METHOD AND BARN FOR KEEPING LIVESTOCK

Method and barn (1) for keeping livestock, wherein the barn is divided into one or more housing areas (10, 20, 30) for multiple-day stays of the animals and one or more treatment areas (40, 50, 60, 70, 80) for a shorter, temporary stay of the animals for veterinary inspection of or caring for the animals by a specialist or carer, wherein the animals are staying in living crates (100, 200) positioned on designated barn positions (16) in the housing areas, wherein the barn is provided with a transport device (140, 400) for moving the living crates between the barn positions and the treatment areas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and a barn for keeping livestock, particularly for factory farming.

In known barns for factory farming the animals are in pens that are permanently installed in the barn. Long passageways have been formed in the barn for supplying food and caring for the animals in the pens. The visual inspection takes place ad hoc, for instance by veterinary specialists. They walk over the long passageways and briefly look into each pen to see whether the animals are healthy and developing properly. Usually all animals in the barn are healthy and the situation in the pens is fine give or take a few exceptions. The specialist will have to walk many kilometres in order to inspect all pens. This involves the risk of the veterinary specialist overlooking an unhealthy animal among the healthy animals during the brief moment when walking past their pens.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and a barn in which caring for animals takes place efficiently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention, according to one aspect, provides a method for keeping livestock in a barn, wherein the barn is divided into one or more housing areas for multiple-day stays of the animals and one or more treatment areas for a shorter, temporary stay of the animals for veterinary inspection of or caring for the animals by a specialist or carer, wherein the animals are staying in living crates located on designated barn positions in the housing areas, wherein the barn is provided with a transport device for moving the living crates between the barn positions and the treatment areas, wherein a computer system including a database is provided in which data are included of the individual barn positions of the living crates and of the individual animals in the living crates, wherein the method comprises monitoring the animals' data in the computer system and on the basis thereof by using the computer system planning a temporary stay of the animals in the living crates in a treatment area for inspection or care, wherein on the basis of said planning the living crates with the animals in them are picked up from the barn position in the housing area by the transport device and in the living crates are positioned in the said treatment area for inspection of or caring for the animals. This application regards animals in living crates, meaning that in one living crate one or several animals could be staying.

According to this method the animals are staying in the living crates positioned in the housing areas, and the veterinary specialist or carer is present in the treatment areas. The animals are taken in their living crate to the specialist or carer only when required, wherein the computer system takes care of the planning. Planning a temporary stay in the treatment areas is carried out by the computer system at living crate level based on the animals' data, thus effecting a high degree of accuracy and ensuring that the veterinary specialist or carer sees all animals. This can be done according to fixed time schedules or be planned ad hoc. Based on automated interpretation of the animals' data a proper pre-selection can be made as regards the necessity of veterinary inspection or care that is more reliable than could be obtained based on a brief glance at the animals when walking past. The computer system thus constitutes an automated management system for the animals in the barn. An additional advantage is that the animals are moved in their familiar living crate. This involves as little stress for the animals as possible and it is hygienic.

In one embodiment the barn is provided with a sensor system for registering the condition data regarding the condition of the living crates or the animals in them in the database, wherein the method comprises the planning of a temporary stay of the animals in the living crates in a treatment area on the basis of the condition data. By means of the sensor system a highly reliable pre-selection can be made.

In one embodiment thereof the sensor system comprises an image recognition system for optical registration of condition data of the individual animals in the living crates, wherein the motion activity is the number of movements or relocations of the animal in the course of time, wherein the method comprises the planning of a temporary stay of the animals in the living crates in a treatment area on the basis of the condition data. The image recognition system is able to watch the individual animals long-term, as a result of which a proper pre-selection can be made on the basis of data gathered over a longer period of time, for instance over several days.

In one embodiment thereof the image recognition system is adapted for the optical registration of the motion activity of the individual animals in the living crates, wherein the method comprises the planning of a temporary stay of the animals in the living crates in a treatment area on the basis of deviating motion activity of the animals in the living crates. In this way it can be detected that an individual animal for instance moves less than average, which may be an indication of an illness or shortage of food.

In one embodiment the image recognition system is adapted for the optical registration of the body temperature of the individual animals in the living crates, wherein the method comprises the planning of a temporary stay of the animals in the living crates in a treatment area on the basis of deviating body temperature of the animals in the living crates. A deviating body temperature may be an indication of fever, which would require the animal to be further examined.

In one embodiment the sensor system comprises a weight sensor for weighing the overall weight of the animals in the living crate, wherein the method comprises the planning of a temporary stay of the animals in the living crates in a treatment area on the basis of a deviating weight of the animals in the living crates. A deviating weight may be an indication of the growth of the animals lagging behind due to illness, which would require the animal to be further examined. Also during a stay in the treatment areas the weight sensor can be used for periodically weighing the animals.

In one embodiment the animals in the living crates are provided with an ear tag having a unique identification, wherein the data of the individual animals have been linked to the unique identification of the ear tags.

