Animal husbandry – Bed or rest
Patent
1994-03-04
1995-06-13
Swiatek, Robert P.
Animal husbandry
Bed or rest
119 1403, A01K 112, A01K 100
Patent
active
054232899
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to milking sheds and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to mechanisms for controlling the movement of cows in milking sheds.
In our early Australian Patents Nos. 547204, 534372 and 559348, there are described and illustrated various gates and the like for the controlling of access to and departure from milking sheds by cows. It is most desired to control the access to and departure from the milking shed by the cows so that the dairy farmer can more easily control their movement so that he is able to control the rate of access and therefore his speed of work. However, there is no known mechanism for the controlling of the cows within the shed. This can cause certain problems.
Some cows are more timid than others, and others more aggressive. This is relevant because the more aggressive cows attempt to bully past the more timid cows to arrive at a milking stall at the earliest possible opportunity so they can have a greater share of the feed waiting there. If not controlled, this can cause a reduction in the milk obtained from the cows, and a significant increase in the excreta which no doubt passes on to the milking shed floor. This increases the work for the farmer as well as his costs for a lower return.
It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for controlling the movement of cows within a milking shed.
For the above and other objects in mind, the present invention provides a mechanism for the control of cows within a milking shed, said mechanism including a plurality of dividers mounted so as to be movable from a first or raised position whereupon cows can move beneath said dividers, to a second or lower position where said dividers are capable of preventing movement by said cows; said dividers being spaced apart so as to provide milking stalls for said cows; each of said dividers having an outer end, each outer end having pivotally mounted thereto an end gate pivotable between said transverse position and a position approximately co-planar with said dividers by movement of a cow into said stall immediately past said divider.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only and preferred construction of a milking shed incorporating the principal features of the present invention. The description is with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: present invention; showing the dividers in the first and second positions; FIG. 1 (without the cows); form; and directions of arrows 6-6 of FIG. 5.
To refer firstly to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 there is shown a milking shed in which a number of cows are desired to be located so as to be milked. Access to the milking shed would be as desired but preferably in accordance with one of our earlier mentioned Australian Patents.
The milking shed has a wall 10 to which is mounted all of the control mechanisms, including the dividers 12. Although most milking sheds are designed as double sheds--being a row on each of the opposite walls--it is preferable that a control rail 14 be used so that the distance from the wall 10 to the control rail 14 is only marginally greater than the length of a normal cow.
Naturally there is provided a feed trough 16 mounted to the wall 10, and a brisket rail 18 also attached to the wall 10. These are in accordance with normal constructions and are known.
The dividers 12 are mounted to the wall 10 by virtue of a hinged connection 20 and are operated by a vacuum ram 22 acting through a rod 24 pivotally attached to the upper rail 26 of each divider 12. Naturally a vacuum ram 22 may be provided for each divider 12, or they may be operated in sets. This would depend very much upon the requirements of the individual milking shed or the farmer concerned.
Each divider 12 has the upper rail 26 and depending therefrom a plurality of vertical rails 28 connecting to a lower rail 30. The sizing of the dividers 12 is such as to make it dear that when in the lower position (see FIGS. 2 a
REFERENCES:
patent: 3734059 (1973-05-01), Rodrigues
patent: 4362127 (1982-12-01), Nielsen et al.
patent: 4977856 (1990-12-01), Norwood
patent: 5000119 (1991-03-01), Moreau et al.
Larsen Janet R.
Larsen Owen M.
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