GB2134364A - Improvements in partitioning between livestock cubicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A partition for separating adjacent cubicles in which cattle are housed has at least the bottom rail of a conventional parallel-rail partition substituted by a medal U-shaped vertical frame 12 welded to the top rail 10 symmetrically with respect to the partition. The depth and width of the U are sufficient to block the passage of an animal from one cubicle to the next whilst leaving a free vertical space at each end of the partition in which the animal's legs and head can move as it rises from the recumbent position. Thus its legs are not trapped under a conventional rigid bottom rail. In the preferred construction, the depth of the frame is about three quarters the height h of the top rail above floor or bed level and its width is between one half and two thirds the length of the cubicle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in partitions between livestock cubicles This invention relates to partitions for use with livestock, and is primarily concerned with such partitions when used as fixtures to divide the interiors of feed and sleep, or sleep only, buildings for beef and dairy herds into the conventional cubicles for accommodating individual animals. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to freestanding partitions which can be used in the open as hurdles, whether permanent, semi-permanent, or movable.

Livestock cubicles are open at their inner or entry ends for free access and closed at their outer or head ends. The partitions which separate them conventionally consist of a plurality of straigh rigid horizontal rails, usually of stout timber or heavy gauge metal tubing, which are often supported at each end on uprights which themselves also constitute roof supports. In certain cases, it is known to substitute a taut wire for the bottom rail of such partitions.

Where the cublicles line the outer walls of a building, the uprights at the outer or head ends of the cubicles commonly form part of the external wall structure of the building, while those at the inner or entry ends may also serve as roof supports.

It is, however, not unusual forthe roof of a feed and sleep building to be unsupported over its complete span. In such a case, the end uprights of a partition are usually short stanchions whose tops are flush with the top rail and, in the case of metal partitions, integral therewith. It is also known, especially in the case of metal partitions, to provide a second stanchion at the inner or entry end which is spaced relatively closely along the length of the partition from the inner stanchion, the inner ends of the rails below the top rail terminating on this second stanchion, thus providing a clear gap between the bed and the top rail adjacent the entry of the cublicle.

Cattle enterthe cubicles to rest and sleep. When an animal lies down, at least its hind legs often protrude below the bottom rail of a conventional partition into the adjacent cubicle, so that when it tries to rise its legs may become trapped. Sometimes its whole body becomes wedged beneath the bottom rail. In either case, as it struggles to get to its feet, a leg or its back gets broken, as a result of which it has to be destroyed. This represents a very unwelcome financial and emotional loss to the farmer, and is of sufficiently frequent occurrence to pose a serious problem in the industry.

It is an object of the present invention to minimise or eliminate the risk of a recumbent animal's legs or body being trapped when it tries to get to its feet.

According to the present invention, a partition has a substantially horizontal top rail at the same height above the level of the bed or floor as in a conventional partition, but at least the usual bottom (and preferably also any other) rail is replaced by a rigid bent rail frame depending in the vertical plane from the top rail approximately symmetrically of the partition and substantially spanning at least the medial zone thereof, so that the frame spans at least the flank or medial portion of an animal standing normally in the cubicle. The depth of the bent frame is about three quarters the height of the top rail above the level of the floor or bed.

Although the word "bent" is more recognisable as applicable to a ductile metal, it is to be understood herein as equally applicable to a material such as wood which is not commonly bent in the context of partitions for separating animal cubicles. The word "bent" is used herein rather as a definition of a finished shape than as a description of the physical process by which that shape is attained.

The bent frame is preferably U-shaped orarcuate, but it may be of a triangular shape or a combination of triangular and arcuate.

The medial zone of a partition is that zone lying in the vertical plane of the partition which represents the projection on that plane of the middle or rib-cage section of an animal's body as it stands normally in the cubicle. By substantially spanning the medial zone, the depending bent frame obstructs that area of the partition through which the animal's body would need to pass if it were to move directly from one cubicle to the next. Since the animal's tail must overhang the dung passage, this medial zone will be displaced somewhat from the truly symmetrical location with respect to the length of the partition.