The invention, according to a second aspect, furthermore provides a barn for keeping livestock, wherein the barn is divided into one or more housing areas for multiple-day stays of the animals and one or more treatment areas for a shorter, temporary stay of the animals for veterinary inspection of or caring for the animals by a specialist or carer, wherein the animals are staying in living crates positioned on designated barn positions in the housing areas, wherein the barn is provided with a transport device for moving the living crates between the barn positions and the treatment areas. The transport device, which in a preferred embodiment can be remote-controlled or operates autonomously, takes the animals in their living crate from the housing area to the treatment area only when required as already described above.

In one embodiment the barn is provided with a sensor system for registering the condition of the living crates or the animals in them.

In one embodiment the sensor system comprises an image recognition system for the optical registration of the condition of the individual animals in the living crates.

In one embodiment the image recognition system is adapted for the optical registration of the motion activity of the individual animals in the living crates, wherein the motion activity is the number of movements or relocations of the animal in the course of time.

In one embodiment the image recognition system is adapted for the optical registration of the body temperature of the individual animals in the living crates.

In one embodiment the sensor system comprises a weight sensor in the living crates for weighing the weight of the animals in the living crate.

In one embodiment the barn comprises at least one housing area and at least one treatment area, wherein the air temperatures of these areas differ or can each be individually adjusted. In that way the air temperature per area can be optimised for the specific function of said area, such as long-term stay of young adult animals or a short stay of a sow during parturition.

In one embodiment the barn comprises several housing areas, wherein the air temperatures of the housing areas differ or can each be individually adjusted. The housing areas can then be used for animals in different stages of life, such as the first weeks after parturition, the stage in which the animals no longer depend on their mother and the stage in which the young adult animals grow into their slaughter weight. For each category the optimal housing temperature can be maintained.

In one embodiment at least one treatment area is adapted for parturition, wherein the air temperature in said treatment area is higher than in the housing areas. Said treatment area is optimised for parturition, wherein in said area all aids required for that purpose are at hand in order to assist in the parturition.

In one embodiment the living crates comprise a tray having a bottom which is surrounded by upright walls, wherein in the tray a faecal slurry grid is situated above the bottom. The living crates thus form mobile living units the upright walls of which ensure the separation between the animals or groups of animals. When the living crates according to the invention have been removed the barn position and the living crates themselves can be properly cleansed. This is contrary to conventional barns in which the separations are permanently installed and thus hard to cleanse. The tray can also be fully cleansed by taking out the faecal slurry grid and placing it back after cleansing.

In one embodiment the tray is integrally formed, preferably of plastic, so that it can be properly cleansed.

In one embodiment the faecal slurry grid comprises a first frame bearing a grid, wherein the first frame supports on the bottom along or at the upright walls, and the faecal slurry grid freely spans the bottom from the support points so as to form a faecal slurry storage space or faecal slurry tray. The faecal slurry grid only contacts the bottom of the tray at the support points so that dirt accumulation between the faecal slurry grid and the tray is minimised. Quantitatively the support points are situated at a distance from the upright walls of maximally 10% preferably maximally 5% of the spanned width of the tray in that direction.

In one embodiment thereof the first frame is provided with supports that contact the bottom along two opposite upright walls. Considered along the contours of the faecal slurry grid the bottom will then be free from the faecal slurry grid beyond said supports.

In one embodiment thereof the first frame is provided with supports distributed over and contacting the bottom wall along the opposite upright walls, wherein the distributed supports keep an intermediate space open for passage of faecal slurry to the faecal slurry storage space or faecal slurry tray.

In one embodiment the living crate has a second frame for supporting the tray. The living crate can thus be handled at the second frame, so that the tray itself is not exposed to such an additional load.

In one embodiment the second frame supports the bottom of the tray in vertical direction straight below the support points of the faecal slurry grid. The load of the faecal slurry grid including the animals situated thereon is thus directly passed on to the second frame. This involves pressure forces, so without deforming loads on the tray itself.

In one embodiment, in a lowered portion of the bottom, the tray is provided with a faecal slurry discharge opening, which may be provided with a valve. The faecal slurry can thus be discharged in a controlled manner via the faecal slurry discharge opening.

In one embodiment the barn is provided with a faecal slurry discharge device for discharging faecal slurry via the faecal slurry discharge opening, wherein the faecal slurry discharge device is provided with a nozzle or showerhead extending through the faecal slurry discharge opening for hosing the bottom of the tray clean all around.

In one embodiment the faecal slurry grid has a first frame onto which one or several metal or plastic grids have been attached. The frame supports the weight of for instance a heavy sow and her piglets, wherein the grids permit the faecal slurry to pass through to the bottom of the tray.

In one embodiment thereof the first frame and the grids form one unity or element, so that it can be laid in the tray or removed from it as one unity, for instance to be cleansed.

In one embodiment the faecal slurry grid is provided with a heater below one or several grids. The heater ensures a heated zone on which for instance newly born piglets can lie down during suckling.

