AU616559B2 - Livestock drafting equipment - Google Patents

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1952 0* o 0 0 *0 0 0 Name of Applicant o Address of Applicant 0 0 Actual Inventors *ea -Address for Service ,9 a S THE STATE OF QUEENSLAND Department of Primary Industries, 82 Ann Street, Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia S DAVID JOHN HIRST LESLIE WICKSTEED S GRANT ADAMS COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, Level 9 NATIONAL MUTUAL CENTRE 144 Edward Street, BRISBANE. QUEENSLAND. 4000

AUSTRALIA.

0 0 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: "LIVESTOCK DRAFTING EQUIPMENT" The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to the applicant.

7 p The present invention relates to livestock drafting equipment.

It is often desirable especially in farm situations to separate selected animals from a mob (or herd) of animals e.g calves may be separated from adult cattle; sheep may be separated from cattle.

Using the example of separation of calves and adult cattle, the normal procedure for their separation has been labour-intensive methods of manual drafting either by horse, on foot, or by use of working dogs; or by use of normally operated gates upon movement of the animals through yards or crushes.

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a4 0 Some means of "automatic mustering" is a currently used e.g in the cattle industry, whereby so- 15 called spear gates may be mounted on yards surrounding ea S( the water supply for the animals. Cattle "paddocked" in large paddocks may then be confined to smaller yards upon entering through the spear trap to gain access to their water. Further handling of the cattle is then much easier from that smaller yard. However, this o process does not distinguish between different groups and classes of animals.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a drafting system whereby the manual labour requirement for the separation of stock of different sizes is eliminated or reduced.

It is a preferred object to provide a drafting system for the separation of stock of different sizes which is operated by the animals themselves based upon animal behaviour characteristics.

Other preferred objects will become apparent from the following description, drawings and preferred embodiment.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention lies broadly in livestock drafting apparatus for separating animals according to size 2 3 comprising: an entrance; a first exit for larger animals communicated with the entrance; and a second exit for smaller animals communicated with the entrance; the first exit having in its lower section, an opaque self closing gate extending from near ground level up to near a height lower than the eye line of the larger animals to be separated and higher than the eye line of the smaller animals; the second exit being visually open in its lower section to smaller animals and open to pass smaller animals therethrough; and 15 the second exit being visually and physically obstructed down to a level below the line of vision of the larger animals to be separated.

CThe general and detailed description of the invention will be explained in terms of separation of cattle and calves but it is to be understood that the invention in no way is considered to be restricted to those two classes of animals e.g sheep and cattle may be similarly separated, horses and foals, horses and sheep, cattle and goats etc. Sheep might be sorted from lambs.

25 In the main, the drafting and mustering j o. apparatus is configured to take advantage of natural behaviour to achieve its operation.

In one embodiment the invention comprises a crush-like arrangement into which cows and calves are directed preferably by means of converging rails fences on both sides thereof. Whilst natural behaviour is taken advantage of stimulus for the cattle to enter the crush may be such as by manual urging by stockmen or dogs. The cattle might be induced to pass the apparatus in seeking drinking water or food on the other side of the crush arrangement. Other lures such as molasses, 1

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3a the crush arrangement. Other lures such as molasses, salt-licks and phosphorous material may also be used.

t s I The crush arrangement is such that the cattle upon entering are presented with two alternative passages for exit, one exit being for use by cows, the other exit for calves. The cow exit comprises a swinging opaque gate with a hinge mechanism for automatic closure thereof, said gate being of such dimensions and hingedly mounted at such a height so that a calf cannot see beyond said cow exit passage when said gate is closed.

The calf exit comprises an opaque obstruction permanently mounted across it extending above and below a height approximating the line of vision of the cows to be drafted to prevent the cows from seeing through the calf exit discouraging attempts by the cows to take that 9 15 exit. Further discouragement may be provided by an *oo opaque flap mounted horizontally at or adjacent to the roe bottom of the permanently mounted obstruction. Below 999999 a said obstructions, one or more spear gates or arms may 994.

o be mounted to allow calves to see through said exit thus encouraging the calves to push the bars outwardly.

Should the calf be of such a size as to require larger vertical space, the horizontal hinge mechanism of said 09*0 9 09 o opaque flap may also be pushed outwardly by the motion of the calf through the exit.

25 Thus, having defined two exits from the crush, oe o enclosures may be arranged about each exit thereby drafting, the cows separately to the calves. In practice the crush mechanism may be placed as e.g. an entrance or exit to the source of water for the cattle thereby providing for the cattle to "practice" the procedure and become accustomed to same, with both exits allowing access to the water. Separate enclosures may then be completed by closing a gate) when it is desired to draft the animals separately.

