WO2020108850A1

WO2020108850A1 - Poultry farming system

Info

Publication number: WO2020108850A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/078278
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luca FINCO; Andrea CENTENARO
Original assignee: Officine Facco & C. S.P.A.
Priority date: 2018-11-26
Filing date: 2019-10-17
Publication date: 2020-06-04
Also published as: IT201800010554A1

Abstract

A poultry farming system (10, 110), of the type comprising at least one cage (11), the at least one cage (11) having: a roof (15), a floor (17, 17), side walls, a plurality of crossmembers (24) and a plurality of uprights (27). The at least one cage (11) has: - at least one grille-like wall (12), which is at least partially removable, - at least one feed dispenser (13, 113) which extends parallel to the at least one wall (12).

Description

POULTRY FARMING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a new poultry farming system.

In particular, the invention is applied in the farming of egg-laying hens and poultry in general.

Nowadays two types of poultry cage farming systems are known and widespread, and are called:

-“closed-cage farming”, wherein the animal is always enclosed in a cage,

-“open-cage farming”, wherein the animal is able to leave the cage. The differences between these two types of farming are defined by a series of parameters which are set out by specific technical regulations.

Such parameters define, for example:

- the surface to be allocated to each animal,

- the centimeters of feed dispenser to be allocated to each one of them,

- the maximum number of animals that can drink from the same drinking trough,

- the centimeters of perch for each animal,

- the litter surface for each animal.

The cages can also be arranged in batteries.

The term“battery” in the present description means a set of cages arranged vertically, one above the other, and/or laterally adjacent on the same levels, one beside the other.

In conventional closed-cage farms, a series of solutions have been developed which have a feed dispenser for the feed outside the cage, with a single side for the animal to access and with the other side directed toward the inspection corridor walkway for the workers.

In such solutions the feed is resupplied, for example, using an external trolley and/or a flat chain and/or a chain of disks and/or an external helical screw. Adoption of these farms has been more widespread, in that they have a configuration that is more convenient for inspection and checking by the farmer, who can easily and conveniently verify the level of feed inside the feed dispenser and/or carry out maintenance operations on the equipment, if necessary.

In other closed-cage farms, where the regulations require more space for the feed dispenser, conventional farms can have different types of external feeds, such as add-on feed dispensers, or internal feeds, such as helical screws or flat chains inside the cage.

In open-cage farms, the space for the feed dispenser, which is specified by regulations, is greater than that for closed-cage farms.

In the state of the art, in open-cage farms, the technical solution that is used most often is the solution that entails a flat chain arranged inside the cage.

Such solution has a U-shaped channel in which both sides of the channel are accessible to the animal and, therefore, they can both be considered valid for calculating the feed dispenser space available to the animal.

Having the two sides of the channel accessible by the animal makes it possible to count double the space available for the feed dispenser, with respect to a channel of equal length but accessible from only one side.

According to the target market and therefore the type of consumer, at whom the eggs or the poultry is aimed, the farmer will choose one type of farming system over another.

At present, the whims of the poultry market are variable, and are subject to sudden changes.

It is necessary to find a solution that can satisfy any market whim.

Furthermore, when feeding, poultry tends to move the feed, shifting it from right to left in order to select it. This can determine an outflow of feed from the feed dispenser, with consequent waste thereof. The aim of the present invention is to provide a farming system which is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above mentioned aspects.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a farming system that makes it possible to transition rapidly and easily from“closed- cage” to“open-cage”, or vice versa, according to the whim of the market.

Another object of the invention is to provide a farming system that allows the animal to use the same feed dispenser, having only one side available if “closed-cage” farming is used, or both sides of the feed dispenser if“open-cage” farming is used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a farming system that makes it possible to drastically reduce the waste of feed.

Furthermore, the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the known art in an alternative manner to any existing solutions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a farming system that is highly reliable, easy to implement and of low cost.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a poultry farming system, of the type comprising at least one cage, said at least one cage having: a roof, a floor, side walls, a plurality of crossmembers and a plurality of uprights, said system being characterized in that said at least one cage has:

- at least one grille-like wall, which is at least partially removable,

- at least one feed dispenser which extends parallel to said at least one wall.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the farming system according to the invention, which are illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a farming system according to the invention, in a first operating configuration;

- Figure 2 shows a farming system according to the invention, in a second operating configuration;

- Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of the farming system according to the invention;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view, in which some elements have been removed, of a detail of a farming system according to the invention;

- Figure 5 shows a variation of embodiment of a farming system according to the invention.