In one embodiment the heater comprises a circulation pipe for connection to a hot water supply, wherein the circulation pipe is attached to the frame or to one or several grids. The hot water supply may be a common heat source for instance for all living crates that are in a treatment area adapted for parturition.

In one embodiment the faecal slurry grid is provided with a rinsing pipe having nozzles oriented all around or oriented towards the grids or oriented downwards towards the bottom. The rinsing pipe may be connected to a supply for rinse water to which a cleansing agent or disinfectant has been added. In that way the grids can be rinsed clean at the bottom side and faecal slurry that has seeped to the bottom can be flushed away.

In one embodiment the circulation pipe and/or rinsing pipe if present is attached to the frame or the grids by means of connections distributed over the length, wherein said grids, the frame and the pipes are enveloped by a continuous galvanic protective layer or synthetic coating. The frame including the grids and metal pipes thus form one unity that has a long-term resistance against the faecal slurry and urine of the animals in the living crate.

In one embodiment the living crate comprises a sow's pen as a result of which the faecal slurry grid is divided into a first grid path and a second grid path extending beyond the sow's pen, wherein the first grid path preferably is wider than the opposite second grid path. The sow's pen prevents the sow from lying down on her piglets, wherein the piglets themselves are able to walk about the first grid path and the second grid path. The piglets are able to lie down on the wider first grid during suckling.

In one embodiment, in one sidewall, the plastic tray has an entrance to the sow's pen, wherein in its bottom the plastic tray comprises a faecal slurry channel extending underneath the sow's pen, which faecal slurry channel debouches in the direction of the entrance into a wider faecal slurry tray, wherein the bottom underneath the first grid path and second grid path is situated elevated relative to the faecal slurry channel and the faecal slurry tray and has a slope in the direction of the faecal slurry channel and the faecal slurry tray. The sow will be allowed to enter the sow's pen head first through the entrance. The faecal slurry will mainly be from the sow, as she produces relative much faecal slurry. It will drop directly into the faecal slurry tray. The other faecal slurry will be from her piglets, which via the slope and the faecal slurry channel also ends up in the faecal slurry tray. The piglet faecal slurry can be urged into the faecal slurry channel by means of said nozzles on the rinsing pipe.

In one embodiment, below the upright walls, the tray has an offset part which on the outside of the tray forms preferably parallel extending support edges, with which the plastic tray sits on the second frame, wherein the faecal slurry grid sits on the inner side of the offset part. The plastic tray itself is thus confined between the supporting parts of the second frame. The weight of the faecal slurry grid having for instance the weight of a sow and her piglets thereon will at that location be directly passed on to the second frame so that the plastic tray itself will hardly be loaded by said weight.

In one embodiment the tray comprises two longitudinal walls and two transverse walls, which according to round corners merge into each other, wherein the corners have a radius of at least 100 mm. The large radius guides the young piglets when walking around in the tray, as a result of which they do not walk around at a loss. The large radius furthermore enhances the cleansability of the tray.

In one embodiment the transport device comprises first rails extending along the barn positions, a first transport carriage moveable over said rails, second rails extending in the barn positions and a second transport carriage moveable over them, wherein the first transport carriage is provided with an accommodation space for accommodation of the second transport carriage from the second rails. The living crates can be brought in front of the planned barn position by the first transport carriage, after which the second transport carriage puts the living crate at the barn position.

In one embodiment the living crates sit on the barn position on the second rails, wherein the second transport carriage is provided with a lifting platform for lifting the positioned living crate above the second rails.

According to a third aspect the invention furthermore provides a living crate for keeping livestock in a barn, comprising a tray having a bottom which is surrounded by upright walls, wherein in the tray a faecal slurry grid is situated above the bottom. The living crate has the advantages as already described above.

The aspects and measures described in this description and the claims of the application and/or shown in the drawings of this application may where possible also be used individually. Said individual aspects may be the subject of divisional patent applications relating thereto. This particularly applies to the measures and aspects that are described per se in the sub claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1Bschematically show an example of a barn1for keeping indoor-fed livestock according to the invention, such as pigs. The barn1is provided with an exterior wall2, several internal partitioning walls3and a roof that has been removed to show the internal structure of the pig barn1.

In this example the barn1has a first housing area10, a second housing area20and a third housing area30situated parallel to each other and in this example physically separated from each other by internal partitioning walls3for having pigs in different stages of life housed in them. Per housing area10,20,30the climate conditions and living conditions for the category of pigs in question have been optimised. The partitioning walls3can also be designed double so that in between them a technical facility corridor is present in which technical installations have been accommodated related to the stay of the animals in the barn1.

In this example the first housing area10is intended for pregnant sows and sows with their suckling piglets. In the first housing area10the piglets have a weight between the weight at birth, which is approximately 1 kg, and the weight at which they will at first still suckle, which is approximately 8 kg. In the first housing area10an optimal air temperature for these animals of on average approximately 25 degrees Celsius prevails.

