GB2464761A

GB2464761A - Hay net

Info

Publication number: GB2464761A
Application number: GB0819811A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ellie Parkin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-10-29
Filing date: 2008-10-29
Publication date: 2010-05-05
Also published as: GB0819811D0

Abstract

A forage feeding or hay net 1 formed as a bag with a mouth 3. The net is formed with triangular shaped apertures 4. A draw string 5 passes around the bag mouth. Quadrilateral shaped apertures are form by cords with or without the use of knots. The triangular shaped apertures are formed by dividing each quadrilateral aperture. The net limits the rate at which a horse can feed.

Description

Title: Forage Feeding Net The present invention relates to a forage feeding net for horses.

Ideally a horse should have 24 hour access to forage in it's stable to benefit its digestive system and fulfill its innate need to continuously graze/chew. This however can lead to the overfeeding of a horse meaning it becomes overweight. Overweight horses can develop the following obesity related illnesses-laminitis, digestive disorders such as colic, heart and lung diseases, respiratory problems, a form of equine diabetes, strain on joints and reduced performance levels.

A horse therefore requires 24 hour access to forage but in a controlled way in order to avoid overfeeding. This is also to eliminate the development of boredom and stable vices such as box walking, cribbing, wind sucking etc which can be caused by a lack of access to forage.

A common method of feeding forage is done by using a hay net which is hung from a ring in the stable. A hay net is a sack/bag like net containing diamond shaped holes which are knotted to form the net. A horse is able to pull the forage through the holes. Hay nets are also used in horseboxes and less commonly in the field when limited grass is available. Hay nets do offer an element of control depending on the size of the holes but even hay nets with smaller holes don't restrict/regulate a horse's consumption of forage sufficiently. Often recommended by vets double netting' is undertaken where one full hay net is placed inside another empty hay net to limit what the horse can pull out of the holes. However this method is not scientific and the holes ultimately line up with each other so no benefit is gained. In addition the practice is cumbersome and laborious.

The invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a forage feeding net comprising: a) a net member formed as a bag with a mouth, said net being formed with triangular shaped apertures, and b) a draw string passing around the bag mouth.

Preferably the net member is formed with quadrilateral shaped apertures with a knot at the four corners of each aperture, and a plurality of cords extend between a pair of opposite knots of each quadrilateral shaped aperture to divide each quadrilateral shaped aperture into to triangular apertures.

Preferably the net member has diamond shaped apertures extending from a base up to the mouth, and the cords extend from the base to the mouth dividing each diamond shaped aperture into triangular apertures.

Preferably the base has a ring form which the net member extents.

Preferably the top holes of the net member are connected to rings through which the draw string passes.

Preferably the net member triangular apertures may have a height above base of 1-2 inches.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side perspective view of a forage net, and Figure 2 shows an enlarged section of the net member of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a forage feeding net I. Net I has a net member 2 formed as a bag with a mouth 3. Net member 2 is formed with triangular shaped apertures 4. A draw string 5 passes around the bag mouth.

As shown in Figure 2, net member 2 is formed with quadrilateral shaped apertures in the form of diamond shaped apertures with a knot at the four corners 6A,GB,6C,6D of each aperture. A plurality of "vertical" cords 7 extend between a pair of opposite knots 6A,6C of each diamond shaped aperture to divide each aperture into two triangular apertures. Preferably the net member triangular apertures may have a height above base "X" of up to 3 inches, e.g. 1-2 inches.

The diamond shaped apertures extend from a base with a metal ring 8 up to the mouth, and the cords 7 extend from the base ring 8 up to the mouth dividing each diamond shaped aperture into triangular apertures 4.

The top apertures of the net member 2 are connected to rings 9 through which the draw string passes.

In use forage such as hay and haylage can be placed in net 1 and the net mouth 3 closed by pulling on the draw string 5. Draw stringS can be used to hang the net I on a hook or the like, e.g. in a stable, fence post or horse box. A horse can eat the forage, but it has been found that the triangular apertures make it more difficult for the forage to be consumed so preventing a horse eating too much forage and thus prolonging feeding time.

Net 1 may typically be around 25-42 inches in length and 20 to 30 inches wide at the mouth.

Different sizes of net with different sizes of triangular apertures may be sold for different sizes of horses or ponies.

The net may be formed from polypropylene, nylon or cotton or poly cotton with a cord diameter of typically up to 5mm.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example the cords 7 could run horizontally e.g. between knots 6B and 61) in Figure 2. Loops instead of rings 9 could be provided at the mouth of the bag for the draw string. Instead of the net member being formed with knots, it could be a knotless netting such as a high-tenacity knotless netting.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A forage feeding net comprising: a) a net member formed as a bag with a mouth, said net being formed with triangular shaped apertures, and b) a draw string passing around the bag mouth.
2. A forage feeding net according to claim 1, wherein the net member is formed with quadrilateral shaped apertures with a knot at the four corners of each aperture, and a plurality of cords extend between a pair of opposite knots of each quadrilateral shaped aperture to divide each quadrilateral shaped aperture into to triangular apertures.
3. A forage feeding net according to claim 1, wherein the net member is formed with quadrilateral shaped apertures which are knotless at the four corners of each aperture, and a plurality of cords extend between a pair of opposite knotless corners of each quadrilateral shaped aperture to divide each quadrilateral shaped aperture into to triangular apertures.
4. A forage feeding net according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the net member has diamond shaped apertures extending from a base up to the mouth, and the cords extend from the base to the mouth dividing each diamond shaped aperture into triangular apertures.
5. A forage feeding net according to any preceding claim, wherein the base has a ring from *: : : which the net member extents. S...
6. A forage feeding net according to any preceding claim, wherein the top holes of the net * member are connected to rings through which the draw string passes. * S *S * * * S.. S. * * . . S **
7. A forage feeding net according to any preceding claim, wherein the net member triangular apertures may have a height above base of 1-2 inches.
8. A forage feeding net substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. *..S .S S... * S* . . S... * . S...S 5. * . * * * *. S. S .S S