IE53489B1 - Device for determining ovulation in domestic animals,such as pigs,cows and horses - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Device for determining ovulation in domestic animals such as pigs, cows and horses, which comprises a temperature sensor (9) insertable in the vagina (7) of the animal (4), characterised in that the temperature sensor (9) ascertains temperature difference in the sense of rising temperatures and, at a specific temperature difference, actuates a signal emitter (14).

Description

The invention relates to a device for determining ovulation in domestic animals, such as pigs, cows and horses.

For domestic animals, such as pigs, cows and 5 horses, if the ovulation of the animal is to be determined in order to mate it at the correct time, it has hitherto been customary to measure the body temperature of the animal daily, the measuring procedure being carried out by the introduction of a thermometer into the anus or the vagina of the animal. The mating procedure is then carried out when a body temperature, which is raised compared lo the nonnal temperature and which indicates ovulation, is measured for the animal to be mated. This temperature rise is usually the same for the domestic animals mentioned. However, the relevant normal temperatures of the animals differ, and they can vary within certain limits. A determination of ovulation in the animals is thus time-consuming, since it is not only necessary to measure the temperature of the animal awaiting the mating procedure daily, but also to know the normal body temperature of the animal in order to determine the temperature difference. The method mentioned is particularly time-consuming for the determination of ovulation when a number of animals are waiting for mating, for example at a breeder's.

An arrangement for monitoring the start of labour in domestic animals by means of an electric signal emitter - 3 has been disclosed in DE-B- 2,115,162, in which a capsule, which may be placed in the birth canal of the animal, is connected with a transmitter, which can be switched on and off via a temperature probe, and with a receiver, which is set to the transmission frequency of this transmitter and is placed apart from the latter, as the signal emitter. If the capsule is placed in the birth canal of the mother animal some time before the start of labour, the transmitter of the capsule and thus also the signal emitter remain switched off as a result of the relatively high temperature within the birth canal. If labour now begins, the capsule is ejected from the birth canal and the temperature of the capsule is decreased. The lowering of the temperature brings about the switching on of the transmitter, by which means the electric signal emitter is activated via the associated receiver. In the Specification mentioned, it is also pointed out that the transmitter of the capsule can obviously also be set and designed so that it is only activated on reaching a predetermined higher temperature, that is to say with increasing temperature, and only then does the receiver emit the signal.

Thus it would also be possible to indicate fever or ovulation in animals with this apparatus.

The disadvantage of the invention presented in the Specification mentioned is that only a specified temperature can be analysed with the measuring system located in the capsule, and no temperature difference can be determined, which is indispensable, particularly for the simple and reliable indication of the presence of ovulation in animals. Thus the apparatus is unsuitable for determining ovulation without an additional temperature gauge with which the normal body temperature of the animal can be found.

Finally, the apparatus is difficult to manipulate due to the shape of the capsule which must be introduced into the animal and which additionally consists Of several separate parts.

A further disadvantage of the apparatus is that the capsule must be removed from the animal after completion of ovulation.

Before the capsule can be placed inside another animal, it is necessary to clean the capsule and, if necessary, take it apart in order to set another temperature at which the temperature switch is actuated.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for simply and reliably determining ovulation in domestic animals, such as pigs, cows and horses, which, in addition, is simple and reliable to manipulate.

According to the invention there is provided a device for determining ovulation in domestic animals, such as pigs, cows and horses, comprising a temperature probe which may be introduced into the vagina of the animal, determines a temperature difference in the direction of increasing temperature, and actuates a signal emitter when the temperature rise reaches a defined level.

In contrast to the measurement of temperature with a thermometer in the anus or in the vagina of the animal, which was hitherto customary, the temperature sensing in the vagina of the animal according to the invention has the advantage that the temperature probe can remain inside the animal throughout the period in which ovulation is expected. Thus the errors of measurement - 5 which may have hitherto occurred due to daily reintroduction of the thermometer into the anus or into the vagina of the animal are eliminated from the outset.