In this example the second housing area20is intended for young, weaned piglets in the first months of growth after suckling. In the second housing area20the piglets have a weight of between the aforementioned 8 kg and a weight at which they become porkers, which is approximately 25 kg. In the second housing area20an optimal air temperature for these animals of on average approximately 22 degrees Celsius prevails.

In this example the third housing area30is intended for porkers growing into their slaughter weight. In the third housing area30the pigs have a weight of between the aforementioned 25 kg and the slaughter weight of approximately 110 kg. In the third housing area30an optimal air temperature for these animals of on average approximately 22 degrees Celsius prevails.

In this example the first housing area10, the second housing area20and the third housing area30have similarly been provided with two parallel racks15having a path12in between them. The racks15each comprises a row of designated barn positions16for living crates100. The barn positions16are accessible from the path12. On each barn position16one living crate100fits. In this example the racks15have one level, but the racks can also be provided with several floors so that the barn positions16can also be situated above one another.

FIG. 2shows a first living crate100according to the invention in detail. The living crate100comprises a closed integrally formed plastic tray having a bottom wall101, two sidewalls102, a rear wall103and a front wall104which for hygienic reasons merge into each other according to round corners. The round corners also ensure that the piglets do not walk around at a loss in the corners, so that stress in the animals is counteracted. Below the bottom wall101two sockets105extend having parallel insertion channels106for insertion of the lifting blades of a lifting device. As highly schematically shown a drink nipple or drinking water trough107and a feed trough108have been formed in the front wall104, which are accessible from the inside for the pigs and which can also be replenished from the outside. The drink nipple or drinking water trough107can be connected to a pipe that via a coupling connects to a drinking water supply system outside of the living crate100. The integrally formed tray is draught-free all around as a result of which a proper micro climate can also be preserved in the living crate100itself.

In the living crate100a perforated floor110is accommodated which extends at a distance from and parallel to the bottom wall101so that a storage space115for urine and faecal slurry is formed. The integrally formed living crate100can be properly cleansed due to the round corners and the removable floor110. The living crate100is provided with a weight sensor111detecting the weight on the floor110. The living crate100is provided with a faecal slurry level gauge114detecting the level of the faecal slurry layer in the storage space115. The living crate100is provided with a drinking water level gauge112detecting the drinking water level in the drinking water trough107. The living crate100is provided with a feed level gauge113detecting the quantity of feed in the feed trough108. The weight sensor111, the level gauges112,113,114and the drinking water supply system form a part of the aforementioned technical installation in the barn1.

In the first housing area10there are one living crate100one pregnant sow or one sow with just her own group of piglets or her most recent litter. In the second housing area20the group of weaned piglets without the sow are staying in one living crate100. When this group of piglets becomes too large, it will be split up into two half groups divided over two living crates100, so that as many piglets from the same litter can remain together. This enhances the social wellbeing of the animals. In the third housing area30this division of groups is maintained, or the animals are divided over increasingly more living crates100towards the end of the stay in order to provide the animals with sufficient living space.

As shown inFIG. 3the housing areas10,20are provided with a camera system130for visual inspection of the living crates100and the pigs in them. In this example the camera system130comprises a camera131suspended from a rail132in which way the camera131can be moved above a path12along the parallel racks15with living crates100. The camera system130is coupled to an automatic image recognition system that also automatically controls the movement of the camera131along the rails132. The image recognition system is adapted for detecting visual deviations in the behaviour of the individual pigs in the living crates100, such as limited or no motion activity or a deviating body temperature, which may be an indication of illness, or indeed too much motion activity, which is an indication of an imminent birth.

In this example at one head end the barn1has a first treatment area40, a second treatment area50, a third treatment area60, a fourth treatment area70and a fifth treatment area80which in this example have been separated from each other by partitioning walls3. Between the housing areas10,2030and the treatment areas40,50,60,70,80a path12has also been defined, wherein the access to the various areas10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80can be closed off by intermediate doors13.

In this example the first treatment area40is intended for a temporary stay of the sows just before and just after parturition or birth of her piglets under intensive human supervision. As also shown inFIG. 4the first treatment area40is provided with a parturition lane in the form of a first transporter41having a reception position42for the living crates100, an inspection position43for a human carer45, and a discharge position44for the living crates100. In this example the living crates100are on a transporter41at work level for the carer45, but the living crates can also be placed on a support at work level. Important are the optimal conditions of wellbeing for the sow and her piglets on the one hand and the optimal working conditions for the carer45on the other hand.

In the first treatment area40an air temperature prevails of on average approximately 30 degrees Celsius that is optimal for these animals. In the first treatment area40heat lamps48are also present for local additionally warming the newly born wet and therefor vulnerable piglets. The heat lamps48preserve a micro climate within a draught-free tray of the first living crate100. In the first treatment area lighting49is suspended fully spotlighting the contents of the living crates100, so that the carer45is able to properly monitor the process in the living crates100. Due to the work level of the living crates100the carer45is able to easily take actions in the living crates100, such as drying or blow drying the newly farrowed piglet, or bringing the piglet to a teat. A computer terminal47is positioned for reading and entering details of the sows in the living crates100. In the first treatment area all instruments required for the assistance in the farrowing process of piglets are furthermore present.

