GB2039706A

GB2039706A - Animal rearing house

Info

Publication number: GB2039706A
Application number: GB7943220A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-12-16
Filing date: 1979-12-14
Publication date: 1980-08-20
Also published as: GB2039706B

Abstract

An animal rearing house comprises a floor, walls and a roof defining an enclosure of generally elongate plan, animal cages 12 of rectangular plan disposed with their major axes transverse to the major axis of the house, and means 40, 44, 46 for directing an air stream through the house in the elongate direction thereof so that the said air stream is transverse to the major axes of the cages. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Animal rearing house This invention relates to an animal rearing house and more particularly, but not exclusively a pig rearing house.

It is well established that in the rearing of animals for meat, animal growth is maximised under certain environmental conditions. Pigs in particular are extremely sensitive to temperature fluctuation and it is important when rearing pigs to keep them, if possible in conditions where the temperature of their surroundings can be controlled.

The normal way of keeping pigs in a controlled environment is to rear them in a building equipped with temperature control means. The high cost of building and the cost of controlling the environment therein makes it desirable that as many pigs as possible should be kept in a building of the smallest possible volume. The present invention has been made with this consideration in mind.

According to the invention there is provided an animal rearing house having a floor, walls and a roof defining an enclosure of generally elongate plan, a plurality of animal cages disposed transversely in the house, and means for directing an air stream in the house in the elongate direction thereof so that the air stream is substantially transverse to the cages.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pig rearing house; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the house of Fig. 1 with the roof omitted to show the interior layout and; Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to that of Fig. 2 of another embodiment Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a rearing house 10 intended for weaner pigs is of rectangular plan.

Pigs cages 12 are arranged in two groups 14 and 1 6 with a plurality of cages in each group. Food troughs 1 8 are provided at each side of each group so that access to the cages is from the ends of the cages that are adjacent the long walls of the house. An additional trough 20 is provided parallel to troughs 18 through the middles of the group of cages to take surplus liquid and effluent. As can be seen in the drawing each group of cages is spaced from the walls of the house so as to allow access thereto and to permit circulation of air therearound.

An air intake and treatment area 22 is defined between the two groups of cages by partitions 24 and 26. The area 22 is itself divided into subunits 30 and 32 by a partition 28.The sub-unit 30 provides treated air for the adjacent group of cages 14 and sub-unit 32 does the same for its adjacent group of cages 1 6.

Each sub-unit comprises an intake 40 for drawing air therein from outside the house and a heater 42 at the inlet of an air distribution means 44. Air is drawn through the intake, heater and air distribution means of each unit and across its associated group of cages by an exhaust fan mounted in an outlet 46 on each end wall of the house. The temperature in the house can be maintained within desired limits by electronic control means known per se that switches the fans and heaters in response to temperature measurement.

The cages 12 are preferably mounted for example on casters so as to be movable out of the house through doors 50 for cleaning and washing down. A separate door 52 is provided for normal access to the house.

The arrangement just described provides accommodation intended for weaner pigs, i.e. pigs from seven to fourteen days old, upto about eight weeks old. The house can be made larger or smaller depending on requirements although it is preferred not to exceed outer dimensions which can be accommodated on a vehicle if the house is to be transportable. If the house is made larger then obviously more cages can be accommodated, but in accordance with the invention'the orientation of the cages should still be transverse to the air flow in the house. The intake and heating of air does not have to be at the middle of the house, but can be at one or both ends of any other convenient place, the fan or fans being appropriately located to produce an air stream across the cages.

There are therefore many arrangements in addition to that of Figs. 1 and 2 which fall within the scope of the invention, one such being illustrated diagrammatically by way of example in Fig. 3.

It is desirable to provide an alarm that will be triggered should a fan or heater fail. For example a thermostat can be provided which, upon fan or heater failure, operates to trigger an alarm. The thermostat can also be used to open a ventilator to permit flow of external unheated air through the house. This is particularly important in the case of fan failure when the temperature within the house can increase rapidly to a level which is harmful to piglets.

1. According to the invention there is provided an animal rearing house having a floor, walls and a roof defining an enclosure of generally elongate plan, a plurality of animal cages disposed transversely in the house, and means for directing an air stream in the house in the elongate direction thereof so that the air stream is substantially transverse to the cages.

