Shed, in particular for holding pigs

The invention relates to a shed with a defecation region, a rest region, a feeding region and an activity region. The floor of the defecation region is formed by the upper run of a conveyor belt, through which urine that is produced can pass. A collecting trough for the urine is arranged under the upper run of the conveyor belt, from which collecting trough the urine is guided away and directed into a urine collection container outside the shed. An excrement scraper is disposed proximate the conveyor belt in the region of the rear deflection thereof. The excrement scraper, during the forward movement of the conveyor belt, scrapes the excrement on the conveyor belt off onto a discharge conveyor belt, in such a way that a separation of excrement and urine takes place.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO FOREIGN PRIORITY APPLICATION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a shed, in particular a pig shed, with a defecation region, and also with a rest region, a feeding region, and an activity region.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is already known from DE 10 2011 101 089 to design a pig shed in such a way that the animals are provided with a stationing region, a lying region, which is covered with litter material, a defecation region and a feeding region. A set-up of this kind already offers a species-appropriate environment, especially as it avoids using a slatted floor, which damages the hooves of the animals. The concrete floor of the lying region in this case slopes toward the defecation region, with the result that litter material is moved, by the kicking and rooting movements of the pigs, in the direction of the defecation region. There, the straw mixes with the excrement from the pigs to form a mixture referred to as dung. This dung is regularly removed by means of a slide mounted on a tractor and then taken to a storage area. Since the dung is produced in considerable quantities, its disposal creates problems. In addition, urine and excrement are not separated and, as in all conventional shed arrangements, ammonia develops in considerable concentration in the shed, which may be injurious to the health of the animals and of the people working there.

The patent specification DD 137 524 also already describes an arrangement by which the urine and excrement discharged by a mechanical cleaner are separated into a liquid phase and solids on a plane underneath the slatted floor of a shed and are discharged from the shed. However, the use of a slatted floor is known to run counter to species-appropriate animal husbandry, since it is known that the hooves of the animals may become damaged.

The Swedish company Moving Floor Gotland AB, Visby, has also already presented on YouTube, on the internet, a shed installation under the designation “moving floor svin”, in which the floor of the shed is formed by a conveyor belt. A subdivision of the shed into different stationing regions, which is advantageous for species-appropriate animal husbandry, is not provided. The animals stay exclusively on the conveyor belt which forms the shed floor and on which litter material becomes mixed with urine and excrement.

Moreover, a separation of urine and excrement does not take place here. The animals are not given the opportunity to run about and look for a comfortable place to rest. The conveyor belt with the animals located on it is also moved forward by a short distance at regular intervals in order to remove the deposits. This leads to constant disadvantageous disturbance of the animals, who have no chance to get out of the way. Antisocial behavior and aggressiveness of the animals are intensified.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to enable species-appropriate animal husbandry in such a way that, by avoidance of a slatted floor, the animals are provided with a pleasant environment. In particular, the development of harmful emissions in the shed is to be avoided, particularly of ammonia, by means of an efficient separation of excrement and urine. In addition, the separation of excrement and urine is intended to avoid the disadvantages of liquid manure.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the fact that the floor of the defecation region is formed by the upper run of a conveyor belt through which the urine that is produced can pass, that a collecting trough for the urine is arranged underneath the upper run of the conveyor belt, from which collecting trough the urine is guided away, and that an excrement scraper is assigned to the conveyor belt in the region of the rear deflection of the latter, particularly at the location on the conveyor belt where, during a forward movement of the conveyor belt, excrement located on the conveyor belt is scraped off onto a discharge conveyor belt in such a way that a separation of excrement and urine takes place.

The conveyor belt of the shed according to the invention can be a continuous conveyor belt, which runs around front and rear deflection rollers. This conveyor belt can be provided with apertures incorporated into the material of the conveyor belt. The surface of the conveyor belt can be formed, for example, from a continuous elastomer. The conveyor belt can be, for example, an elastomer reinforced with fibers or wires. The apertures can be punched in or drilled in.

The conveyor belt is preferably designed as a modular belt and has a plurality of modules connected to one another by hinges. The articulated connection of the modules is effected in a hinge region.

