IE87324B1 - Animal sorting and control system therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal sorting system (1; 101) includes an automated control system (3) and an inner frame (18,118) including an entrance gate (14; 114) and at least two inner pen exit gates (50; 150), each inner pen exit gate (50; 150) comprising a movement mechanism (52) capable of moving or at least allowing the respective inner pen exit gate (50; 150) to be moved between an open and a closed configuration and wherein each movement mechanism (52) for each inner pen exit gate (50) can be controlled by the automated control system (3); an animal identification means (24, 25; 125, 125) comprising an animal Identification data output signal arranged to be transmitted to an animal identification data input of the automated control system (3); and an inner pen area (19; 119) located in between the entrance gate (14; 114) and the said at least two inner pen exit gates (50; 150); wherein the automated control system (3) further comprises two or more user selectable animal characteristic inputs which, when selected by a user, are taken into account by the automated control system (3) in addition to the animal identification data input, to:- a) open a pre-determined inner pen exit gate (50; 150) to permit an animal identified as having said two or more selectable animal characteristics to exit the inner pen area (19) of the animal sorting system (1) through that inner pen exit gate (50; 150); and to b) open another inner pen exit gate (50; 150) to permit an animal (5) identified as not having said two or more selectable animal characteristics to exit the inner pen area (19) of the animal sorting system (1) through that inner pen exit gate (50); thereby sorting animals (5) having said two or more selectable animal characteristics apart from animals (5) not having said two or more selectable animal characteristics. The system further comprises an outer frame (10;110) which comprises at least one non-return exit gate (SL1, SL2, SR1, SR2; 180L, 180R) provided in association with each inner pen exit gate (50, 150), whereby each at least one non-return exit gate (SL1, SL2, SR1, SR2; 180L, 180R) only permits passage of an animal therethrough in one direction of travel from the inner frame (18,118)through the outer frame (10; 20/01/2021 110) and prevents travel of an animal in the direction from the outer frame (10; 110) into the inner frame (18,118). The system further comprises a means (22, 122) of attracting the animal to enter through the entrance gate (14; 114) and into the inner pen area (19; 119), the means (22, 122) of attracting the animal including a fluid and/or food delivery mechanism (22, 122); and wherein the means (22, 122) of attracting the animal to enter through the entrance gate (14; 114) and into the inner pen area (19; 119) is selectively moveable within the inner pen area (19; 119) by the operator.

Description

ANIMAL SORTING SYSTEM AND CONTROL SYSTEM THEREFOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an animal sorting system (also known as an animal shedding system) for use in the agricultural industry and a control system therefor and more particularly relates to an animal sorting system for use with measuring the growth progress and possibly other characteristics of an animal and also the sorting of animals, such as cattle, pigs, sheep, deer and any other suitable animals and also relates to a control system for the shedding system including a data collection system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In the agricultural industry, it is a desirable outcome for a farmer to be able to closely monitor the growth progress of the animals under their care, where the animals may be cattle/cows, pigs, sheep, deer or other animals. Furthermore, it is useful for the farmer to be able to then segregate off the animals that have reached the required weight for onward sale/travel etc.

However, it would further be useful to the farmer to be able to take into account other characteristics of the animal, such as the breed type, the sex, the age and possibly other characteristics when sorting the animals.

Conventional animal sorting or shedding systems, such as those disclosed in US Patent No 4617876 to Hays and/or US Patent No 6805078 to Zimmerman et al provide a way to identify and sort animals but each system has some limitations. For example, whilst US Patent No 4617876 to Hays allows a farmer to sort their cattle mainly on the basis of the partial weight of the particular cattle as measured by the weighing scales, it does not disclose more advanced sorting capabilities. In addition, there are further limitations in relation to the shedding system of US Patent No 4617876 to Hays. For example, there is an exit way or pen means 89 provided opposite the stall exits 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 88 which then leads on to selectively openable and c|oseable control gate means 92, 94, 96 which can be used to sort selected cattle from one another (i.e. from the rest of the herd) but that arrangement suffers from the disadvantage that the cattle may well stay in the pen means 89 and if so then either no other cattle can be allowed into the pen means 89 until the said first cattle has decided to leave or other cattle are allowed into that area 89 but then the ability to sort the cattle from one another is lost.

Other conventional animal sorting or shedding systems include those disclosed in AU 2005203716 to Robin Fagan and International PCT Publication No W02015/005802 to Te Pari Products Limited.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved animal sorting system and also an improved control system for such an animal sorting system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided an animal sorting system comprising:- an automated control system; an inner frame including an entrance gate and at least two inner pen exit gates, each inner pen gate comprising a movement mechanism capable of moving or at least allowing the respective gate to be moved between an open and a closed configuration and wherein each movement mechanism for each inner pen exit gate can be controlled by the automated control system; an animal identification means comprising an animal identification data output signal arranged to be transmitted to an animal identification data input of the automated control system; and an inner pen area located in between the entrance gate and the said at least two inner pen exit gates; wherein the automated control system further comprises two or more user selectable animal characteristic inputs which, when selected by a user, are taken into account by the automated control system in addition to the animal identification data input, to:- a) open a pre-determined inner pen exit gate to permit an animal identified as having said two or more selectable animal characteristics to exit the inner pen area of the animal sorting system through that inner pen exit gate; and to b) open another inner pen exit gate to permit an animal identified as not having said two or more selectable animal characteristics to exit the inner pen area of the animal sorting system through that inner pen exit gate; thereby sorting animals having said two or more selectable animal characteristics apart from animals not having said two or more selectable animal characteristics; and wherein the system further comprises an outer frame which comprises at least one non-return exit gate provided in association with each inner pen exit gate, whereby each at least one non-return exit gate only permits passage of an animal therethrough in one direction of travel from the inner frame through the outer frame and prevents travel of an animal in the direction from outside of the outer frame through the said non-return exit gate into the inner frame.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an animal sorting system comprising:- an inner frame including an entrance gate and at least two inner pen exit gates, each inner pen exit gate comprising a movement mechanism capable of moving or at least allowing the respective inner pen exit gate to be moved between an open and a closed configuration and wherein each movement mechanism for each inner pen exit gate can be controlled by an automated control system; an animal identification means comprising an animal identification data output signal arranged to be transmitted to an animal identification data input of the said automated control system; and an inner pen area located in between the entrance gate and the said at least two inner pen exit gates; and wherein the system further comprises an outer frame which comprises at least one non-return exit gate provided in association with each inner pen exit gate, whereby each at least one non-return exit gate only permits passage of an animal therethrough in one direction of travel from the inner frame through the outer frame and prevents travel of an animal in the direction from the outer frame into the inner frame.

Preferably, the animal sorting system according to the second aspect further comprises the automated control system and which further comprises two or more user selectable animal characteristic inputs which, when selected by a user, are taken into account by the automated control system in addition to the animal identification data input, to:- a) open a pre-determined inner pen exit gate to permit an animal identified as having said two or more selectable animal characteristics to exit the inner pen area of the animal sorting system through that inner pen gate; and to b) open another inner pen exit gate to permit an animal identified as not having said two or more selectable animal characteristics to exit the inner pen area of the animal sorting system through that inner pen exit gate; thereby sorting animals having said two or more selectable animal characteristics apart from animals not having said two or more selectable animal characteristics.

Preferably, the automated control system comprises a computer system having a plurality of data inputs for receiving data from a plurality of data outputs of an animal sorting system having a moveable entrance gate and at least two moveable inner pen exit gates and an inner pen area located there between, wherein the automated control system can control movement of or at least allow the respective inner pen exit gate to be moved between an open and a closed configuration.

Preferably, the automated control system comprises a computer control system.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the computer control system may comprise a local on board computer control system alone.

In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the computer control system may comprise a remote computer control system such as a cloud based computer control system.

In a yet further but preferred alternative embodiment of the present invention, the computer control system comprises both a local on-board computer control system located within or in close proximity to the animal sorting system and also a remote computer control system such as a cloud based computer control system.

Typically, the two or more user selectable animal characteristic inputs comprise any two or more than two or all of the following characteristics of an animal:- i) weight; and/or ii) age; and/or iii) sex; and/or iv) pregnancy status (pregnant or not pregnant); and/or v) pregnancy gestation period (if pregnant); and/or vi) time elapsed since last previous pregnancy; and/or vii) breed type; and/or viii) lineage/parents of animal; and/or ix) one or more health characteristics which could include temperature of the animal; and/or x) ID number of the animal; and/or xi) location.

