AU2014233567B2 - Improvements to treatment apparatus for cattle - Google Patents

Abstract

The specification discloses apparatus (10) for restraining and treating animals including a restraining enclosure (11) having a pair of opposed side walls (12, 13) with a treatment zone (16) positioned therebetween, the restraining enclosure (11) further having an entrance door configuration (17) at one end of the treatment zone (16) and an exit door configuration (27) at an opposite end of the treatment zone (16), the treatment zone (16) having an open lower face (25) the restraining enclosure (11) being connected to a support stand (50) whereby the restraining enclosure (11) is pivotal relative to the support stand (50) about a substantially horizontal pivot axis (53) between a first upright position where the open lower face (25) is directed downwardly and a second position where the open lower face (25) is directed sideways, actuation means (54) to selectably move the restraining structure between the first upright position and the second position, the apparatus (10) further having at least one animal restraining belt or strap (61) positionable in an operable position underneath and engaging an animals body section when the animal is standing in the treatment zone (16), the belt or strap (61) having one end carried by a cradle member (62) that is pivotal about a pivot hinge (65) from a withdrawn position adjacent or outwardly of a said sidewall (13) of the restraining enclosure (11) to the operable position extending across said treatment zone (16), the belt or strap (61) in said withdrawn position not extending across said treatment zone (16).

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO TREATMENT APPARATUS FOR CATTLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for restraining and treating individual bovine or similar animals, commoniy known as a “crush. Such treatment apparatus may allow any veterinary or more common processes to be carried out including but not limited to drenching, and work on the animal’s hooves or horns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Animal restraining and treatment apparatus is known consisting essentially of a rectangular compartment physically connected to a support stand for relative movement between the two about a generally horizontal axis, the compartment in a first position being configured in an upright condition with an open lower face and being pivotal to a second position about said horizontal pivot axis to be supported by said support stand with said open lower face of the compartment facing in a sideways direction. The compartment generally has a pair of opposed side wails and a pair of opposed end wails forming an internal treatment space sufficient to receive an animal for treatment therein. Both of said end walls are formed by openable doors whereby one such door forms an entrance door to enable an animal to walk into the treatment space and a second said door forms an exit door to allow the treatment animal to walk out of the treatment space after the completion of a desired treatment process.

Conveniently when an animal has been positioned in the treatment space, one or more restraining straps or belts are raised from a lowered position to engage restrictively under the animals beliy region when the animai is standing upright in the treatment zone. Thereafter the compartment together with the restrained animal is tilted about the horizontal pivot axis to be supported by the support stand for carrying out of the desired treatment procedures. To enter the treatment zone, the animal must walk over the restraining straps or belts in their

2014233567 24 Oct 2019 lowered position which often provide a tripping risk hazard for the animal. On completion of the treatment process, the compartment is returned to its upright position returning the animal also to an upright position. The restraining belts or straps are then lowered to their lower most position with the animal necessarily walking over the restraining belts or straps to exit the compartment. Thus these straps and belts provide a tripping hazard for the animal on entering and leaving the treatment compartment. Moreover, there is some risk of the exit door being opened by an operator before the restraining belts and straps are dropped to the lowered position. In such circumstances, the animal can attempt to move from the compartment while the belly belts or straps are still in the raised position. If this occurs, the animal can be quite seriously damaged.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to provide an improved animal restraining apparatus of the aforementioned kind that overcomes one or more of the above discussed possible problems with known apparatus of this kind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] According to a first aspect of this invention, there is provided a treatment apparatus for animals including an animal restraining structure having first and second opposed side walls defining a treatment zone therebetween, an entrance door configuration at one end of said treatment zone, and an exit door configuration at an opposite end of said treatment zone, said treatment zone having an open lower face, said first side wall being connected by first pivot means to a support stand whereby the restraining structure is pivotal relative to the support stand about a substantially horizontal pivot axis defined by said first pivot means, between a first upright position where the open lower face is directed downwardly and a second position where the open lower face is directed sideways, actuation means to selectably move said restraining structure between said first upright position and said second position, said treatment apparatus being characterized by at least one animal restraining belt or strap positionable in an operable position, in use, underneath and engaging an animals body section when the animal is standing in said treatment zone, the or each said belt or strap having a first end secured to said first side wall at a first elevated connection location, the or each said belt or strap having an opposed end carried by a cradle member pivotally mounted by second pivot means at a first side zone to said first side wall and the opposed end of the or each said belt or strap being connected to a second side zone of