It has been shown that the urine produced in the defecation region can preferably advantageously flow off from the modular belt across the hinge regions thereof without pooling in such a way that it contains only very small fractions of solid organic material. Thus, the individual modules can have a closed, plane surface. The described effect is achievable by using, for example, a Siegling Prolink modular belt of the type designated S1-0 FLT. A closed, plane surface is found comfortable by the animals. The achievable, permanently good permeability of the hinge regions with respect to urine is explained by the fact that a relative movement takes place particularly in the deflection regions of a modular belt in the region of the gaps of the hinge regions of the modules, which relative movement results in a constant self-cleaning effect which is such that solid constituents cannot settle. The gaps of the hinge regions remain open for the urine to flow off. This is assisted by the spatial separation of the rest region, the feeding region and the activity region with the litter materials, for example straw and structured feed, from the defecation region. Moreover, the separation of the animals from their excrement has considerable advantages as regards hygiene. The well-being of the animals and of the personnel is greatly enhanced.

Modules with outflow openings could also be used. However, the described self-cleaning effect is not then obtained in the region of these outflow openings. In addition, as long as the outflow openings have not clogged up, the modules would be open to an undesired greater fraction of solids in the outflowing urine.

In a further embodiment of the invention, provision is made that the collecting trough for the urine has an incline, in that the urine is directed, via a urine collection channel, into a urine collection container preferably arranged outside the shed, and in that the discharge conveyor belt extends transversely with respect to the conveyor belt and the excrement is conveyed into an excrement collection container likewise preferably arranged outside the shed.

Preferably, provision is moreover made that the shed has a plurality of adjoining shed units consisting of the defecation region, the rest region, the feeding region and the activity region. It is moreover advantageous if the defecation regions of neighboring shed units adjoin each other, such that the animals of neighboring families of pigs have visual contact with one another, i.e., a grating, for example, permits visual contact. In addition to following their natural cleaning instinct, the animals are thereby encouraged to seek out the defecation region. It has been shown that animals of neighboring families of pigs have a need to interact with one another, i.e., to communicate with one another, upon visual contact, which is conducive to the social behavior of the animals.

Preferably, the conveyor belt is driven intermittently by means of a drive system. The drive system advantageously has a working cylinder which is operated with compressed air and whose piston rod acts on a lever arm which, by way of a freewheel, intermittently drives toothed drive wheels of the conveyor belt. A compressed air drive reduces the electrical components of the belt drive, which lessens the danger of an electrical short-circuit in the installation and, consequently, the danger of fire in the shed. Provision is preferably made that the drive system of the conveyor belt is load-dependent or controlled via sensors in such a way that it is stopped as soon as one or more pigs are located on it. Disturbance of the animals caused by a forward movement of the conveyor belt is thereby avoided.

If appropriate, however, the drive system can also be made load-dependent in such a way that the drive of the conveyor belt proceeds continuously as long as piglets are located on the conveyor belt, i.e., in the defecation region, but such that the drive system is stopped as soon as an adolescent or adult pig whose weight exceeds a fixed value steps onto the conveyor belt. It has been shown that piglets, with their highly developed play instinct, do not react negatively to forward movements of the conveyor belt in the defecation region.

The deflections of the conveyor belt are preferably covered by side walls of the defecation region, in such a way that the animals cannot step onto these regions of the conveyor belt. For acceptance by the pigs, it has been shown that it is also advantageous if the conveyor belt in the defecation region is kept moist by means of a water sprinkler or with an atomizer. The same applies to the arrangement of the drinking device on one side of the defecation region. In principle, it is important that the shed units, using minimal amounts of litter material, or also optionally without litter material, make the purpose of the individual regions clear to the animals by way of their features. The rest region has to offer a high degree of lying comfort and must not be adversely affected by disturbances and the activities of the other occupants of the pen. In addition to the high-performance feed, which is offered exclusively in the feeding region, the activity region offers a structured feed consisting of stimulating foodstuffs that pigs enjoy investigating, chewing, and eating. The defecation region must be formed at the boundary of the shed units and preferably has a grating for visual contact with the neighboring pen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the Figures, the same or corresponding elements or units are each provided with the same and/or the corresponding reference signs. When an element or a unit has already been described with reference to a particular Figure, a detailed description is dispensed with when discussing another Figure. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. The drawings referenced herein are schematic and associated views thereof are not necessarily drawn to scale.

In the drawing, reference sign1designates a defecation region of a shed unit2, in particular for pigs, in which a conveyor belt3is arranged which is configured as a modular belt and whose upper run3aforms the floor of the defecation region. The conveyor belt3has a rear deflection4and a front deflection5. As will be seen fromFIG. 2, toothed wheels6and7, each on an axle8and9, are arranged in the region of the deflections4and5for the purpose of driving and guiding the conveyor belt3.