Preferably, the animal sorting system and more preferably the inner pen area of the animal sorting system comprises an animal movement encouragement means adapted to selectively and controllably encourage the animal to exit through the selected open inner pen exit gate. Typically, the animal movement encouragement means comprises a mechanically moveable member arranged to touch an appropriate part of the animal to encourage the animal to exit through the selected open exit gate. Typically, the animal movement encouragement means is controllable by the computer control system.

Preferably, the entrance gate is adapted to open inwards into the inner pen area of the animal sorting system. More preferably, the entrance gate is a one-way gate which prevents an animal exiting the inner pen area through the entrance gate. Most preferably, the entrance gate comprises two spaced apart gates which are arranged to open inwards and which, when closed, are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the head of a typical animal to use the sorting system but less than the width of the shoulders of the typical animal to use the sorting system and more preferably, when open, are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the head, shoulders and/or body of the largest animal to use the sorting system.

Typically, each non-return exit gate comprises two spaced apart gates which are arranged to open outwards and which, when closed, are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the head of a typical animal to use the sorting system but less than the width of the shoulders and/or body of the typical animal to use the sorting system and, when open, are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the head, shoulders and/or body of the largest animal to use the sorting system.

Preferably, the said at least two inner pen exit gates are each adapted to open outwards away from the inner pen area of the animal sorting system. More preferably, each said non-return exit gate is adapted to open outwards away from the inner pen area of the animal sorting system and where the respective at least one non-return exit gate is arranged such that an animal passing through its respective inner pen exit gate in order to exit the inner frame must then pass through the associated non-return exit gate in order to exit the outer frame.

Typically, each respective said non-return exit gate is located spaced apart (when in the closed position) from its associated inner pen exit gate (when in the open position) by a distance less than the length of a typical animal to use the system (e.g. less than in the region of 2.5 meters or so for cattle). Preferably, each respective said non-return exit gate is located spaced apart (when in the closed position) from its associated inner pen exit gate (when in the open position) by a distance less than half the length of a typical animal to use the system and more preferably, by a distance less than a quarter of the length of a typical animal to use the system and most preferably by less than half a meter.

Preferably, the inner pen area further comprises a weighing means arranged in use to weigh the animal, wherein the weighing means typically comprises a weight data output signal arranged to be transmitted to a weight data input of the computer control system.

Typically, the control system comprises a plurality of data inputs and a plurality of actuation instruction outlets connected to one or more of the entrance and/or inner pen exit gate’s movement mechanisms and more preferably connected to each of the entrance and/or inner pen exit gate’s movement mechanisms.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention may include the additional feature of a means of attracting the animal to enter through the entrance gate and into the inner pen area, the means of attracting the animal typically including a fluid and/or food delivery mechanism.

Preferably, the means of attracting the animal to enter through the entrance gate and into the inner pen area is selectively moveable within the inner pen area by the operator.

More preferably, the inner frame comprises two or more positions at which the means of attracting the animal is securable, such that an operator can selectively move the means of attracting the animal within the inner pen area between at least one position which is relatively close to the entrance gate and at least one position which is relatively further away from the entrance gate, in order to train the animal to enter and use the animal sorting system.

Most preferably, the inner frame comprises a plurality of positions at which the means of attracting the animal is securable, such that an operator can selectively move the means of attracting the animal within the inner pen area from an in use start of training position which is relatively close to the entrance gate such that the animal does not need to move all the way into the inner pen in order to be able to reach the means of attracting the animal and optionally one or more positions further away from the entrance gate (i.e. further into the inner pen area) and most preferably a final in use position which is relatively furthest away from the entrance gate such that the animal needs to move all the way into the inner pen in order to be able to reach the means of attracting the animal and such that the entrance gate can close behind the rear end of the animal, in order to train the animal to enter into the inner pen area by a greater distance on successive training visits and once the operator has moved the means of attracting the animal within the inner pen area to the final in use position, the animal can be sorted by the animal sorting system.

More preferably, the said fluid and/or food delivery mechanism comprises a water dispensing mechanism which preferably further comprises a water measuring mechanism. Preferably said water measuring mechanism is arranged to measure the amount of water drunk by an animal within the inner pen area. Preferably, the water measuring mechanism typically comprises a measured water data output signal arranged to be transmitted to a measured water data input of the computer control system.

Typically, the animal identification means is located within or in close proximity to the inner pen area and preferably the animal identification means comprises a wireless communication device arranged to communicate with a tag attached to a body part of the animal such as an ear tag.

Alternatively, or in addition, the animal identification means comprises a visual identification means arranged to read a visual identifier provided on the animal such as a tag attached to a body part of the animal such as an ear tag.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention may include the additional feature of a means of measuring the body temperature of the animal located within the inner pen area. Typically, the means of measuring the body temperature may comprise a thermal camera arrangement which typically comprises a measured temperature output signal arranged to be transmitted to a measured temperature data input of the computer control system.

More preferably, the said fluid and/or food delivery mechanism comprises a water dispensing mechanism which preferably further comprises a water measuring mechanism. Preferably said water measuring mechanism is arranged to measure the amount of water drunk by an animal within the inner pen area. Preferably, the water measuring mechanism typically comprises a measured water data output signal arranged to be transmitted to a measured water data input of the computer control system.

Typically, the automated control system is provided with access to an animal registration record for each animal identified by it. Preferably, the automated control system can read data from said animal registration record for each animal identified by it and can take said animal registration record data into account when determining whether to open one gate compared with another gate.

Preferably, the automated control system permits a user to select two or more animal characteristics to be input into the automated control system, whereby the automated control system then compares said two or more selected animal characteristics that have been input with any one, more than one or all of the following:- A) data held within the animal registration record for the animal identified by said animal identification means, which may include data relating to weight recorded on previous visit(s) through the sorting system; and/or ii) age; and/or iii) sex; and/or iv) pregnancy status (pregnant or not pregnant); and/or v) pregnancy gestation period (if pregnant); and/or vi) time elapsed since last previous pregnancy; and/or vii) breed type; and/or viii) lineage/parents of animal; and/or ix) one or more health characteristics which may be an outlying health characteristic and which could include previous temperature(s) of the animal recorded on previous visit(s) through the sorting system; and/or x) ID number of the animal; and/or xi) location.

B) measured water data input; and/or C) weight data input from the weight data output signal; and/or D) measured temperature data input from the thermal camera data output; and/or E) geospatial location data input from a geospatial location device data output; in order to sort animals having said two or more selectable animal characteristics apart from animals not having said two or more selectable animal characteristics.

Preferably, the automated control system can read data from said animal registration record for each animal identified by it and can take said animal registration record data into account when determining whether to open one inner pen exit gate compared with another inner pen exit gate.

Alternatively, or in addition, the automated control system can write data to said animal registration record for each animal identified by it. Typically, said write data can comprise data input into the automated control system from any one, more than one or all of the following data inputs:- A) measured water data input; and/or B) weight data input; and/or C) measured temperature data input; and/or D) geospatial location data input.

Typically, the movement mechanism for the entrance gate and/or each inner pen exit gate comprises an actuable ram mechanism and more preferably comprises a compressed air actuable ram mechanism.

Preferably, each non-return exit gate comprises a biasing means adapted to bias the non-return exit gate into the closed position. Preferably, the biasing means is a non- powered biasing means and more preferably comprises a spring means such as a coiled spring mechanism.

In more preferred embodiments of the present invention the inner pen area is provided with a left hand side inner pen exit gate and a right hand side inner pen exit gate and the outer frame is provided with at least one non-return exit gates in association with the said left hand side inner pen exit gate and is further provided with at least one non-return exit gate in association with the said right hand side inner pen exit gate. In a most preferred embodiment, there are at least two sort non- return exit gates and an associated selection gate provided on a left hand side of the outer frame and at least two sort non-return exit gates and an associated selection gate provided on a right hand side of the outer frame and there may optionally be further provided a selection gate. Typically, each gate comprises a movement mechanism capable of moving or at least allowing the respective gate to be moved between an open and a closed configuration and wherein each movement mechanism for each gate can be controlled by the automated control system.

However, in an alternative preferred embodiment, sort gates are preferably one-way sort exit gates and which may not be provided with a movement mechanism controlled by the automated control system but instead can be biased to be closed by a biasing means such as a spring arrangement and which are arranged to allow passage of an animal through the one way sort exit gates in the direction from the inner pen area to an external pen (external of the outer frame). 11 The accompanying drawings illustrate presently exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain, by way of example, the principles of the disclosure.

