WO2003059047A1

WO2003059047A1 - Sty for sows with piglets and means for use in the sty

Info

Publication number: WO2003059047A1
Application number: PCT/DK2003/000027
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bjarne Kongsgaard
Original assignee: Ikadan System A/S
Priority date: 2002-01-15
Filing date: 2003-01-15
Publication date: 2003-07-24
Also published as: AU2003206673A1; DK200200057A

Abstract

In order to counteract or prevent sows in farrowing sties from overlying the piglets, there is provided vertical means (4) at the centre of the sty floor (1) limiting the free-dom of movement of the sow (7). The vertical parts (4) are disposed at a certain distance from the other side limits of the sty, e.g. projecting down from a jib (5) which is fastened or hinged to a side post or a corner post (2). The downwards projecting part (4) is terminated at a certain level above the floor (1) so that the piglets may get free access when nursing at the sow (7). The jib (5) on the means (3) is disposed so high that the sow (7) may pass thereunder. Thereby is achieved maximum freedom of movement for the sow in a farrowing sty with limited space, and at the same time the piglets are protected against overlying.

Description

Sty for Sows with Piglets and Means for Use in the Sty

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a sty for sows with piglets and a means for use in the sty.

It is prior art to construct sties for sows with piglets according to different principles, depending on whether the sows are tethered or have the run of the sty. In recent years, it has been common that sows are placed in so-called farrowing sties where the sow is standing tethered. The piglets may then have the run of both sides of the sow and will also have the opportunity of placing themselves on a heater plate or the like in a climatic section in which there is a comfort temperature adapted to the piglets.

Due to the breeding development of the body building of the pigs and due to the meat production, the sows too have got a heavy hind part. When the sow lies down, this will often occur with a sudden motion; it is said that the sow "throws itself, where e.g. wild boars lies down with a slower and more steady movement. By the sudden movement, piglets standing under or close to the sow cannot evade, and they are killed by squeezing. This implies a significant loss in the production of pigs.

In order to avoid that piglets are killed by squeezing under the sow when its lies down, protective means in the shape of metal rods are applied at both sides of the sow. When the sow lies down, the piglets may thus evade to the free area at each side of the sow. This possibility, however, only exists when the sow is tethered in the sty.

In stables for untethered sows, there are provided protective brackets along the walls of the sty, preventing the piglets from being squeezed against the walls. By untethered operation, the sow will usually place itself along any wall or at any position on the floor. If the sow throws itself down to the side away from a wall with protective brackets or freely on the floor, there is great risk of squeezing the piglets.

In recent years there has been increased appreciation of using sties where sows with piglets may have the run and lie down arbitrarily in different positions. This desidera- rum has hitherto not been so widespread due to the substantially increased costs caused by larger space requirements. Furthermore, many stables today are constructed according to modular dimensions determining the total size of the stable, the position of conveying units for feed, water, and the like. These modular dimensions are fur- thermore determining the disposition of the walls for dividing the stable into different sty sections.

In prior art stables where sows are with piglets until these are weaned from the mother sow, there is an additional disadvantage. This disadvantage is to be seen in the need for frequent cleaning. Every time a sty is emptied, both the sow and the piglets are removed from the sty, and then there will be a need for cleaning before new animals are placed in the sty.

In spite of increased industrialisation within pig breeding, until now there has not been any proposals for constructing stables allowing untethered breeding, which allow for the sow's need of freely moving around and avoiding the risk of squeezing the piglets, and which simultaneously enables efficient utilisation of the stable compared with utilisation of the space known from stables with tethered sows.

In DK patent application 0468/98, there is described a sty for untethered sows, where in the sty floor a plurality of mushroom-like protecting devices are mounted on short columns. The devices have shape and dimension so that the sows may walk across the devices and so that simultaneously the piglets may find shelter under them if the sow accidentally throws itself across the devices. However, it appears that many piglets are overlaid in sties with these protective devices anyway, and in other situations, the protecting devices are interfering during nursing.

The invention has the purpose of relieving the problems of the prior art. Thus it is the object to indicate a sty for sows with piglets, where the sows may have the run, where protection is provided against overlying of the piglets when the sow lies down, and where the dimensions of the sty simultaneously may be limited. This is achieved by the sty including means with substantially vertical, columnar members extending at least at level with a sow and spaced apart from each other and from the walls of the sty so that the sow largely freely may have the run of the sty simultaneously with the space being so limited by the means that the sow cannot throw itself down onto the floor of the sty with a sudden motion.

The columnar means according to the invention will thus not prevent the sow from having the run of the sty and around the said means, and the sow will not be prevented in lying down either. The vertical members will, however, limit and regulate the be- haviour of the animal so that it cannot throw itself freely but has to do a slower motion. Thereby, the piglets can evade and avoid being squeezed. At the same time, fewer of these behaviour regulating means may be used whereby, if the means extend right down to the floor, less impediment of the nursing is provided.

