U.S. patent application number 10/355175 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-03 for sty for sows having piglets.
Invention is credited to Kongsgaard, Bjarne.
Application Number | 20030121478 10/355175 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8093895 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030121478 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kongsgaard, Bjarne |
July 3, 2003 |
Sty for sows having piglets
Abstract
A sty (2) for sows having piglets is described. The sty (2) may
be built having the same area requirements as for sties for bounded
sows but may be used for untethered sows. This takes place in that
a rectangular sty department (1) is divided by a diagonal wall (5)
which is adjacent to a corner of a rectangular climate department
(7) for piglets which are placed at each corner of the sty
department (1). In order to establish natural lying positions (11)
for the sow the sty (2) comprises mounted devices (10) in the floor
which simultaneously protects the piglets against squeezing when
the sow lies down.
Inventors: |
Kongsgaard, Bjarne;
(Silkeborg, DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James C. Wray
Suite 300
1493 Chain Bridge Road
McLean
VA
22101
US
|
Family ID: |
8093895 |
Appl. No.: |
10/355175 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10355175 |
Jan 31, 2003 |
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09743515 |
Jan 11, 2001 |
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09743515 |
Jan 11, 2001 |
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PCT/DK99/00181 |
Mar 26, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
119/503 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 1/0218
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/503 |
International
Class: |
A01K 001/02; A01K
003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 2, 1998 |
DK |
0468/98 |
Claims
1. Sty for sows having piglets where by means of four walls a
rectangular sty department is provided in which a substantially
rectangular climate department for the piglets is made in a corner
or in two diagonally opposite corners of the sty department where a
substantially diagonal wall is placed, said wall being adjacent to
that or the inner corners of the climate departments for forming of
two separate substantially triangular sties where at least the
diagonal wall is long enough so that the sow can lie down along
this and where each sty comprises devices mounted in the floor for
protecting the piglets against squeezing when the sow lies
down.
2. Sty according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the other
walls in each sty also is long enough so that the sow can lie down
along this wall.
3. Sty according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the
diagonal wall in each end is extended by a side wall for the
climate department in such a way that this has an open side which
ends in a comer of the sty.
4. Sty according to claim 3, characterized in that the
feeding/drinking trough for the sow is placed in that corner of the
sty which is adjacent to the climate department of the neighbouring
sty.
5. Sty according to claim 4, characterized in that at least a part
of the outer wall is hinged to the remaining part of the outer wall
in a position close to the trough of the sow and that said part is
intended for being swung and being fastened in a position parallel
to the diagonal wall.
6. Sty according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in
that the rectangular sty department has a width of between 2000 and
2600 mm, preferably of between 2200 and 2400 mm and a length of
between 2800 and 3400 mm, preferably of between 3000 and 3200 mm,
and that each climate department has a width of be
Description
[0001] It is well known to built sties for sows having piglets
according to different principles dependent upon whether the sows
are bound or allowed to walk freely within the sty. In the most
recent years it has been usual to place the sows in the so-called
farrows sties in which the sow is bound. The piglets can then walk
freely on each side of the sow and will also have a possibility for
placing themselves on a hot plate or its like in a climate
department in which a comfort temperature exists which has been
adjusted to the piglets. In order to avoid that the piglets are
squeezed to death under the sow when it lies down, protecting
devices are applied in form of metal bars on each side of the sow.
When the sow lies down the piglets will thus could escape to the
free area on each side of the sow.
[0002] In stables for untethered sows protecting rings will be
placed along the walls of the sty, which protecting rings will
impede the piglets from being squeezed against the walls. By a
loose-housing system the sow can usually place itself along any
wall or in any position on the floor. The known sties for
loose-housing system are disadvantageous by being very room
demanding in relation to the room required in sties where the sows
are bound.
[0003] In the recent years there has been an increased
understanding to use sties where the sows having piglets can walk
freely around and optionally lie down in various positions. This
wish has until now not been so widespread because of the
essentially increased costs due to the bigger requirement for room.
Moreover, many stables are today built according to modules which
are determining for the total size of the stable, the placing for
the transference devices for feed, water and the like. Moreover,
these modules are determining with respect to the placing of the
walls for division of the stable in various sty sections.
[0004] In the known stables where sows are with piglets until these
are weaned from the mother sow, there is an additional
disadvantage. This disadvantage is to be seen in the requirement
for frequent cleaning. Each time a sty is emptied both the sow and
the piglets are removed from the sty and there will be a need for
cleaning before new animals are placed in the sty.
