IE20130211A1 - Animal restraining device - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal restraining device capable of restraining differently sized animals, especially lame animals and said animal restraining device is mobile and can pivot by hydraulic means.

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an animal restraining and manipulation device, in particular for the inspection and treatment of animal hooves, especially cattle hooves. In particular the invention relates to a new type of animal restraining device.

Background to the Invention Dairy herd sizes in Europe and Ireland are expanding due to the ending of milk quotas and the grazing platform is expanding to accommodate these herds, consequently cows have further to walk twice daily causing more cases of lameness per herd per annum. Lameness is treatable using hoof paring procedures .

An animal restraining device is required to carry out hoof paring procedures on lame animals. It is typically cage like construction that is either mobile or fixed. It helps the operator to secure the lame hoof and treat it accordingly.

Current products for hoof paring are mostly manual crushes, and reguire each leg of the animal to be lifted individually, which takes time. In the manual type crates the front feet are very strenuous on the hoof parer's back, as the front legs cannot be lifted to waist height like the back legs.

IEl 3 0 2 1 1 This can cause considerable stress or even injury to the hoof parer's body, especially his or her back.

Lameness in cattle can affect profits as lameness causes 5 fertility problems and in cows causes a drop in milk yield.

Ideally all cattle feet should be looked at once a year and trimmed if needed, however this is not really done and causes more lameness. If animals feet are not trimmed regularly they tend to go lame as they are imbalanced.

The current manual restraining devices provide little safety for the operator. The operator works behind the animal and is at risk of receiving a kick from the animal when loading the animal into the crate and when restraining the leg that requires treatment.

Current manual restraining devices provide little safety for the animal as the animal is left, standing on three feet, on three feet the animal can fall down within the holding device if kicking as a result of being nervous or restless.

Current manual restraining devices provide a dirty working environment for the hoof parer. When paring the two back feet the animal is worked on from behind and as the animal is nervous it excretes and the faeces lands on the hoof that is hoisted up or on the operator.

|E1 3 0 2 1 1 Current manual restraining devices are slow to operate especially when trying to examine all four hooves as each leg has to be individually lifted.

Clearly there is a need for a safe and more efficient cost effective and ergonomic solution to the current problems associated with restraining cattle for hoof paring and the current invention provides this ensuring the highest standards of safety for the operator and the animal.

Statement of Invention According to the current invention there is provided an animal restraining device comprising a six sided frame around an animal restraining space; a first animal entry end and a second animal exit end, the first animal entry end comprises of a hydraulic operated, side hinged animal guide member, the animal exit end further comprises a head restraining means, the animal restraining space comprises of animal body and leg fastening means to secure the animal to the frame wherein said animal restraining device is pivotable; accordingly the device is mobile by means of a hydraulic motor.

Preferably the animal restraining device is used to treat lame, injured or infected animals.

Advantageously the restraining device is worked by hydraulic means improving safety for the operator and the animal.

IE1 3 0 2 1 1 The animal is safe and secure and cannot go down like standard crushes due to the straps as support. The current invention is easy to clean after use and has the potential to reduce animal husbandry costs. The current invention provides for faster operation than standard restraining crates or devices as each leg does not have to be lifted individually.

The current invention can be used to carry out other treatments for animals such as dosing, vaccinating, A.I., treating warts on cows udders, dehorning etc. it is a multipurpose animal restraining device with huge emphasis on reducing physical work when tending to lame animals.

Preferably the animal is a cow or bull.

The advantages of the invention are that the all four hooves can be inspected at the same time. Each leg does not have to be lifted individually which saves the operator time and in turn improves efficiency. The operator can easily restrain the animal, look at all four hooves at the same time, can pare and treat at waist height, reducing stress on the operators back.

Also the animal cannot urinate or excrete on the operator nor can the animal kick or injure people or objects as all four legs are restrained.

IE 1 3 0 2 1 1 Advantageously the current invention comprises of adjustable straps to enable all different breeds or sizes of animals big and small. This is important as many herds now have started cross breeding and have to deal with both small and large cows/animals in one herd on a daily basis.

Other animal restraining devices comprise of belts and chains inside the device and are as these belts and chains are permanently attached in a loop animals can get caught or tangled up easily and cannot reverse out of the enclosure.

Advantageously in this device the use of straps lying flat on the ground prevents animals getting tangled or caught. Also by attaching the straps manually to the rotating shaft allows the operator to place the straps in a comfortable position for each differently sized animal.

Advantageously this invention can drive itself by means of a hydraulic motor. With conventional animal restraining devices they have to be manually manoeuvred into place with this deice no physical effort or manpower is required to put set up the device in the required position at each different farm.

The animal restraining device is pivoted by hydraulic means.

Most preferably the pivoting means comprises two pivot points.

IE 1 3 0 2 1 1 Preferably the front door comprising of the head restraint is controlled by hydraulic means.

Preferably the animal restraining device is mobile by means 5 of a hydraulic motor.

Preferably the animal restraining device is transportable to and usable in different working areas, and transported in a housing member.

Even more preferable the mobile animal restraining device comprises a floor to provide stability.

Even more preferable the fixed animal restraining device is 15 permanently fixable to a surface for routine use in one working area for weeks or months.

Preferably the frame comprises of welded and tubular steel.

The animal restraining device may be powered by generator or standard electricity supply.