The invention shall now be described in detail using the best method of performance and reference to the drawings attached hereto wherein: FIG. 1 is a front view of the entrance to a drafting crush; FIG. 2 is a rear view of the cow's exit in closed position; FIG. 3 is a rear view of the calf exit in closed position; FIG. 4 is an enlargement view of primarily the calf exit in an open position; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the spear gate hinge; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a closing mechanism for the opaque gate on the cow exit; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the horizontal a S 15 flap on the calf exit showing adjustable hinges thereon; m FIGS. 8 to 12 show an alternate embodiment of 6 the invention; SFIG. 13 shows an alternate means of supporting a pivotal flap; and FIG. 14 shows an alternate means of supporting a pivot panel.

In a first embodiment, converging rail fences Sao 11 direct cattle towards a crush-like arrangement 13 (hereinafter "crush 131) comprising two uprights 10 and 25 20 through which the cattle may pass freely. A third 4, 4 upright 21 then defines a triangular frame, in plan view, the sides thereof defining entrance 6, cow exit 7, and calf exit 8.

a o Calf exit 8 comprises a visually opaque portion 24 mounted across exit 8 between uprights 10 and S21 at a height spanning the line of vision of the cows to be drafted. Hingedly mounted to uprights 10 and 21 in a horizontal position via adjustable hinges 29 at or adjacent the bottom edge of opaque portion 24 is n 35 adjustable flap 28 made from same or similar opaque material as said portion 24. Below flap 28 at a height at or below the line of vision of the calf to be drafted Ispear gates or arms 26 are hingedly mounted to upright via hinge mechanism 27 (described in more detail below).

In operation calf exit 8 presents an apparently impassable barrier via opaque sections 24 and 28 to the line of vision to cows, while calves are confronted by only spear gates 26. By movement of the calf through spear gates or arms 26, said.spear gates or arms 26 are swung open outwardly and upwardly by action of hinges 27 as indicated in FIG. 4. Should the calf be of sufficient height, flap 28 is also swung outwardly and upwardly by hinge 29. Upon the calf passing Scompletely through exit 8 the action of hinges 27 causes S15 spear gates 26 to close and flap 28 also closes 0e S downwardly by action of gravity. Should a cow em o inadvertently attempt to pass through the calf exit the operation of flap 28 reduces the chances of serious o injury to the cow.

Hinge 27 (shown in detail in FIG. 5) for spear gate or arm 26 consists of a female section 25 mounted with the top of female section 25 inclined towards crush 13 mounted on upright 10. Male section 18 with spear 26 oO00 perpendicularly mounted at 26a to the top thereof is 25 received in female section 25 and by operation of the incline of resultant hinge 27 spears 26 fall inward towards the closed position. Inward movement of spear 26 is limited by any suitable means to provide it with a properly oriented rest position.

J 30 Flap 28 operates via hinges 29 mounted on Suprights 10 and 21. Hinge 29, as one is shown in detail in FIG. 7 comprises a bracket 32 fixed vertically to upright 21. Bracket 32 contains a plurality of holes 32a along its vertical length, said holes 32a adapted to receive bolts 31 which extend in a male fashion into a female receptor 33 mounted along or near the top edge of flap 28. Rotation of bolt 31 within the holes 32a or rotation of female receptor 33 about the male extension of bolt 31 (not shown) effect a hinged movement of flap 28. The height of flap 28 may be adjusted by selecting various holes 32a in which to hinge said flap 28.

Cow exit 7 comprises a visually opaque gate 14 hingedly mounted to upright 20 via hinge 15. Gate 14 extends from a height adjacent or slightly above ground level to a height approximating chest height of the cow to be drafted (or in any event a height less than the line of vision of the cow to be drafted) so that said average cows are able to see over gate 14 when inside or partially inside crush 13. The height of gate 14 is Salso such that a calf is unable to see over it. At a 00 0o S 15 height approximating the line of vision of said cow a 0000 single spear 16 is hingedly mounted to upright 20 via 000o hinge arrangement 19 more completely illustrated in FIG.

0000: 5. The positioning of spear 16 is so as to influence 0.00 the cattle to pass through the cow exit 7 slowly and to discourage them from jumping opaque gate 14. In operation, the cattle push against gate 14 and spear 16 causing gate 14 to open outward by hinge mechanism 0000 and spear 16 to open outward and upward by hinge mechanism 19. Once passed through exit 7 gate 14 and 0e0 0 000 mechanism 19. Oc asdtruhei ae1 n 25 spear 16 swing automatically back to the closed 0 :0 position.