[0005] In spite of an increased industrialisation within pig
breeding there has until now been no suggestions about the building
of stables in a way which considers the wish about the
loose-housing system, which considers the need of the sow to move
around freely and with the avoidance of the risk of squeezing the
piglets and which concurrently makes it possible to have an
effective use of the stable which is comparable to the use of the
room which is known from stables with binding of the sows.
[0006] In an example of a sty which partly considers the above
wishes about a loose-housing system is described in Norwegian
Patent No. 180,401. Here it is described how a sty can be build
with two or more boxes within four outer walls. The boxes are
subdivided by means of further dividing walls to create room for
sows and for piglets. By increase of the piglets the central
dividing walls can be moved and/or removed so that the piglets can
walk within the same four outer walls under growth and fattening
until slaughtering. The building of these sties makes it impossible
to consider the module measures which are used in existing sties
with clamping. Even though the sties are made to be usable during
the growth of the pigs, a wish of effective use of the stable area
has not been fulfilled.
[0007] It is the object of the present invention to provide a
building of a stable which considers these wishes and which
simultaneously enables it to make a rebuilding of the existing
sties in which the animals are bound to sties where the animals are
loose without any need for essential rebuildings or changes in the
existing modules which are used in the various building elements in
the stable.
[0008] This is achieved by the present invention with a sty in
which a rectangular sty department results by means of four walls
where in a corner or in two diagonally opposite corners of the sty
department a substantially rectilinear climate department for the
piglets is formed where a substantially diagonal wall has been
placed adjacent to that or those inner corners of the climate
departments to form two separate substantially triangular sties
where at least the diagonal wall is so long that the sow may lie
along this, and where each sty comprises mounted devices in the
floor to protect the piglets against squeezing when the sow lays
down.
[0009] With such a sty it is possible that the four walls which
provide the rectangular sty department can be placed according to
the same modules or even be existing separating walls from a stable
with bound sows. By placing the climate departments in each
diagonally opposite corner and divide the sty with a diagonal wall
a sufficient length is obtained so that a sow at least can lie down
along the diagonal wall. If existing modules are used, one of the
outer walls will also have a sufficient length so that the sow man
lay down along this wall.
[0010] The climate departments which are placed in the corner can
be provided with hot plates or other hot devices and have a cover
to create the wanted comfortable temperature for the piglets. Each
of these climate departments will at one side be closed towards one
of the sty sections while another side will turn towards the sty
where the mother sow is placed.
[0011] By placing protecting devices which prevent the squeeze of
the piglets against the floor a freedom is obtained in relation to
the known placing where protection rings traditionally are used
which are fastened to the side walls. By mounting protecting
devices in appropriate positions a security is thus obtained
against squeezing of the piglets when the sow lays down in one or
another position. The positioning of the protecting rings may
simultaneously be determining for the forming of the natural laying
down positions of the sow within the sty in such a way that the
piglets always can escape.
[0012] Each rectangular sty department which comprises two
triangular sties can be prepared by letting the rectangular sty
department have a width between 2000 and 2600 mm, preferably
between 2200 and 2400 mm and a length between 2800 and 3400 mm,
preferably between 3000 and 3200 mm and that each climate
department has a width between 500 and 700 mm, preferably 600 mm,
and a length between 700 and 900 mm, preferably 800 mm. These
measures correspond to the known modules when building sties where
the sows are bound. In the known stables such a rectangular sty
department will thus comprise two rectangular sties, where a sow is
bound in each sty having the head oriented in the one
direction.
[0013] By building the sty according to the invention it will be
possible to place the climate department for the piglets in one
corner or to place a climate department in two diagonal opposite
comers of the sty. If the climate department is placed in the one
comer of the sty section each of the two climate departments will
additionally have a triangular form, because they then will be
divided by a diagonal wall within the climate department.
[0014] However, it is preferred that a climate department is placed
in each diagonally opposite corner of the sty. In this embodiment a
prolongation of the diagonal wall is established having a side wall
for each climate department, so that this will have a closed side
towards the other sty and an open side leading to the sty where the
mothersow walks. In this embodiment the feed and drinking trough of
the sow will preferably be placed in that comer of the sty which is
adjacent to the climate department of the neighbouring sty.