In the simplest embodiment, the columnar members are vertical tubes.

It is preferred that the vertical pipes are fastened at the end of horizontal jibs projecting from the limits of the sty, preferably from the corner or hinge posts of the sty. Existing structures in the sty may thereby be utilised for mounting the means according to the invention. Furthermore, it is possible, particularly if cylindric posts are used in the walls or corners of the sty, to make the means pivoting, e.g. so that they may assume different positions in the sty, or they may be turned aside for cleaning etc.

Made as vertical pipes, the means may be fastened over the sty, e.g. in the ceiling of the building. Thereby, the invention may also be used in sties with large floor area and great distance to the walls.

If the lowermost parts of the means are situated some distance over the sty floor, cf. claim 5, the means will not prevent the piglets' access to the sow during nursing, and furthermore, there will be further possibility of evasion for the piglets when the sow lies down. In a further embodiment, the lower parts of the means include a bracket having a horizontal section and a vertical, downwards projecting section at each end of the horizontal section, where the level of the horizontal section above the floor of the sty is so high that it allows passage of a piglet under the horizontal part. The bracket that may thus be fixed to the overlying parts of the means or be pivoting about a vertical axis, will act as further behaviour regulation of the movement of the sow, and the sow can lie down without being hindered in having the run of the sty to any appreciable degree. The bracket will thus also form a shelter for the piglets under its horizontal parts.

The sty according to the invention may be supplemented with other protective means consisting of a horizontal, tubular section supported on the floor of the sty by vertical supporting members, where the top side of the horizontal section is so low that a sow may easily pass over it and where the lower side of the horizontal section is so high that piglets may pass under it. These protective means that also have bracket shape may supplement the vertical means and form protection for the piglets so that they may evade when the sow is lying down.

The special feature of the means for the sty is that the means substantially is a columnar means adapted for being fastened in vertical position and spaced apart from the internal walls of the sty.

The means according to the invention may be made as specified in claims 9 and 10.

Furthermore, it is noted that the means 3 at end of the vertically downwards projecting part in the sty may be provided with supporting brackets with different shape. These support brackets may be shaped as a ring with U-shape with a closed quadrangle as rod shape. In this situation, the ring-shaped or rod-shaped element may be oriented with its extension in a vertical or horizontal plane. Furthermore, the bracket can be exchanged by bolt-like elements disposed at the end of the vertically downwards pro- jecting part.

The different parts in the means may be adjusted and pivoted individually. Thus the vertical post may both the height adjusted and pivoted for providing a horizontal part projecting in over the sty at an arbitrary level and with arbitrary orientation relative to the sty. The horizontal part projecting in over the sty may also be longitudinally adjusted in order to place the vertically downwards projecting part with different orienta- tion in the sty. Finally, the vertical, inwards projecting part inside the sty can also be pivoted and adjusted longitudinally for providing the bracket, which is disposed at the lower end, with an arbitrary orientation and arbitrary height above the floor.

The above adjustment possibilities will be arranged so that they are locked when a given adjustment is chosen initially.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Embodiments of the invention are then to be described in more detail with reference to the drawing, where:

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a means according to the invention placed in a sty according to the invention, seen from the side,

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a means according to the invention, mounted over the sty, Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of a means according to the invention provided with a bracket,

Fig. 4 shows the same as Fig. 3, but seen from above,

Fig. 5 shows a sty according to the invention in a first embodiment,

Fig. 6 shows a sty according to the invention in a second embodiment and made as a modular system with two farrowing sties within the modular dimension, and

Fig. 7 shows a protecting means for use in connection with the device.

In Fig. 1 is seen a first embodiment of the means mounted in a farrowing sty. The number 1 designates the floor of the sty, and 2 designates a post which may be a cor- ner post or a wall post at the internal limit of the sty. The means 3 itself consists of a vertically downwards projecting part 4 carried by a horizontal part or jib 5. The horizontal part 5 extends perpendicularly out from a pipe 6 which is journalled about the post 2. The entire means 3 is made of pipes, but other embodiments are of course possible. As shown on fig. 1, the part 6 may rest on the sty floor 1, but other embodiments, e.g. with the part 6 screwed fast to a collar at the post 2, are feasible.

The essential feature of the means 3 is the vertical part 4 which in the form shown here terminates a distance over the floor 1. The distance between the lowermost end of the part 4 and the floor is so great that piglets easily pass under it. At the same time, the length of the part 4 is so great that it extends at least in the height of the sow 7. Furthermore, the underside of the horizontal part 5 is so high that the sow 7 easily can pass under it.

