NOSE RING FOR RUMINANTS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nose ring for ruminants such as cattle, comprising a ring body (1) having an extra-nasal part (2) and intra-nasal parts (3) extending on either side of this extra-nasal part (2), each of these intra-nasal parts (3) carrying a plate (4, 5) intended to bear against the nasal septum separating the nasal cavities of a ruminant, said bearing plates (4, 5) thus being placed at the ends of said nose ring. According to the invention, each bearing plate has an elongate shape and comprises opposite ends, at least one of which is wider than the central region thereof placed between said two ends, each plate being convex and having a front face intended to come into contact with the nasal wall of the animal, the surface area of which front face is at least equal to 500 mm.sup.2 and preferably at least equal to 1500 mm.sup.2, and even more preferably at least equal to 2000 mm.sup.2, each bearing plate thus being capable of maximising the contact surface with the nasal septum for different nasal morphologies in order to ensure that this ring is retained without injuring the animal.

Claims

1. A nasal loop for ruminants, such as cattle, comprising a loop body (1) comprising an extra-nasal part (2) and intra-nasal parts (3) extending on either side of this extra-nasal part (2), each of these intra-nasal parts (3) carrying a plate (4, 5) intended to bear against the nasal partition separating the nasal cavities from a ruminant, said bearing plates (4, 5) thus being placed at the ends of said nasal loop, characterized in that each bearing plate (4, 5) has an elongated shape and comprises opposite ends, at least one of which is wider than its central region placed between said two ends, each plate being convex and having a front face intended to come into contact with the nasal wall of the animal the surface of which is at least equal to 500 mm.sup.2, and even better still at least equal to 1500 mm.sup.2, and even more preferably at least equal to 2000 mm.sup.2, each bearing plate thus being able to maximize the contact surface with the nasal partition for different morphologies of the nose to ensure the holding of this loop without injuring the animal.

2. The nasal loop according to claim 1, characterized in that each plate (4, 5) has a general bean shape to present a recess (9) for receiving a protrusion (6) of the nose floor of the corresponding nose so as to ensure the positioning of its front face facing said nasal partition.

3. The nasal loop according to claim 1, characterized in that said support plates (4, 5) are different in order to take into account the symmetrical morphologies of the two nostrils of the snout of a ruminant.

4. The nasal loop according to claim 1, characterized in that each plate (4, 5) has a top angle, also called a flush angle, of 140?+/?5?.

5. The nasal loop according to claim 1, characterized in that the loop body (1) comprises a median covering portion (7) and curved lateral branches (8), said median portion and said lateral branches defining a flattened U-shaped profile, said median portion being intended to cover the animal's musk.

6. The nasal loop according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower end of the nasal loop being determined by an end of one or more support plates (4, 5) and the upper end of said nasal loop being determined by points of the lateral branches of the loop body (1) intended to be placed outside the nasal lines, the distance separating the lower and upper ends of the nasal loop is less than or equal to 70 mm and even better still at 65 mm so that the median portion is close to the exterior surface of the nose when the nasal loop is worn by a ruminant.

7. The nasal loop according to claim 6, characterized in that the median portion (7) has a U shape whose base, or V-shaped, the tip of which, is directed opposite the muffle of the animal when the nasal loop is worn by the ruminant, to clear the muffle of the animal.

8. The nasal loop according to claim 1, characterized in that Each free end of the loop body (1) defines a bent arm shaped to extend parallel or substantially parallel to the nasal partition against which the corresponding plate (4, 5) is intended to bear and in that each plate (4, 5) comprises one or several fasteners to ensure its fastening to its corresponding arm.

9. The nasal loop according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said support plates (4, 5) is configured to allow the sustained release of at least one substance over a period of time.

10. The nasal loop according to claim 10, characterized in that at least the front face of said or each support plate is covered, or in that said or each plate is impregnated, of said at least one substance to be administered.

11. The nasal loop according to claim 10, characterized in that said or each bearing plate is configured so that the distribution rate of said at least one substance is based on the extent of its contact surface with the nasal partition.

12. The nasal loop according to claim 10, characterized in that said substance is a composition comprising: between 35 and 55% by weight of A polymeric matrix comprising A thermoplastic polymer having A Shore A hardness comprised between 20 and 100 as measured by A type A durometer according to the ASTM D2240 standard and A melting point of between 40 and 200 C; and between 30% and 55% by weight of progesterone, relative to the total weight of the composition.

13. The nasal loop according to claim 10, characterized in that said substance is a composition comprising: A polymeric matrix comprising A thermoplastic polymer having A Shore A hardness comprised between 20 and 100 as measured by A type A durometer according to ASTM D2240 and A melting point between 40 and 200? C.; and progesterone, wherein the ratio by weight of progesterone to the polymeric matrix is between 0.5 and 2, preferably between 0.54 and 1.57, and even more preferably 1 or 1.28.

14. The nasal loop according to claim 10, characterized in that said substance is a composition comprising: A polymeric matrix comprising A thermoplastic polymer having A Shore A hardness comprised between 20 and 100 as measured by A type A durometer according to ASTM D2240 and A melting point between 40 and 200? C.; and progesterone in which the basis weight of progesterone in the polymeric matrix is between 20 and 100 mg/cm.sup.2, preferably between 25 and 80 mg/cm.sup.2.