In accordance with the invention temperature differences are determined with the temperature probe, since only these are reliable predicators for the determination of ovulation. The device is employed in such a manner that when the body temperature of the animal still corresponds to the normal temperature, the temperature probe is introduced into the vagina, and the normal body temperature found is assigned a basal value. With the device, a reference value may be set in relation to this basal value, and this reference value corresponds to an increase in the body temperature of the animal related to the basal value, which permits conclusions about ovulation.

It is advantageous to determine the temperature differences by a temperature-dependent resistor arranged in the temperature probe.

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, the instrument connections leading out of the animal are designed as an integrated lead. In order to ensure simple introduction of the lead into the vagina of the animal, that part of the lead which is introduced into the vagina of the animal should have a lower flexibility compared to the remaining part of the lead.

By this means, it is ensured that, on the one hand, the temperature probe can be reliably introduced into the animal and removed from the animal, and on the other hand, - 6 the part of the lead projecting out of the animal, due to its flexibility, does not disturb the animal, in particular in the region around its tail.

If the device according to the invention is em5 ployed for an animal which naturally behaves quietly in its housing, the signal emitter can be mounted on a place suitable for installation in the housing, for example on the partitions of the individual cubicles, and preferably be connected to a transmitter via a lead. If, how10 ever, the device is employed for an animal v/hich is known to behave restlessly in its housing or is kept in the open, the signal emitter and transmitter must be attached to the animal, preferably on its back, underneath its belly or on its neck. If the information reaches the signal emitter via the temperature probe that a temperature difference has been found, which leads to the conclusion that ovulation is present, this signal is transferred to the transmitter. It is envisaged that the signal emitter, and if possible also the transmitter, are located close to the animal, and the transmitter optionally also has a unit connected in series which can connect several devices for determining ovulation. The person who requires this particular information on the presence of ovulation is equipped with the corresponding receiver and 33 can thus carry out his daily tasks unimpeded.

Equally, the onset of birth in domestic animals, such as pigs, cows and horses, is associated with a rise in the body temperature of the animal. On onset of birth, analogously to the process of ovulation, the - 7 relevant temperatures of the animals mentioned are different, but the particular temperature difference between the normal temperature of the animal and the temperature associated with the onset of birth remains approximately the same. The device according to the invention is thus suitable not only for determining ovulation, but also for determining the onset of birth. Exact recognition of the time of onset of birth in the domestic animals mentioned is of importance in order to be able to render aid if any complications occur during the process of birth.

Further characteristic features of the invention are presented in the description, the figure and in the sub-claims.

The Figure shows a side view in a pig cubicle in which there is a pig with a device according to the invention introduced into the vagina.

The cubicle itself is given the number 1, it has a front part 2 and a back wall 3. The width of the cubicle 1 is such that the pig 4 inside the cubicle 1 cannot turn round in the latter.

A part of a flexible lead 8, which has a temperature probe 9 on the end towards the vagina, is inserted through the vulva 6, situated below the anus 5, into the vagina 7. In order to prevent the lead 8 undesirably slipping out of the vagina 7, the part of the lead 8 inserted into the vagina 7 of the pig 4 has a thicker section in the form of an attached rubber ball 10. The - 8 lead 8 is provided with a coating, for example of rubber, which is not attacked by the faeces or the urine of the animal. The end of the lead 8 away from the temperature probe 9 has a connector 11 on its end. The coni' nector 11 is fixed with the aid of a belt 12 on the side of the pig 4. A signal emitter 14 is mounted on a side wall 13 of the cubicle 1. The connection of signal emitter 14 and lead 8 is via a flexible lead 15, which has a connector 16, on the end away from the signal emit]_0 ter 14, for connection with the connector 11. A further connection is set up between the signal emitter 14 and a strip connector 18 by means of the lead 17.