In this example the second treatment area50is intended for veterinary and nutritional inspection of pigs, ear tagging pigs, castration, clipping teeth and administering specific medicines after making a medical diagnosis. As also shown inFIG. 5the second treatment area50is provided with a treatment lane in the form of a second transporter51having a reception position52for the living crates100, a treatment position53for a human carer55, and a discharge position54for the living crates100. Scales58are present for weighing individual pigs. There is an ear tag machine56for applying ear tags and a computer terminal57is present for entering the unique ear tag data of the pigs in the living crates100. The unique ear tag data are shown on the ear tag itself and can be read by radio technique at a short distance (RFID).

In this example the third treatment area60is intended for vaccination of pigs. The third treatment area60is provided with a vaccination lane in the form of a third transporter61having a reception position62for the living crates100, a treatment position63for a human carer65administering vaccines or certain administerings such as iron without the use of a needle, and a discharge position64for the living crates100. A computer terminal67is present for entering the treatment data of the pigs in the living crates100.

In this example the fourth treatment area70is intended for cleansing the empty living crates100. The fourth treatment area70is provided with a cleansing lane in the form of a fourth transporter71having a reception position72for the living crates100, a cleansing position73including a cleansing machine75, and a discharge position74for the cleansed living crates100. The cleansing lane can also be used for just flushing the collected faecal slurry out of the storages space115.

In this example the fifth treatment area80is intended for transferring the pigs between various living crates100or for transferring pigs from the living crates100to an external transport system in order to be removed from the barn1. For that purpose the fifth treatment area80is provided with several transporters81,88each having a reception position82, a transfer position83and a discharge position84for the living crates100or for transportation crates. An automatic transfer device83for the transfer of pigs is placed between the transporters81,88.

In this example the functional housing areas10,20,30and the functional treatment areas40,50,60,70,80are physically separated from each other by means of the partitioning walls3. However, these areas can also be planned in the same physical area, either partially or in groups, depending on the size of the barn and the required treatment capacity. The functional housing areas10,20,30and the functional treatment areas40,50,60,70,80will then be defined by for instance the prevailing micro climate and the specific equipment present.

In the barn1the pigs permanently stay in a living crate100positioned at one of the unique barn positions16. In principle there are no humans present in the housing areas10,20,30so that exposure of the pigs to external pathogens or stress is kept to a minimum. It cannot be ruled out that humans carry out certain visual checks in the housing areas10,20,30in order to continuously guarantee the wellbeing of the pigs.

The barn1has several lifting transporters140capable of riding down the paths12. The lifting transporters140are provided with two parallel lifting blades141that can be inserted into two parallel sockets105at the bottom side of the living crates100. The lifting transporters140are thus able to place the living crates100at the various barn positions16in the first housing area10, second housing area20or third housing area30and take the living crates100from and to one of the treatment areas40,50,60,70,80and pick them up again.

The lifting transporters140can be man-controlled or are automatically directed vehicles, remote-controlled vehicles or autonomously operating vehicles. Apart from internal transport, a part of the feeding and monitoring of the pigs can be carried out by means of the lifting transporters140. The lifting transporters140can be provided with said camera131of the camera system130, and the lifting transporters140can take care of the supplying of food and water to the living crates100. In addition the lifting transporters140may be provided with dosage sensors in which way the individual replenishing of food and water per living crate100can be registered, and with a weight sensor for determining the weight of a living crate100on the lifting blades141.

The weighing system can also be realised in the treatment areas40,50,60,70,80in order to limit the required number of weight sensors and thus periodically gain an insight into the weight development of the animals in the living crates100.

The barn1is provided with a computer system having a database on which software runs. The computer system is linked to the camera system130for obtaining the results from the image recognition. The computer system is linked to the weight sensor111, the faecal slurry level gauge114, the water level gauge112or drink nipple, and the feed level gauge113of each living crate100. The computer system is linked to the computer terminals47,57,67in the treatment areas40,50,60. The computer system is linked to the lifting transporters140for passing on or automatically performing a transfer order for a living crate100. The computer system is linked to the sensors of the lifting transporters140.

The database comprises the individual data of each pig, including ear tag number, age, vaccination status, living crate100in which the individual pig stays and barn position16of the living crate100in one of the housing areas10,20,30. The database furthermore contains data of each living crate100, including the overall weight of the pigs in the living crate100, the quantity of drinking water provided and the drinking water level, the quantity of feed offered and the feed level, the faecal slurry level, the temperature of the pigs present and the motion activity of the pigs. The motion activity is de degree of physical movement of the pig, such as the number of relocations of the animal in the living crate100, or its limbs, in the course of time. They can be compared with an absolute standard or be related to the motion activity of the other animals in the same living crate100.