In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. Certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form and some details of conventional elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The present invention is susceptible to embodiments of different forms. Specific embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and herein will be described in detail, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to that illustrated and described herein. It is to be fully recognized that the different teachings of the embodiments discussed below may be employed separately or in any suitable combination to produce the desired results.

The various aspects of the present invention can be practiced alone or in combination with one or more of the other aspects, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant arts. The various aspects of the invention can optionally be provided in combination with one or more of the optional features of the other aspects of the invention. Also, optional features described in relation to one embodiment can typically be combined alone or together with other features in different embodiments of the invention. Additionally, any feature disclosed in the specification can be combined alone or collectively with other features in the specification to form an invention.

Various embodiments and aspects of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Still other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the entire description thereof, including the figures, which illustrates a number of exemplary embodiments and aspects and implementations. The invention is also capable of other and different embodiments and aspects, and its several details can be modified in 12 various respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in the specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention.

Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. Furthermore, the terminology and phraseology used herein is solely used for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as limiting in scope. Language such as "including", "comprising", "having", "containing" or "involving" and variations thereof, is intended to be broad and encompass the subject matter listed thereafter, equivalents and additional subject matter not recited, and is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. In this disclosure, whenever a composition, an element or a group of elements is preceded with the transitional phrase "comprising", it is understood that we also contemplate the same composition, element or group of elements with transitional phrases "consisting essentially of’, "consisting", "selected from the group of consisting of”, “including” or "is" preceding the recitation of the composition, element or group of elements and vice versa. In this disclosure, the words “typically” or “optionally” are to be understood as being intended to indicate optional or non-essential features of the invention which are present in certain examples but which can be omitted in others without departing from the scope of the invention.

All numerical values in this disclosure are understood as being modified by "about".

All singular forms of elements, or any other components described herein including (without limitations) components of the animal sorting system described herein are understood to include plural forms thereof and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- 13 Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of an animal sorting system in the form of a shedding system (albeit which is less preferred than that of Fig. 6) in accordance with the present invention and which includes an automated control system also in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the shedding system of Fig. 1 having an inner pen area and being surrounded by a source pen which contains all of the cattle at the start of the sorting process and three separate destination sort pens L1, L2, R2 into which the shedding system will sort the animals (which in this example are cattle) that enter the shedding system from the source pen depending upon whether the cattle meet pre-set criteria or characteristics determined by the farmer prior to the operation of the shedding system, the sorting being based upon the criteria that have been specified into the automated control system therefor by the farmer and in Fig. 2 the cow has entered the shedding system and has been sorted to exit the shedding system back into the source pen because it hasn’t met the criteria specified by the farmer for any of the three separate destination sort pens L1, L2, R2; Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the shedding system of Fig. 2 where the automated control system has instructed the shedding system to exit the animal based upon the criteria selected by the farmer into sort pen L2; Fig. 4a is a schematic plan view of the shedding system of Fig. 3 where the cow has been encouraged to exit from the inner pen area of the shedding system by an ejector mechanism operated/actuated by the automated control system; Fig. 4b is a schematic side view of the ejector mechanism of the shedding system of Fig. 4a being actuated to encourage exit of the animal from the inner pen area of the shedding system; Fig. 5 is a flow chart comprising a decision tree employed by the automated control system for controlling the operation of the shedding system in accordance with the present invention; Fig.6 is a schematic plan view of an even more preferred embodiment of an animal sorting system in the form of a shedding system in accordance with the present invention and which includes the embodiment of an automated control system of Fig. 5 in accordance with the present invention, where the entrance gates for the shedding system of Fig. 6 are shown in the closed position and where both of the left and right side inner pen exit gates are shown in the closed position and where both of the non-return exit gates are also shown in their closed position; Fig. 7a is a schematic plan view of the most preferred embodiment of shedding system of Fig. 6, but where the entrance gates are now opened to enable a cow (not shown) to enter the shedding system therethrough; Fig. 7b is a schematic plan view of the shedding system of Fig. 7a, but is shown in Fig. 7b at the next stage of operation on from that of Fig. 7a, where the entrance gates have been closed behind the rear end of the cow (not shown) that has entered the shedding system and the cow can then be weighed and have its RFID data, temperature and other data taken by the shedding system and associated automated control system; Fig. 7c is a schematic plan view of the shedding system of Fig. 7b, but is shown at the next stage of operation on from that of Fig. 7b, where, depending upon which parameters have been previously set by the operator, a left exit gate has been opened by the automated control system and the cow (not shown) is able to exit the shedding system through the left inner pen exit gate and also through the non-return exit gates associated with the left inner pen exit gate; Fig. 7d is a schematic plan view of the shedding system of Fig. 7b, but is shown at the next stage of operation on from that of Fig. 7c (or is at an alternative stage of operation to that of Fig. 7c)), where the automated control system (depending upon which parameters have been set) has instead opened the right inner pen exit gate and the cow (not shown) is now able to exit through the open right inner pen exit gate and also through the non-return exit gates associated with the right inner pen exit gate; Fig. 8a is a schematic plan view of the much preferred shedding system of Fig. 6, showing the water trough having been moved to a first position (which is the closest position to the entrance gates) to enable the cows to be trained to use the shedding system of Fig. 6; Fig. 8b shows a schematic plan view of the shedding system of Fig. 8a, but where the water trough have been moved to a second training position which is slightly further away from the entrance gates; Fig. 8c is a schematic plan view of the shedding system of Fig. 8b, but where the water trough has been moved to a third position which is yet further away from the entrance gates; Fig. 8d is a schematic plan view of the shedding system of Fig. 8c, but where the water trough has been moved by the operator yet further away from the entrance gates and indeed is shown in the final in use position of the shedding system of Fig. 1O and is sufficiently far away from the entrance gate such that a cow can fully enter the inner pen in order to both reach the water trough and sufficiently far such that the entrance gates can safely close behind the rear end of the cow; Fig. 9a is a perspective side view of the spring loaded non-return exit gates of the much preferred shedding system of Fig. 6, where the spring loaded exit gates are shown in their closed position; Fig. 9b is a close up more detailed perspective view of the coiled spring utilized in the spring loaded exit gates of detail area B of Fig. 9a, where the coiled spring is shown in its configuration taken up when the exit gates are closed as shown in Fig. 9a; Fig. 9c is a perspective side view of the spring loaded exit gates of Fig. 9a, but where the spring loaded exit gates are shown in their open position (Le. a cow (not shown) is passing therethrough); and Fig. 9d is a close-up more detailed perspective view of detail area C of Fig. 9c showing the coiled spring in the position taken up by it when the gates are in the open position of Fig. 9c.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION Fig. 1 shows a (less preferred compared with that of Fig. 6) embodiment of an animal sorting system in accordance with the present invention in the form of a shedding system 1 and automated control system 3 which can be used by a farmer to sort animals such as cows, cattle, pigs, sheep, deer or other suitable animals based upon a plurality of different criteria of interest to the farmer.

SHEDDING SYSTEM 1 OF FIG. 1 The shedding system 1 comprises an outer frame 10 and an inner frame 18 in which is provided an entrance 12 through which an animal 5, such as cattle/a cow, can enter the shedding system 1. The entrance 12 is guarded by a pair of entrance gates 14L, 14R which are preferably arranged to open inwards into an inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1. The inner pen area 19 is generally bounded by the inner frame 18. The inner frame 18 and in particular the entrance 12 and inner pen area 19 are sized to only allow one animal 5 to enter the entrance 12 and inner pen area 19 at a time and thus the inner pen area 19 is arranged to be in the region of 2.5 to 4 meters long for a cattle shedding system (based upon the cattle being in the region of 2.4 to 2.6 meters in length); that is, the inner frame 18 and inner pen 1O area 19 is arranged to be longer than the likely longest cattle to use the shedding system 1 (after taking into account the depth required for the entrance gates 14 to open inwards).