2014233567 24 Oct 2019 the cradle member opposite said first side zone, said cradle member further being selectably pivotally movable between a first operational position where the second side zone of the cradle member traverses all or a substantial part of said treatment zone and a second non-operational position where said second side zone is positioned adjacent to or outwardly of said first side wall, wherein the second side wall has a hingedly mounted first door structure extending over a full length of said second side wall and configured to open the length of said second side wall to provide increased access to said treatment zone, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a control means adapted to control said first and second pivot means, positioned outwardly of said first side wall.

[0004a] Conveniently, two or more spaced said belts are provided. With this arrangement with the belt or belts in the inoperative position, they no longer provide a tripping hazard to the animal entering or leaving the treatment zone. Moreover, the belts can be operatively positioned without operator involvement in the treatment zone.

[0005] Preferably, the or each said belt or strap has a first end secured to a first said side wall at a first elevated connection location, the or each said belt or strap having an opposed end positionable adjacent to the said first sidewall or outwardly of said first sidewall at lower position relative to said elevated connection location when in said inoperative position. The treatment apparatus may further include a cradle member pivotally mounted at a first side zone to said first side wall and the or each said belt or strap being connected to a second side zone of the cradle member opposite said first side zone, said cradle member being selectably pivotally movable between a first operational position where the cradle member traverses all or a substantial part of said treatment zone and a second non-operational position where said second side zone is positioned adjacent to or outwardly of said first side wall. The structural frame means may connect the first side zone to said second side zone of the cradle member, said structural frame means defining a U-shape with the or each said belt or strap being positioned above said structural frame means when said cradle member is in said first operational position. The cradle member may be pivotal through an open space in said first side wall when moving between said first operational position and said second nonoperational position.

3a

2014233567 19 May 2015 [0006] In a preferred arrangement, latch means may be provided operable with said exit door configuration to selectably hold said exit door configuration in a latched position or to release said latch means to allow said exit door configuration to be opened, control means to hold said latch means in said latched position in response to the or each said belt or strap being in said

2014233567 24 Sep 2014 operative position, said control means permitting release of said latch means only when the or each said belt or strap is In said inoperative position. The control means may include a mechanical link arrangement operable between said latch means and a support for the or each said belt or strap.

[0007] In an alternative preferred arrangement, latch means may be provided operable with said exit door configuration configuration in a latched position or to release said latch means to allow said exit door configuration to be opened, a mechanical control means cooperable with said latch means and urged towards a position holding said latch means in said latched position, said mechanical control means being movable to release positions against urging forces applied to said mechanical control means in response to said cradle member being moved to said second non-operational position, said mechanical control means in said release position permitting delatching of said latch means.

[0008] Conveniently, the exit door configuration may include a first door hinged to pivotally move about a substantially vertical axis, said first door panel member having a substantially open region spaced from said substantially vertical axis, said first door panel member further including a pivotal lock bar member adapted to be pivotally moved across at least part of said substantially open region whereby a neck region of an animal retained in said treatment zone is engageable by said lock bar member to restrain a head region of said animal.

[0009] The treatment apparatus may be constructed to provide as part of the exit door configuration, a second door panel member hinged to pivotally move about a substantially vertical axis coincident with or adjacent to a forward end of said first side wall, said first side wall forming at least a partial extension of first side wall in a first pivotal position and extending laterally inwardly from said first side wall towards said second side wall in a second pivotal position. The inner surface of the second door panel member may carry an elastomeric mat material to provide a protective surface fora restrained animal’s head. Conveniently, the inner surface of the first side wall might also carry an elastomeric mat material.

2014233567 24 Sep 2014 [0010] Preferably, in another possible arrangement, the first side wall may include a first extension zone extending forwardly beyond said exit door configuration, said first extension zone having a size sufficient to engage an animals head when the animal is restrained in said treatment zone with a neck region of the animal passing through said exit door configuration.