The computer system continually registers and monitors the various parameters of the living crates100, of the pigs in the living crates100and the behaviour and the temperature of the pigs in the living crates100. On the basis thereof the computer system plans treatments for the living crates100. A few examples thereof will be given below.

A first group of treatments will be determined ad hoc on the basis of deviations of the parameters relative to the nominal values related to the wellbeing of the pigs in the living crates100. When a deviation is established, the computer system decides that the living crate100in question and the pig or pigs in there needs/need further veterinary inspection. A first situation is a deviating overall weight increase of the pigs in the living crate100. A second situation is a deviating overall drinking water consumption or food consumption of the pigs in the living crate100. A third situation is a deviating body temperature of one or several of the pigs in the living crate100. A fourth situation is a deviating motion activity of one or several of the pigs.

The living crate100with the pigs in there, will then on the basis of the planning be removed from its designated barn position16by one of the lifting transporters140and be transported to the second treatment area40. There the living crate100will be placed on the reception position52of the second transporter51after which the lifting transporter140is free again for a next transfer order. The living crate100is subsequently moved to the inspection position53where the veterinary specialist55will perform a further examination. One of the pigs may have a deviating weight or a fever, which may be an indication of illness. This pig can then be separated for intensified care. It is also possible that a pig has died. This pig will then be removed from the living crate for destruction. The diagnosis and intervention are registered using the computer terminal57on the basis of the unique ear tag of the pig in question. The veterinary specialist55can also find that the pigs in the living crate100are all healthy but that the living crate100has a technical problem, such as a faulty weight sensor111, drinking water level gauge112or feed level gauge113. Based on the technical diagnosis a follow-up treatment for the living crate100can be planned in the computer system. The living crate100with the pigs in there can then be picked up again from the discharge position54by a free lifting transporter140and be placed back at a planned free barn position16which does not necessarily need to be the same as the barn position16from which the living crate100originally came. The arrival at a new barn position16is registered again in the database.

A second group of treatments will be planned by the computer system according to fixed time schedules or as a result of earlier diagnosis.

A first planned treatment is the periodical veterinary inspection of all pigs in a living crate100in the manner as described above.

A second planned treatment is the assistance in the imminent farrowing of a pregnant sow. The living crate100with the pregnant sow will then on the basis of the planning be removed from its designated barn position16by one of the lifting transporters140and with the sow in there be taken to the first treatment area40. The living crates100are placed under a heat lamp48and are spotlighted such with the lighting49that the carer45is able to properly monitor the wellbeing of the sow. After each birth the carer45is able to immediately pick up the cooling piglet, dry it off, briefly inspect it and bring it to a teat. After the parturition process, when the sow and her piglets are released by the carer45for that purpose, the living crate100is removed from under the heat lamp48and by one of the lifting transporters140is placed back at one of the barn positions16in the first housing area10.

A third planned treatment is the ear tagging of newly born piglets in a living crate100in the first housing area10. The living crate100with the pigs to be inspected will on the basis of the planning be removed from its designated barn position16by one of the lifting transporters140and with the sow and piglets in there be transported to the second treatment area50. There the living crate100will be placed at the reception position52of the second transporter51after which the lifting transporter140is free again for a next transfer order. The living crate100is subsequently moved to the treatment position53where the carer55provides each piglet with an ear tag and enters the unique ear tag data into the computer system using the computer terminal57. The living crate100is then taken back again by a lifting transporter140to a designated barn position16in the first housing area10.

A fourth planned treatment is vaccination of pigs in a living crate100in one of housing areas10,20,30. The living crate100with the pigs to be vaccinated will then on the basis of the planning be removed from its designated barn position16by one of the lifting transporters140and with the pigs in there be transported to the third treatment area60. There the living crate100will be placed at the reception position62of the third transporter61after which the lifting transporter140is free again for a next transfer order. The living crate100is subsequently moved to the treatment position63where the carer65vaccinates each pig and enters the altered vaccination status into the computer system using the computer terminal57. The living crate100is then taken back again by a lifting transporter140to a designated barn position16in one of the housing areas10,20,30.

A fifth planned treatment is the periodical cleansing of the living crates100in which the pigs are staying. In general the living crates100will be cleansed as soon as they have been vacated because the pigs have been dispatched. The living crates100can also be cleansed in between times. The living crate100to be cleansed including the pigs will then be removed from its designated barn position16by one of the lifting transporters140and with the pigs in there be transported to the fifth treatment area80. There the living crate100will be placed on one of the transporters81,88after which the lifting transporter140is free again for a next transfer order. The transfer device89transfers the pigs to an already cleansed living crate100on the other transporter82, after which one of the lifting transporters140picks up again said living crate100with the pigs in there from the discharge position84and takes it to a designated barn position16. The living crate100and the pigs in there are registered in the computer system.

The living crate100to be cleansed is transferred by one of the lifting transporters140to the fourth treatment area70in order to be cleansed. The cleansed living crate100can then be returned to the fifth treatment area80for reception of pigs or be placed back empty at a designated barn position16. Said status alteration is registered in the computer system.