Moreover, it is preferred that the entrance gates 14L and 14R are arranged such that when they are shut, their closest edges are spaced apart sufficiently to allow the animal 5 to place their head through the gap there between such that the animal’s shoulders are arranged to come to rest against the entrance gates 14L, 14R and this is advantageous because it has been found that the animal 5 suffers less or no stress when using the shedding system 1 because the animal 5 feels they are pushing against the entrance gates 14 and because their head is within the inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1 whilst the gates 14L, 14R are closed, the animal 6 is not discouraged from trying to enter the shedding system 1. lmportantly though, the animal 5 will only be allowed to enter the shedding system 1 through the entrance gates 14L, 14R when the control system 3 instructs the entrance gates 14L, 14R to open as will be described in detail subsequently.

Each of the entrance gates 14L, 14R are provided with a suitable gate movement mechanism which may be in the form of a respective suitable ram 16L, 16R such as a pneumatic ram 16L, 16R and which can be connected to the on-board computer system 30 via a suitable wired or wireless connection (not shown) and which can be instructed by the on-board computer system 30 to open or close their respective entrance gate 14L, 14R. In most instances, the rams 16L, 16R will be instructed to open or close simultaneously with each other.

The outer frame 10 further comprises two or more sorting exit gates SR1, SR2, SL1, SL2 and in the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the shedding system 1 comprises four sorting exit gates SL1, SL2, SR1, SR2 provided therein. More preferably, the shedding system 1 is arranged such that there will be provided a sorting pen (such as sort pen L1) provided for each sorting exit gate (such as SL1) and in Fig. 2 it can be seen that the following sort pens are provided for each of the following sorting exit gates:- sort pen L1 is provided for sorting exit gate SL1; sort pen L2 is provided for sorting exit gate SL2; sort pen R2 is provided for sorting exit gate SR2; and 1O source pen R1 is provided for sorting exit gate SR1.

The sorting exit gates SL1, SL2, SR1, SR2 are arrange to be operated by the control system 3 for the shedding system 1 such that they will only open when instructed to do so by the control system 3 and are arranged to open to allow the specific animal 5 that has entered the shedding system 1 to exit from the shedding system 1 into the required sort pen.

In an alternative simpler embodiment (not shown), the gate movement mechanism could be a biasing means such as a spring which biases the respective gate shut and/or in one direction and a locking mechanism controllable by the control system 3 but such a simpler embodiment has the disadvantage that it requires the animal 5 to learn to try to open the gates in turn until it finds the gate with the unlocked locking mechanism.

The sort pens L1, L2, R2 are pre-decided by the farmer to be the intended destination for animals that meet certain criteria. For example, sort pen L2 could be predetermined by the farmer to be the destination for all cattle 5 that individually transit through the shedding system 1 in turn e.g.:- i) over the age of 3 years, ii) weighing more than 600kg; iii) all being female cows; and iv) being of the Charolais breed, for example.

On the other hand, sort pen R2 could be predetermined by the farmer to be the destination for all male (bull) cattle over the age of 5 years weighing more than 900kg and being of the Belgian Blue breed.

Finally, the farmer may decide sort pen L1 should be the destination for all remaining cattle no matter what breed and no matter what sex as long as they are over the weight of 500kg.

Other criteria can of course be taken into account such as whether the cow is pregnant and if so, with or without an already elapsed gestation period of e.g. more 1O than 260 days and if so, the farmer can set up the shedding system 1 to sort all pregnant cows into one of the sort pens L1, L2 or R2 and could for example further define the destination sort pen L1, L2 or R2 to be whether the cow is over a certain number of days or weeks gestation.

Any cattle that do not meet those criteria for sort pens L1, L2 and R2 are predetermined by the farmer to be returned to the source pen.

Embodiments of the present invention therefore have the great advantage that the automated control system 3 can be highly selective in terms of sorting cattle 5 for a very wide range of different criteria. In addition, because a farmer or farm hand is not having to enter the source pen to sort the cattle manually, the cattle undergo much less stress and indeed it has been observed that the cattle 5 do not exhibit any stress symptoms when using the shedding system 1. The setting up and operation of the automated control system 3 will be described in more detail subsequently.

The inner frame 18 in effect provides a core or centre of the shedding system 1 (Le. the area bounded by the entrance gates 14, the two inner pen exit gates 50 and the outer portion of the water trough 22) and moreover provides an inner pen area 19 which comprises a weigh bed platform 20 onto which the animal 5 will walk having just passed through the entrance 12 when the entrance gates 14L, 14R are opened.

The weigh bed platform 20 is preferably sized so as to be able to measure the full weight of the animal 5. In order to attract the animal into the inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1, the shedding system 1 comprises an animal attraction means in the form of a water trough 22 positioned at the opposite end of the inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1 compared with the entrance 12. Accordingly, the animal is encouraged to walk through the entrance 12 and stand fully upon the weigh bed platform 20 in order to be able to drink from the water trough 22. A RFID ear tag reader/writer 24 is provided on the left hand side of the water trough in close enough proximity to the approximate in use location of the left ear of the animal 5, where the animal 5 has been provided with an ear tag in its left ear (as has the rest of the animals in the herd). The RFID ear tag reader/writer 24 is connected to an on-board computer system (008) 30 via suitable wired or wireless connection means 32. A camera identification system 25 is also provided at the water trough 22 end of the inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1, where the camera identification system 1O provides a back-up or an alternative for identifying the animal 5 compared with the RFID ear tag reader/writer 24. The camera identification system 25 can be arranged to read a number or other animal identification code provided on a tag on its ear for example and the camera identification system 25 may work in a similar manner to number plate recognition systems that are widely used by police services.

Optionally, a thermal imaging camera 26 may also be provided in the general area of the water trough 22 such that the thermal camera 26 can be arranged to point in the approximate in use location of the head and body of the animal 5 and thus sense the core temperature of the animal 5. The output from the thermal camera 26 and/or the camera identification system 25 can be connected to the on-board computer system 008 30 via suitable wired or wireless connection means 33.

The inner frame 18 of the shedding system 1 further comprises a pair of inner pen exit gates 50L, 50R, one of which is provided at each side of the inner frame 18 (and therefore at each side of the inner pen area 19) of the shedding system 1 and therefore are provided at each side of the weigh bed platform 20. When each of the exit gates 50L, 50R are closed, the animal cannot leave the inner frame 18 and therefore cannot leave the inner pen area 19 and specifically cannot leave the weigh bed platform 20, in particular because the entrance gate 14L, 14R only permit animals 5 to enter through the entrance 12 and not to exit through the entrance 12.

However, if one of the inner pen exit gates 50L, 50R is opened by the on-board computer system 008 30, the animal 5 can exit through that opened exit gate 50L, 50R. An ejector 60 is provided just above the entrance gates 14L, 14R and can be operated by the on-board computer system 008 30 after a period of time has elapsed (e.g. 60 seconds or other suitable time period) since the respective exit gate 50L, 50R has been instructed to open, where the ejector 60 can be instructed to gently move downwards to rest upon the behind of the animal 5 and encourage it to leave the innerframe 18 and inner pen area 19 and walk through the open exit gate 50L, 50R. The exit gates 50L, 50R are connected to the on-board computer system via suitable wired or wireless connections and are powered to open or close by a suitable ram 52L, 54R such as a pneumatic ram 52L, 52R. The rams 52L, 52R are operated upon instruction by the on-board computer system 30 via suitable wired or wireless connection (not shown). 1O In normal operation, the on-board computer system 30 will only ever instruct one exit gate 50L or 50R to open at any one time in order to have a definite exit path for the animal 5 from the inner frame 18 and inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1.

This, combined with possible use of the ejector 60, means that the automated control system 3 (and in particular the on-board computer system 30 thereof) can be relied upon to exit an animal 5 from the inner frame 18 and therefore the inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1 with minimal or no delay. The sorting exit gates SL1, SL2, SR1, SR2 are arranged to be one way sorting gates in that they permit an animal 5 to pass through them when going in the direction from within the inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1 into an external sort pen but do not permit an animal to walk in the reverse direction (ie from an external sort pen through that sorting exit gate back into the inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1).

A selection gate 70L is provided for the two left hand sorting exit gates SL1, SL2 and another separate selection gate 70R is provided for the two right hand sorting gates SR1, SR2, where the respective selection gate 70L, 70R are each provided with a respective ram 72L, 72R such as a pneumatic ram 72L, 72R. The respective rams 72L, 72R are connected to the on-board computer system 30 via a suitable wired or wireless connection means such that the on-board computer system 30 can instruct the ram 72L, 72R to open or close the respective selection gate 70L, 70R depending upon whether the animal 5 has met the criteria for the particular external sort pen L1, L2, R2 predetermined by the farmer. Consequently, the ram 72L, 72R can be instructed to move the selection gate 70L to, for example, cover and block off the sorting exit gate SL2 such that the animal 5 then can only exit the shedding system 1 through the sorting exit gate SL1 (assuming that the exit gate 50L has been moved from the closed position to the open position shown in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 3).

