Animal husbandry – Confining or housing – Stall
Patent
1997-03-31
1999-10-26
Carone, Michael J.
Animal husbandry
Confining or housing
Stall
119509, 428156, A01K 1015
Patent
active
059709197
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a mat for animals, for example sows feeding a litter of piglets, or other mammals with similar type udders.
When a sow is feeding her litter of piglets, it is very difficult for all of the piglets to have equal access to the udder and teats. Some sows, when lying down, only partially expose their full range of teats. Some piglets therefore obtain less milk than others and do not gain weight. Weak small piglets can also be denied access to the sows' teats by the larger and stronger piglets thereby compounding the problem. This results in a litter of piglets of varying weights and sizes. Furthermore, there can be high piglet mortality rates since weak smaller piglets can be trampled on or crushed by the sow herself. These are serious problems which have economic implications for piggeries.
The present invention provides a mat for an animal, particularly a female mammal such as a sow, comprising an elongate ridge which is adapted for the sow to lie along one side thereof so that the sow's udder rests on the ridge and thus is made more accessible to piglets which are fed by the sow.
Advantageously, the ridge extends along a longitudinal axis of the mat and the remainder of the mat is of a generally flat construction. Preferably, the ridge extends along the central longitudinal axis of the mat. The ridge and the flat portion may be integrally formed.
Ideally the mat is manufactured from a non-absorbent elastomeric material with good insulation and comfort features such as ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), rubber or plastics material and advantageously includes a bacteriocidal agent.
The ridge may extend the full length of the main body of the mat or it may be shortened to various lengths to suit the requirements of the sow and her udder or teats.
Conveniently, the ridge extends beyond the flat portion of the mat at one or either end of the mat so that waste material will not deposit on the flat portion of the mat or that the animal will not be insulated from the cooling effect of a concrete floor in hot environments. The mat is of dimensions such that it is adapted for use in a farrowing unit or pig pen such as those used in piggeries. The width of the mat may be extended beyond the area allowed to the sow to include an insulated area for the piglets.
In one embodiment, the mat includes a plurality of apertures extending from the top surface to the bottom surface of the mat, whereby water and semi-liquid matter may pass through the mat. The apertures may be in the form of slots or slits provided on a flat portion of the mat.
The invention will now be described more particularly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example only, several embodiments and modifications of the mat according to the present invention.
In the drawings, in which like parts are referred to by like numerals:
FIGS. 1A and B are perspective views of two alternative embodiments of the ridge;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mat;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mat in an alternative embodiment with a short ridge;
FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views respectively of the mat with semi-elliptical cross-sectional and trapezoidal cross-section ridge with the extended width to include an area for piglets;
FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views respectively of the mat with ridges of semi-elliptical cross-section and trapezoidal cross-section with the main body portion of the mat extending on both sides of the ridge.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mat with a short ridge for the sows head with full mat on both sides of the ridge;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the mat with the ridge extended under the mat;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the mat with the mat extended on both sides of the ridge and with the ridge under the mat;
FIGS. 9A-9F are perspective views of the mat in various embodiments. FIG. 9C shows the ridge placed along the central longitudinal axis;
FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing indicating a sow lying on her right side on a flat surface as occurs in the prior art;
FIG. 1
REFERENCES:
patent: 1123094 (1914-12-01), Cary
patent: 3050329 (1962-08-01), Pagan
patent: 4211185 (1980-07-01), Karlsson
patent: 4961930 (1990-10-01), Perdelwitz, Jr. et al.
patent: 4976221 (1990-12-01), Yetter
patent: 5266378 (1993-11-01), Stephenson et al.
Carone Michael J.
Flanagan John K.
Flanagan John R.
Pemarsa S.A.
Shaw Elizabeth
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