15. The nasal loop according to claim 1, characterized in that said nasal loop comprises one or more elements selected from the group comprising an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a temperature sensor, a heart rate sensor, a humidity sensor, a radar, a device for locating this loop close to an abrover or a lack of feeder and combinations of these elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0090] Other advantages, aims and particular features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, made, for explanatory purposes and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0091] FIG. 1 is a partial and front representation of the end of the snout of a bovine wearing a nose ring according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0092] FIG. 2 is a partial and perspective representation of the end of the bovine snout shown in FIG. 1;

[0093] FIG. 3 is a first perspective view of the nose ring of FIG. 1;

[0094] FIG. 4 is a second view of the nose ring of FIG. 1;

[0095] FIG. 5 is a second view of the nose ring of FIG. 1;

[0096] FIG. 6 shows the caster angle formed by a plate of the nose ring of FIG. 1;

[0097] FIG. 7 is a partial view of a nose ring according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing the system for attaching the plates with the ends of the intra-nasal parts of the nose ring;

[0098] FIG. 8 is a partial and perspective representation of the end of the bovine snout wearing a nose ring as shown in FIG. 7;

[0099] FIG. 9 is another view of the end of the bovine snout wearing a nose ring as shown in FIG. 7;

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0100] The drawings and the following description essentially contain elements of a certain nature. They may therefore not only serve to better understand the present invention, but also contribute to its definition, where appropriate.

[0101] First, it should be noted that the figures are not to scale.

[0102] FIGS. 1 to 6 schematically illustrate a nose ring for a bovine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0103] This nose ring comprises a ring body 1 made of a flexible, resiliently deformable material such as a polymer, which makes it possible to vary the distance between the terminal ends of the ring.

[0104] This ring body 1 comprises an extra-nasal part 2 intended to be placed outside the bovine's snout and the intra-nasal parts 3 extending on either side of this extra-nasal part 2 and in the extension thereof.

[0105] Plates 4, 5 intended to bear against the nasal septum separating the bovine's nostrils are carried by the intranasal parts 3.

[0106] These two bearing plates 4, 5 thus form the terminal ends of the nose ring.

[0107] When these plates 4, 5 are positioned in the nostrils of the animal, they exert a slight pressure on the nasal septum thereof to ensure the holding in position of the nose ring.

[0108] Each bearing plate 4, 5 has an elongate shape and comprises opposite ends, at least one of which is wider than the central region placed between said two ends, Here, the widest end is intended to be placed furthest inside the nasal cavity.

[0109] Each plate 4, 5 is slightly convex, or even curved, the top of this plate being placed in the central part of its front face intended to come into contact with the nasal septum of the bovine. The rear face of each plate 4, 5 is connected to the end of the corresponding intra-nasal part.

[0110] The surface of the front face of each plate 4, 5 is here advantageously at least 2000 mm.sup.2 for a bovine, here 3000 mm.sup.2, to ensure a distribution of the pressure over a larger surface area of the nasal septum.

[0111] Each plate 4, 5 generally has a kidney bean shape and has an indentation 9 intended to receive, or engage, a natural protrusion 6 of the nasal floor from the corresponding nostril.

[0112] These plates 4, 5 are thus supported both against the nasal floor and against the nasal septum of their corresponding nostril, so that the pressure to be applied to this nasal septum to ensure the retention in position of the nose ring is less than with the rings of the prior art.

[0113] Furthermore, this bearing of each plate 4, 5 on two anatomical intersection areas formed by the nasal floor and the nasal septum, ensures a stable positioning of each bearing plate.

[0114] As shown in FIG. 6, each plate 4, 5 having an angle ?, viewable in a top view, also called a caster angle, determined to be 140?, the front face of each plate fits the nasal wall. A mobility of each plate of about 45? around the end of the support allows good adjustment of the caster to the nasal mucosa.

[0115] In more detail, the ring body 1 comprises a median covering portion 7 and curved lateral branches 8, this median portion 7 and these lateral branches 8 defining a flattened U-shaped profile.

[0116] This median portion 7 which is intended to cover the animal's snout, also has a U shape whose base is directed opposite the muzzle of the animal when this nose ring is worn by the bovine.

[0117] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body of the nose ring passes over the top of the bovine's snout and leaves the animal's muzzle free.

[0118] Advantageously, the distance d separating the lower and upper ends of the nose ring is here equal to 65 mm so that the median portion 7 is placed as close as possible to the exterior surface of the snout when the nose ring is worn by the bovine.

[0119] The risk of snagging the nose ring is thus greatly reduced.

[0120] In addition, the distance separating the end of the intra-nasal part 3 intended to be placed in line with, or substantially in line with, the inlet of the corresponding nostril, from the center of the plate 4, 5 borne by this intra-nasal part is equal here to 45 mm.

[0121] The ring body here has a straight section having a circular shape and a diameter of eight (8) mm. Alternatively, it could have a section of diameter equal to six (6) or ten (10) mm.

[0122] Advantageously, it is noted that the present nose ring maximizes the wellness of cattle while significantly reducing the risks of appearance of injuries.

[0123] FIGS. 7 to 9 schematically illustrate a nose ring for a bovine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0124] This nose ring 10 is identical to the nose ring 1 described above with the exception of the intra-nasal parts 3.

[0125] These each comprise a bent arm 11 shaped to extend parallel or substantially parallel to the nasal septum against which the bearing plate 12 borne by the corresponding intra-nasal part is intended to bear, when the nose ring is in position.

[0126] During a possible loss of a bearing plate 12, the free end of the corresponding intra-nasal part is thus prevented from injuring the nasal septum.

[0127] Each bearing plate 12 comprises on its outer surface 13, intended to be placed opposite the nasal septum of the ruminant, a system for fastening this bearing plate 12 with the bent arm 11 of the corresponding intra-nasal part.

[0128] This fastening system here comprises two loops 14 through which the bent arm 11 extends when the bearing plate 12 is in the assembled position with the free end of the corresponding intra-nasal part 3. The free end of the bent arm 11 here comprises a protuberance 15 to ensure the clipping of the bent arm 11 into the loops 14 of the bearing plate 12.