OthenNise, the on-board computer system 30 can be instructed to move the ram 72L into the position that the selection gate 70L has covered over and therefore closed the sorting exit gate SL1 such that the animal 5 can only exit the shedding system 1 through the sorting exit gate SL2. The ram 72R can be operated in a similar manner in order to move the selection gate 70R to cover over the appropriate sorting exit gate SR1 or SR2 if it is the right hand exit gate 50R that is to be moved from the closed to the open position.

The shedding system 1 is further provided with an air compressor 45 that can provide pressurised/compressed air in order to drive and actuate the various pneumatic rams 16, 52, 72 under instruction from the on-board computer system 30.

Alternatively, a hydraulic fluid compressor (not shown) could be used instead of the air compressor 45 if a hydraulic ram system is to be used. Further alternatively, an electric power supply system (not shown) could be used to provide selective power to electric motors (not shown) which drive the gates to open or close if an electric system is to be used.

The water trough 22 is provided with a quick stop ballcock, float switch and a suitable electronic water valve such that when the animal 5 starts to drink from the water trough, the water level reduces which causes the quick stop ballcock and float switch (not shown) to drop and allows the water to flow into the water trough 22 through a flow meter (not shown). The electronic data output of the flow meter is also connected to a water intake data input of the on-board computer system 30 and outputs data representing the volume of water that the animal 5 is drinking/has drunk and thus the on-board computer system 30 can provide data to the farmer as to the relative water being drunk by the various animals 5 in the herd and that can then be used to indicate whether an animal 5 is unwell or not because, for example, they are not drinking enough or are drinking too much. The electronic data output of the weigh scales (not shown) of the weigh bed platform 20 is also connected to a weight data input of the on-board computer system 30 such that the on-board computer system 30 can read the weight of the animal 5 both before, during and after the animal 5 is drinking/has drunk the water from the water trough 22 and that weight data can also be stored in an animal’s 5 registration record which can be held in a cloud based computer system 0808 35 which forms part of the automated control system 3 and can therefore subsequently used by the farmer to track the relative growth of the animal 5. A geospatial location device (not shown) such as a suitable GPS receiver may also be provided for the shedding system 1, whereby the GPS location data output of the GPS receiver can be connected to a geospatial location data input of the on-board computer system 30 in order to provide the location data of the shedding system 1 (and therefore the animal 5) and time and date of all data captured for that animal 5 in the animal 5 registration record.

Fig. 2 shows the progress of:- 1O ) an animal 5 from entering the innerframe 18 and inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1 at position 5A; ) through to the animal 5 drinking from the water trough 22 whilst fully standing on the weighed platform 20 at position 5B within the inner frame 18 and inner pen area 19; ) through to position 50 at which point the animal 5 is exiting the inner frame 18 and inner pen area 19 through exit gate 50R; ) and, because the selection gate 70R has been moved to cover over sorting exit gate SR2, the animal is exiting the outer frame 10 through sorting exit gate SR1 at position 5D; ) until the animal 5 returns into the source pen at position 5E.

In Fig. 2, the sorting exit gate SR1 has been set as the default gate back to the source pen and the control system 3 has exited the animal 5 back to the source pen because the animal 5 has not met any of the criteria that have been predetermined/pre-set by the farmer for an animal to exit into any of sort pens L1, L2 or R2.

As discussed previously, the control system 3 including the on-board computer system 008 30 can be pre-set by the farmer to designate the particular sort pens to be the destination for different animals 5 having a particular set of characteristics.

The potential characteristics that can be chosen by the farmer are numerous but are likely/could include any two or more of the following:- a) weight of the animal 5; b) age of the animal 5; c) sex of the animal 5; d) whether the animal 5 is pregnant or not and if so, whether the pregnancy has reached or is beyond a particular gestation length; e) period that has passed since the animal 5 previously gave birth; f) breed of animal 5; g) lineage/parents of animal 5; h) one or more health characteristics which could include an outlying health characteristic and/or temperature of the animal. 1O Accordingly, the on-board computer system 30 and control system 3 will, once the predetermined characteristics have been set by the farmer for each sort pen L1, L2, R2 (typically using software which may be in the form of an app on a mobile smart phone or tablet 37 which forms part of the automated control system 3), compare the data received by the various data inputs of the DOS 30 of the control system 3 from the various data outputs of the respective weigh bed platform 20, water trough 22, RFID ear tag reader/writer 24 (and the associated animal 5 registration record that contains all of the relevant data for that animal 5, such as breed, parent lineage, previous weight, sex, previous birth information, etc.) and/or camera identification system 25 and thermal camera 26 if present and will then set first of all the exit gates 50L, 50R to remain closed or to open as appropriate and will then also have set the appropriate selection gate 70L, 70R to cover over the correct respective sorting exit gate SL1, SL2, SR1, SR2 as appropriate in order to leave all of the sorting exit gates SL1, SL2, SR1, SR2 covered over except for the sorting exit gate that can be opened by the animal 5 into the correct sort pen L1, L2, R2 as appropriate.

Accordingly, in Fig. 3 the animal 5 has met the required pre-set characteristics as set by the farmer on the app 37 for animals to be directed into sort pen L2 and as such the control system 3 has kept exit gate 50R closed but has opened exit gate 50L and furthermore the control system 3 has covered over sorting exit gate SL1 with the selection gate 70L and therefore allows the animal 5 to firstly exit the innerframe 18 and secondly exit the outer frame 10 through sorting exit gate SL2 into sort pen L2.

Fig. 4a and in particular Fig. 4b show the ejector 60 having been actuated by the control system 3 to drop by means of an associated ram (not shown) such that it drops and pivots down from the ceiling of the shedding system 1 and gently touches the behind of the animal 5 in order to encourage the animal 5 to leave the inner frame 18 and therefore the inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1 via the open exit gate 50L.

AUTOMATED CONTROL SYSTEM 3 The automated control system 3 comprises the on-board computer system 30 which is typically mounted to the inner frame 18 and/or outer frame 10 at a suitable location and can be any suitable computer system including a suitably programmed Raspberry Pin" and preferably but not essentially further comprises access to a 24 cloud based computer system (CBCS) 35 to enable more efficient access by a farmer and the app or other suitable software run on a suitable computing device such as a smart phone or tablet 37 used by a farmer.

Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of the decision tree used by the automated control system 3, where the stages S1 to S16 are followed in series by the automated control system 3, as follows:- STAGE 1 — 81 Stage 1 S1 is the start of the process and the control system 3 will always return to S1 once an animal 5 has passed through the shedding system 1 so the shedding system 1 is ready for the next animal 5 to enter the shedding system 1.

STAGE 2 — $2 The control system 3 functions a|| gates 14L, 14R, 50L, 50R, 70L, 70R via their respective rams 16, 52, 72 and confirms the weight sensed by the weighed platform is tared to 0kg. The control system 3 also confirms that the water trough 22 is full and checks that the animal identifier systems (i.e. the RFID ear tag reader/writer 24 and/or the camera identification system 25) are operating.

STAGE 3 — S3 The control system 3 confirm that all gates 14, 50, 70 are closed and then opens the entrance gates 14L, 14R.

STAGE 4 — S4 The control system 3 is set to the default position which comprises ram sensors 52, 72 showing as closed, with no energised gate outputs 14, 50, 70 shown on the input output board of the control system 3. An exception is ram sensor 16 which shows as open to allow entrance of the animal 5 into the inner frame 18 and inner pen area 19 through entrance gates 14L and 14R.

STAGE 5 — $5 The control system 3 continuously looks in sequence for the presence of an animal 5 within the inner pen area 19 through firstly the animal identifier RFID ear tag 1O reader/writer 24, secondly the weight output from the weighed platform 20 and thirdly any water flow through the water trough 22.

STAGE 6 — S6 When an animal 5 enters the shedding system 1 (and in particular the inner pen area 19) through the entrance 12, the sequence described in 85 above should detect the animal in the first instance by the RFID ear tag reader/writer 24 reading the EID ear tag in the left ear of the cattle.