In the defecation region1, a collecting trough10for the urine passing from the animals through the modular belt is arranged under the upper run3aof the conveyor belt3. The collecting trough10has an incline, such that the urine is guided to an outflow11. In the region of the defecation region1, a water sprinkler12is also arranged, by means of which the conveyor belt3can advantageously be kept moist.

It will also be seen fromFIGS. 1 and 2of the drawings that, in the region of the deflections4and5of the conveyor belt3, side walls13and14are arranged that prevent the animals from being able to step onto this region of the conveyor belt3. The side wall13additionally delimits the defecation region1from an adjacent rest region15of the shed unit. This rest region15is intended to provide a high degree of comfort for the animal lying down and must also not be adversely affected by activities of the other occupants of the shed. The floor of the rest region15is, therefore, preferably made of a rubber finish that the animals find comfortable or has a rubber covering.

The rest region15is adjacent to a feeding region16with a feed trough17for the high-performance feed. The feeding region16is adjoined by an activity region18, in which the animals are offered a structured feed containing stimulating foodstuffs that pigs enjoy investigating, chewing, and eating. From the activity region18, an outer region20can also be reached through a passage19. From the direction of the activity region18, the animals wishing to defecate are able to step onto the conveyor belt3of the defecation region1via the open side21thereof.

On its upper run3a,the conveyor belt3configured as a modular belt conveys the excrement which is deposited on it, and from which the urine has largely dripped off, intermittently into an excrement collection region. According to the illustrated embodiment, sensors23arranged on the side walls13and14prevent running of the conveyor belt3, or stop the drive system24thereof, if there is an animal located on it. Alternatively, the drive system24can also be configured such that the advance of the conveyor belt3is load-dependent.

On account of the incline, the urine that has dripped into the collecting trough10flows laterally out of the region of the conveyor belt, through the outflow11into a urine collection channel25routed through the shed, and then into a urine collection container (not shown in the drawings) arranged outside the shed.

In the region of the rear deflection4, an excrement scraper26bears on the conveyor belt3and, during the forward movement of the latter, the deposited excrement from which the urine has largely dripped off onto a discharge conveyor belt28extending transversely with respect to the conveyor belt3. This discharge conveyor belt28conveys the excrement into an excrement collection container (not shown in the drawings) arranged outside the shed for further use. As will be seen fromFIGS. 2 and 3, the drive system24of the conveyor belt3can have a compressed air cylinder29with a piston (not shown in the drawings) whose piston rod30is guided on a lever arm31. For the forward movement of the conveyor belt3, the compressed air cylinder29is acted upon in such a way that the lever arm31engaging on the drive-side axle9is moved upward. The axle9entrains the toothed wheel7, engaging on the conveyor belt3, and intermittently advances it. Since the lever arm31, as can be seen fromFIG. 5, is operatively connected to the toothed wheel7via a freewheel32, a subsequent downward movement of the lever arm does not drive the toothed wheel7, i.e., the conveyor belt3.

FromFIG. 4, which shows a portion of the conveyor belt3configured as a modular belt, it will be seen that a multiplicity of gaps34are formed in the region of hinge regions35between the modules33of the conveyor belt having a closed surface, and, according to the invention, the urine from the upper run3aof the conveyor belt3flows off through these gaps34. Here, use is made of a self-cleaning effect of the gaps34, which results from the deflection movements of the conveyor belt3.

As will be seen fromFIG. 3, a plurality of shed units2according to the invention, consisting of the defecation region1, the rest region15, the feeding region16, and the activity region18, are generally combined to form one unit in a shed. The partition walls between the shed units2are then preferably of such a height that visual contact between neighboring families of pigs is still possible, but pigs cannot climb over the partition walls. Animals from neighboring families of pigs can thus interact with one another, i.e., communicate with one another, with visual contact, which favors social behavior.

Here, the urine collection channel25advantageously runs all the way through the respective shed. Similarly, the discharge conveyor belt28for excrement runs all the way through the shed. Excrement and urine are thus delivered for use outside the shed units2. The immediate separation of excrement and urine means that ammonia does not develop in the shed. It no longer smells, and expensive waste-air filters are, therefore, not required. The separation of excrement and urine also means that the solid fraction can be used as basic fertilizer in agriculture, and that the urine, substantially freed of solids, is suitable for cultivation control. Use of liquid manure, with its known disadvantages, is avoided.