[0011] The second side wall forming part of the pair of opposed side walls may include a first door structure hingedly mounted to open at least part of the second side wall to provide increased access to the treatment zone during a treatment process. Conveniently, this first door structure extends along at least a lower edge zone of said second side wall. Conveniently, at least one further door structure may be hingedly mounted to form part of the second side wall.

[0012] It is generally desirable to provide a strong and reliable structure in use and in this regard the retaining structure includes muitiple spaced rigid frame members, each said frame member having a rear upright leg positioned in a rear one of sad side walls and a transversely extending support bar terminating at forward one of said side wails, said forwardly extending support bars traversing said treatment zone and providing an upper limit to said treatment zone. Preferably, a forward end of each said transversely extending support bar is rigidly connected to a longitudinally extending frame member forming part of said forward one of said side walls. Conveniently, three or more said transversely extending support bars are provided.

[0013] In the following the invention will be described with reference to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the annexed drawings. This description is provided to assist in understanding the invention but should not be understood as necessarily limiting the invention beyond that which is defined in the annexed claims.

2014233567 24 Sep 2014

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] Figure 1 is a front end elevation view of an animal restraining and holding device in an upright configuration according to one embodiment of the invention the animal restraining and holding belts being positioned in a withdrawn location;

[0015] Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the animal restraining and holding belts moved to an operative position;

[0016] Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the holding cage of the animal restraining device tipped to a position enabling work to be carried out on the held and restrained animal;

[0017] Figure 4 is an exit front side perspective view of the animal restraining and holding device shown in Figures 1 to 3;

[0018] Figure 5 is a detailed view of part of the exit door latching mechanism; and [0019] Figure 6 is an illustrative rear elevation view of the animal restraining and holding device.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0020] Referring to the drawings, apparatus 10 for restraining and holding animals on an individual basis is illustrated. The apparatus 10 is most typically used for the restraining and treatment of cattle and is known as a “rollover crush”. The apparatus may be used for other animals and as such, should not be seen as being restricted to the application of restraining and treatment of a cow. The apparatus 10 includes a rigid frame structure forming a restraining enclosure 11

2014233567 24 Sep 2014 having a forward side wall 12, a rear side wall 13, an entrance end wall 14, and an exit end wall 15. The walls 12 to 15 together define a rectangular inner treatment zone 16 of a size sufficient to comfortably receive, hold and treat an individual desired animal (e.g. cow) as will be described hereafter. The treatment zone 16 has an open lower face 25. The rigid frame structure 11 is fabricated from tubular steel members welded together to form a strong, rigid and durable structure. The entrance end wall 14 includes an access door 17 that spans the entrance end wall 14 and includes hinge means 18 at one upright side edge to enable the access door 17 to pivot outwardly about an upright pivot axis when opened to allow an animal to enter the treatment zone 16. Suitable releasable latch means 100 (Figure 6) enable the access door 17 to be securely held in a closed position spanning the entrance end wall 14 when the desired treatment animal has entered the treatment zone 16.

[0021] The forward side wall 12 may be covered by a fixed closure panel, by one or more openable doors or panels, or by a combination of fixed closure panels and openable doors or panels. In one preferred embodiment two openable door members 20, 21 are provided, each being hinged by hinge means 22 at one end and releasably held in a closed position by latch means 23 at the other end, the door members 20, 21 as illustrated in Figure 4 span the length of the forward side wall 12 with a first of the door members 20 being positioned along a lower most edge of the forward side wall 12 and the other 21 being positioned immediately above the first door member 20. Other configurations are possible. When openable doors are provided, the intention is to provide greater access to the animal restrained in the treatment zone 16 as will be further described hereafter.

[0022] The rear side wall 13, in the illustrated embodiment, has a fixed and closed panel formation of any suitable material (metal sheet, metal mesh, durable plywood or the like), preferably with an internal covering of an elastomeric mat material 49 to help protect the animal when restrained. An upwardly extending open zone 24 (Figure 6) is provided in the rear side wall 13 extending upwardly

2014233567 24 Sep 2014 from a lower most edge 26 generally intermediate the entrance and exit ends of the rear side wall 13, the purpose of which will be further explained below.