On the other hand, a bent frame according to the present invention can provide the necessary obstruction it it is symmetrically located and, if necessary, supplemented by a vertical or horizontal bar which roughly bisects it. The frame must bound enough of the space between the top rail of the partition and the bed or floor of the cubicle to deter an animal from attempting to squeeze through the partition without obstructing so much of the space immediately above the bed or floor that it reintroduces the risk of any part of an animal becoming trapped as it rises from a recumbent posture. Thus, a generally triangular-shaped depending frame is effective as a barrier if it embraces most of the roughly rectangular area of the projection of the rib-cage section of an animal's body.Such a shape has an added advantage in that it allows the maximum clearance below the top rail at the head end of the cubicle for the animal's head and neck to protrude through the partition as it lunges forward while rising to its feet.

In modern livestock farming practice, a herd of cattle is predominantly, if not exclusively, made up of animals of the same breed, so that adults are all of approximately the same size. Thus, where a building is provided for the herd, all cubicles can be of a standard size, with partitions of equal height and length, wherein each animal fits sufficiently snugly to prevent its being able to turn around. This is necessary in order to ensure that dung is always deposited in a dung passage running the length of the building across the entrances of successive cubicles. Where there is sufficient variation in overall length of animal, a breast or brisket rail can be placed across a cubicle at the head end so as to keep the animal's rump close to the dung passage.

Preferably, the depending bent frame constitutes the only portion of the partition below the top rail, but struts or steadies can be attached thereto if preferred. Thus, for example, a strut may anchor the base of the frame to the floor at a point where an animal would not be able to put its legs when lying down.

In all embodiments of the invention, a clear space is left above the cubicle bed or floor at the inner and outer ends of the partition between the bent frame and the adjacent rigid column or integral stanchion by which the top rail is supported. The width and height of this clear space are sufficient to ensure that when an animal's fore or hind leg protrudes at any time through the partition it will not be trapped between the bed and a rigid component of the partition.Since animals enter cubicles head first, and since the principal measurements from head to shin and head to hindquarter of a particular genus - e.g. a breed of dairy cattle - do not vary greatly, it is possible to dimension and locate the depending frame so that a partition can be of universal application, at least for a given breed, in conjunction if necessary with a head or brisket rail in cases where there may be variations in maturity among animals of, say, a beef herd. Where other than cattle are to be housed in cubicles, it is accepted modern farming practice that the building be designed specifically for them, and the dimensions and proportions of the partitions will be chosen to suit the particular type of animal. Thus, different sizes of partitions can effectively be designated in terms of breed of animal to be housed.In all cases, the relative proportions of bent frame and complete partition, and the substantial symmetry of the whole unit, are unchanged irrespective of the type of animal involved.

Although it is normally envisaged that partitions according to the present invention will be fabricated in common metal such as galvanised steel, there is no fundamental objection to their being made of wood or other convenient material.

A practical embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of illustration only thereof, as applicable to cubicles for a dairy herd, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of cattle cubicle partition according to the present invention; Figure2 is an elevation on the arrow II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure land Figures 4 - 6are views similar to Figure 1 of alternative constructions.

Referring first to Figure 1, the partition consists essentially of a straight horizontal top rail 10 and a depending bent or U-shaped frame 12 rigidlysus- pended medially below it. The straight rail 10 and medial U-frame 12 are made of heavy gauge steel tubing, the frame being welded to the rail at 14 and 15. Each end of the top rail 10 is welded to a respective flat fixing plate 16, 18. The plate 16 at the inner end of the rail 10 is inclined thereto in the vertical plane at an angle of about 84 while the plate 18 at the outer end of the rail 10 is normal thereto.

The inner plate is bolted to an outer column 22, which may also be part of a sidewall of the building.

Both columns normally serve as supports for a roof rafter. The inner column is slanted backwards or outwards as shown so that where rows of cubicles flank an access passage on both sides, the opposing inner columns diverge so as to provide clearance for animals jostling each other as they pass along between the opposite rows of cubicles.

