GB2258987A

GB2258987A - Livestock handling device

Info

Publication number: GB2258987A
Application number: GB9117488A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Edward Mudge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-08-13
Filing date: 1991-08-13
Publication date: 1993-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-13
Also published as: GB9117488D0; GB2258987B; IE922576A1

Abstract

A livestock handling device comprises a frame 13, first and second gates 14 and 24 hinged to the frame about first and second axes 21 and 29, a handle 38 coupled to the first gate so as to be pivotable about axis 39, a plate 34 fixed to frame 13 and formed with notches A-D selectively engageable by part 40 of handle 38 to hold an extent of opening of the first gate, and a link 41 between the first and second gates extending across a line linking the first and second axes so that the second gate follows movement of the first. An animal can thus be held between the gate for treatment, e.g trimming. <IMAGE>

Description

LIVESTOCK HANDLING DEVICE This invention relates to a livestock handling device. It is particularly concerned with a device serving to temporarily restrain sheep or animals of roughly similar size such as goats, calves or pigs. It enables an animal to be readily restrained in an upright stance so it can, for example, be trimmed or treated.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a livestock handling device comprising: (1) a frame; (2) first and second gates hinged on, so as to pivot relative to, the frame about, respectively, first and second axis between a closed position where the inner edges of the gates are in their closest proximity and an open position where the inner edges of the gates are furthest apart; the inner edge of each gate in moving between the closed and open position following a path; the first axis being parallel to, but offset from, the second axis; (3) a handle demountably coupled to the first gate so as to be movable relative to the frame whereby the inner edge of the first gate can be moved along its path between the open and the closed position of the gate; (4) an indexing device for demountable engagement with the handle to provide for the location of the inner edge of the first gate at a predetermined .position along its path; and (5) a link between the first and second gates extending across a line linking the first and second axis so that when the handle is displaced in (i) a first direction about the first axis to cause the first gate to move towards its closed position the second gate is caused by the link to move towards its closed position, and (ii) an opposite direction to the first about the first axis to cause the first gate to move towards its open position the second gate is caused by the link to move towards its open position.

By making use of an indexing device and a demountable handle it becomes possible to limit the closed position of the gates so that a gap of predetermined size is left between the inner edges of the gate to enable a sheep or animal of similar size to be temporarily held securely against movement.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a hurdle or pen for retaining or guiding animals incorporating a livestock handling device according to the first aspect of the present invention.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying perspective view seen from above of a sheep yoke.

Sheep pen 11 has an access opening 12 bounded by a tubular steel frame 13.

First gate 14 with upper plate 15, lower rail 16, outer vertical tube 17 and centre tube 18 is mounted in the frame 13 by way of hinge pivots 19, 20 to pivot about first axis 21 causing the outer edge of lower rail 16 to follow a path P1.

Second gate 22 with upper plate 23, lower rail 24, outer vertical tube 25 and centre tube 26 is mounted in the frame 13 by way of hinge pivots 27, 28 to pivot about second axis 29 causing the outer edge of lower rail 24 to follow a path P2.

As will be described hereafter the limits of travel of the first gate 14 and second gate 22 along their respective paths P1, P2, and so gap G between the outer vertical tubes of the gates, can be varied.

The upper plate 15 of first gate 14 is of approximately L-shaped in plan.

The upper plate 23 of second gate 22 is approximately L-shaped in plan and contains am aperture 32.

Side rail R of frame 13 has secured to it an indexing plate 34 which has a cutouts A, B, C in its outer edge 37.

Handle 38 is pivoted for rotation about axis 39 in column 41 so that inner end 40 of the handle can be swung into or out of engagement with a selected one of the cutouts A, B, C or D (C being obscured in the present drawing by column 41). In this case the handle 38 has been manipulated to locate inner end 40 with cutout B. As a consequence the position of gate 14 along path P1 is fixed.

Opening and closing motion applied directly to first gate 14 by way of handle 38 is transmitted to the second gate 18 by way of a rigid link 41. End 42 of the link 41 is pivotably mounted in aperture 32 in plate 23 at the top of second gate 18. At the top of first gate 14 end 43 of the link 41 is pivotably mounted in aperture 42. By these means any motion applied to first gate 14 by way of the handle 38 is transmitted to second gate 22. Similarly the effect of cutout B serves to limit the travel of second gate 18 along path P2.

The handle 38 and the link 41 ensure that with an animal part-way through the gates between outer vertical tubes 17, 25 the handle 38 is drawn to close the gates as far as possible and then dropped into the appropriate cut-out A, B or C so as to firmly retain the animal in a standing position without injury. The animal is then readily sheared or medicated or whatever and once the operation is completed the gates are opened and the animal allowed to move on into the main part of pen 11. Once use of the yoke has been completed the handle 38 is operated to locate end 40 in cut-out D to keep the gates 14, 22 in their closed position with gap G at a minimum.

While the specific embodiment refers particularly to the handling of sheep it is also applicable to other animals of similar size such as calves, goats or pigs. The embodiment also utilises the device in a pen. It can equally well be used in a hurdle, fence or as an outlet from a vehicle or trailer.

Claims

1A livestock handling device comprising: (I) a frame; (2) first and second gates hinged on, so as to pivot relative to, the frame about, respectively, first and second axis between a closed position where the inner edges of the gates are in their closest proximity and an open position where the inner edges of the gates are furthest apart; the inner edge of each gate in moving between the closed and open position following a path; the first axis being parallel to, but offset from, the second axis; (3) a handle demountably coupled to the first gate so as to be movable relative to the frame whereby the inner edge of the first gate can be moved along its path between the open and the closed position of the gate; (4) an indexing device for demountable engagement with the handle to provide for the location of the inner edge of the first gate at a predetermined position along its path; and (5) a link between the first and second gates extending across a line linking the first and second axis so that when the handle is displaced in (i) a first direction about the first axis to cause the first gate to move towards its closed position the second gate is caused by the link to move towards its closed position; and (ii) an opposite direction to the first about the first axis to cause the first gate to move towards its open position the second gate is caused by the link to move towards its open position.

2 A hurdle or pen for retaining or guiding animals incorporating a livestock handling device as claimed in Claim 1.

3 A livestock handling device as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.