Several signal emitters 14 can be connected via appropriate leads 17 with this strip connector 18. A further lead 19 provides the connection from the strip connector 18 to the transmitter 20. Parts of the leads 15 and 17 running inside the cubicle 1, in particular, can be fixed with the aid of attachments 21 onto the appropriate side wall 13 in the cubicle 1. 2o If ovulation is to be determined in the pig 4, the flexible lead 8 is introduced into the vagina 7 whilst the body temperature of the pig 4 still corresponds to its normal temperature. In order to ensure simple introduction of the lead into the vagina of the pig, the part of the lead which is introduced into the vagina of the pig should have a lower flexibility compared to the remaining part of the lead.

If the lead 8 with the temperature probe 9 has been introduced into the vagina 7 of the pig 4, this normal 53488 - 9 temperature can be assigned a basal value, for example zero, by adjusting an appropriate switch in the signal emitter. The basal value can be determined by connecting through a number of circuits with variable resistances ' until a resistance of a circuit is exactly matched with an NTC resistor representing a defined temperature.

This process of connection through is by means of a rotatable switch 23, and if the two resistances are matched, a lamp 22 mounted on the signal emitter 14 lights up. Thus, for determining the basal value, knowledge of the normal temperature of the animal is superfluous.

The temperature at which ovulation occurs, which is raised compared to normal temperature, has to be found by experience. The switch 23 is turned in accordance with this temperature difference in the direction of increasing values on a scale 24 with units representing temperature differences. This has the result that the lamp 22 mounted on the signal emitter 14 extinguishes.

If ovulation of the animal has occurred, the temperature difference set has thusbeen exceeded and the lamp 22 mounted on the signal emitter 14 lights up again and the signal is transferred to the transmitter 20 via the lead 17, the strip connector 18 and the lead 19. The signal given out is picked up by a receiver, which is not shown, and actuates an alarm. It is possible from the alarm and the lamp 22 which is alight on the signal emitter 14 to find which animal is ready for mating.

It is possible to convey the information that ovulation has occurred in an animal of the species - 10 mentioned not. only via the transmitter ay-ilem represented but this is quite generally possible when the signal emitter 14 is connected only with an acoustic and/or visual conveyor of information. 53483

Claims (16)

1. A device for determining ovulation in domestic animals comprising a temperature probe which may be introduced into the vagina of the animal, determines a 5 temperature difference in the direction of increasing temperature, and actuates a signal emitter when the temperature rise reaches a defined level.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the animals are pigs, cows or horses. 10

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the determination of the temperature difference is by means of a temperature-dependent resistor arranged in the temperature probe.

4. A device according to Claim 3, wherein a plurality of 15 circuits with resistors of varying value are arranged in the signal emitter, and in each case one of these resistors is adjustable to the temperature-dependent resistor arranged in the temperature probe.

5. A device according to one or more of Claims 1 to 4, 20 wherein the signal emitter is connected via a lead to the temperature probe.

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the lead consists of a material which is resistant to acid.

7. A device according to Claim 6, wherein the lead 25 material is resistant to excrement.

8. A device according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the lead material is rubber. - 12

9. A device according to one or more of the Claims 1 to 8, wherein the part of the lead which may be inserted into the vagina of the animal has a thicker section.

10. A device according to Claim 9, wherein the thicker 5 section is in the form of an attached rubber ball.

11. A device according to one or more of the Claims 1 to 10, wherein the signal emitter is mounted on the animal's cubicle.

12. A device according to Claim 11, wherein the signal 10 emitter is mounted on a side wall of the cubicle.

13. A device according to one or more of the Claims 1 to 12, wherein the signal emitter is connected via a lead to a transmitter.

14. A device according to one or more of the Claims 1 to 15. 13, wherein the signal emitter and the transmitter may be attached to the animal.

15. A device according to Claim 14, wherein the signal emitter and the transmitter are attached to the animal's back, underneath its belly or on its neck.

16. 20 16. A device for determining ovulation in domestic animals as claimed in Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.