Hinge mechanism 15 (illustrated in detail in FIG. 6) is a self-centering hinge mechanism which can be 0o- used in the present invention comprising upright 20 of 000 0 circular cross section with sleeve 22 concentrically mounted over said upright 20. Gate 14 together with its support frame (not shown) can be fixed onto sleeve 22.

At a point below gate 14, sleeve 22 is cut at an angle sloping downwardly from inside to outside crush 13 thereby forming sleeve sections 23 and 24. When sleeve 22 is rotated around shaft 20 by the opening of gate 14 the lower outside edge 24a is caused to ride up the corresponding edge of sleeve section 23 which is fixed relative to upright 20. After the cow passes through cow exit 7, gate 14 will swing to the closed position by the tendency of lower outside edge 24a to rotate back down to its corresponding edge 23a on sleeve section 23.

The efficiency of this mechanism may be enhanced by use of a spring (not shown) to urge gate 14 closed.

Hinge 19 for the operation of spear 16, mounted on upright 20 and can be of the same type as hinges 27 described in the foregoing.

All surfaces which may present a sharp surface to the cattle e.g the bottom of flap 28 and top and So sides of gate 14 have rounded edges 15 The FIGS. 8 to 12 show another embodiment a~h wherein at one exit there is provided a panel 41 o °pivotally mounted on a vertical axis to be pushed aside a a I by larger animals able to see over it. A cutout 55 may be provided to attract the animal to the end away from o the pivot for easy operation against the bias of spring acting on lever arm 44 attached orthogonally to the axle 56 on which panel 41 pivots. The panel 41 may be held open by operatively inserting locking rod 47, by action of its handle 48, into locking post 46 that serves to limit the degree of opening of panel 41. A locking chain 49 might be provided to hold the gate at

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various width openings from open to closed to train animals as they pass through to familiarise them with the gates operation and feel.

4 The other exit of the drafting apparatus has a Slower opening with a spear gate 43 across it to prevent smaller animals passed therethrough from returning back through the exit. A view past this exit is prevented to larger animals by the opaque panel 51 and the flap 42.

A panel 50 may restrict the width of the exit. The flap 42 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis through pivots 53 and 54 and its rearward movement is prevented by stop bar 52. It may move forwardly so as to not catch the shoulders, hips etc of animals that might be tall enough to be at the vertical limit of a fixed flap.

FIG. 13 shows a means by which flap 42 beneath strengthening edging 62 may be pivotally hung beneath panel 51. Opposed lugs 63 and 64 are freely connected by a bolt means allowing angular movement.

FIG. 14 shows an alternate means of pivoting a panel 57 attached to an axle 58 captured at its upper 00:n0 end in journal 59 and at its lower end in block 60 with a thrust plate 61 on axle 58 to support the panels weight.

9 Various changes and modifications may be made :15 to the embodiment described and illustrated without departing from the present invention @0o0 o r o o

Claims (8)

1. 2. Livestock drafting apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the first and second exits adjoin each other such that an animal at the entrance is faced by both exits.
2. 3. Livestock drafting apparatus as claimed in either one of Claims 1 or 2 wherein the gate of the i:i. first exit is an opaque vertically hinged panel biased to a closed position whereat a smaller animal does not see past it, which panel is able to be pushed against the bias to allow passage therepast, the bias resulting from a spring means holding the panel closed.
3. 4. Livestock drafting apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the panel top edge is provided with a cut out to a lower level at its outer end. Livestock drafting apparatus as claimed in either one of Claims 3 or 4 wherein the panel is provided with a vertically movable locking rod able to r 11 be operatively engaged in a vertically extended tube projected from the ground behind the panel.
4. 6. A livestock drafting apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the second exit is provided with a horizontally hinged flap biased to a closed position by its own weight and mounted at a point to put its lower edge above the eyeline of smaller animals.
5. 7. A livestock drafting apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 wherein one or more spear gates are provided beneath the flap to prevent animals moving back through the exit. o 55 54 t 55
6. 8. 1A livestock drafting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the entrance and 15 the first and second exits are provided at three sides of a triangle, in plan view, with upright posts at each corner with upper crosspieces to establish. a support frame, the various panels, flaps and spear gates being pivotally mounted to the posts.
7. 9. A livestock drafting apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the panels, flaps and spear gates which are mounted to the upright posts, are biased by their weight to a closed position.
8. 10. A livestock drafting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this twenty-fifth day of July 1991. THE STATE OF QUEENSLAND, by its Patent Attorneys, GRANT ADAMS COMPANY.