[0023] The exit end wall 15 has an exit door configuration 27 capable of closing or opening the space defined by the exit end wall 15 to either restrain an animal within the treatment zone 16 or to allow the animal to leave the treatment zone 16. The exit door configuration 27 includes a first exit door panel 28 having an upright frame member 29 on one side with hinge means 30 enabling the first exit door panel 28 to be swung about a vertical pivot axis adjacent to or coincident with an exit end of the forward side wall 12. The first exit door panel 28 also has a transversely extending upper frame member 31 and a transversely extending lower frame member 32, each being connected at one end to the upright frame member 29 with their distant ends extending to and just beyond the exit end of the rear side wall 13. Each of the transverse frame members 31, 32 has an extending latch pin 33, 34, extending just beyond the rear side wall 13, the purpose of which will be further described below. The first exit door panel 28 further includes an intermediate transversely extending frame member 35 with suitable upright frame members and an infilled panel material (sheet metal, ply wood or the like) forming a lower door section 36. A fixed upright but angled frame member 37 is connected to the upper frame member 31 and to the intermediate frame member 35. A suitable infill material (e.g. sheet metal, plywood, metal mesh or the like) is secured to the frame members 29, 31, 35 and 37. The angled upright frame member 37 leaves an open space 38 adjacent an upper portion of the exit end of the rear side wall 13 which is wider adjacent the upper transverse frame member 31 and narrower adjacent the intermediate frame member 35. The open space 38 is provided to permit a neck and head region of an animal intended to be restrained in the treatment zone 16, to pass therethrough when the first exit door panel 28 is held in its closed position. The first exit door panel 28 also includes an upright bar member 39 pivoted at 40 to the intermediate transverse frame member 35 with an upper section 41 within the open space 38 and a lower section 42 pivotally connected at 43 to a hydraulic actuator ram 44 whereby, upon actuation of the ram 44, the upper section 41 of the upright bar member 39 is moved across the open space 38 to engage and

2014233567 24 Sep 2014 hold a neck region of a restrained animal in the treatment zone 16 with the neck and head region of the animal being pressed towards the rear side wall 13.

[0024] The exit door configuration 27 may further include a second exit door panel 45 hingedly connected by hinge means to an exit end of the rear side wall 13 such that the upper and lower edges of the second exit door panel 45 fit between the upper and intermediate transverse frame members 31 and 35 of the first exit door panel 28. Conveniently the inner surface of the second exit door panel 45 may be covered by an elastomeric mat material 47 similar to that which covers the inner surface of the rear side wall 13. The second exit door panel 45 may pivot generally between positions where the inner surface provides essentially a continuance of the inner surface of the rear side wall 13, and a position where the second exit door panel 45 overlies the open space 38 of the first exit door panel 28. Rather than being hinged, the second exit door panel 45 might be formed as a rigid extension of the rear side wall 13. Ultimately, when any treatment process is completed on an animal in the treatment zone 16 and any other restraints are removed from the animal, the first exit door panel 28 is delatched and the animal can push through the first exit door panel to exit the apparatus 10.

[0025] The apparatus 10 further includes a support stand 50 positioned outwardly from but adjacent to a rear outwardly facing surface 51 of the rear side wall 13 of the restraint enclosure 11. The support stand 50 and the restraint enclosure 11 are connected together by hinge means 52 defining a generally horizontal pivot axis adjacent to and parallel to the rear outwardly facing surface of the restraint enclosure 11, the hinge means 52 being located above ground level whereby the restraint enclosure 11 can be swung by operation of a hydraulic jack 53 pivotally connected at 97 to the rear wall 13 from a first generally ground engaging upright position (Figure 2) adjacent the support stand 50 to a second elevated position where the rear outwardly surface of the rear wall 13 of the restraint enclosure 11 approaches a horizontal plane and engages support elements 51 on the support stand 50. In practice the disposition of the restraint

2014233567 24 Sep 2014 enclosure would normally be inclined slightly to the horizontal in the second elevated position. In the first upright position, the lower open face 25 of the restraint enclosure 11 faces toward the ground and allows an operator to walk a desired animal through the entrance end wall 14 into the treatment zone 16. In the second elevated position of the restraint enclosure, the animal, now restrained in the treatment zone 16, is positioned on its side against the inner surface of the rear side wall 13, with its hooves and legs (at least) being accessible through the now sideways directed open lower face 25 of the restraint enclosure 11. The hydraulic actuator ram 53 is provided connected between the restraint enclosure 11 and the support stand to enable the restraint enclosure 11 to be moved from the first upright position to the second elevated sideways located position and of course in a return direction once any treatment process on the animal has been completed. Control means 54 are provided to operate the various hydraulic actuators and of cause a suitable system for operating same is also provided.