[0015] The animals can be fed with a central feeding plant having
pipe feeding automatic machines which are well-known within the
art. By placing the feeding troughs in each diametrically opposite
comer of the sty department two parallel transference pipes for
feeding/water will thus be applied. Alternatively, a central
feeding transference pipe having a branch to each of the two
feeding/drinking troughs can be applied.
[0016] Although the sty is arranged for a untethered sow it will
appropriate to be able to use the stable for fixing of the sow if
it is an aggressive sow where there is a risk that the piglets will
be eaten. This may be obtained if the sty is characterised in that
at least a part of the outer wall is hinged to the remaining part
of the outer wall in a position close to the trough of the sow and
that said part is arranged for being swung to and remain fastened
in a position parallel to the diagonal wall. It will thus be
possible to fix the sow and reduce the risk that she will attack
the piglets.
[0017] It is preferred that the upper part of the side wall is
swung into the sty and leave a lower part of the side wall in its
original position in order to hinder the piglets from running out
from the sty. It will be sufficient to swing the upper part of the
side wall into the sty in order to hinder the free movement of the
sow. The part of the outer wall which is swung into the sty may by
means of a connecting rod be fastened to the diagonal wall and/or
by means of a post which is mounted in the floor of the sty.
Moreover, a pivoting part of the outer wall will ease the user's
access to the sty which may be appropriate when the piglets are to
be looked after and possibly are to be given medicine.
[0018] In order to create comfort by the sow and piglets it is
preferred that a sty according to the invention is characterised in
that at the corner of the sty by the climate department a dosing
device is procured which is arranged for dosage of bedding out on
the floor of the sty as a consequence of the influence from the
animals and which is connected with a central supply plant or a
funnel formed container in each sty. Due to the nature of the
animals and as the dosing device is placed close to the climate
department a spreading of the bedding in the climate department and
on the floor of the sty which is adjacent to the climate department
will take place. It will thus be possible to make an automatic
bedding in the sty by means of the dosage device.
[0019] The protecting devices will preferably be mushroom-shaped
devices which substantially have a cylindrical stem and a
substantially ball-shaped hat and which have a biggest height over
the floor which makes it possible that the sow can walk across them
and a dimension to the underside of the hat which makes it possible
that the piglets can walk under them. These are fastened to the
floor by means of a resilient bar which at a lower end is provided
with a hook which may be displaced downwards into an opening,
preferably between two grid bars in the floor and may be rotated to
a position for engagement under the grid bars by means of a normal
control lever upon the top side of the ball.
[0020] It is preferred that these protecting devices at least are
placed on a row along at least one wall along which the sow may lie
down. In each row a number of between two and five protecting
devices are used. The number depends on the actual length of the
wall and the length of the sow. Thus a number of devices are used
which ensures that a free side wall having a length which is longer
than the length of the sow does not occur.
[0021] It is preferred to place two to three protecting devices
quite close to the diagonal wall and at each of the two outer walls
in the sty. In order to ensure that the sow lies down in natural
lay positions relatively close along one of the outer walls it is
preferred also to place three protecting devices in the middle of
the sty. Hereby three oblong lie areas along each of the side walls
of the sty are formed.
[0022] As the protecting devices have a highest height which makes
is possible that the sow can walk across them the sow will have a
big freedom of movement in the sty and may turn and walk around in
the sty for either turning toward the feed trough or the climate
department. As the protecting devices are dimensioned so that the
piglets may walk under them it is preferred that the ball-shaped
hat is very flat and possibly can assume a very flat oval
cross-section.
[0023] The protecting devices which are mounted inside the sty will
preferably be made of plastic. In a specific simple embodiment they
can be made of a ball which is placed on the end of a cylindrical
pipe which again stands on a baseplate having a larger diameter to
secure a stabile placing on the floor. Through these elements a
spring bar is placed consisting of an outer and inner pipe which
are in a resilient engagement with each other and where a hook is
placed at the lower side of the inner pipe, which hook can swing
underneath the grid bars in the floor. This is a particularly
simple construction which makes a fastening of the different
elements in the protecting device with the protecting device
fastened concurrently in a random position on the floor
surface.
