Animal husbandry – Feeding device – Racks
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-08-14
Swiatek, Robert P. (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Feeding device
Racks
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273024
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus for feeding livestock and, more particularly, to an apparatus for managed feeding of tub ground feed or hay to cattle or other livestock.
Feeding cattle is commonly done by dropping or stacking hay or forage in the field or in a feed yard where cattle have access to the hay. The cattle are allowed to eat continuously. The cattle always try to get closer to the hay stack and in doing so, they scatter and damage or destroy the forage by stamping it into the ground so that much of the hay is wasted. Fixed feeding bins reduce the waste but require that the farmer or rancher frequently rake the hay to a position within reach of the livestock.
Feeding devices have been proposed that limit access to the forage by placing the round or square bales or ground forage within a feeding pen that the cattle or other livestock may reduce in size or move as they consume the hay. An example of one such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,529 to Leigh. A problem with such devices is the livestock can eat continuously and the forage may still be scattered or spilled from the pen and thus wasted as the device is moved or reduced in size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for selectively controlling the access of livestock to hay or forage.
Another important object of the present invention, as aforesaid, is to provide an apparatus for managed livestock feeding which reduces feed waste.
Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that allows control of calving by providing access of the livestock to the feed only when so configured by the operator.
Still another important object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for managed livestock feeding which reduces the time required for daily feeding of livestock.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for managed livestock feeding that is easy to operate without tools.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for managed livestock feeding that is expandable to accommodate various herd sizes.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a livestock feeder which has an enclosed area. Hay bales, ground feed or other forage are placed in the enclosed area to limit access to the feed by the livestock. The enclosed area is generally rectangular with two stationary sides and two moveable ends. The size of the enclosed may be expanded by adding center sections and additional moveable end members.
The stationary sides consist of a pair of spaced-apart top rails, a pair of spaced-apart middle rails and a single bottom rail that rests on the ground the full length of the stationary side. The space between the top rails forms a channel or track therebetween. Likewise, the space between the middle rails forms a channel or track therebetween. The upper and lower channels are in vertical alignment. The stationary sides provide an opening between the top and middle rails and a solid panel extending from the middle rails to the bottom rails.
The moveable ends consist of a top rail a middle rail and a bottom rail. A solid panel extends between the middle rail and bottom rail. A rod extends between the top and middle rails through holes in upper and lower axially-aligned brackets at each end of the moveable ends.
The feeder is assembled by aligning the holes in the upper and lower brackets of the moveable ends with the upper and lower channels of the stationary sides respectively. The rods are inserted into the bracket holes through the channels securing the stationary and moveable ends together. Thus, when the feeder is assembled, the rods slide within the upper and lower channels of the stationary sides and the moveable end is suspended above the ground.
The sides have an open area through which livestock can eat the forage through the sides, and a solid panel along the lower portion of the sides to keep the forage in the enclosed area and prevent the livestock from stamping on and scattering the forage as they eat. The moveable end panels are slideably attached at their ends to the stationary panels so that the movable sides may be moved toward the forage stack as the feed is eaten by the livestock.
Control pins in the stationary sides limit the movement of the moveable ends so that feeding may be controlled by the operator. The control pins are inserted in a series of space-apart holes along the upper rails of each of the stationary sides and extend across the upper channel to stop the moveable ends when contacted by the rods. The holes and control pins establish positions selectable by the operator to limit movement of the end panels toward the center of the enclosed area, thus controlling the amount of feed accessible to the livestock.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1839673 (1932-01-01), Hartmann
patent: 3906902 (1975-09-01), Rose
patent: 3913529 (1975-10-01), Leigh, Jr.
patent: 4002147 (1977-01-01), Feterl
patent: 4148278 (1979-04-01), Anderson
patent: 5355834 (1994-10-01), Blazek
patent: 5467737 (1995-11-01), Weelink
Windholz Arthur G.
Windholz Lester D.
Chase & Yakimo, L.C.
Swiatek Robert P.
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