2. An animal rearing house as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for directing an air stream comprises a heater and a fan.

3. An animal rearing house as claimed in claim 2, wherein the heater is located intermediate the ends of the house and a fan is provided at each end of the house.

4. An animal rearing house as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cages are arranged in groups of at least two.

5. An animal rearing house as claimed in any

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Animal rearing house This invention relates to an animal rearing house and more particularly, but not exclusively a pig rearing house. It is well established that in the rearing of animals for meat, animal growth is maximised under certain environmental conditions. Pigs in particular are extremely sensitive to temperature fluctuation and it is important when rearing pigs to keep them, if possible in conditions where the temperature of their surroundings can be controlled. The normal way of keeping pigs in a controlled environment is to rear them in a building equipped with temperature control means. The high cost of building and the cost of controlling the environment therein makes it desirable that as many pigs as possible should be kept in a building of the smallest possible volume. The present invention has been made with this consideration in mind. According to the invention there is provided an animal rearing house having a floor, walls and a roof defining an enclosure of generally elongate plan, a plurality of animal cages disposed transversely in the house, and means for directing an air stream in the house in the elongate direction thereof so that the air stream is substantially transverse to the cages. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pig rearing house; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the house of Fig. 1 with the roof omitted to show the interior layout and; Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to that of Fig. 2 of another embodiment Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a rearing house 10 intended for weaner pigs is of rectangular plan. Pigs cages 12 are arranged in two groups 14 and 1 6 with a plurality of cages in each group. Food troughs 1 8 are provided at each side of each group so that access to the cages is from the ends of the cages that are adjacent the long walls of the house. An additional trough 20 is provided parallel to troughs 18 through the middles of the group of cages to take surplus liquid and effluent. As can be seen in the drawing each group of cages is spaced from the walls of the house so as to allow access thereto and to permit circulation of air therearound. An air intake and treatment area 22 is defined between the two groups of cages by partitions 24 and 26. The area 22 is itself divided into subunits 30 and 32 by a partition 28.The sub-unit 30 provides treated air for the adjacent group of cages 14 and sub-unit 32 does the same for its adjacent group of cages 1 6. Each sub-unit comprises an intake 40 for drawing air therein from outside the house and a heater 42 at the inlet of an air distribution means 44. Air is drawn through the intake, heater and air distribution means of each unit and across its associated group of cages by an exhaust fan mounted in an outlet 46 on each end wall of the house. The temperature in the house can be maintained within desired limits by electronic control means known per se that switches the fans and heaters in response to temperature measurement. The cages 12 are preferably mounted for example on casters so as to be movable out of the house through doors 50 for cleaning and washing down. A separate door 52 is provided for normal access to the house. The arrangement just described provides accommodation intended for weaner pigs, i.e. pigs from seven to fourteen days old, upto about eight weeks old. The house can be made larger or smaller depending on requirements although it is preferred not to exceed outer dimensions which can be accommodated on a vehicle if the house is to be transportable. If the house is made larger then obviously more cages can be accommodated, but in accordance with the invention'the orientation of the cages should still be transverse to the air flow in the house. The intake and heating of air does not have to be at the middle of the house, but can be at one or both ends of any other convenient place, the fan or fans being appropriately located to produce an air stream across the cages. There are therefore many arrangements in addition to that of Figs. 1 and 2 which fall within the scope of the invention, one such being illustrated diagrammatically by way of example in Fig. 3. It is desirable to provide an alarm that will be triggered should a fan or heater fail. For example a thermostat can be provided which, upon fan or heater failure, operates to trigger an alarm. The thermostat can also be used to open a ventilator to permit flow of external unheated air through the house. This is particularly important in the case of fan failure when the temperature within the house can increase rapidly to a level which is harmful to piglets. CLAIMS

5. An animal rearing house as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an alarm is provided which is adapted to be triggered upon failure of operation for directing an air stream.

6. An animal rearing house as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein ventilation means is provided adapted to admit air into the house in response to an increase in temperature within the house above a predetermined level.

7. An animal rearing house substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.