[0024] Preferably, the floor surface in the sty will be built of
grids and will preferably be built of grids having known module
measures of 40.times.60 cm. With these module measures for a sty
four grids will be used in the width of a rectangular sty
department and in the longitudinal direction of the sty department
eight rows will be used. In the climate department hot plates will
preferably be used which are settable in a frame having module
measures corresponding to the module measures for the individual
grids. The grids which are used for the floor will preferably by
plastic grids. Alternatively, also grids made of cast iron or
concrete may be used and it will also be possible to build a sty
according to the invention having a firm sty floor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0025] The invention will hereafter be explained in more detail
with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing, in which
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a plane view for illustration of a preferred
embodiment of a sty according to the invention,
[0027] FIG. 2 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 1 for illustration
of an alternative embodiment for a sty according to the
invention,
[0028] FIG. 3 shows a perspectival view for illustration of a sty
corresponding to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,
[0029] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view through a protecting device
for use in the sty according to the invention,
[0030] FIG. 5 shows a perspectival view for illustration of a
further embodiment for a protecting device, and
[0031] FIGS. 6-8 show plane views of various stable buildings
having a sty according to the invention.
[0032] In the different figures on the drawings identical or
corresponding elements will be indicated with the same reference
number and a specific explanation to each figure will therefore not
be given. For the sake of the clearness certain parts are left out
in the figures, as the figures only illustrate those elements which
are necessary for the understanding of the invention.
[0033] In the figures a rectangular sty department 1 is shown which
contains two substantially triangular sties 2. The rectangular sty
department 1 is established by means of two pairs of opposite side
walls 3, 4. The division of the sty department 1 in the two sties 2
takes place by means of a diagonal wall 5.
[0034] At each end the diagonal wall 5 in FIG. 1 is extended with
an additional wall 6 which is adjacent to a climate department 7
for the piglets.
[0035] In the upper left corner in the sty department 1 a floor
grid 8 is indicated. The floor grid 8 contains a module measure
which preferably will be 400.times.600 mm and which is used when
building the sty department. Thus, this size is also recovered in
the two hot plates 9 which are indicated in each of the climate
departments 7.
[0036] The sty department 1 which is illustrated is in principle a
sty department which is known from stables where sows are bound. In
such an embodiment the sty department 1 would comprise two
rectangular sties which are placed side-by-side.
[0037] For the sake of clearness only elements in one of the two
sties are shown in FIG. 1. However, the two sties 2 will be built
identically. Thus, the sty 2 comprises a number of protecting
devices 10 which are mounted in the floor. The protecting devices,
which will be explained in more details in the following, are
substantially mushroom-shaped. They are placed in a row containing
two protecting elements 10 in a position close to the diagonal wall
5 and in a position close to the side wall 4 of the sty and the
side wall 3 of the sty. In the middle of the sty three protecting
devices 10 are placed in an triangular configuration.
[0038] With the embodiment shown a sow which is placed in the sty
will have three schematically indicated lie positions 11 where the
sow can lie down along a wall.
[0039] The protecting devices 10 have a height so the sow may pass
over them and they are also arranged so the piglets may walk under
them. Thus the sow move freely in the sty 2. The sty 2 is arranged
so that an inscribed circle corresponding to the turning diameter
for a sow exists within the formed triangular form. That means in
practice a diameter of minimum 1700 mm. The protecing devices
secure that the piglets are not squeezed when the sow lies down in
one of the lying positions 11.
[0040] Moreover, the sty department 1 comprises a feeding/drinking
trough 12. This is provided with a vertical feeding pipe 13 and a
water pipe (not shown) which may be connected with a central supply
plant. As shown in FIG. 1 the trough 12 is placed in that corner of
the sty 2 which is adjacent to the climate department 7 of the
neighbouring sty. Hereby an efficient use of each sty 2 is
obtained.
[0041] In that corner of the sty 2 which is placed against the
climate department a dosing pipe 14 is illustrated. This dosing
pipe is intended for transference of bedding in form of hacked
straw, sawdust, chaff or the like. The bedding is dosed out on the
floor in that the pipe 14 ends in a short distance above the floor
and may be influenced by the animals so that a swing of the pipe
will implicate that it is distributed on the floor surface. It is
preferred to place the dosing pipe 14 close to the climate
department 7 of the sty so that bedding is established in the
climate department 7 which will have an open side 15 turning
against the remaining part of the sty while the climate department
7 at the other side 16 is closed by the side wall 6.
