AU2005218018C1

AU2005218018C1 - Feed trough for livestock

Info

Publication number: AU2005218018C1
Application number: AU2005218018A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mark Edward Trail
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-29
Filing date: 2005-09-29
Publication date: 2019-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-29
Also published as: AU2005218018B2; AU2005218018A1

Abstract

A feed trough (10,27) for livestock having a peripheral side wall (15) and a planar substantially horizontal base wall (16) which is provided with a plurality 5 of upstanding projections (17B,17C,17D) wherein each projection is provided with a side surface (17A) which is oriented substantially normal to a plane defined by the base wall (16). There may be provided recesses or concavities (20A, 32, 34 or 37) in a particular projection (17B,17C,17D) 17O 2P2 14 7ri 2.4

Description

17O

2P2

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14

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P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

Invention Title: "FEED TROUGH FOR LIVESTOCK"

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method

of performing it known to me/us:

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TITLE "FEED TROUGH FOR LIVESTOCK"

This invention relates to a feed trough for livestock A conventional feed trough for livestock is usually round or elongate and normally has a flat or substantially planar bottom surface. These feed troughs may contain not only dry feed but also drinking water or liquid feed for livestock and a disadvantage of such conventional feed troughs is that when livestock such as cattle are feeding on liquid feed or drinking the water in the feed trough they are often pushed by other cattle to obtain access to the feed trough and consequently fall in the trough. If the flat bottom surface is slippery because of the presence of a water or a liquid feed then a cow will slip on the slippery surface and lose its footing and slip onto its side and consequently drown. It is an object of an embodiment of the invention to provide a feed trough which may alleviate this problem. Alternatively or additionally, it is an object of an embodiment of the invention to at least provide the public with a useful choice. The present invention provides a feed trough for livestock having a peripheral side wall and a planar substantially horizontal base wall which is provided with a plurality of upstanding projections wherein each projection is provided with a side surface which is oriented substantially normal to a plane defined by the base wall and the projections are spaced from each other so that areas of the base wall between the projections each have a size which is slightly greater in width or lateral dimension than the corresponding width or lateral dimension of a foot or hoof of a livestock animal. The present invention further provides a feed trough having a peripheral side wall and a planar substantially horizontal base wall which is provided with a plurality of upstanding projections; wherein the feed trough is a cattle feed trough; wherein each projection is provided with a side surface for a hoof of a cattle animal, supported by an area of the base wall, to bear against,

1A

and which is oriented substantially normal to a plane defined by the base wall; and wherein the projections are spaced from each other so that areas of the base wall between the projections each have a size which is slightly greater in width or lateral dimension than the corresponding width or lateral dimension of a hoof of a cattle animal, and such that a hoof of a cattle animal that has fallen inside the trough, when the hoof is supported by one of the areas of the base wall between the projections, is retained by one or more of the projections in a secure location to enable the cattle animal to regain its footing. In an embodiment the plurality of upstanding projections may be spaced apart from the peripheral side wall. The present invention still further provides a cattle feed trough having a peripheral side wall and a planar substantially horizontal base wall which is provided with a plurality of upstanding projections; wherein the plurality of upstanding projections are spaced from the peripheral sidewall; wherein each projection is provided with a side surface for a hoof of a cattle animal, supported by an area of the base wall, to bear against, and which is oriented substantially normal to a plane defined by the base wall; and wherein the projections are spaced from each other so that areas of the base wall between the projections each have a size which is slightly greater in width or lateral dimension than the corresponding width or lateral dimension of a hoof of a cattle animal, and so that a hoof of a cattle animal that has fallen inside the trough, when the hoof is supported by one of the areas of the base wall between the projections, is able to be stabilised by one or more of the projections to enable the cattle animal to regain its footing. A feed trough disclosed herein has a peripheral side wall and a planar substantially horizontal base wall which is provided with a plurality of upstanding projections wherein each projection is provided with a side surface which is oriented substantially normal to a plane defined by the base wall. Each projection in plan view may have any suitable shape and may include a top surface which may be rectangular, round, polygonal or irregular shape. In one particular embodiment each projection may have one

2spa (claims).DOCX or more recesses in plan view and thus each projection may be substantially cruciform in shape or in another embodiment may be L shaped, V shaped, C shaped or U shaped. Preferably the top surface of each projection is substantially planar.

Preferably each projection is spaced from each other so that

there are planar or flat areas between each projection. Such flat areas

facilitate flow of liquid between adjacent projections on a bottom surface of

the trough and may have a size which is greater in width or lateral dimension

than the corresponding width or lateral dimension of a foot or hoof of a

livestock animal.

The projections may be integrally moulded with the feed trough

during manufacture or alternatively may be incorporated in a conventional

feed trough by insertion of a planar insert or mat which has the projections

integrally moulded therewith. Thus in another embodiment of the invention

there is provided a feed trough which incorporates the abovementioned

insert.

The projections may have any suitable height from 20-200 mm

and more preferably from 40-60 mm and most preferably 50 mm.