OPTIONAL STAGE — 86.5 If the control system 3 is unable to detect an animal 5 at 86 via the primary animal identifier RFID ear tag reader/writer 24 but then detects the animal via the secondary stage of the sequence 85 by means of the weight output from the weighed platform , the control system 3 activates the back-up camera identification system 25 to identify the animal visually.

STAGE 7 — S7 Once the animal ID has been identified by the control system 3, the 008 30 instructs the 0808 35 to update the animal registration record held within the 0808 35 with the date and time of the visit by the animal. At this point, the entrance gates 14L, 14R are signalled by the on-board computer system 30 to close, such that the animal is safely and securely held within the innerframe 18 and the inner pen area 19.

STAGE 8 — S8 Once the entrance gates 14L, 14R are closed, the animal’s weight is recorded via the weigh cells in the weigh bed platform 20 and the animal’s weight data is output therefrom to the weight data input of the on-board computer system 30 and is then sent to be recorded within the respective animal registration record held within the 0808 35. The animal 5 is free to drink from the water trough 22 at this stage 88.

OPTIONAL STAGE 8.5 — 88.5 In the preferred embodiment, a thermal camera 26 is also provided within the shedding system 1 and a temperature data output thereof is connected to a temperature data input of the on-board computer system 30 and in this preferred 1O embodiment, the thermal camera 26 detects the animal’s core temperature and data of that temperature reading is sent to and recorded by the 0808 35 via the on-board computer system 30.

STAGE 9 — S9 The 0808 35 then checks the pre-set sort criteria which has either been programmed by the user/farmer via for example an app provided on a personal computer device such as a smart phone 37 or has been selected by the on-board computer system 30 parameters for that individual animal 5.

STAGE 10 — S10 The criteria selected in 89 will then trigger the on-board computer system 30 to open either the default source gate (e.g. sorting exit gate SR1 in Fig. 2) or one of the sorting exit gates SL1, SL2, SR2 if the animal 5 has met that criteria designated for that destination sort pen L1, L2 or R2 (see for example Fig. 3).

STAGE 11 — S11 After a timed period from when the animal 5 entered the inner pen area 19, such as one minute has lapsed, the selected inner pen exit gate 50L, 50R is opened and the selection gate 70L, 70R is moved accordingly and the animal 5 is free to leave the inner frame 18 and thus the inner pen area 19 the shedding system 1.

OPTIONAL STAGE 11.5 — SL11.5 If the animal 5 does not leave after a further timed period, which is set by the user/farmer, a signal from the on-board computer system 30 is sent to actuate and deploy the ejector 60, which drops down behind the animal 5 and touches it on the behind, encouraging it to exit the inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1 — see Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b.

STAGE 12 — S12 When the animal 5 begins to move along the (now opened) exit path, a weight reduction is measured by the weigh cells of the weigh bed platform 20 and the on- board computer system 30 then instructs the associated ram 52 of the open inner pen exit gate (eg 50L) to close.

STAGE 13 — S13 The just closed inner pen exit gate (e.g. 50L) is confirmed as closed by the ram sensor 52L and that is signalled to the on-board computer system 30.

STAGE 14 — S14 Once the inner pen exit gate (e.g. 50L) has closed, the on-board computer system confirms that the water levels within the water trough 22 are fully restored and then records the consumed volume of water and transmits that data to the 0808 35.

The 0808 35 records that data in the animal 5 registration record.

STAGE 15 — S15 The on-board computer system 30 then sends a signal for the weigh cells within the weigh bed platform 20 to tare to 0 Kg and the air compressors to fill up the rams 16, 52, 72 such that the various rams are closed. Following confirmation of the water level having been restored within the water trough 22 and having confirmed that all gates 16, 50, 70 are closed and that the weigh cells within the weigh bed platform 20 have been tared, the entrance gates 14L, 14R are reopened thus allowing the next animal 5 to enter the inner frame 18 and thus the inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1.

STAGE 16 — S16 This stage restarts the process for the control system and thus resets the control system 3 back to Stage 1 81 as noted above.

Thus, the 0808 35 has recorded all of the relevant data gathered for the particular animal 5 such as the weight, volume of water drunk, core temperature of the animal and can therefore provide that data to the personal computing device 37, enabling the farmer to have real time data on the data measured from all of the animals 5 passing through the shedding system 1.

In addition, the shedding system 1 has the distinct advantage that the sorting exit gates SL1, SL2, SR1, SR2 are one way only and thus prevent any animals 5 from passing from any of the sorting pens into the shedding system 1 via the sorting exit gates SL1, SL2, SR1, SR2. 1O In addition, the shedding system 1 has the further advantage that it is set up to return an animal 5 to the source pen if no criteria or characteristics have been assigned by the farmer to the various pens and thus the shedding system 1 rather than sorting animals 5 can operate in a data gathering mode alone.

Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that they can acquire the full animal 5 spot body weight as opposed to measuring the weight of only part of the animal 5 as in some prior art systems.

In addition, the control system 3 can be modified such that an animal 5 can be permitted to continue drinking for as long as it likes but once the animal 5 has stopped drinking and the flow meter stops detecting water flow into the water trough 22, if the animal 5 has not left the inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1, then the on-board computer system 30 can instruct the ejector 60 to deploy in order to encourage the animal 5 to leave the shedding system 1 and thereby allow another animal 5 to use the shedding system 1.

Moreover, the control system 3 is arranged such that once the animal 5 starts to leave the inner pen area 19 of the shedding system 1, the on-board computer system 30 will detect that (by any suitable means such as detecting a weight reduction on the weight load platform 20) and instruct the selected inner pen exit gate 50L or 50R to close.

In addition, the 0808 35, as well as recording the EID data from the RFID ear tag on the left ear of the animal 5 and the recorded spot weight of the animal 5, can also record the date and time that the animal used the system 1 and can store all that data in the 0808 35 enabling the farmer to access said data whenever the farmer is connected to the internet via, for example their personal computer device such as a smart phone 37.

In addition, the control system 3 can be arranged to provide alerts to the farmer if a particular animal 5 triggers a health identification alert. 1O Further advantages from use of the system can be made by setting up additional shedding systems 1 in the various pens in order to provide multiple levels of sorting of animals 5.

SHEDDING SYSTEM 100 OF FIG. 6 Fig. 6 shows an alternative and more preferred (compared with that of Fig. 1) embodiment of an animal sorting system in accordance with the present invention in the form of a shedding system 100. The shedding system 100 utilises the same automated control system 3 as that hereinbefore described and therefore the shedding system 100 can also be used by a farmer to sort animals such as cows, cattle, pigs, sheep, deer or other suitable animals based upon a plurality of different criteria of interest to the farmer.

In many respects, the shedding system 101 of Fig. 6 is relatively similar to the shedding system 1 of Fig. 1 and therefore alike components use the same reference numeral, but with the addition of 100 for the reference numeral used in Fig. 6 compared with that used in Fig. 1.

Those similar, but renumbered, components will for the sake of brevity not therefore be subsequently described in detail again but rather the description of them in relation to Fig. 1 is incorporated herein for the Fig. 6 embodiment.

Rather, the differences between the Fig. 6 embodiment of shedding system 101 and that of the Fig. 1 shedding system 1 will now be described.

The main area of differences between the shedding system 1 and the shedding system 101 of Fig. 6 are twofold:- A) The non-return exit gates 180L, 180R provided in the outer frame 110; and B) the moveable water trough 122 which can be moved from left to right as shown in Fig. 6 within the inner pen area 119 as will be described subsequently.

A) NON-RETURN EXIT GATES 180L, 180R WITHIN THE OUTER FRAME 110 The outerframe 110 of the shedding system 101 of Fig. 6 is provided with (only) the one non-return exit gate 180L, 180R associated with each of the respective inner pen exit gate 15OL, 150R. 1O Accordingly, the inner pen exit gate 150L is associated with the non-return exit gate 180L and the inner pen exit gate 150R is associated with the non-return exit gate 180R.

The shedding system 101 can therefore be used to sort the cattle that enter it (and in particular enter the inner frame 118 and inner pen area 119) through its entrance 112 either into a left sort pen L100 or a right sort pen R100 and therefore the shedding system 101 can be considered to provide a simpler sorting solution, compared with the more complicated sorting solution provided by the shedding system 1 of Fig. 1. That said, if additional sorting is required by a farmer operator, one or more additional shedding systems 101 can be provided at the exit of the first shedding system 101 and so on.