[0042] In FIG. 2 another embodiment is shown in which only one
rectangular climate department 7 is used, which is placed in the
one corner of the sty department 1. This rectangular climate
department 7 is separated by a wall 17 which is a prolongation of
the diagonal wall 5. At the opposite comer of the sty department 1
a feeding/drinking trough 18 is placed which has a central feeding
pipe 19 which doses feeding down onto a feeding plate 20. On each
side of the feeding plate 20 a lowered area is placed for absorbing
water and where the animals can take feed down. With this
embodiment of the sty which is illustrated in FIG. 2 it will thus
be possible to use a simple transference system for feed and water
to a single feeding automatic machine which simultaneously serves
two sties 2. Such an automatic machine is known within the art. On
each side of the feeding pipe 19 a grid wall 22 is located which
prevents that the two sows make contacts with each other and which
simultaneously prevents that the piglets can pass between the two
sties 2.
[0043] In the perspectival view in FIG. 3 it is shown that the
climate department 7 is covered by a plate 23 which reduces the
height above the piglets and which therefore increases the
temperature of comfort within the climate department 7.
[0044] Moreover, FIG. 3 illustrates that the side wall 3, 4 and the
diagonal wall 5 are built of planking profiles 24. The planking
profiles 24 are preferably plast profiles which are fastened to
posts 25 of which only a part is shown.
[0045] Moreover, it appears from FIG. 3 that a part 26 of the side
wall 3 through hinges 27 is fastened to the remaining part of the
side wall 3 and a supporting post 28. The part 26 can therefore be
swung in the direction of the arrow 29 into the sty 2 to a position
where it is parallel with the diagonal wall 5 as illustrated with
dotted lines. In this position it is possible to obtain access to
the sty and simultaneously it is possible to fix an aggressive sow
in the interspace between the two parallel walls 5 and 26. It is
illustrated that the lower plank 24 is not swung into the sty. By
fastening one or two lower planks in the side wall 3 there will be
no risk that the piglets run out of the sty 2 even though said part
26 of the side wall is used for fixation of the sow.
[0046] A sty of the type which is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3
is moreover advantageous in connection with the weaning of the
piglets from the mother sow. Due to the size of each sty 2 it will
be possible in a weaning situation only to remove the sow from the
sty and move it to a sow stall. The piglets can remain in the sty
and can use the feeding automatic machine in the first part of
their growth until they are transferred to a fattening stall. In
this way it will be possible to reduce a need for cleaning until
that time when the piglets are transferred to a fattening stall and
where a new sow is to be placed in the sty 2.
[0047] FIG. 4 illustrates schematically an embodiment for the
protecting device 10. The protecting device 10 has a substantially
cylindrical stem 30 and a substantially ball-shaped hat 31. The
ball-shaped hat will preferably have a relatively flat, oval
cross-section as the sow has to pass across the upper height and as
the piglets have to pass under the hat 31. Thus the piglets in the
area 32 under the hat 31 can be protected against squeezing when
the sow lies down. The protecting device 10 is fastened to the
floor by means of a resilient bar 33. At its lower end the bar 33
has a hook-formed projection, which can be turned into engagement
under grid bars when the bar 33 by means of the control lever 35 is
pressed down into the outer pipe 36 in direction toward the effect
from a spring 37. When the hooks 34 are placed underneath the grid
bars the control lever is released and the protecting device will
be fastened in the floor as the hook 34 is pressing upwards and
thereby presses a base plate 38 into contact with the top side of
the floor.
[0048] Even though a mushroom-shaped protecting device is shown it
will be possible to use other shapes, e.g. an umbrella-shape. It
has only to be assured that the device can be placed on the floor
in an arbitrary position in the sty to create the needed lying
positions for the sow and simultaneously protect the piglets.
[0049] In FIG. 5 a protecting device 39 is shown which is intended
for being mounted close to a side wall 3, 4 or a diagonal wall 5.
The protecting device 39 is fastened in the floor through a bar 40
which works in the same way as the resilient bar 33 and which
supports a hat 41 having an oblique supporting plate 42 directed
toward the sty and which has a height and angle so it supports the
sow when it lies down. Under the hat 41 an area 32 exists for the
escape of the piglets. Alternatively, the hat 41 may be hanged on a
partition wall or the diagonal wall.
[0050] In the FIGS. 6-8 the reference number 43 refers to stable
walls and between the sties service passages 44 exist for
supervision of the animals. In FIG. 7 a double partition wall 45 is
shown which can be swung to the indicated position 46 shown with
dotted lines in order to create an easy access to the climate
departments 7 from the service passage 44. As an alternative to the
pivoting double partition wall 45 secondary service passages 47 may
be provided between the sties 2 for access to the climate
departments.
* * * * *