Preferably the animal is lifted up by two straps by means of a rotating shaft.

IE 1 3 Ο 2 11 Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of the animal restraining device according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an elevation view of the animal restraining device according to the invention; Figure 3 is a side view of where the animal enters the restraining device.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring now to the drawings and initially Figure 1 there is 15 illustrated an animal restraining device according to the present invention comprising a support frame 1. Support frame 1 comprises of steel in a rectangular shape it houses the power pack 7, the generator 26, the tool box and the motor control valve 25. Support frame 1 is connected to the wheel and axle assembly 3.

The motor control valve 25 which is illustrated in Figure 1 comprises of three valves. These valves are used to drive and turn the device in order to manoeuvre it into place in each different farm yard. Figure 3 shows the castor assembly 28 this is the main wheel that drive the crate.

The crate weldment 2 illustrates the animal restraining device it comprises of tubular steel weldment and a flat |E 1 3 Ο 2 11 sheet of steel with a rubber mat. It is can be pivoted by hydraulic means by two main hydraulic cylinders 6, shown in Figure 3, so that the restrained animal lies on its side.

Exiting door comprises of a sliding head restraint 15. The head restraint in this embodiment of the invention is operable by means of a hydraulic cylinder 16. The back door is side hinged 17 and is operated by hydraulic means. Item 18 is a retaining pin on the back door.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the hydraulic motor 12 which is connected to a rotating winch, shaft weldment 24, which is used to connect straps 29 in order to provide lifting support for the animal.

Referring to Figure 1, all hydraulic movements are needed when the animal is entering the crate, in the crate and exiting the crate, are controlled by four hydraulic valves, assembly 14.

Figure 1 shows a side hinged door 19 for animal comfort to support the animals head when in the lying position.

An important aspect of the invention is shown in Figure 1, the rear stabiliser weldment 4 which provides stability for the mobile restraining device. Fixed to this rear stabiliser weldment 4 is a rubber mat 27 which provides a non-slip surface for the animal as it enters and exits the restraining device.

IE1 3 0 2 1 1 Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is illustrated four leg holder weldments 21, 22 and 23 to restrain the animal and enable the legs of an animal to be temporarily secured to the enclosure .

Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the two support straps 29, these are attached to the upper region of the inside frame. The straps lie extended underneath the animal and are manually attached to a rotating winch shaft weldment 24, the animal is then lifted up with the straps by means of a hydraulic motor 12. As the animal's weight is off its feet the enclosure is elevated by tilting movement operated by hydraulic means.

Figure 3 shows that the tilting movement of the frame will be achieved by using two hydraulic cylinders 6 and 8. Additionally, two pivot points are provided and the table is pulled back. Also Figure 3 shows cylinder 5, which is used to control the stabilizer. Figure 1, 2 and 3 shows items 9, 10 and 11, the restraining pins.

Figure 3 illustrates the bearing 13 that is used to operate the rotating movement of the straps 29.

Operation of the aforedescribed hydraulic cylinders is achieved by conventional hydraulic hoses.

One side of the enclosure comprises of steel bars and a metal plate to ensure that an animal cannot escape through the IEl 30 2 11 side. The other side comprises a substantially similar framework including intermediate horizontal and vertical tubes and also a metal plate secured to the frame, at the side of the frame lying inwards of the enclosure thereby to provide a substantially smooth surface for supporting an animal when the enclosure is tilted from the vertical position. The smooth surface consists of a cow cubicle rubber mat to ensure the comfort of the animal. The surface extends beyond the exiting end of the enclosure by pivotable means thereby in use to provide a head support. ΙΕί 3 0 2 1 1

Claims (12)

Claims

1. An animal restraining device comprising a two sided frame around an animal restraining space; a first animal entry end and a second animal exit end, the first animal entry end comprises an side hinged animal guide member, the animal exit end further comprises a head restraining space comprises animal body and leg fastening means to secure the animal to the frame wherein said animal restraining device is pivotable; accordingly the device is mobile by means of a hydraulic motor.

2. An animal restraining device according to claim 1 wherein the device is pivoted by hydraulic means.

3. An animal restraining device according to claims 1 and 2 wherein most preferably the pivoting means of the animal restraining device is behind the side member comprising the animal support member.

4. An animal restraining device according to any preceding claim wherein the head restraint is controlled by hydraulic means and both restrains the animal and allows the animal to exit in one controlled hydraulic function.

5. An animal restraining device according to any preceding claim wherein the animal is lifted up by hydraulic lifting means. IE 1 3 0 2 1 1

6. An animal restraining device according to any preceding claim wherein the animal is a cow or bull.

7. Use of an animal restraining device according to any preceding claim to treat lame, injured or infected animals.

8. An animal restraining device according to any preceding claim wherein the restraining device has a floor to help prevent the animal from slipping and also functions as a stabilizer and prevents movement as animals enter and exit.

9. An animal restraining device according to any preceding claim wherein the restraining device can be moved into position in the farmyard or field, independently by integrally mounted, internal combustion engine and power transmission system to the drive wheels.

10. An animal restraining device according to any preceding claim wherein the restraining device has four independent leg clamps to secure the animals legs.

11. An animal restraining device according to any preceding claim wherein the restraining device uses flat, adjustable straps to support the animal's weight.

12. An animal restraining device according to any preceding claim wherein the device is operated by electric or generator means .