A sixth planned treatment is the removal of faecal slurry from the storage space115of the living crate100. The living crate100to be cleansed including the pigs will then be removed from its designated barn position16by one of the lifting transporters140and with the pigs in there be transported to the fourth treatment area70. There the storage space115will be connected to a discharge and only the storage space115is flushed. The lifting transporters140subsequently place the living crate100back again at a planned barn position16.

As has become clear from the description above, the pigs in the barn1permanently stay in the living crates100in the housing areas10,20,30. The living crates100with the pigs in there are only transported to one of the treatment areas40,50,60,80when this is required according to the planning in the computer system. The pigs are moved by the lifting transporters140while they remain in the living crate100. In that way the paths12remain clean. The treatments can be planned ad hoc by the computer system if they are related to the wellbeing of the pigs in the living crates100. For that purpose the first pre-selection of deviations of the parameters relative to the standard values takes place automatically. The treatments are furthermore planned by and using the computer system according to fixed time schedules or as a result of earlier diagnoses. In all cases the living crate100with the pigs in there is taken to the veterinary specialists45or carers55,65in the treatment area dedicated to and equipped for that purpose.

FIGS. 6A-6Hshow a second living crate200to be used in the barn1in the manner as described above. The living crate200comprises an integrally formed plastic tray201shown in detail inFIGS. 6Dand6E, and a steel frame270on which the plastic tray201is attached. The plastic tray201is made of for instance polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC) or fibre reinforced polyester (GRP), and has an overall substantially constant wall thickness and autonomous rigidity.

The plastic tray201comprises a front wall210, a rear wall220, a left sidewall230, a right sidewall240and a bottom wall250. The bottom wall250is built up asymmetrically, and comprises two platforms251that at the middle sides via a straight, vertical wall259merge into a faecal slurry tray255in the rear half of the bottom wall250, a middle faecal slurry channel256with slope to the faecal slurry tray255, two rearmost faecal slurry channels257along the rear wall220having a slope to the faecal slurry tray255and two foremost faecal slurry channels258along the front wall210with a slope to the middle faecal slurry channel256. In the lowest portion of the faecal slurry tray255a faecal slurry discharge260with valve is situated. The more elevated platforms251have a slight slope in the direction of the middle faecal slurry channel256and the faecal slurry tray255. Instead of one middle faecal slurry channel256, several faecal slurry channels may also be provided next to one another.

The left sidewall230and the right sidewall240each have a straight wall section231and two offset reinforcement panels232formed in them. At the bottom side the straight wall sections231merge into a straight support edge233defining a part of the bottom wall250. The support edge extends over the full length of the plastic tray201. With their main planes the support edges233are placed inclined to the main plane of the connecting platforms251and wall sections231. The front wall210has a straight wall section211that on both sides via a curve234merges into the straight wall sections231of the sidewalls230,240. The rear wall220has a straight wall section221that also on both sides via a curve234merges into the straight wall sections231of the sidewalls230and relative to the straight wall section221an offset panel222that can be cut out to form an access to the plastic tray201. The curves234have a radius of at least 100 mm in order to counteract said walking around at a loss of the animals in the corners.

The plastic tray201has a circumferential upper wall241which at the upper side defines the upper edge242of the plastic tray201and which at the bottom side via an offset part243merges into the underlying walls210,220,230,240. Said offset part243can be cut through for, depending on the use of the living crate200, forming a lowered upper edge of the plastic tray201.

The steel frame270comprises two parallel first support profiles271which at the upper side are provided with an externally turned support lip272. The plastic tray201is confined between the first support profiles271and then with the support edges233sits on said support lips272. This is shown in detail inFIG. 6H. At the front end and the rear end the first support profiles271are connected to each other with second support profiles290. At the upper side the second support profiles290follow the contour of the bottom wall250. The second support profiles290are connected one to the other by means of third support profiles295extending parallel to the first support profiles271. At their bottom side the support profiles271,290,295are provided with inwardly turned edges273,291,296forming the straight ground surface of the frame270.

As shown inFIGS. 6A-6Hthe second living crate200is provided with a faecal slurry grid300in the plastic tray201. A steel sow's pen340sits on the faecal slurry grid300, the entrance of which sow's pen is in the extension of the offset panel222in the rear wall220. In this example the sow's pen340is off-centre so that on one side of the sow ample space is available for her suckling piglets. The sow's pen340can also be in the centre. In both positions there will be ample space to allow all piglets to lie in one piglet litter.

As shown inFIG. 6Gthe faecal slurry grid300comprises a steel frame301built up with two steel longitudinal profiles302connected parallel to each other by means of parallel steel transverse profiles303. At the longitudinal profiles302, support lips314that are transversely oriented thereto, are provided. The support lips314have a diagonally turned outer end304. The faecal slurry grid300is confined within the sidewalls230,240, and the front wall210and rear wall220, respectively, of the plastic tray201, wherein all around an annular slit is present that is narrower than 1 cm in order to prevent the legs of the piglets from getting wedged in them. As shown inFIG. 6Hthe turned ends304are then parallel to and straight on the support edges233of the plastic tray201, and the support edges233are parallel to and on the support lips272of the frame270. The overall weight of the faecal slurry grid300and the animals is thus passed on vertically and directly to the frame270without a deforming load on the tray201. The free spaces between the consecutive support lips314ensure that the faecal slurry is able to slide down along the sidewalls230,240to the underlying platforms251. The full space underneath the faecal slurry grid300can be used for the temporary storage of faecal slurry.