[0026] The apparatus 10 further includes restraint means 60 that includes one or more belts or straps 61 that are fitted and engage with the underneath of the body section of an animal within the treatment zone 16 between the forward and rearward legs of the animal. In the illustrated preferred embodiment two spaced belts are shown but it should be recognized that one belt or strap 61 or more than two belts or straps 61 could be employed. The restraint belts or straps 61 have one end fixed to an elevated region of the rear side wall 13. The position of fixing of this end of the belts or straps 61 to the wall 13 may be adjustable but not during a treatment process. The other ends of the belts or straps 61 are connected to a cradle member 62. The cradle member 62 has a hinge structure 65 connecting the cradle member 62 to the side wall 13 above the opening 24 whereby the cradle member 62 can move through the opening 24 in the rear side wall 13 from a substantially withdrawn position where most or all of the cradle member 62 is outward of the rear side wall 13, to an operative position where the cradle member 62 substantially spans the transverse dimension of the treatment zone 16. The cradle member 62 includes connection pins 66 distant from the hinge pivot pins 64, the connection pins 66 enabling connection of the belts or

2014233567 24 Sep 2014 straps 61 to the cradle member 62. A U shaped bar or other support structure 67 forms the connection pins 66 to the pivot pins 64 such that when the cradle member 62 is in its extended operative position, the belts or straps are engaging the underneath body or belly regions of the animal and the cradle support structure 67 is positioned below the belts or straps 62. A suitable hydraulic actuator 68 is provided to pivot the cradle member 62 between its operative and inoperative positions. The arrangement of the restraint means 60 is such that when the cradle member is in the non-operative withdrawn position (Figure 1), the belts or straps 61 do not extend across the treatment zone 16 and provide no risk to an animal entering the treatment zone. A portion of the belts or straps 61 may hang down along the inner surface of the rear side wall 13 of the restraint enclosure 11 but this provides no risk to animals entering the enclosure 11. Once an animal in the treatment zone 16 has been restrained by moving the cradle member 62 to its operative position (Figure 2) and engaging the belts or straps 61 with the animal and by moving the restraint bar 39 to clamp the neck region of the animal, the restraint enclosure 11 is moved to its elevated tipped sideways position (Figure 3) such that the animal is lying on its side against the rear wall 13. In this position the animal’s legs can be readily and safely further restrained by separately provided restraint elements which can include further straps, chains or clamps, but other devices could equally be employed. The animals legs may typically extend, at least partially through the open lower face 25 of the enclosure 11 when tipped and the legs are typically further restrained in this position.

[0027] The apparatus 10 further includes a latch means 70 (Figures 5 and 6) engageable with the latch pins 33, 34 of the first exit door panel 28. The latch means 70 comprises a pair of pivoted latch arms 71,72 respectively engageable with one of the latch pins 33, 34, the latch arms 71,72 being pivotable about pivots 91,92 to a position when desired to release the pins 33, 34 to allow the first exit door panel 28 to be pushed open. One of the latch arms 71 is L-shaped and a link bar 75 with an operators grip 76 is connected to the free upwardly extending leg or the latch arm 71 such that the operator can manipulate the connected latch arm 71 to an open position by pulling the link bar 75. The link bar 75 sits in a recessed slot in a guide plate 90. A second link bar 77 connects

