GB2098047A - Apparatus for feeding livestock - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for feeding livestock comprises a livestock barrier (7), a manger defined by a fixed wall (1), a floor (12) and a movable wall (3), and means (10, 11) for raising and lowering the movable wall. Thus, the movable wall may be lowered (as shown) to define, together with the fixed wall and the floor, a trough for feed, and may be raised to facilitate removal of debris from the floor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for feeding livestock This invention relates to apparatus for feeding livestock, such as cattle or sheep, comprising a manger and a livestock barrier.

Such apparatus is of course very well known, the livestock barrier allowing the livestock to pass their heads therethrough to reach the manger, while preventing the livestock from trampling on the feedstuff. In a typical arrangement, a manger runs the entire length of a livestock barrier, the cattle being free to approach the manger from the side on which the barrier is arranged. Two such arrangements may be used face-to-face in a building providing a central feed passage.

In one known arrangement, the feedstuff is confined in a manger defined by two parallel walls, for example of concrete blocks, built on, for example, a concrete floor. However, livestock often reject parts oftheirfeedstuff, e.g. incompletely fermented silage orthistle or dock in hay, and such an arrangement does not permit the use of a scraper attached to a tractor for cleaning out the manger after use. The debris left by the livestock must therefore be swept out by hand. Recently, attempts have been made to overcome this problem by eliminating the wall on the side of the manger farthest from the livestock.

However, there isthen atendencyforthe livestockto push feedstuff beyond their reach during feeding, thus resulting in waste.

According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for feeding livestock, comprising a livestock barrier, a manger defined by a fixed wall, a floor and a movable wall, and means for raising and lowering the movable wall; whereby in use the movable wall may be lowered to define, together with the fixed wall and the floor, a trough for feed, and may be raised to facilitate removal of debris from the floor.

Thus, during feeding, feed is retained between the fixed and movable walls and remains within reach of the livestock. After feeding, debris from the livestock feed which is rejected by the livestock may be easily removed by raising the movable wall and clearing the floor of the manger, for example by means of a scraper attached to a tractor.

In a preferred embodiment, the movable wall is pivotably mounted with respect to the fixed wall.

Preferably, the movable wall is fixedly or pivotably mounted on a plurality of rigid elongate members which are pivotably mounted on the fixed wall.

The means for raising and lowering the movable wall preferably comprise at least one flexible elongate member such as a wire or rope secured to a rotatable member at a higher level than the movable wall so that upon rotation of the rotatable member in one direction, the movable wall is raised, and upon rotation of the rotatable member in the other direction, the movable wall is lowered. The rotatable member preferably comprises a roller or a grooved wheel or pulley, mounted on a bar so as to rotate therewith. The bar may then be rotated directly or indirectly by hand or by means of a motor. The advantage of this in a long livestock shed is that the bar may be rotated by an operator at one end of the shed and the manger may be cleared without the need to walk the entire length of the shed.

Any known form of livestock barrier may be used, for example a horizontal bar or wire extending above the fixed wall, or a feed fence comprising vertical or angled uprights.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa sectionai end view taken on line I-I in Figure 2 of apparatus for feeding livestock according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus of Figures; Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Fig 1, showing the apparatus in a second position.

As shown in the drawings, a manger comprises a fixed wall 1, for example of concrete blocks, built on a floor 12, and a movable wall member 3. The fixed wall 1 extends between upright supports 2, which may form part of a building. The movable wall member 3 may comprise a board, mesh or sheet member, for example. The wall member3 is mounted on two rods 4 by means of hinges 5 which allow the member 3 to pivot about a horizontal axis.

In an alternative embodiment of the apparatus, the hinges 5 may be replaced by a fixed connection. The rods 4 are mounted on the wall 1 by means of hinges 6 which allow the rods to pivot about a horizontal axis. The degree of pivoting permitted by the hinges 5 and 6 is restricted so as to ensure that when the member3 is raised, it can be lowered again into the position of Figures 1 to 3 under its own weight. A bar or wire 7 extending horizontally between the supports 2 above the wall 1 serves as a livestock barrier which allows the livestock to put their heads over the wall 1, but prevents the livestock from stepping over the wall 1. It will be appreciated that any known form of livestock barrier may be used, such as horizontal, vertical, or inclined bars.

A bar8 is rotatably mounted by means of brackets 9 on the uprights 2. Flanged wheels 10 are secured to the bar8 so as to rotate therewith, two wheels 10 being provided forthe or each member 3. An elongate flexible member 11, such as a rope or wire, is secured to each wheel 10 and tothe member3.

It will be appreciated that, although only a single unit is shown in the drawings, as many units as are required may be arranged in a line, a single bar8, barrier7 and wall 1 serving for all the units.

In order to feed the livestock, the manger is utilised in the position shown in Figures 1 to 3. Feed is deposited, e.g. from a tractor feed box and/or a selfunloading trailer, on the floor 12 in the space between the wall 1 and the member 3. The livestock are The drawing(s) originally filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a iater filed formal copy.

then allowed to approach the manger from the left hand side of the wall 1 as seen in Figure 1. When the livestock have finished feeding, the member3 may be raised to the position shown in Figure 4 by rotation of the bar 8 which winds the flexible members 11 around the wheels 10. The bar 8 may be rotated manually, e.g. via a handle and gearbox, or by means of a motor.

When a plurality of units in a line are used, all the members 3 are raised simultaneously by rotation of the bar 8. Alternatively, a single continuous member 3 could be provided, extending along the length of all ofthe units.

The debris left by the livestock can then be removed from the floor 12, for example by means of a scraper attached to a tractor. After cleaning, the member3 is lowered under its own weight by rotation of the bar8 in the opposite direction.

The apparatus according to the invention may constitute a free standing structure which could be used either under cover or in the open air. Alternatively, the supports 2 could comprise supports for the roof of a building. In this case, the building may be a central feed passage building, in which two livestock feeding apparatus according to the invention face one another, so that two rows of livestock are arranged, one on each side of a central passage along which a tractor may be driven for distributing feed and for drawing a scraper for clearing out the mangers.

Claims (6)

1. Apparatus for feeding livestock, comprising a livestock barrier, a manger defined by a fixed wall, a floor and a movable wall, and means for raising and lowering the movable wall; whereby in use the movable wall may be lowered to define, together with the fixed wall and the floor, a trough for feed, and may be raised to facilitate removal of debris from the floor.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable wall is pivotably mounted with respect to the fixed wall.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the movable wall is fixedly or pivotably mounted on a plurality of rigid elongate members which are pivotably mounted on the fixed wall.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for raising and lowering the movable wall comprise at least one flexible elongate member such as a wire or rope secured to a rotatable member at a higher level than the movable wall so that upon rotation of the rotatable member in one direction, the movable wall is raised, and upon rotation of the rotatable member in the other direction, the movable wall is lowered.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rotatable member comprises a roller or a grooved wheel or pulley, mounted on a bar so as to rotate therewith.

6. Apparatus for feeding livestock, substantially as herein described with reference to the accom panying drawing.