The support edges233form the only bearing points of the faecal slurry grid300. Along the sidewalls230,240of the plastic tray201, the faecal slurry grid300is provided with a wide path307of steel or plastic grid plates313and a narrower path306of steel or plastic grid plates312that are adjacent to the sow's pen340. Between these paths306,307of steel grid plates312,313there is a cast iron grid plate310on the transverse profiles302which plate extends underneath the sow's pen340. The steel grid plates313are welded to the frame301and form one unity therewith. If they are made of plastic they are secured to the frame301. The cast iron grid plate310forms an insert piece.

In the middle the wider path307of grid plates313is provided with a heated zone311. The heat comes from a hot water pipe315attached underneath it. The faecal slurry grid300is furthermore provided with parallel rinse water pipes316. The pipes315,316are welded to the bottom side of the transverse profiles303as a result of which they form one unity therewith. The assembly of the steel frame301the grid plates313and the pipes315,316after assembling has been subjected to a joint coating treatment or, in case of steel grid plates313, a joint galvanisation treatment so that an all-round durably protected unity has been formed. In this example the faecal slurry grid300is provided with a cast iron grid plate310and steel or plastic grid plates313. The grid plates can also be made of a different material or of the same material. An alternative example are metal wire grids that can be provided with a thick plastic coating.

Nozzles305oriented towards the bottom wall250are connected to the rinsing pipes316. Via a connection that is not shown the rinse water pipe316and the outer ends of the hot water pipe315are connected to rapid couplings or spigot and socket couplings298on the second support profile290extending underneath the rear wall220. By means of said rapid couplings the pipe to the drinking nipple or drinking water trough in the living crate100,200can also be connected.

As also shown inFIGS. 6A and 6Bthe second living crate200can be positioned elevated on a stand401. The stand401comprises two bearing profiles403on which the first support profiles271sit. The first support profiles271sit in a recess at the upper side of the bearing profiles403in order to confine them. At their bottom sides the bearing profiles403are connected one to the other to transverse profiles405keeping an insertion space406free to be able to pick up the second living crate200from below using the said lifting transporters140or by means of a transport device further elucidated below. The stand401is provided with rapid couplings or spigot and socket couplings407that directly connect to the rapid couplings298of the second living crate200when it is placed thereon. From there the living crate200is provided with hot circulation water for the heated zone311and with rinse water for the nozzles305. The steel frame270and the stand401are provided with cooperating cams297for the correct placement of the living crate200on the stand401.

The faecal slurry tray255can be emptied by connecting its faecal slurry discharge260to a drain pipe or by placing it over a toilet. The rinse water can be supplied via the nozzles305after opening the valve. Alternatively the rinse water is supplied via a showerhead having a nozzle hosing water all around. Said showerhead is inserted from below through the faecal slurry discharge260in order to hose the faecal slurry tray255and the adjacent parts clean all around.

FIGS. 7A-7Dshow an alternative transport device400to be used in the barn1. The transport device400comprises parallel racks410each having several horizontal bearing rails411above one another. Each pair of bearing rails411forms a barn position16for a living crate100,200. The transport device400is provided with horizontal transport rails420extending along the bearing rails411. The transport rails420connect to a lift440.

A first transport carriage450is able to ride over the transport rails420in direction F. The first transport carriage450comprises two housings451having four driven wheels452and a recess453in between them which can be brought in the extension of the bearing rails411. A second transport carriage460is then able to ride in and out of the recess453in direction G. The first transport carriage450and the second transport carriage460can be man-controlled, or they are remote-controlled carriages or autonomously operating carriages. The second transport carriage460comprises a housing461having four driven wheels463and a lifting table462. The lifting table462is movable in direction H between a retracted position in which the second transport carriage460is able to ride over the bearing rails411underneath a second living crate200, and a lifted position in which it keeps the living crate200on the frame270free above the bearing rails411. The living crate200can thus be moved from and towards its barn position16. Rapid couplings407have also been provided at the barn positions16. When lifting and lowering in direction H the rapid couplings298are automatically connected thereto or disconnected therefrom.

The lift440has a man-operated or remote-controlled or autonomously operating lifting platform441on which the first transport carriage450, with the second transport carriage460on there bearing the living crate200, can be driven. The lowest level of the lift440is connected to rails that are not further shown and lead to the treatment areas40,50,60,70. In the treatment areas, in particular the first treatment area40where parturition takes place, the living crates200are on stands401.

The above description is included to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation many variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be evident to an expert.