Abstract:
A portable and collapsible modular calf housing system featuring at least one pen comprising a front panel and two side panels and optionally a rear wall panel forming a pen The side panels include channels in which the front panel can slide vertically to adjust the height of a feed pail attached thereto The channels are disposed on either face of each side panel to enable a front panel from each one of adjacent pens to be joined to form a plurality of interconnected pens.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a calf housing system, particularly a system and method for housing calves individually. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Calves are born with a relatively immature immune system and, in particular, pre-weaned calves are susceptible to infectious pathogens that may be spread by the air-borne, fecal-oral or calf-to-calf transmission routes. Because transmission of enteric pathogens in calves is primarily through animal to animal contact, it has become common practice to isolate calves from others to reduce the risk of infectious diseases. 
         [0003]    It is important, however, to have appropriate housing isolation units to maintain a positive effect on the growth, health and well-being of a diary calf. Good design can provide a healthy environment that reduces environmental stress. For example, high levels of moisture, pollutants and air-borne pathogens may lead to respiratory problems that have long term effects. Thus, there has been an on-going need for management environments that provide calves with a clean, dry, well-ventilated space, especially in locations that may experience severe fluctuations in temperature. 
         [0004]    Several attempts have been made to provide appropriate housing for calves. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,245 provides a rigid pen, including an outer frame defining an open floor attached to a motorized vehicle. The vehicle is operated to raise the pen off the ground and deliver the raised pen to an area at which the calf and the mother cow are located. The vehicle then positions the raised pen over the calf. Finally, the pen is lowered such that the calf is inside of the pen and the mother cow is outside of the pen. The calf, in the pen, can then be housed in a manner in which the handler has access without interference from the mother. 
         [0005]    United States Patent application 20070178525 provides methods for managing livestock to improve performance and health of the general livestock population by reducing the impact of subclinical animals persistently infected with a contagious disease by separating animals into arrival groups, screening all animals for the pathogen of the contagious disease, promptly removing the pathogen positive animals from the general livestock population and feeding and managing the pathogen negative animals and pathogen positive animals separately. In preferred embodiments, the pathogen positive animals are removed from their arrival group within about 1.5-3 days after arrival. In preferred embodiments, the method of the present invention is applied in a cattle operation such as a seedstock operation, a cow-calf operation, a stocker operation, a backgrounding operation, a feedlot operation, a dairy operation, a farm of origin, such as a dairy farm, an auction facility, a gathering point or a buyer facility. 
         [0006]    Another type of calf housing system is marketed by Calf-Tel for Hampel products that can be used to house calves. While the Calf-Tel hutches provide a useful alternative to other types of hutches, they do not provide for adjustability as the calf grows. 
         [0007]    Thus, there was an unmet need for a calf housing system that addresses the requirements for good ventilation, isolation, disease reduction and adjustability in farm management practices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the invention to provide an improved calf housing system. 
         [0009]    One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of isolating a calf from other calves and cows. The method includes providing a portable, rigid pen that provides systems for ventilation and for providing adequate nutrition to the calf as it grows with a minimum of environmental stress. 
         [0010]    In another aspect, the invention provides a portable pen for isolating a calf. The pen includes a frame that has a front, a back, and opposing sides that combine to define an interior pen area. In one preferred embodiment, the pen has an open floor and functions as a free standing pen that can be moved to various locations based on environmental conditions such as drainage, the direction of the prevailing winds or a temperature and humidity controlled facility. 
         [0011]    In another preferred embodiment, the includes a rear wall. 
         [0012]    In a further embodiment, the is adapted for attachment to a wall whereby the wall forms the rear of the enclosure. 
         [0013]    In yet another embodiment, the includes a floor. 