The foot of the inner column 10 is stepped below the level of the cubicle bed 24 by the depth of a dung passage 26, and a timber heel board or plinth 28 is bolted across the bottom ends of a number of columns 20, in conventional manner.

For a cattle cubicle partition, the heighth of the rail 10 above the level of the bed 24 is about 1 metre, which is the conventional for dairy cow cubicles. The span of the frame 12 is about 1 metre, which compares with the average length of a dairy cow's flank which is of the order of 0.75 m. from shoulder to hindquarter. The depending frame 12 spans between one half and two thirds of the overall length of the partition. The measurement from the weld 14 to the plate 16 is about 300 mm., which, allowing for the 84" slant of the column 20 is comparable with a good average measurement of about 0.5m from flank to tail. From the weld 15 to the plate 18 is about 450 mm. which allows sufficient space at 32 for an animal's head and neck as it lunges forward while getting to its feet.The depth of the U-frame is approximately three quarters the dimension h. The bottom of the U-frame 12 is generously radiused so as to minimise the risk of trapping any part of the animal's body should it protrude through the partition when in a recumbent posture or while rising therefrom. The spaces 30,33 between the U-frame and the inner and outer columns 20, 22 respectively are wide enough to clear the animal's legs at all times, and are unobstructed vertically, so that during normal occupancy of a cubicle an animal cannot break a leg as a result of getting it trapped between the floor 24 and any rigid component of a partition.

The medial U-frame is roughly symmetrical with respecttothe length of the partition and presents to an animal the equivalent of a continuous partition preventing movement between cubicles. It thus forms a barrier as effectively as a conventional partition having a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal bars.

Figure 4 illustrates alternatives to parts of the structure of Figures 1 - 3. First, the columns 20, 22 are substituted by inner and outer stanchions 40,42 respectively, each formed integrally with the top rail 10, so that the partition is free-standing. Also the base of the medial U-frame 12 is anchored to the floor by a steady 34 welded to the middle of the base of the frame. In another alternative (not shown) the single central steady 34 is substituted by two such steadies springing from the bends of the U. Such steadies serve to stiffen the partition against lateral pressure and shocks.

Figure 5 illustrates further alternative versions of the basic design of Figures 1 - 3. The inner stanchion 40 of Figure 4 is paired with the outer column 22 of Figure 1, and the medial U-frame 12 is spanned at about half its depth by a horizontal bar 36. This cross bar acts as a deterrent to an animal poking its head through the frame 12 as it enters the cubicle.

Variations of the shape of the U-frame 12 in Figures 1 - 5 include forming the bottom of the U as a continuous arc, or the replacement of the U-shape buy a semi-circle. Furthermore, the location of the medial U-frame may be exactly symmetrical with the overall length of the partition.

Fiqure 6 illustrates a still further variation in the shape of the bent frame 12. In this figure, the frame 12 is substantially triangular and is braced by a central vertical bar 38 joining the curved apex of the triangle to the top rail 10.

Claims (9)

1. A partition for an animal's cubicle comprising a straight rigid top rail adapted to be mounted substantially horizontally along one side of the cubicle at the conventional height above the level of the floor or bed and having a rigid bent rail depending from the top rail in the vertical plane of the partition and substantially symmetrically with respect to the partition, the depth of the U being of the order of three quarters the height of the top rail above the level of the floor or bed of the cubicle.

2. A partition according to claim 1 wherein the depending bent rail is the sole barrier component of the partition below the top rail.

3. A partition according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the bent rail forms a U-frame of a width equal to about one half to two thirds the length of the partition.

4. A partition according to claim 3 wherein the U-frame is anchored to the floor by a steady fixed to the bottom ofthe U.

5. A partition according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the depending bent rail forms a substantially triangular frame.

6. A partition according to claim 5 wherein a vertical bar joins the apex of the triangle to the top rail.

7. A partition according to any preceding claim wherein the top rail is adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to inner and outer columns which form part of the structure of the building enclosing the cubicle.

8. A partition according to any preceding claim wherein the top rail is supported at least at one end by an integral stanchion.

9. A partition for an animal cubicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.