GB2471707A

GB2471707A - A livestock accommodation divider

Info

Publication number: GB2471707A
Application number: GB0911952A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Paul Yeates; Duncan James Forbes
Original assignee: KINGSHAY FARMING AND CONSERVATION Ltd
Current assignee: KINGSHAY FARMING AND CONSERVATION Ltd
Priority date: 2009-07-09
Filing date: 2009-07-09
Publication date: 2011-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-09
Also published as: GB2471707B; GB0911952D0

Abstract

A livestock accommodation divider 20 positioned to define one side of a livestock cubicle 10. The divider includes an inclined neck rail support portion 40 to which a neck rail 45 can be secured. The neck rail is adjustable along the neck rail support portion. The support portion defines a predetermined ratio of cubicle height and length such that adjustment of the neck rail allows positioning of the rail to accommodate different sized animals in the cubicle. The inclination of the support portion may be adjustable. The neck rail support portion may be an integral part of the divider or may be formed separately therefrom (350, fig 12).

Description

A LIVESTOCK ACCOMMODATION DIVIDER

The present inventiOn relates generally to livestock accommodation and particularly to a divider positionable to define one side of a livestock cubicle.

The present invention is. particularly, although not exclusively, suitable for cows because matching of cubicle size to the. size of cows in a herd is critical for cow cleanliness, health, welfare and with this business profitability.

One of the key elements in a cow cubicle is a neck rail. This positions the cow as it stands in the cubicle. If the neck rail is incorrectly located the cow may stand too far forward in the cubicle and soil the cubicle bed; this presents a health risk. Alternatively, if the neck rail is position too far back in the cubicle the cow will not be able to stand comfortably in the cubicle, which again will increase standing time and reduce animal welfare. Ideally the cow should stand comfortably and such that its rear end is close enough to a scrap passage so that manure is directly received and does not soil the cubicle bed.

Whilst cubicle divisions are well known, existing divisions do not allow for neck rails to be properly adjusted to match the size of cows in a herd. I... * *

The present invention seeks to address the problems with known accommodation dividers.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a livestock accommodation divider positionable to define one side of a cubicle, the divider includes a neck rail support portion to which a neck rail can be secured whereby to determine, in use, the position adopts by an animal in the cubicle, the support portion defines a predetermined ratio of cubicle height and length such that adjustment of a neck rail along the support portion allows positioning of the rail to accommodate different size animals in an optimal position in the cubicle.

The present invention is based on the recognition that a tall cow is also likely to be a long cow. Therefore the neck rail needs to be both higher and further forward in the cubicle for a larger cow and lower and further back for a smaller cow.

The support portion may be inclined. The extent of inclination will be selected on the basis of the required height:length ratio. The inclination may be selected to take account of a sloping cubicle floor.

The support portion may be inclined in the range 330 to 43° from a notional horizontal plane passing through the divider when positioned correctly in the cubicle. The support may be inclined in the range 35° to 41°; for example in the range 37° to 39°. The support may be inclined at an angle of approximately 38°.

The notional horizontal plane will usually be defined with reference to the divider when in situ and in combination with the rear of the cubicle in a trigonometric relationship. *.I* * * . ** .

*::::* The support portion may be substantially rectilinear. Accordingly the height:length ratio will be fixed and linearly incremental.

The divider may be rigid, substantially rigid, at least partially flexible or flexible. *

The divider may be formed from any suitable material such as metal, wood, plastics, composite and may include a combination of materials.

The divider may be of a generally tubular construction. For example, if may be constructed from metal tube/s bent into shape.

The inclination may be adjustable to allow adjustment of the height:length ratio.

The present invention also provides an array of dividers as described herein arranged to form a cubicle block.

The present invention also provides a livestock accommodation divider substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

The support portion may thereby be formed separately from, and be attachable to, the divider. Accordingly a support portion could be retro-fitted to an existing divider.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example. with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a section of a divider formed according to a first embodiment of the present invention; * S S S. S *::::* Figure 2 is a further sectional view of the divider of figure 1; S. Figure 3 is a photograph showing a side perspective view of a divider formed according to an alternative embodiment; * * . S * * Figure 4 is a further photograph of the divider of figure 3; Figure 5 is a photograph showing a magnified view of a neck rail support portion of the divider of figures 3 and 4; Figure 6 is a magnified view of a brisket board forming part of the cubicle shown in figures 3 to 5; Figure 7 is a section of a divider formed according to an alternative embodiment; Figure 8 is a photograph showing a side perspective view of the divider of figure 7; Figure 9 is a photograph showing a magnified view of a neck rail support portion of the divider of figure 7 and 8; Figure 10 is a photograph showing a further magnified view of the neck rail support portion of figure 9; Figure 11 is a further photograph of the neck rail support portion of figures 9 and 10; and Figure 12 is a section of a divider formed according to a further embodiment.

Referring first to figure 1 there is shown a livestock cubicle generally .... indicated 10. The cubicle 10 includes a floor 15 and is defined on either side by a divider 20 (only one is shown).

The divider 20 comprises a generally tubular pipe, in this embodiment : . formed from metal, which has been bent into shape. The divider 20 is an * open loop with two ends 22, 24 which include respective mounting plates 26, 28 for mounting the divider 20 on a rail, post or wall at one end of the cubicle.

From the end 24 a cranked lower rail section 30 extends to a U-shape bight 32 where it continues as an upper rail section 34.

The section 34 includes a generally rectilinear portion 36 which extends generally parallel to the horizontal plane X. The lower rail 30 comprises a first portion 30a and a second portion 30b both of which extend generally parallel to the horizontal plane X and are joined by a bend 30c to give a generally elongated S-shape.

