WO2015139704A1

WO2015139704A1 - Activity and rooting unit for pigs

Info

Publication number: WO2015139704A1
Application number: PCT/DK2015/050015
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Johannsen
Original assignee: Brijo Aps
Priority date: 2014-01-22
Filing date: 2015-01-21
Publication date: 2015-09-24
Also published as: DK178458B1; DK201470030A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an activity and rooting device (1) comprising an elongated element (3), which may for instance be shaped in a manipulable material such as wood or straw, where said element (3) has end faces as well as at least one elongated side face. A support unit (5) is mounted around the elongated element, said support unit extending a distance around the element (3), whereby the support unit (5) prevents that the elongated side face of the element touches the surface, when the acidity and rooting device rests on a plane surface. Thus, the invention provides an activity and rooting unit having free mobility and which may be placed unsupported on the floor without getting dirty. The support unit ensures that the activity and rooting device rests on the support unit and one end of the elongated element, respectively, when the activity and rooting device is placed on a floor space, for instance the floor in a piggery.

Description

Activity and rooting unit for pigs

The invention relates to an activity and rooting device to be used for example for pigs. Background

Activity and rooting units for pigs are units which accommodate the need of the pigs to keep themselves occupied, i.e. to examine their surroundings (both vertically and horizontally). Pigs examine their surroundings by carrying out rooting, sniffing, biting and chewing movements. Further, the units fulfill the behavioural needs of the pigs for root- ing, i.e. to perform rooting movements. The behavioural need for rooting is considered fulfilled if the pig - when standing in its natural position and with the head pointing downwards - can root with its snout in the unit.

In order to be valuable as activity and rooting device, the activity and rooting device must be manipulate and deformable and be placed at floor level in order to be usable as rooting unit.

Examples of manipulable units may be soft wood (e.g. fir, birch, pine, poplar). If the wood is suspended in a chain, for instance in a tilting device between two pigsties, the wood must be able to be on the floor in both pigsties at the same time in order to constitute both activity and rooting material. The wood should not be so dirty that the pigs have no interest in it. The unit shall be adapted to the size of the animals.

Activity and rooting devices fastened on the equipment are known in the art, but these have less movability.

US 6,076,486, JP20111521 19 and US2009217885 disclose stationary holders to be placed on a floor space so that the face of the holder rests on the floor space and where there is a hole at the opposite face of the holder in which a unit may be secured which a pet can chew on. Here, the holder is intended for a stationary position on the floor space. The solutions will not be suitable as activity and rooting device for pigs as it is important for a pig in order to maintain the interest as an activity and rooting device that the pig can relatively easily push the unit with the snout and thus push it about on the floor space. Thus, it is a purpose to arrive at an activity and rooting unit for pigs which meets the above criteria and may be positioned unsupported on the floor without getting dirty.

According to the invention, this is achieved by way of an activity and rooting unit for pigs comprising an elongated element, where said elongated element has end faces as well as at least one elongated side face, and where the pig can root with the unit resting with its elongated side on a floor space, and where the pig may use its snout to push the subject about on the floor space. A support unit is mounted around the elongated element, said support unit extending a distance around the elongated element, whereby only the support unit and one end of the elongated element touch the surface, when the activity and rooting device rests on a plane floor space.

By way of the invention, an activity and rooting unit is thus provided which has free mov- ability and may be placed unsupported on the floor without getting dirty. The support unit ensures that the activity and rooting device rests on the support unit and one end of the elongated element, respectively, when the activity and rooting device is placed on a floor space as for instance the floor in a piggery. The pig can push the activity and rooting device about on the floor without it getting dirty as the support unit ensures that the elongated side face of the element does not touch the surface. The support unit ensures that the entire surface of the elongated element cannot rest on the floor space. Instead, the device rests on one end of the elongated element and on the support unit, respectively, and the dimensions of the support unit define the distance from the elongated element to the floor space. The support unit may be shaped as a circular or round subject but alternatively, it may have other shapes such as oblong, triangular or other shapes. The support unit merely ensures that the entire elongated manipulable unit does not touch the floor space and thus that the manipulable part does not get dirty. The fastening between the elongated unit and the support unit may be made in various ways, for instance by way of fastening means such as screws, nuts and bolts and the like, or the support unit may be fastened by way of a tightening to the elongated unit. Finally, a combination of tightening and fastening is also possible. The shape of the elongated unit may be oblong, circular, triangular or the like, with the support unit merely being shaped so that it can be mounted on the specific elongated shape of the elongated unit. The elongated unit may be in plastic, wood, iron or the like. In an embodiment, the elongated unit is shaped in a manipulable material such as wood or straw. Examples of manipulable material may be soft wood(e.g. fir, birch, pine, poplar).