A second embodiment of the means designated 8 as shown on Fig. 2 may in its simplest embodiments consist of a pipe 9 which in a way corresponding to that of the part 4 terminates at a distance over the floor 1. The second embodiment 8 of the means is thus mounted in the ceiling over the sty or in structures extending across the sty. The means 8 are typically used as supplement to the angular means 3.

A third embodiment as shown on Fig. 3, the embodiment is about the same as on Fig. 1, but at the end of the part, the vertical, downwards projecting part 4', there is fitted a transverse bracket 10. This is consisting of a horizontal part 11 and one two short vertical legs 12. In shown embodiment, the lowermost ends of the legs 12 are elevated a distance above the floor 1. In a further embodiment, which is not shown, the parts 12 can rest on the floor 1.

The two embodiments shown on Fig. 1 and Figs. 3, 4, respectively, both may be suspended pivoting about a vertical axis 13, and the bracket 10 may also be pivoting about a vertical axis 14. As shown on Fig. 1, the means 3 may be fixed at a certain angular position by means of a bolt means 15 or similar. This may be effected correspondingly for the embodiment of the means 3'. As shown on Fig. 4, the possibilities of pivoting the embodiment on Fig. 3 to positions marked with dotted line are seen.

The bracket 10 may possibly be freely pivoting, or it may be rotated and in the different positions, inter alia as outlined with broken line. Furthermore, it is seen that the means 3' itself may be pivoted to lying along a sidewall 16 in the sty.

An example of the sty according to the invention is shown on Fig. 5. Four means 3 are here found, disposed projecting from each their corner of the sty. Furthermore, there is a single tubular means projecting down from the ceiling shown by the number 8. Two different positions for a sow 7 are shown as the outlines indicate the places at which it may lie down; further positions are possible. From this appears that the vertical parts 4 on the means 3 and the tube 8 limit the freedom of movement of the sow. In this way it is forced to lie down without throwing itself, and at the same time the parts 4, 8 pro- vide for the piglets having possibility of evading to the side.

Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment where the outer limit of the sty includes two farrowing sties. The two farrowing sties are separated by means of a partitioning wall 21. At the ends of the wall 21 there are areas 17 with climatic areas where the piglets may stay. In each sty there are means 3 with downwards projecting parts 4 for limiting the movements of the sow in the sty.

Both embodiments of the sty according to the invention on Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, may be made with protecting means 18 on the floor, as shown in the one half of the Fig. 6 and in detail on Fig. 7. The protecting means 18 are made with a horizontal crossbar 19 and two legs 20. The legs 20 are cast or screwed into the floor 1. The upper side of the crossbar 19 is not higher than a sow 7 may pass over it, and the underside of the crossbar is so highly elevate over the sty floor 1 that piglets may easily pass under it.

The protective means 18 may be further supplemented with other known protective means, e.g. as described in DK patent application 0468/98.

Claims

1. Sty for sows with piglets, characterised in that the sty includes means with substantially vertical, columnar members extending at least at level with a sow and spaced apart from each other and from the walls of the sty so that the sow largely freely may have the run of the sty simultaneously with the space being so limited by the means that the sow cannot throw itself down onto the floor of the sty with a sudden motion.

2. Sty according to claim I, characterised in that the columnar members include ver- tical pipes.

3. Sty according to claim 2, characterised in that the vertical pipes are fastened at the end of horizontal jibs projecting from the limits of the sty, preferably from the corner or hinge posts of the sty.

4. Sty according to claim 2, characterised in that the vertical pipes are fastened above the sty in the ceiling of the building containing the sty.

5. Sty according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the lowermost parts of the means are disposed at a distance from the sty floor allowing passage of a piglet.

6. Sty according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the lowermost parts of the means include a bracket having a horizontal section and a vertical, downwards projecting section at each end of the horizontal section, where the level of the horizon- tal section above the floor of the sty is so high that it allows passage of a piglet under the horizontal part.

7. Sty according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the sty includes protective means for the piglets consisting of a horizontal, tubular section supported on the floor of the sty by vertical supporting members, where the top side of the horizontal section is so low that a sow may easily pass over it and where the lower side of the horizontal section is so high that piglets may pass under it.

8. Means for use in a sty for sows with piglets according to claim 1, characterised in that the means is a substantially columnar means arranged for being fastened in vertical position and spaced apart from the internal walls of the sty.

9. Means according to claim 8, characterised in that the means has a horizontal supporting section which at one end is arranged for being fastened at the internal walls of the sty, preferably at the corner or hinge posts of the sty, and where the means is disposed perpendicularly thereto at the other end of the supporting section.

10. Means according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that its lowermost section includes a bracket having a horizontal section and a vertical, downwards projecting section at each end of the horizontal section, where the level of the horizontal section above the floor of the sty is so high as to allow passage of a piglet under the horizontal part.