The upper rail section 34 further comprises a neck rail support portion 40 which extends from the portion 36 at its end opposite the bight 32. The neck rail support portion 40 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane X by angle a,which in this embodiment is in the region of 38 degrees. At the opposite end of the portion 40 the rail terminates with a hump-like terminal portion 42.

In use, the divider 20 is mounted with the plates 26, 28 extending generally along the vertical plane Y. A neck rail 45 is then fitted between adjacent dividers across the width of the cubicle using a metal tie 50.

The neck rail 45 can be secured to the neck rail support portion 40 at any position along its length. The rail 45 can be fitted to the top or bottom of *:::: the portion 40. Because the support portion 40 is inclined, adjustment of the position of the rail 45 results in changing both the height in the cubicle 10 and also the depth by an amount determined by the angle a.

In use the divider is positioned to form a cubicle with the notional horizontal X and vertical Y planes. Trigonometrically, the plane defined by the portion 40 constitutes the hypotenuse, the plane X constitutes the adjacent side and the plane Y constitutes the opposite side. The angle a is therefore effectively defined at the rear of the cubicle. Accordingly the divider is positioned correctly when the support potion plane intersects with the terminal point 12 of the horizontal plane X defined by the rear of the cubicle.

The neck rail 45 helps to determine the position adopted by an animal in the cubicle 10 whilst standing on the floor 15. Optimally the animal will stand with its hind legs on or around a heel stone 16 which is adjacent to a scrape passage 17 for receiving manure. An optional brisket board 18 is positioned on the floor 15 to aid with positioning the animal.

Figure 2 is a further section of the divider 20 and illustrates that in this embodiment the pipe work is curved to match a particular connecting pipe type. In addition, a variety of dimensions, both of the divider itself and the position of the divider within a cubicle, which can be changed in different embodiments are shown.

Referring now to figures 3 to 6 there is shown a series of photographs illustrating a divider 120 of the same general type as the divider 20 shown in figures 1 and 2 positioned in a cow shed. In this embodiment the divider 120 is positioned by connecting the plates 126, 128 to cross rails * 20 155. 156 extending orthogonally to the length of the cubicle. In figure 3, further dividers 120a, 120b can be seen spaced along the rails 155, 156 to define an accommodation unit with a plurality of cubicles. In this * embodiment the rail portion 130a is connected to an elongate brisket board 118 running along the width of the accommodation unit.

S.. Referring now to figures 7 to 1 1 there is shown a divider 220 formed according to an alternative embodiment. The divider 220 is very similar to the dividers 20, 120 shown in figures ito 6. It has a very similar upper rail section 234 with a horizontal section 236, an angled neck rail support portion 250 and a hump-like terminal portion 242.

In this embodiment the portion 236 continues with a bight 232 but the opposite end of the bight 232 continues with a single, rectilinear lower rail section 230 terminating at end 224. There is therefore an absence of the cranked lower rail section which is replaced wifh a single inclined section. In this embodiment the inclination of the neck rail support.

section 250 is also in the region of 38 degrees from the notional horizontal plane when installed. It will be noted that in this embodiment the brisket board is not directly connected to the divider 210.

Referring now to figure 12 there is shown a divider generally indicated 320. In this embodiment the divider 320 includes a separate neck rail support portion 350 which comprises a standing leg 351 and an inölined leg 352 connectable to the upper rail section 334. The inclined leg 352 receives a neck rail 345 as previously described and therefore provides the same benefits as the integral neck rail support portions. This allows a neck rail support portion to be retro-fitted to existing dividers.

In this embodiment the portion is fitted with an optional cross bar 355 which helps with rigidity and also prevents an animal from getting their head stuck in the frame.

It will be noted that if the neck rail 345 needed to be positioned outside of the range accommodated by the portion 350 then in order to maintain a. at point 312 a taller leg 351 and a longer inclined leg would be required; effectively extending along a plane parallel to the opposite side (plane Y) and along the hypotenuse H respectively. * * * * *

I.. I*s S *

Claims

CLAIMS1. A livestock accommodation divider positionable to define one side of a cubicle, the divider includes a neck rail support portion to which a neck rail can be secured whereby to determine, in use, the position adopted by an animal in the cubicle, the support portion defines a predetermined ratio of cubicle height and length such that adjustment of a neck rail along the support portion allows positioning of the rail to accommodate different sized animals in an optimal position in the cubicle.
2. A divider as claimed in Claim 1, in which the support portion is inclined.
3. A divider as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the support portion is inclined in the range 33° to 43° from a notional horizontal plane passing through the divider.
4. A divider as claimed in Claim 1, in which the support is inclined in the range 35° to 41°.
5. A divider as claimed in Claim 3, in which the support is inclined at an angle of approximately 38°. * *** * *
6. A divider as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support portion is substantially rectilinear.
7. A divider as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the divider is of a generally tubular construction.
8. A divider as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 7, in which the * inclination is adjustable.
9. A divider as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support portion is formed separately from, and is attachable to, the divider.
1O.An array of dividers according to any preceding claims arranged to form a cubicle block.
11.A neck rail support portion for receiving a neck rail on a livestock io accommodation divider to determine, in use, the position adopted by an animal in a cubicle, the support portion being attachable to a divider to define a predetermined ratio of cubicle height and length such that adjustment of a neck rail along the support portion allows positioning of a rail to accommodate different sized animals in an optimal position in the cubicle.
12.A support portion as claimed in Claim 11, in which the support portion is a frame.
13.A livestock accommodation divider substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. S... * * . S. S*::::*
14.A neck rail support portion substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. S. S. * S * * *SSSSSS * p