The non-return exit gate 180L, 180R is arranged in association with its respective inner pen exit gate 150L, 150R in such a way that it is arranged to be as close as possible to the outer most end of the inner pen exit gate 150L, 150R when the inner pen exit gate 150L, 150R is in the open configuration such as that shown in Fig. 7C or Fig. 7D respectively, such that there is for example less than 0.5 meters distance between the outermost end of the inner pen exit gate 150L, 150R and the closest point of its associated respective non-return exit gate 180L, 180R. This is highly advantageous because it more or less ensures that when an animal such as a cow leaves the innerframe 118 and thus the inner pen area 119 of the shedding system 101, its front legs will step off the weigh bed 120 and its head will firstly move through the opening afforded by the open inner pen exit gate 150L, 150R as appropriate and its head will then very quickly pass through the gap between, for example, the spring loaded left hand gate 182L and spring loaded right hand gate 182R of the non-return exit gate 180L and therefore whilst the body of the cow is passing through the opening afforded by the open inner pen exit gate 150L the short distance between the respective gates 150L, 180L means that it is not possible for another cow to enter into the inner pen area 119 through the non-return exit gate 180L and furthermore, there is no area or space for the cow to rest for any period of time in between the respective gates 150L, 180L. This feature is very important and indeed has been found during refinement of the preferred embodiment of the present invention that a longer distance gap between those respective gates 150L, 180L will 1O result in either the cow that is just leaving the inner pen area attempting to pass back through an exit gate 180L in the wrong direction or for a completely different cow to try and enter the inner frame 118 and inner pen area 119 through the non-return exit gate (which is of course in the wrong direction) and therefore having as short a distance there between as possible is highly advantageous.

In addition, it is much preferred that the non-return exit gates 180 are not operated by power from the automated control system 3 and/or on-board computer 130 but rather are unpowered and instead are spring loaded by means of a suitable spring such as a coiled spring 190 acting between the outer frame 110 and left hand and right hand gates 182L, 182R, 184L, 184R and that arrangement is shown in more detail in Figs 9A to 9D; the non-powered feature of the non-return exit gates makes for a much more straightfonNard but effective gate control system.

Moreover, it is much preferred that the non-return exit gates 180 are arranged to open outwardly (and not inwardly) as the shoulders of the cow pass therethrough and that arrangement is shown in more detail in Figs 9A to 9D Also importantly, the coiled spring 190 acting on each spring loaded left hand and right hand gate 182L, 182R, 184L, 184R is preferably arranged to bias the respective gates 182, 184 into the closed position such that once the rear end of the cow has passed there through, the gates 180 will be closed by the respective springs 190 and therefore the springs 190 provide the non-return feature to the exit gates 180L, 180R.

Preferably, the distance between the respective non-return exit gate 180L, 180R and its associated inner pen exit gate 15OL, 150R is as short as possible and is certain less than the length of a typical animal intended to use the shedding system 101 and more preferably is less than half the length of a typical animal and even more preferably is less than a quarter of the length of a typical animal intended to use the shedding system and the more preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 6 is in the region of 0.25 to 0.5 meters of a gap there between. 1O This/these feature(s) individually and/or in combination provide for a very simple, but effective means of ensuring a cow cannot pass back through the non-return exit gates 180L, 180R.

Thus, the shedding system 101 provides a very safe means for sorting cattle and other animals.

B) MOVEABLE FOODNVATER TROUGH 122 FOR TRAINING ANIMALS TO USE THE SHEDDING SYSTEM 101 The second main area of difference between the most preferred embodiment of shedding system 101 and the shedding system 1 hereinbefore described is that the shedding system 101 of Fig. 6 is provided with a moveable food/water trough 122 which can be moved between two or more (four are shown in the Figs.) positions as shown in Fig. 8A through Fig. 8D. For example, in Fig. 8A, the water trough 122 is shown in a first training position 122A, where it is located very close to and preferably and immediately adjacent to) the entrance 112. Indeed, when the water trough 122 is in the first position 122A, the entrance gates 114L, 114R can be opened by the operator and/or the automated control system 3 and/or on-board computer 130 and the cattle can simply pass their head through the entrance 112 and can feed at the water trough 122 possibly without the animals legs even having to enter into the inner frame 118 and thus the inner pen area 119 and therefore the animal will quickly become very comfortable passing their head through the entrance 112 in order to drink from the water trough 122. Once all the cattle have become used to using the water trough 122 in position 122A (which may take anywhere between a few hours and maybe one or two days), the farmer can then remove the securing means which secure the trough 122 to the inner frame 118 (e.g. such as screws or bolts or any other suitable securing means) and can move the water trough further into the inner pen area 119 to for example the position 1228 shown in Fig. BB which is the second water trough position 1228.

Again, the farmer will leave the entrance gates 114L, 114R open and will secure the water trough 122 to the inner frame 118 with the suitable securing means. Thus, the cattle will start to quickly get used to partially entering the shedding system 101 with for example their front legs standing upon the weigh bed 120. After a sufficient time, which may be a further few hours or one or two days or so as required, the farmer 1O can then move the water trough to the third position 1220 shown in Fig. BC (and will secure the water trough 122 to the inner frame 118 in that third position 1220 with the suitable securing means) in order to further train the cattle to be comfortable with entering into the inner pen area 119. After a further sufficient period of time has passed, the farmer can take the final decision/step to move the water trough 122 to its final in-use position 122D (and will secure the water trough 122 to the inner frame 118 in that final/fourth position with the suitable securing means) which is all the way into the inner pen area 119 such that cattle can fully enter into the inner pen area 119 such that their full bodies are located therein by a sufficient distance such that the entrance gates 114L, 114R can be closed behind the rear end of the cattle, yet the cattle have sufficient room to be able to feed/drink from the food/water trough 122. Once the cattle are entirely comfortable with having fully entered the inner pen area 119, the farmer can then instruct the automated control system 3 and/or on- board computer 130 to start monitoring and sorting the cattle as hereinbefore described based upon the various measured criteria and data.

The ability to train the cattle with the moveable water trough 122 provides the further significant advantage to the embodiment of shedding system 101 that the cattle will experience minimal or no stress when using the shedding system 101 and the attraction means provided by the water trough 122.

Accordingly, it is considered that embodiments of the present invention will significantly assist farmers to digitise their herds and therefore drive significant growth performance and improve efficiency. This will likely result in improving growth results and reducing costs for the farmer via such automation and data- analytics. In addition, the software such as an app held on the farmesz personal computer device, such as a smart phone 37, can provide around the clock 24/7 streaming with secure cloud based computer data access. In addition, embodiments of the present invention provides significant advantages to a farmer including herd analysis, herd reporting and herd bench-marking advantages.

Moreover, there are significant additional benefits to farmers including:- 0 significant reductions in animal stress because the shedding system 1, 101 removes the need for a farmer to manually sort animals 5 and therefore provides a stress free environment for cattle to be weighed regularly with zero handling required by the farmer, thereby reducing detraction to growth of the animals 5; there are significant health and safety benefits in that the shedding system 1, 101 minimises accident risks to a farmer associated with cattle handling and improves farm health and safety; there are significant business efficiency advantages by virtue of the automated control system 3 providing a data source and analysis of cattle weights to aid herd management and decision-making whilst driving business efficiency; there are significant health detection benefits that are derived from recording of water intake by an animal 5 which provides early detection of health issues. In addition, the automated control system 3 can alert a farmer and capture an animal 5 when outwith normal daily parameters are detected; and reduced farmer labour is a significant advantage gained by embodiments of the present invention where a reduction in labour required for day to day cattle management is obtained due to the sorting abilities of the system 1, 101 and this therefore supports business efficiency in the removal of man hours.

Embodiments of the present invention can be used with all sizes and types of cattle, sheep, pigs, deer and other farm bred animals.

Embodiments of the present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (28)

1. An animal sorting system comprising:- an automated control system; an inner frame including an entrance gate and at least two inner pen exit gates, each inner pen gate comprising a movement mechanism capable of moving or at least allowing the respective gate to be moved between an open and a closed configuration and wherein each movement mechanism for each inner pen exit gate can be controlled by the automated control system; an animal identification means comprising an animal identification data output signal arranged to be transmitted to an animal identification data input of the automated control system; and an inner pen area located in between the entrance gate and the said at least two inner pen exit gates; wherein the automated control system further comprises two or more user selectable animal characteristic inputs which, when selected by a user, are taken into account by the automated control system in addition to the animal identification data input, to:- a) open a pre-determined inner pen exit gate to permit an animal identified as having said two or more selectable animal characteristics to exit the inner pen area of the animal sorting system through that inner pen exit gate; and to b) open another inner pen exit gate to permit an animal identified as not having said two or more selectable animal characteristics to exit the inner pen area of the animal sorting system through that inner pen exit gate; thereby sorting animals having said two or more selectable animal characteristics apart from animals not having said two or more selectable animal characteristics; and wherein the system further comprises an outer frame which comprises at least one non-return exit gate provided in association with each inner pen exit gate, whereby each at least one non-return exit gate only permits passage of an animal therethrough in one direction of travel from the inner frame through the outer frame and prevents travel of an animal in the direction from outside of the outer frame through the said non-return exit gate into the innerframe.