In an embodiment, the support unit extends in a direction perpendicular to the elongated element. This ensures a uniform distance from the support face of the support unit to the elongated element.

In an embodiment, the elongated element extends a distance from the support unit which is at least 1.5 times as far as the distance which the support unit extends from the elongated element. Thus, it is ensured that the pig can bite at and push the elongated ele- ment, when the activity and rooting device is lying on the floor.

In an embodiment, the support unit is mounted on the elongated element at a distance from both ends of the elongated element. This ensures that the pig can bite at both ends of the elongated element.

In an embodiment, the support unit is shaped so as to extend a distance from all sides of the elongated element. This ensures a distance between the floor space and the elongated element regardless of how the activity and rooting device is being turned on the floor so that the elongated element does not get dirty.

In an embodiment, the support unit is a circular element with a diameter which is larger than the thickness of the elongated element. This ensures that regardless of how the activity and rooting device is turned, it will rest on the support unit and one end of the elongated element, respectively. Also, the pig may push the activity and rooting device and this will roll.

In an embodiment, the unit is a ring mounted with distance pieces ensuring a distance between the inside of the ring and the outside of the elongated element. This ensures that even when the activity and rooting device is being turned, the elongated side face of the element will not touch the surface. Thus, an aperture is created between the support unit and the elongated element, whereby the aperture provides additional activity possibilities for the pig.

In an embodiment, said distance pieces are ribs and/or screws. This is an especially appropriate way of ensuring a distance between the inside of the ring and the elongated element. In an embodiment, a rail in a non-manipulable material, such as metal or hard plastic, is mounted along the elongated element. Thus, it is ensured that the elongated element cannot be bitten through, which could create a part element, where the entire side face can rest on the surface and thus get dirty. Further, such part element may clog the slurry pit.

Description of the drawings

The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an activity and rooting device according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows the device from Fig. 1 placed on a surface, such as a floor in a piggery

Figs. 3A-C show the elements in an activity and rooting device as shown in Fig. 1 and how these are connected, Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of an activity and rooting device according to the invention,

Fig. 5 shows the activity and rooting device from Fig. 4 placed on a surface, such as a floor in a piggery,

Figs. 6A-C show the elements in an activity and rooting device as shown in Fig. 5 and how these are connected,

Figs. 7A and 7B show sketches of alternative embodiments of the activity and rooting devices according to the invention,

Fig. 8 shows sketches of alternative embodiments of the elongated element 3 and the support unit, respectively.

Description of embodiments

On Figs. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of an activity and rooting device 1 is shown. The activity and rooting device comprises an elongated element 3 with end faces. Around the elongated element and at one of its end, a support unit 5 is mounted which extends a distance round the element 3. The support unit 5 prevents the elongated side face of the element from touching the surface, when the activity and rooting device rests on a plane surface 7.

On the figures, an angle bracket 9 in a rigid material, such as metal or hard plastic, has also been mounted on one of the edges of the elongated element, and thereby it is ensured that the element cannot be bitten through thereby leaving element pieces which may clog the slurry pit or slurry drain in the piggery. Angle brackets may be mounted with screws or fixed to the longitudinal side of the element by glueing.

Figs. 3A-3B show the elements in the activity and rooting device and how they are mounted. The support unit 5 is circular and annular, and there are distance pieces 11 on the inside of the support unit so that it is ensured when it is mounted on the elongated element that a distance is created from the inside of the annular support unit to the elongated element.

The distance pieces 11 are shaped with tapering ends so that the elongated element may be pressed down into the annular support unit, where the ends of the distance pieces 11 cut into the end of the elongated element 3. Further, there are screw holes 13 enabling fitting of screws, whereby fastening between support unit and the elongated element is further ensured. On Figs. 4 and 5, a different embodiment of an activity and rooting device 12 is shown. The activity and rooting device comprises an elongated element 13 med end faces. Around the elongated element and at one of its ends, a support unit 5 is mounted which extends a distance around the elongated element 13. The support unit prevents the longitudinal side face of the elongated element from touching the surface 17, when the activity and rooting device rests on a plane surface.

