapted such that it may also close the floored portion 34 of the compartment 14. The floored portion 34 may be used to transport a livestock animal, for example from a field to a farm.
As illustrated in figures 3 and 4, the compartment 14 includes wire mesh 36 around the sides thereof. The wire mesh 36 allows the inside of the compartment 14 to be seen. This is useful when a calf is being treated within the compartment 14, as the calf's mother can see the calf at all times during treatment.
The apparatus 10 also includes two ball hitches 38 which are used to attach the apparatus 10 to an ATV. The ball hitches 38 are adjustable such that the apparatus 10 can be mounted to different sized vehicles.
The ball hitches 38 are adapted such that apparatus 10 may pivot with respect to the quad bike. This is particularly useful when the apparatus 10 is being driven over rough ground. A ball hitch 38 is located towards the rear of the apparatus 10, and may, for example, be connected to a tow at the rear of the quad bike. A ball hitch 38 is also located towards the front of the apparatus 10, and may, for example, be connected to an attachment point at the front of the quad bike.
In operation, the apparatus 10 is attached to an ATV, such as a quad bike, via ball hitches 38. A ball hitch 38 is located towards the rear of the apparatus 10, and may, for example, be connected to a tow at the rear of the quad bike. A ball hitch 38 is also located towards the front of the apparatus 10, and may, for example, be connected to an attachment point at the front of the quad bike. This allows the apparatus 10 to be transported with the quad bike.
When the apparatus 10 is mounted to the quad bike, the first opening 16 of the compartment 14 faces substantially in the direction of travel of the quad bike.
The quad bike and apparatus 10 are then driven towards a livestock animal, such as a calf. The quad bike and apparatus 10 approach the calf from the rear. With the shutter 20 suspended in the first position, the driver of the quad bike aligns the first opening 16 of the compartment 14 with the calf. As the floor 18 of the compartment 14 adjacent the first opening 16 is open, the calf enters the compartment 14 as the quad bike and apparatus 10 reach the calf. As soon as the calf is in the compartment 14 the driver operates the foot switch 25 of the pulley system 24 to release the shutter 20 from the first position to the second position, thus trapping the calf therein.
Having the first opening 16 of the compartment 14 facing substantially in the direction of travel of the quad bike makes it easy for the driver to catch the calf.
With the calf trapped in the compartment 14, the driver is able to enter the compartment 14 via the gate 32 and administer treatment to the calf safely without risk of injury from other animals, especially the mother of the calf.
Operating the shutter 20 by a foot switch 25 allows the driver of the quad bike to keep their hands on the handlebars during operation, which increases safety.
The apparatus 10 therefore obviates or mitigates the disadvantages of previous proposals by providing an apparatus 10 which is easily transportable and operable from an ATV and protects the handler when administering treatment to livestock animals.
Modifications and improvements may be made to the above without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, although the apparatus 10 has been described above as operating with a quad bike, it should be appreciated that the apparatus 10 could be mounted to any suitable type of vehicle, such as 4x4 vehicles, or the like.
Furthermore, although the apparatus 10 has been illustrated and described above as comprising a single ground engaging wheel 11, it should be appreciated that the apparatus 10 may comprise on or more ground engaging wheels, or any suitable configuration which allows the apparatus 10 to be transported with the quad bike.
Also, although the apparatus 10 has been illustrated and described above as comprising two ball hitches 38 for attachment of the apparatus 10 to an ATV, it should be appreciated that the apparatus 10 may comprise less or more ball hitches, or another type of suitable attachment means, for mounting the apparatus to a vehicle.

Claims (23)

  1. Claims 1. An apparatus for handling livestock comprising: a compartment
    adapted to receive a livestock animal through a first opening therein, the compartment having at least a partially open floor adjacent the first opening; a shutter adapted to close the first opening; attachment means for detachably mounting the apparatus to a side of a vehicle; and at least one ground engaging wheel located on an opposite side of the compartment from the attachment means.
  2. 2. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first opening of the compartment faces substantially in the direction of travel of the vehicle.
  3. 3. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be mounted to an all terrain vehicle.
  4. 4. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be mounted to a quad bike.
  5. 5. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shutter is moveable between a first position in which the first opening is open and a second position in which the first opening is closed.
  6. 6. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 5, wherein the shutter is slidably moveable between the first position and the second position.
  7. 7 An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the shutter is releasable from the first position to the second position such that when released the shutter moves from the first position to the second position.
  8. 8. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for releasing the shutter from the first position to the second position.
  9. 9. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 8, wherein the release means is located remotely from the shutter.
  10. 10. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the means for releasing the shutter from the first position to the second position include mechanical re'ease means.
  11. 11. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mechanical release means is a foot switch.
  12. 12. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the mechanical release means includes at least one cable-operated pulley connected between the shutter and the release means.
  13. 13. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mechanical release means includes locking means to lock the pulley when the shutter is in the first position.
  14. 14. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the compartment further includes a second opening to allow access thereto.
  15. 15. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 14, wherein the compartment further includes a gate for closing the second opening.
  16. 16. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the compartment includes a floored portion at an opposite end from the first opening.
  17. 17. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 16, wherein the gate is adapted to close either the second opening of the compartment or the floored portion of the compartment.
  18. 18. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least a portion of the side of the compartment includes wire mesh.
  19. 19. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for detachably mounting the apparatus to a vehicle includes at least one ball hitch.
  20. 20. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one ball hitch is adjustable such that the apparatus may be mounted to a plurality of different sized vehicles.
  21. 21. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the at least one ball hitch is adapted such that the apparatus may pivot with respect to the vehicle.
  22. 22. An apparatus for handling livestock as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for detachably mounting the apparatus to a vehicle includes two ball hitches.
  23. 23. An apparatus for handling livestock as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0710938A 2007-06-07 2007-06-07 Livestock handling apparatus for attachment to the side of a vehicle Withdrawn GB2449900A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0710938A GB2449900A (en) 2007-06-07 2007-06-07 Livestock handling apparatus for attachment to the side of a vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0710938A GB2449900A (en) 2007-06-07 2007-06-07 Livestock handling apparatus for attachment to the side of a vehicle

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0710938D0 GB0710938D0 (en) 2007-07-18
GB2449900A true GB2449900A (en) 2008-12-10

Family

ID=38318898

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0710938A Withdrawn GB2449900A (en) 2007-06-07 2007-06-07 Livestock handling apparatus for attachment to the side of a vehicle

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2449900A (en)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202006005451U1 (en) * 2006-04-04 2006-06-22 Schaible, Norbert Sidecar for carrying dog in bicycle, has frame provided with rear wheels which support frame on one side of sidecar, and tiltably connected with bicycle frame at two positions around horizontal axis
US20070151524A1 (en) * 2006-01-03 2007-07-05 John Byl Vehicle-mounted animal catching and transporting apparatus

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070151524A1 (en) * 2006-01-03 2007-07-05 John Byl Vehicle-mounted animal catching and transporting apparatus
DE202006005451U1 (en) * 2006-04-04 2006-06-22 Schaible, Norbert Sidecar for carrying dog in bicycle, has frame provided with rear wheels which support frame on one side of sidecar, and tiltably connected with bicycle frame at two positions around horizontal axis

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0710938D0 (en) 2007-07-18

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