         [0014]    In a preferred embodiment, the pen includes a door hingedly attached to the front of the frame. Conventional hinges or pins may be used. The door or gate is preferably attached to the front such that the door can swing inwardly or outwardly relative to the frame. The gate preferably includes ventilation openings and locations for inclusion of optional features such as a headlock, a bottle holder, a wall bracket and a bottle. The opposing side panels are adapted for interconnection between multiple pens and also include channels in which the front of the frame fits. In a preferred embodiment, both the front panel and the side channels include apertures. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame includes at least one feed pail. The vertical location of the feed pail/front panel can be adjusted, as the calf grows, to facilitate feeding. In a preferred embodiment, the height, or vertical positioning, of the front panel is adjusted by sliding the panel in the channels of the side members and securing the panel at a specific height by inserting a pin in corresponding apertures in the front panel and the side panels. Other means of adjusting the height of the feeding pails, such as a spring loaded, ratcheting or hydraulic systems, are included within the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a view of one embodiment of a calf housing pen in accordance with one aspect of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a view of another embodiment of a calf housing pen in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front view of a complex of calf housing pens attached along their sides in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4A  is a front view illustrating how the feed buckets can be adjusted vertically; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4B  illustrates various confirmation in which the pens can be attached to each other; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5A  illustrates an optional headlock for use with the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5B  illustrates an optional quick release bottle holder for use with the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5C  illustrates an optional wall bracket for use with the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  illustrates optional rotary vents for use with the present invention; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates how the front panel can be adjusted vertically to provide the calf with a feeding pail in position according to its height. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    One embodiment of a portable pen  10  in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The pen  10  includes a frame  12  that comprises a rear wall, two opposing side walls and a front wall. A door is inserted in the front wall. The door is hingedly attached at one side of the front panel. The door may be adapted to swing either inward or outward relative to the front panel. The opposite side of the door is releasably maintained in a closed position by a latching mechanism. The latching mechanism may comprise any type of known latching/securing mechanisms. For example, the hinges of the door may be outwardly biased and the door is latched by a simple stop member being rotated into position. Alternatively, the latch may incorporate a slide and bolt system or a click and fit system. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the floor of the pen is open and the pen may be placed on any suitable surface. The door typically includes opening for feeding and ventilation and for insertion of optional items. The door is equipped with at least one feeding pail. As discussed in further detail below, the height or vertical positioning of the feeding pail can be adjusted as the calf grows by raising for lowering the front panel. In a preferred embodiment, the front panel is attached to the side panels via a connector which has a receiving channel for the front panel and also a tongue and groove mechanism. To raise the feed pails the front panel is moved up and a locking pin is inserted into an aperture in the front panel. This mechanism is discussed in greater detail below with respect to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0028]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the pen is adapted for mounting on a wall and the wall to which it is attached forms the rear wall of the pen. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment in which several pen units can be attached to each other. This provides additional stability and keeps the calves close enough to each other for easy handling, yet still separated. The units can be attached to each other through a tongue and groove mechanism. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the side panels include connector means having a plurality of tongues and grooves. The modular nature of the present invention including the interlocking tongue and groove system allows for quick and easy assembly and disassembly of units in minutes. In a preferred embodiment the components are made of durable polyethylene and are light weight and easy to clean. The built-in calf dividers keep the calves apart to prevent the spread of disease and the built inpail holder with pail divider prevents food contamination. The polyethylene surface of the component panels/walls does not promote the growth of bacteria or the spread of infectious diseases. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4A  illustrates another configuration in which pen units can be attached side to side and front to back.  FIG. 4B  illustrates schematically how the units can be configured to fit one&#39;s needs. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 5A , B and C illustrate optional features which can be included with the calf housing pens.  FIG. 5A  illustrates how a headlock device can be incorporated.  FIG. 5B  illustrates a quick release bottle holder for feeding calves and  FIG. 5C  illustrates a wall bracket for attaching the pen. All of the optional features my be provided in a kit which includes the basic building blocks of the pen (i.e. rear panel, side panels and front panel) as well as means for holding a bottle and the bottle itself. 
         [0032]    As discussed previously, excellent air quality in a pen is essential to raising healthy calves. Different air exchange rates may be needed depending on the environmental conditions. The pens of the present invention are preferably equipped with means for circulating air. In a preferred embodiment, rotary vents are provided in the rear wall as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  illustrates how the front panel can be raised up and down in channels associated with the side panels. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in this figure, there are three apertures or receptacles located near the top of the front panel on each side. There is also an aperture or receptacle in the side panel that is adapted to receive a positioning pin. In use, the pen is usually initially set up with the front panel secured in position at the lowest aperture, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As the calf grows the front panel can be raised by sliding it in the channels of the side panels and secured at the second aperture position and then at the third aperture position. This system provides a unique advantage for dairy farmers. Due to the adjustable pail height, the calves have greater comfort when feeding and thus may have improved growth profiles. 
         [0034]    In one embodiment, the frame is square in transverse cross-section, having dimensions on the order of 8×8 ft. Alternatively, other shapes and dimensions are equally acceptable. Further, in one embodiment, the frame has a fairly substantial height, on the order of about 3 ft to 6 ft. Other heights are equally acceptable, however, the frame preferably has a height greater than a height of an average cow. 
         [0035]    Prior to use, the pen is provided as a kit for assembly. It includes in flat packing the front panel and the side panels. If not to be wall mounted, the rear panel is also provided. The unique interlocking system allows for easy assembly. Optional features such as the bottle holder and headlock may be provided separately or as part of a “deluxe” kit. 
         [0036]    The pen and related method of use of the present invention provides a marked improvement over previous designs. Calves are easily isolated from other animals. The invention provides a structure and a farm management system that allows the farmer to easily gain access to the calf and, at the same time, to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases among the herd. Furthermore the system is easy to assemble and to keep clean and is designed to adapt to the feeding needs of the calf as it grows. 
         [0037]    One or more currently preferred embodiments have been described by way of example. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.