With reference to the figures, a farming system according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

Such system 10 comprises at least one cage 11.

The cage 11 has: a roof 15, a floor 17, side walls, a plurality of crossmembers 24 and a plurality of uprights 27.

One of the peculiarities of the invention consists in that the cage 11 comprises:

- at least one grille-like wall 12, which is at least partially removable,

- at least one feed dispenser 13, which extends parallel to this wall 12.

Preferably the cage 11 has two opposing removable walls 12 and two opposing feed dispensers 13.

Each feed dispenser 13 is provided with a channel that is substantially U-shaped in cross-section, the core of which is arranged below the wings 21a, 21b.

The resupply of feed is ensured for example by a conventional flat chain 25 sliding inside the feed dispenser 13.

Alternatively, the feed dispenser 13 can be resupplied with a chain of another type and/or with a trolley and/or a helical screw of a type that is known per se.

In particular, the wall 12 can be provided with a door 14 which is connected and hinged, along its upper edge, in the configuration for use, to the roof 15 of the cage 11.

In variations of embodiment, not shown in the figures, the door 14 can slide on a plane parallel to and proximate to that of the wall 12.

The egg collection portion 16 is arranged below the feed dispenser 13, and inside it slides an egg conveyor belt, not shown in the figures.

The floor 17 of the cage 11 is provided with one or more surfaces which are inclined with respect to the surface of the crossmembers 24, and which are adapted to roll the laid eggs into the egg collection portions 16.

A first perch 18 extends parallel to each feed dispenser 13.

The first perch 18 allows the animals, in the “open-cage” configuration, to access the feed dispenser 13 from both sides, as shown in the figures.

A second perch 19 extends above each feed dispenser 13 and parallel to it, and is adapted to provide an additional useful surface for the animal in “open-cage” farming.

Above the second perch 19 there is a covering profile 20, which in cross-section is shaped like an inverted V, in the configuration for use, and which has an extension and configuration that are such as to shelter the underlying feed dispenser. The profile 20 is adapted to prevent any feces produced by animals present on it from ending up in the feed dispenser.

The inverted- V-shaped profile makes it possible to deflect any feces and dirt away from the feed dispenser 13.

With reference to Figure 3, the feed dispenser 13 has an anti- waste configuration.

In particular, each wing 21a, 21b of the U-shaped profile of the feed dispenser 13 has the end edge, respectively 22a, 22b, folded.

In particular, starting from the corresponding wing 21a, 21b, the sheet metal of the edge 22a, 22b is folded, onto itself, first toward the outside of the feed dispenser 13, then twice toward the inside.

The three folds described above are of the V-shaped type. Experimental tests have shown that this peculiarity of the edge 22a, 22b makes it possible to prevent the feed from exiting from the feed dispenser 13 during the step of feeding the poultry which, habitually, moves it in order to select it.

Above the egg collection portion 16, between the feed dispenser 13 and the first perch 18, there is a covering element 23, which is adapted to protect the egg collection portion 16 from any feces.

The element 23 is inclined with respect to the plane of arrangement of the first perch 18 and extends substantially from the first perch 18 to the edge 22a, 22b of the feed dispenser 13 that is opposite with respect to the one directed toward the wall 12.

The first perch 18 is advantageously arranged on a plane that is parallel to the plane of arrangement of the core of the profile of the feed dispenser 13, arranged below it, in the configuration for use.

By virtue of the inclination, the covering element 23 facilitates the access to the feed dispenser 13, and the cleaning of its exposed surface by the animals, which clean it by sliding on it.

Figures 1 and 2 show two active configurations of the system 10 according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows the system 10 in the “closed-cage” farming configuration.

In such configuration, the farmer leaves the walls 12 closed, with the door 14 in the closed configuration, and the poultry has access to the feed dispenser 13 from only one side.

Figure 2 shows the system 10 in the “open-cage” farming configuration.

In such configuration, the farmer opens the walls 12 at least partially, by rotating the covers 14 about their hinge, lifting them in the direction indicated by the arrows 26.

The edge of each door 14, connected to the roof 15, can be hinged to it by way of leaf springs 30, conveniently contoured, for example with a substantially L-shaped profile, which, pivoted on an end profile of the roof 15, can maintain the door 14 in the required configuration.