In another arrangement there may be provided a perforated

plate or tray which may be located in a trough and supported by the

projections to provide a holding area for water below the plate or tray which

obtains access to the holding area in times of heavy rainfall. The trough in

this embodiment may also be provided with drain apertures having

associated drain plugs to facilitate draining of the water from the holding area when required. It is desirable that each projection have at least one recess or concavity in plan view so that the hoof of an animal may bear against the side wall of the projection and thus be at least partly contained in the recess. This enables the animal to stand up without slipping and step out of the trough. In another embodiment there may be a plurality of individual aligned projections which form an array of projections which have the desirable shape of having at least one concavity or recess in plan view. This is shown in an illustrated embodiment hereinafter. In another embodiment the plurality of upstanding projections may comprise a plurality of individual projections that form an array of projections. The present invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a plan view of the trough of the invention; FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a trough insert of the invention; FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a base portion of a trough into which the insert of FIG. 2 may be placed; FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a trough of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of another embodiment of the trough of the invention; FIG. 6 is a plan view of a mat or plate which is shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a side view of the mat or plate of FIG. 6; and FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are plan views of alternative embodiments of the invention. In the drawings there is a shown trough 10 having a peripheral

2spa (claims).DOCX edge 11 having elevated rim 12, planar portion 13 and inner shoulder 14.

There is also provided a continuous side wall 15 before merging with base

wall 16. Base wall 16 is provided with a plurality of projections forming treads

or grips 17 of generally cruciform shape as shown each having recesses

20A. There is also provided ribs 18, 19, 20 and 21. Ribs 18 and 19 terminate

short of each other at the centre 22 of trough 10 and are located along a

diameter of circular base wall 16. Ribs 20 and 21 also terminate short of

each other at centre 22 and also form a diameter of circular base 16. There

is also provided planar or flat areas 23 between treads 17. There is also

shown projections 24 located around a periphery or circumference of circular

base wall 16.

It will be appreciated that treads 17 will preferably have

relatively straight or arcuate edges so as to have an outer or side surface

which is oriented substantially normally to the plane of base wall 16. The flat

areas 23 have a size that is preferably only slightly larger than the foot of a

livestock animal such as sheep, cattle, goat, pig and the like and if the foot of

the animal is inside trough 10 such foot may be retained in a secure location

by a particular recess 20A when supported by an adjacent flat area 23. This

stabilises the hoof on a slippery base wall or floor 16 and enables the

livestock animal to regain its footing relatively quickly. Treads 17 may have

one or more straight or arcuate edges and thus have a shape which may be

rectangular, triangular or polygonal. The provision of ribs 18, 19, 20 and 21

not only reinforce the strength of base wall 16 but also helps in creation of

planar or flat areas 23.

There is also provided peripheral lugs or projections 24 which

help support a planar sheet or insert as described hereinafter.

In FIG. 2 there is also shown a trough insert 25 which

corresponds in shape to the shape of base wall 16 of trough 10 as described

above in FIG. 1 which therefore has cruciform treads 17, flat or planar areas

23 and peripheral projections 24. The insert 25 also has a cross sectional

shape as shown in FIG. 3. It will be noted in FIG. 3 that each projection 17

has a side surface 17A that is normal to the plane of a base surface 16A.

The insert 25 may be placed in a conventional round trough 26 to achieve

the advantages of the present invention as shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 5 there is shown another embodiment of a trough 27

constructed in accordance with the invention. The trough 27 contains treads

17 which may support a round sheet, plate or mat 28 as shown which is

provided with apertures or perforations 29. The purpose of the mat or plate

29 is to place dry stockfeed 30 on the mat or plate 29 for consumption by

livestock. However when it rains the dry feed may become contaminated

because when the dry feed is mixed with water urea and other compounds

may be released which are poisonous to the livestock. Thus by use of the

plate 29, when rainfall occurs the urea is dissolved and the contaminated

water is passed into holding area 30 through apertures 29 to prevent

livestock drinking the contaminated water. This can be safely achieved if

suitably not more than 40 mm of rain falls and the drain plug 32 can be

detached from the trough 27 to drain water from holding area 30.

If for example heavy rainfall occurs i.e. more than 100 mm the water will overflow onto the ground and thus the concentration of urea in the water will be substantially decreased when compared to the situation prior to the occurrence of heavy rainfall. A cover (not shown) may be placed over the top of the trough to keep the rain out, The plate 30 may then be removed and drain holes plugged up and trough 27 with treads 17 may then be used to hold water, molasses or other liquid food supplements.

FIGS. 6-7 show a plan and side view respectively of plate 29

showing apertures 29.

FIGS. 8-10 show alternative projection or tread designs or

patterns that fall within the scope of the invention. Thus FIG. 8 shows round

projections 17B having the height as described previously and side surfaces

17A (not shown) which are oriented substantially normal to base surface

16A. There is also provided flat areas 23 which facilitate movement of water

between projections 17B. Each of projections 17B may form a V shaped

array 31 having a recess 32 which array 31 may function as a single tread

17A shown in FIG. 1. The V shaped arrays 31 are arranged about a row 32A

of projections 17B arranged along one diameter of circular base surface 16.

In FIG. 9 there is shown a multiplicity of treads 17C which

together with an adjacent tread 17C form a V shaped array or pair of treads

33 which also have a recess 34. Again there are provided flat areas 23

between arrays 33 and a diametral row 35 of V shaped arrays 33.

In FIG. 10 there are provided a plurality of treads 17D which

are each arranged to define a U shaped formation or array 36 wherein

opposed projections 17D extend away as shown and are separated by a

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median projection 17D. Each array 36 defines a recess 37. Thus from a review of the preferred embodiment the provision of recesses or concavities 20A, 32, 34 or 37 in a particular projection or tread 17 or an array 31, 33 or 36 of such projections or treads 17B, 17C or 17D are extremely useful in enabling the foot or hoof of an animal to be retained in a respective recess and enable the animal to regain its footing after falling inside trough 10. Planar or flat areas 23 are useful for water to move between the projections and for an animal to first place its foot. The supporting of a hoof in a recess is facilitated by the substantially normal orientation of side surfaces 17A and the height of each recess i.e. from 20-200 mm. Preferably each side surface may extend from 60-90° to the plane of the base wall 16 or surface 16A. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A feed trough for livestock having a peripheral side wall and a planar

substantially horizontal base wall which is provided with a plurality of upstanding

projections wherein each projection is provided with a side surface which is oriented

substantially normal to a plane defined by the base wall and the projections are

spaced from each other so that areas of the base wall between the projections each

have a size which is slightly greater in width or lateral dimension than the

corresponding width or lateral dimension of a foot or hoof of a livestock animal.

2. A feed trough having a peripheral side wall and a planar substantially

horizontal base wall which is provided with a plurality of upstanding projections;

wherein the feed trough is a cattle feed trough;

wherein each projection is provided with a side surface for a hoof of a cattle

animal, supported by an area of the base wall, to bear against, and which is oriented

substantially normal to a plane defined by the base wall; and

wherein the projections are spaced from each other so that areas of the base

wall between the projections each have a size which is slightly greater in width or

lateral dimension than the corresponding width or lateral dimension of a hoof of a

cattle animal, and such that a hoof of a cattle animal that has fallen inside the trough,

when the hoof is supported by one of the areas of the base wall between the

projections, is retained by one or more of the projections in a secure location to

enable the cattle animal to regain its footing.

2spa (claims).DOCX

3. A feed trough as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the plurality of

upstanding projections are spaced apart from the peripheral sidewall.

4. A cattle feed trough having a peripheral side wall and a planar substantially

wherein the plurality of upstanding projections are spaced from the peripheral

sidewall;

wherein each projection is provided with a side surface for a hoof of a cattle

substantially normal to a plane defined by the base wall; and

wherein the projections are spaced from each other so that areas of the base

cattle animal, and so that a hoof of a cattle animal that has fallen inside the trough,

when the hoof is supported by one of the areas of the base wall between the

projections, is able to be stabilised by one or more of the projections to enable the

cattle animal to regain its footing.

5. A feed trough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each

projection in plan view is cruciform in shape.

6. A feed trough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each

projection in plan view is rectangular in shape.

2spa (claims).DOCX

7. A feed trough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a top

surface of each projection is substantially planar.

8. A feed trough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

projections are integrally moulded with the feed trough during manufacture.

9. A feed trough as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the projections are

incorporated in a conventional or existing feed trough by insertion of a planar insert or

mat which has the projections integrally moulded therewith.

10. A feed trough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

projections have a height from 20-200 mm.

11. A feed trough as claimed in claim 10, wherein the projections are 40-60mm in

height.

12. A feed trough as claimed in claim 11, wherein the projections are 50mm in

height.

13. A feed trough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein there is

further provided a perforated plate or tray locatable in the trough and supported by

the projections to provide a holding area for water below the plate or tray which

obtains access to the holding area in times of heavy rainfall.

2spa (claims).DOCX

14. A feed trough as claimed in claim 13, including drain apertures having

associated drain plugs to facilitate draining of the water from the holding area when

required.

15. A feed trough as claimed in claim 1, or any one of claims 3 and 5 to 14 when

dependent on claim 1, wherein each projection has at least one recess or concavity

in plan view so that the foot or hoof of an animal may bear against the side wall of the

projection and thus be at least partly contained in the recess.

16. A feed trough as claimed in claim 2 or claim 4, or any one of claims 3 and 5 to

14 when dependent on claim 2 or claim 4, wherein each projection has at least one

recess or concavity in plan view so that the hoof of a cattle animal may bear against

the side wall of the projection and thus be at least partly contained in the recess.

17. A feed trough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the feed trough

having a plurality of individual aligned projections which form an array of projections

which have a desired shape of having at least one concavity or recess in plan view.

18. A feed trough as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the plurality of

upstanding projections comprises a plurality of individual projections that form an

array of projections.

19. A feed trough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base

wall is a circular base wall.

2spa (claims).DOCX

20. A feed trough as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4, the feed trough

being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying

drawings.

2spa (claims).DOCX