2. An animal sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the automated control system comprises both a local on-board computer control system located within or in close proximity to the animal sorting system and also a remote computer control system.

3. An animal sorting system according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the two or more user selectable animal characteristic inputs comprises any two or more than two or all of the following characteristics of an animal:- i) weight; and/or ii) age; and/or iii) sex; and/or iv) pregnancy status (pregnant or not pregnant); and/or v) pregnancy gestation period (if pregnant); and/or vi) time elapsed since last previous pregnancy; and/or vii) breed type; and/or viii) lineage/parents of animal; and/or ix) one or more health characteristics which could include temperature of the animal; and/or x) identification number of the animal; and/or xi) location.

4. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the animal sorting system comprises an animal movement encouragement means adapted to selectively and controllably encourage the animal to exit through the selected open inner pen exit gate, wherein the animal movement encouragement means is controllable by the automated control system.

5. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the entrance gate is adapted to open inwards into the inner pen area of the animal sorting system and also is a one way entrance gate which prevents an animal exiting the inner pen area through the entrance gate.

6. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the entrance gate comprises two spaced apart gates which are arranged to open inwards and which, when closed, are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the head of a typical animal to use the sorting system but less than the width of the shoulders of the typical animal to use the sorting system and, when open, are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the head, shoulders and/or body of the largest animal to use the sorting system.

7. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein each non-return exit gate comprises two spaced apart gates which are arranged to open outwards and which, when closed, are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the head of a typical animal to use the sorting system but less than the width of the shoulders and/or body of the typical animal to use the sorting system, and when open, are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the head, shoulders and/or body of the largest animal to use the sorting system.

8. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the said at least two inner pen exit gates are each adapted to open outwards away from the inner pen area of the animal sorting system; and wherein each said non-return exit gate is adapted to open outwards away from the inner pen area of the animal sorting system and where the respective at least one non-return exit gate is arranged such that an animal passing through its respective inner pen exit gate in order to exit the inner frame must then pass through the associated non-return exit gate in order to exit the outer frame.

9. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the said at least two inner frame exit gates are each adapted to open outwards away from the inner pen area of the animal sorting system; and wherein each respective said non-return exit gate is located spaced apart (when in the closed position) from its associated inner pen exit gate (when in the open position) by a distance less than the length of a typical animal to use the system.

10. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner pen area further comprises a weighing means arranged in use to weigh the animal, wherein the weighing means comprises a weight data output signal arranged to be transmitted to a weight data input of the automated control system. 1O

11. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the automated control system comprises a plurality of data inputs and a plurality of actuation instruction outlets connected to one or more of the entrance and/or inner pen exit gate’s movement mechanisms.

12. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a means of attracting the animal to enter through the entrance gate and into the inner pen area, the means of attracting the animal including a fluid and/or food delivery mechanism.

13. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the means of attracting the animal to enter through the entrance gate and into the inner pen area is selectively moveable within the inner pen area by the operator.

14. An animal sorting system according to claim 13, wherein the inner frame comprises two or more positions at which the means of attracting the animal is securable, such that an operator can selectively move the means of attracting the animal within the inner pen area between at least one position which is relatively close to the entrance gate and at least one position which is relatively further away from the entrance gate, in order to train the animal to enter and use the animal sorting system.

15. An animal sorting system according to claim 12, wherein the said fluid and/or food delivery mechanism comprises a water dispensing mechanism which further comprises a water measuring mechanism arranged to measure the amount of water drunk by an animal within the inner pen area.

16. An animal sorting system according to claim 15, wherein the water measuring mechanism comprises a measured water data output signal arranged to be transmitted to a measured water data input of the automated control system.

17. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the animal identification means is located within or in close proximity to the inner pen 1O 39 area and comprises a wireless communication device arranged to communicate with a tag attached to a body part of the animal.

18. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the animal identification means comprises a visual identification means arranged to read a visual identifier attached to a body part of the animal.

19. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a means of measuring the body temperature of the animal located within the inner pen area and which comprises a measured temperature output signal arranged to be transmitted to a measured temperature data input of the automated control system.

20. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the automated control system is provided with access to an animal registration record for each animal identified by it.

21. An animal sorting system according to claim 15, wherein the automated control system permits a user to select two or more animal characteristics to be input into the automated control system, whereby the automated control system then compares said two or more selected animal characteristics that have been input with any one, more than one or all of the following:- A) data held within the animal registration record for the animal identified by said animal identification means, which may include data relating to i) weight recorded on previous visit(s) through the sorting system; and/or ii) age; and/or iii) sex; and/or iv) pregnancy status (pregnant or not pregnant); and/or v) pregnancy gestation period (if pregnant); and/or vi) time elapsed since last previous pregnancy; and/or vii) breed type; and/or viii) lineage/parents of animal; and/or ix) one or more health characteristics which may be an outlying health characteristic and which could include previous temperature(s) 40 of the animal recorded on previous visit(s) through the sorting system; and/or x) Identification number of the animal; and/or xi) location. B) measured water data input; and/or C) weight data input from the weight data output signal; and/or D) measured temperature data input from the thermal camera data output; and/or E) geospatial location data input from a geospatial location device data output; in order to sort animals having said two or more selectable animal characteristics apart from animals not having said two or more selectable animal characteristics.

22. An animal sorting system according to claim 20 or to claim 21, wherein the automated control system can read data from said animal registration record for each animal identified by it and can take said animal registration record data into account when determining whether to open one inner pen exit gate compared with another inner pen exit gate.

23. An animal sorting system according to any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the automated control system can write data to said animal registration record for each animal identified by it, and said write data can comprise data input into the automated control system from any one, more than one or all of the following data inputs:- A) measured water data input; and/or B) weight data input; and/or C) measured temperature data input; and/or D) geospatial location data input.

24. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the movement mechanism for the entrance gate and/or each inner pen exit gate comprises an actuable ram mechanism. 41

25. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein each non-return exit gate comprises a biasing means adapted to bias the non-return exit gate into the closed position.

26. An animal sorting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner pen area is provided with a left hand side inner pen exit gate and a right hand side inner pen exit gate and the outer frame is provided with at least one non-return exit gate in association with the said left hand side inner pen exit gate and is further provided with at least one non-return exit gate in association with the said right hand side inner pen exit gate.

27. An animal sorting system comprising: - an inner frame including an entrance gate and at least two inner pen exit gates, each inner pen exit gate comprising a movement mechanism capable of moving or at least allowing the respective inner pen exit gate to be moved between an open and a closed configuration and wherein each movement mechanism for each inner pen exit gate can be controlled by an automated control system; an animal identification means comprising an animal identification data output signal arranged to be transmitted to an animal identification data input of the said automated control system; an inner pen area located in between the entrance gate and the said at least two inner pen exit gates; and wherein the system further comprises an outer frame which comprises at least one non-return exit gate provided in association with each inner pen exit gate, whereby each at least one non-return exit gate only permits passage of an animal therethrough in one direction of travel from the inner frame through the outer frame and prevents travel of an animal in the direction from the outer frame into the inner frame.

28. An animal sorting system according to claim 27, wherein the animal sorting system further comprises the automated control system and which further comprises two or more user selectable animal characteristic inputs which, when selected by a user, are taken into account by the automated control system in addition to the animal identification data input, to:- a) open a pre-determined inner pen exit gate to permit an animal identified as having said two or more selectable animal characteristics to exit the inner pen area of the animal sorting system through that inner pen gate; and to b) open another inner pen exit gate to permit an animal identified as not having said two or more selectable animal characteristics to exit the inner pen area of the animal sorting system through that inner pen exit gate; thereby sorting animals having said two or more selectable animal characteristics apart from animals not having said two or more selectable animal characteristics.