The elements for opening the door 14 and for maintaining its open and closed configurations should be understood to be conventional.

In some variations of embodiment, the edge of each door 14 that is opposite with respect to the one that is hinged to the roof 15 is fixed temporarily to the roof 15 by way of removable anchoring means, such as for example conventional pins, not shown in the figures.

In this manner, the poultry has access to the feed dispenser 13 from both sides, represented by the wings 21a, 21b of its profile.

The perches 18 and 19 also make it possible to increase the useful surface of the system 10.

With this system 10, the farmer can easily transition from“closed- cage” farming to“open-cage” farming, and vice versa, according to the requirements of the market and without needing to have two separate systems.

The system 10 is therefore a universal farming system adapted for use both for“open-cage” farming and for“closed-cage” farming.

Figure 5 shows a variation of embodiment of the farming system according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 110, applied for farming chicks.

Such embodiment is similar to the previous embodiment with, in addition, the presence of a portion 127 for facilitated access to the feed dispenser, which is constituted for example by a ramp and/or a stairway, extending from the floor 117 in the direction of the feed dispenser 113.

This portion 127 makes it possible to use the same cage both for adult animals and for chicks, which can access the feed dispenser, from inside the cage, at the correct height for them to feed.

Poultry farming can be carried out with a battery, not shown in the figures, made up by replicating the system 10, 110 vertically and/or horizontally on the same levels.

In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing a farming system that makes it possible to transition quickly and easily from“closed-cage” to“open-cage”, or vice versa, according to the whim of the market, which allows the animal to use the same feed dispenser, having only one side available if“closed- cage” farming is used, or both sides of the feed dispenser if“open-cage” is used, and which makes it possible to drastically reduce the waste of feed.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102018000010554 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A poultry farming system (10, 110), of the type comprising at least one cage (11), said at least one cage (11) having: a roof (15), a floor (17, 117), side walls, a plurality of crossmembers (24) and a plurality of uprights (27), said system (10) being characterized in that said at least one cage (11) has:

- at least one grille-like wall (12), which is at least partially removable,

- at least one feed dispenser (13, 113) which extends parallel to said at least one wall (12).

2. The system (10, 110) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first perch (18) which extends parallel to said at least one feed dispenser (13, 113).

3. The system (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one feed dispenser (13, 113) is provided with a channel that is substantially U-shaped in cross-section, the core of which is arranged below the wings (21a, 21b).

4. The system (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each one of said wings (21a, 21b) has a folded end edge (22a, 22b).

5. The system (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said end edge (22a, 22b) is folded onto itself, starting from the corresponding one of said wings (21a, 21b), first toward the outside of said at least one feed dispenser (13, 113), then twice toward the inside of said at least one feed dispenser (13, 113), said edge (22a, 22b) being folded with folds of the V-shaped type.

6. The system (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one wall (12) is provided with at least one door (14) which is hinged along its upper edge, in the configuration for use, to said roof (15) of said cage (11).

7. The system (10, 110) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises means for removable anchoring to said roof (15) of the edge of said at least one door (14) that is opposite with respect to the one that is hinged to said roof (15).

8. The system (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that an egg collection portion (16) is arranged below said at least one feed dispenser (13, 113).

9. The system (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said floor (17) of said cage (11) is provided with one or more surfaces which are inclined with respect to the surface of said crossmembers (24).

10. The system (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, above said at least one feed dispenser (13, 113), a second perch (19) which extends parallel thereto.

11. The system (10, 110) according to claim 10, characterized in that above said second perch (19) there is a covering profile (20), which in cross-section is shaped like an inverted V and which has an extension and configuration that are such as to shelter said at least one underlying feed dispenser (13, 113).

12. The system (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, above said egg collection portion (16), between said feed dispenser (13, 113) and said first perch (18), there is a covering element (23), which is inclined with respect to the plane of arrangement of said first perch (18) and which extends substantially from said perch (18) to the edge (22a, 22b) of said at least one feed dispenser (13) that is opposite with respect to the one directed toward said at least one wall (12).

13. The system (110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a portion (127) for facilitated access to said at least one feed dispenser (113).

14. A poultry farming battery, characterized in that it is provided by replicating vertically and/or horizontally a system (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims.