CALVING PEN

Abstract

Improved farrowing crate for cows, in which the cattle have a peaceful atmosphere particularly suitable for the time of calving and the following days, so that both the physical and mental health of the mother and calf can be closely monitored and appropriate medical and other care can be administered during this period, and which has various safety systems for both the cattle and the user.

Claims

1. A farrowing crate (1) for cows comprising four walls arranged in a generally rectangular shape, and a movable partition (2), arranged parallel to the two main sides, configured so that it can be made to slide parallel to said main sides in such a way that the space available for the cow can be restricted at will, characterised in that the crate further comprises at least one oblique tube (3) configured to limit the travel of the movable partition (2), and a safety system in the form of saw teeth (4) located on the two secondary walls of the crate, and which prevent the movable partition (2) from being pushed back in the opposite direction to that of its displacement.

2. A farrowing crate (1) according to claim 1, further comprising on its front wall attachment means (5b) that allow it to be completely lifted from the ground by a tractor or forklift truck, in order to move it to a new location.

3. A farrowing crate (1) according to claim 1, further comprising on its front wall lifting means (5a) in the form of a “V” shaped structure, which allows the crate to be lifted only by its front part and towed by a tractor or wheelbarrow, using the wheels (6) provided at the back of the crate for this purpose.

4. A farrowing crate (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a trapdoor (8) on one side of the movable partition (2) which is of an appropriate height to allow a calf to be introduced into or removed from the cow's 3I compartment, but not the cow.

5. A farrowing crate (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a trapdoor (7) located in the rear wall of the pen, which is of the same height as the cow and which is intended to allow the calf, the cow or both to enter or leave the pen.

6. A farrowing crate (1) according to claim 2, further comprising on its front wall lifting means (5a) in the form of a “V” shaped structure, which allows the crate to be lifted only by its front part and towed by a tractor or wheelbarrow, using the wheels (6) provided at the back of the crate for this purpose.

7. A farrowing crate (1) according to claim 2, further comprising a trapdoor (8) on one side of the movable partition (2) which is of an appropriate height to allow a calf to be introduced into or removed from the cow's compartment, but not the cow.

8. A farrowing crate (1) according to claim 3, further comprising a trapdoor (8) on one side of the movable partition (2) which is of an appropriate height to allow a calf to be introduced into or removed from the cow's compartment, but not the cow.

9. A farrowing crate (1) according to claim 2 further comprising a trapdoor (7) located in the rear wall of the pen, which is of the same height as the cow and which is intended to allow the calf, the cow or both to enter or leave the pen.

10. A farrowing crate (1) according to claim 3, further comprising a trapdoor 4I (7) located in the rear wall of the pen, which is of the same height as the cow and which is intended to allow the calf, the cow or both to enter or leave the pen.

11. A farrowing crate (1) according to claim 4, further comprising a trapdoor (7) located in the rear wall of the pen, which is of the same height as the cow and which is intended to allow the calf, the cow or both to enter or leave the pen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the farrowing crate (1) of the present invention, showing a cow in the stall, where the movable partition (2) has been moved all the way into the cow stall until it has encountered the oblique bars (3) (only one is shown in the figure, but there may be more) which prevent the movable partition (2) from moving further, which could cause damage to the cow. This figure also shows the system of saw teeth (4) located on the side walls of the crate, which constitute the safety element that prevents the movable partition (2) from returning towards the operator while they are moving it due to a possible sudden movement of the cow. It also shows the means that allow the crate to be portable, such as the means of lifting (5a) and the means of attachment (5b) of the crate to the tractor or forklift truck, which allow it to be lifted completely in the air by means of, for example, a forklift truck, supported by the attachment means (5b), or to be lifted by the lifting means (5a) in order to allow it to be towed by means of the wheels (6).

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the farrowing crate, where the cow is inside the stall. Also shown are the attachment means (5b) which enable the farrowing crate to be lifted completely by means of, for example, a forklift truck, so that it can be moved. The lifting means (5a) are also shown, allowing the end of the farrowing crate to be lifted and then towed by means of the wheels (6).

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the farrowing crate. This figure also shows the attachment means (5b) which, in this case, are located on the front of the crate. These attachment means allow the crate to be fully lifted by a forklift truck.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the farrowing crate wall, showing the trapdoor (7) designed to allow entry or exit of both the cow and the calf.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a detail of the movable partition (2), in which it is possible to see, in the lower right-hand corner, the trapdoor (8) designed to allow the calf to be removed from or introduced into the stall without the cow being able to escape.

[0033] FIG. 6 shows in detail and in perspective view the saw-toothed safety element (4), which prevents the movable partition wall (2) from being displaced by a sudden movement of the cow in the opposite direction to the direction of travel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENT

[0034] The farrowing crate (1) according to the present invention is generally made up of four walls arranged in a generally parallelepiped shape and more preferably in a rectangular shape, although it could also be square or have other geometrical shapes, even oval or other. These walls are advantageously made of metal tubes, preferably hollow to make the structure lighter, which give the crate both the necessary strength to withstand the forces of various kinds to which it will be subjected, and the lightness to be easily transported by a tractor, using the conventional means of transport in the field. Optionally, the crate can be fitted with a roof, which can also be made of metal pipes. The roof is not strictly necessary, but is advantageous to avoid possible damage to the cow and calf from the sky, e.g. attack by vermin, or even hail and snow. The farrowing crate (1) of the invention also comprises a movable inner partition (2), arranged longitudinally parallel to the two long sides of the pen, which can be made to slide, reducing the interior space of the pen at will until it meets the slanting bar(s) (3), which prevent the cow's stall from being excessively small. In this way, both cow and calf can be monitored, such as to provide adequate medical care from close by, without them escaping or even harming the operator by a kick from the cow. The farrowing crate of the invention also comprises safety means in the form of saw teeth (4) which block the backward movement of said partition and thus prevent the sliding movable partition (2) from suddenly returning towards the operator due to a sudden movement of the cow. These saw-tooth-shaped safety means (4) are located on the two shorter walls of the crate on the inside of the crate and may be located either on the top of the crate walls, on the bottom of the crate walls, or in any other direction.

[0035] In preferred embodiments of the invention, the farrowing crate of the invention also comprises means that allow the crate to be moved. These means may be either attachment means (5b) located on the front wall of the crate, allowing the crate to be completely lifted off the ground by a tractor or forklift truck and then moved to its new location, or lifting means (5a) in the form of a “V” shaped structure, allowing the crate to be lifted from one end only and then to be towed by a tractor, using the wheels (6) at the rear of the crate for this purpose. In the most preferred embodiments of the invention, the farrowing crate has both lifting (5a) and attachment (5b) means.

[0036] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the movable inner wall (2) has a hinged trapdoor (8) on one of its sides and on the bottom thereof, either on its right or on its left side. This wall has a height allowing a calf to be inserted in or removed from the pen, but not the cow. In this way, the calf can be inserted when it is time to suckle, and can be taken out when it has finished, or in any case when it is deemed necessary.

[0037] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the rear wall of the crate has another trapdoor (7), but this time it is of the same height as the cow itself, and is designed to allow the calf, the cow or both to be taken in or out of the pen.

[0038] The present invention includes all possible combinations of the embodiments described herein, which are limited only by the scope of the appended claims.