2014233567 24 Sep 2014 the latch arms 71, 72 such that they move in unison. A safety retainer bar 78 has an upper free end 79 engageable with the link bar 75 to control movement of same. The upper end 79 of the safety retainer bar 78 is hook shaped with a free leg 93 fitting between protuberances 94, 95 on the forward facing side 96 of the link bar 75. When engaged in this position the safety retainer bar 78 prevents the link bar 75 being moved in a fore and aft direction thereby ensuring the latch arms 71, 72 remain in the latched condition. The safety retainer bar 78 is movable in an up and down direction and is urged by spring means 80 in the down direction towards a position retaining the link bar 75 in a position retaining the latch arms 73, 74 in the latching position. The lower end 81 of the retainer bar 78 is engageable by the cradle member 62 when its withdrawn inoperative position to move the retainer bar 78 upwardly against the urging forces of the spring means 80 thereby permitting the operator to disengage the latch arms 71,72 from the latch pins 33, 34. Alternatively, when the cradle member 62 is moved to its inner operative position the retainer bar 78 is either disengaged from the cradle member 62 or moves downwardly with the cradle member 62 such that movement of the bar 28 is downwards under action of the spring means 80 to retain the link bar 75 and prevent the latch arms 71, 72 being moved to a delatching position. In this manner, the first exit door panel 28 is prevented from being inadvertently opened when the restraining belts or straps 61 remain operatively in place.

[0028] The access door 17 at the entrance end wall 14 has upper and lower laterally extending pins 98, 99 from the non-hinged upright free edge adjacent the rear wall 13 in the closed position of the door 17, An access door latch means 100 is provided engageable with the pins 98, 99 to retain the door 17 closed when desired. The access door latch means 100 may comprise an upper pivotable latch arm 101 pivotal about a pivot 102 and a lower pivotable latch arm 103 pivotal about a pivot 104, the latch arms 101 and 103 being connected by a link member 105 such that the latch arms 101, 103 move in unison. A spring loaded but releasable retainer pin 106 is engageable with the upper latch arm 101 to hold the latch arms in the illustrated latched position. The pin 106 is, however movable against its spring loading to allow the latch arms 101, 103 to be pivoted

2014233567 24 Sep 2014 upwardly to a delatched position permitting the door 17 to be opened when desired. A rigid handle 110 connected to the link member 105 may be provided to assist with movement of the link member 105 upwardly to a delatching position.

[0029] The entrance door 17 is formed with a lower panel 111 and an upper panel 112 spaced outwardly from the lower panel when viewed in the direction of Figure 6. The upper panel 112 is supported by door structural members 113 and 114. The arrangement is to provide a door with an internal shape approximating the shape of a rear end of a cow.

[0030] Conveniently the first exit door panel member 28 has an upwardly extending bar 115 rigidly connected to an upper edge of the door panel member 28. A rope or similar member 116 is secured at one end to the upper end of the bar 115 with the rope 116 being passed through eyelets 117 secured to frame members of the restraining enclosure 11 to be passed to a position at the entrance end 14 of the enclosure 11. The rope member 116 allows an operator at the entrance end 14 to close the exit door panel member 28 when desired after an animal has exited the enclosure 11 by pushing through the exit door.

[0031] While the latch means 70 provides one method of preventing the exit door configuration 27 being inadvertently opened when the restraining belts or straps 61 remain operatively in place, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other means of achieving this result can be used within the scope of the annexed claims. Similarly the access door latch means 100 could also be varied if desired. The annexed drawings and above description illustrate one preferred embodiment but other modifications can be provided within the scope of the annexed claims.

Claims (18)

1. THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

   1. Treatment apparatus for animals including an animal restraining structure having first and second opposed side walls defining a treatment zone therebetween, an entrance door configuration at one end of said treatment zone, and an exit door configuration at an opposite end of said treatment zone, said treatment zone having an open lower face, said first side wall being connected by first pivot means to a support stand whereby the restraining structure is pivotal relative to the support stand about a substantially horizontal pivot axis defined by said first pivot means, between a first upright position where the open lower face is directed downwardly and a second position where the open lower face is directed sideways, actuation means to selectably move said restraining structure between said first upright position and said second position, said treatment apparatus being characterized by at least one animal restraining belt or strap positionable in an operable position, in use, underneath and engaging an animals body section when the animal is standing in said treatment zone, the or each said belt or strap having a first end secured to said first side wall at a first elevated connection location, the or each said belt or strap having an opposed end carried by a cradle member pivotally mounted by second pivot means at a first side zone to said first side wall and the opposed end of the or each said belt or strap being connected to a second side zone of the cradle member opposite said first side zone, said cradle member further being selectably pivotally movable between a first operational position where the second side zone of the cradle member traverses all or a substantial part of said treatment zone and a second non-operational position where said second side zone is positioned adjacent to or outwardly of said first side wall, wherein the second side wall has a hingedly mounted first door structure extending over a full length of said second side wall and configured to open the length of said second side wall to provide increased access to said treatment zone, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a control means adapted to control said first and second pivot means, positioned outwardly of said first side wall.
2. 2. Treatment apparatus according to claim 1 wherein two or more spaced said belts or straps are provided.