Further, an angle bracket 19 in a rigid material, such as metal or hard plastic, has also been mounted on one of the edges of the elongated element, and thereby it is ensured that the element cannot be bitten through thereby leaving element pieces which may clog the slurry pit or slurry drain in the piggery. Angle brackets may be mounted with screws or fixed to the longitudinal side of the element by glueing. Figs. 6A-6B show the elements in the activity and rooting device shown on Figs. 4 and 5 and how they are mounted. The support unit 15 is circular and annular, and a distance piece 21 is mounted on the inside of the support unit 15 so that it is ensured when it is mounted on the elongated element that a distance is created from the inside of the ring-shaped support unit to the elongated element.

The distance piece 21 is fastened to the angle bracket 19, for instance by welding, whereupon the support unit may be fastened with screws to the elongated element 13 through screw holes in the angle bracket 19.

In the above embodiments, examples of circular rings have been provided but alternatively, they may also be other ring shapes such as square or oval. In addition, the support unit may be shaped in other ways, for instance as a plane sheet mounted on one of the ends of the elongated element.

Further, it is not a prerequisite that the support unit is mounted at one of the ends of the elongated element, it may also be mounted elsewhere along the elongated element. Figs. 7A and 7B as well as Fig. 8 show sketches of alternative embodiments of activity and rotting devices according to the invention, where the activity and rooting device consisting of the elongated element 31 and the support unit 33 rests on a surface 35. Figs. 7A and 7B show examples, where the support unit 33 is mounted various places along the elongated element 31. On Fig. 7A it is mounted close to one of the ends of the elon- gated element 31, and on Fig. 7B it is mounted close to the middle of the elongated element 31. Further, it is shown that the elongated element 31 may have various lengths. In the examples on Figs. 7A and 7B, the support unit 33 extends in a direction perpendicular to the elongated element but in alternative embodiments, the support unit may also extend at an angle from the elongated element. On both Fig. 7A and Fig. 7B it is shown that the activity and rooting device rests on the surface 35 and that it is the support unit 33 and one end of the elongated element 31 touching the surface. Therefore, the pig can easily push the activity and rooting device with the snout, whilst the elongated element 31 maintains a distance to the surface and therefore does not get dirty. In an embodiment, the elongated element 31 extends a distance from the support unit 33 which is at least 1.5 times as far as the distance which the support unit extends from the elongated element. In a specific embodiment, the length of elongated element is 300- 400 mm, and the diameter of the support unit is 140-180 mm.

Fig. 8 shows sketches of alternative embodiments of the elongated element 3 and the support unit, respectively, where the elongated element may have cross-sectional shapes, for instance square and circular, and where the support unit may similarly have many various shapes, for instance circular, elliptic, triangular and oblong. There are further shapes, which are not shown, such as star-shaped, and there may also be asymmetrical shapes. Finally, the elongated element may be completely straight or curved.

Claims

1. An activity and rooting unit (1) for pigs comprising an elongated element (3), where said elongated element (3) has end faces as well as at least one elongated side face, and where the pig can root with the unit resting with its elongated side on a floor space, and where the pig may use its snout to push the subject about on the floor space, characterised in that a support unit (5) is mounted around the elongated element, said support unit (5) extending a distance around the elongated element (3), whereby only the support unit and one end of the elongated element touch the surface, when the activity and rooting unit rests on a plane floor space.

2. An activity and rooting unit according to claim 1 , where the elongated unit (3) is in a manipulate material such a wood or straw.

3. An activity and rooting unit according to claims 1-2, where the support unit extends in a direction perpendicular to the elongated element.

4. An activity and rooting unit according to claims 1-3, where the elongated element extends a distance from the support unit which is at least 1.5 times as far as the distance which the support unit extends from the elongated element.

5. An activity and rooting unit according to claims 1-4, where the support unit is mounted on the elongated element at a distance from both ends of the elongated element.

6. An activity and rooting unit according to claims 1 -4, where the support unit is shaped so as to extend a distance from all sides of the elongated element.

7. An activity and rooting unit according to claim 1 , where the support unit is a circular element with a diameter which is larger than the thickness of the elongated element.

8. An activity and rooting unit according to claims 1-2, where the support unit is a ring mounted with distance pieces ensuring a distance along the inside of the ring and the outside of the elongated element.

9. An activity and rooting unit according to claims 1-3, where said distance pieces are ribs and/or screws

10. An activity and rooting unit according to claims 1-4, where a rail in a non-manipu- lable material, such as metal or hard plastic, is mounted along the elongated element.