   2014233567 19 May 2015
3. 3. Treatment apparatus according to claim 1 or ciaim 2 wherein structural frame means connects said first side zone to said second side zone of the cradle member, said structural frame means defining a U-shape with the or each said belt or strap being positioned above said structural frame means when said cradle member is in said first operational position.
4. 4. Treatment apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said structural frame means includes a first leg having said second pivot means formed at one end, said first leg being positioned in the plane of or parallel to the plane of said first side wall when the cradle member is in said first operational position.
5. 5. Treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said cradle member is pivotal through an open space in said first side wall when moving between said first operational position and said second non-operational position.
6. 6. Treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein latch means is provided operable with said exit door configuration to selectably hold said exit door configuration in a latched position or to release said latch means to allow said exit door configuration to be opened, control means to hold said latch means in said latched position in response to the or each said belt or strap being in said operative position, said control means permitting release of said latch means only when the or each said belt or strap is in said inoperative position.
7. 7. Treatment apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said control means includes a mechanical link arrangement operable between said latch means and a support for the or each said belt or strap.
8. 8. Treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein latch means is provided operable with said exit door configuration to seiectably hold said exit door configuration in a latched position or to release said latch means to allow said exit door configuration to be opened, a mechanical control means

   2014233567 19 May 2015 cooperable with said latch means and urged towards a position holding said latch means in said latched position, said mechanical control means being movable to release positions against urging forces applied to said mechanical control means in response to said cradle member being moved to said second non-operational position, said mechanical control means in said release position permitting deiatching of said latch means.
9. 9. Treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said exit door configuration includes a first door panel member hinged to pivotally move about a substantially vertical axis, said first door panel member having a substantially open region spaced from said substantially vertical axis, said first door panel member further including a pivotal lock bar member adapted to be pivotally moved across at least part of said substantially open region whereby a neck region of an animal retained in said treatment zone is engageable by said lock bar member to restrain a head region of said animal.
10. 10. Treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said exit door configuration includes a second door panel member hinged to pivotally move about a substantially vertical axis coincident with or adjacent to a forward end of said first side wall, said first side wall forming at least a partial extension of first side wall in a first pivotal position and extending laterally inwardly from said first side wall towards said second side wall in a second pivotal position.
11. 11. Treatment apparatus according to claim 10 wherein an inner surface of said second door panel member carries an elastomeric mat material.
12. 12. Treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein an inner surface of said first side wall carries an elastomeric mat material.
13. 13. Treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said first side wall includes a first extension zone extending forwardly beyond said exit door configuration, said first extension zone having a size sufficient to engage an

    2014233567 24 Oct 2019 animals head when the animal is restrained in said treatment zone with a neck region of the animal passing through said exit door configuration.
14. 14. Treatment apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first door structure extends along at least a lower edge zone of said second side wall.
15. 15. Treatment apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one further door structure is hingedly mounted and forms an upper or lower part of said second side wall.
16. 16. Treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein said restraining structure includes multiple spaced rigid frame members, each said frame member having a rear upright leg positioned in a rear one of said side walls and a transversely extending support bar terminating at forward one of said side walls, said forwardly extending support bars traversing said treatment zone and providing an upper limit to said treatment zone.
17. 17. Treatment apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a forward end of eh said transversely extending support bar is rigidly connected to a longitudinally extending frame member forming part of said forward one of said side walls.
18. 18. Treatment apparatus according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein three or more said transversely extending support bars are provided.