FEEDING APPARATUS ESPECIALLY FOR CATTLE

Abstract: A feeding apparatus especially for cattle, in which apparatus separate feeding tables (2) are provided each with one feed bowl (3) for each animal. A first hopper (4) and at least one second hopper (5, 6) are connected to each of the feed bowls (3), said first hopper having means (14) for continuous supply of hay to the respective feed bowl and the other hopper having means (15) for recurrently dispensing predetermined quantities of basic and/or concentrate feed to the respective feed bowl. The apparatus of the invention eliminates the risk of fighting for feed between the animals and provides improved feeding of the cattle, which, in turn, results in more harmonious cattle.

Description: FEZDI.ΪG APPARATUS ESPECIALLY FOR CATTLE The present invention relates to a feeding apparatus especially for cattle, in which apparatus separate feeding tables are provided each with one feed bowl for each animal. It is previously known to feed cattle automatically by providing a timer which produces signals that activate a dispensing means for basic and/or concentrate feed. In most cases, however, the cattle is fed manually or by * a separate means for supply of hay to their feed bowls. The feed of cattle has so far been effected in such. way that the cattle have been given predetermined portion amounts of hay at predetermined points of time, which has stressed the cattle as certain animals eat more quickly and thus finished up their ration earlier, while cattle in adjacent stalls may still have hay left. This has caused fighting for the feed, which has made the animals inharmonious and resulted in a lower production of milk and inferior meat. The object of the present invention is to realize, while avoiding the above-mentioned disadvantages, a feeding apparatus especially for cattle, which is simple and re- liable in function and construction. This object is achieved according to the invention in that a first hopper and at least one second hopper are connected to each of the feed bowls , said first hopper having means for continuous supply of hay to the respective- feed bowl and the other hopper having means for recurrently dispensing predetermined quantities of basic and/or concent¬ rate feed to the respective feed bowl. The invention will be described hereinafter with refe¬ rence to the accompanying * " drawings which- show one preferred embodiment. Fig. 1 is a front view of a feeding apparatus according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1. Referring now to the drawings, a feeding apparatus 1 according to the ■invention is shown, especially for cattle, this fe-iiir.g apparatus comprising four successively arrang feeding tables 2 with separate feed bowls 3 for four ani¬ mals. Although the preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention as shown in the drawings comp- rises four successively arranged feeding tables, the numbe of such tables may of course vary as required. Disposed above each feed bowl 3 are three hoppers, the hopper 4 in the middle being intended for hay and the outer hoppers 5 and 6 being intended for basic and concent rate feed, respectively. The' lower end of the hoppers is bent forwards towards the animal, as is apparent from .Figs. 2 and 3. Water troughs 7 are interposed between two adjacent feeding tables so that each water trough serves two animal Also disposed between the feeding tables are antibutting means 8 and 9, which are formed of a generally U-shaped round bar. As compared to the other antibutting means 9 those antibutting means 8, which are disposed between two feeding tables, between which a water trough 7 is arranged - are extended in order not to cause fighting between the cattle during drinking of water. A hose 10 is connected to each trough for continuous supply of water to the * troughs. The feeding tables are supported on generally L-shape support columns 11 the lower flange of which rests against the cow-house floor and to the stem of which the rear corner edges of the feeding tables are attached. Arranged in front of the outlet opening of the hopper 4 in the middle is a grating 12 consisting of three bent metal bars to prevent the cattle from pulling out too larg amounts of hay but it does not prevent the cattle from pulling out appropriate portion amounts of hay. Of course the grating may be shape.d ' otherwise, the bars may for instance be bent in another way or the number of bars may vary. A generally horizontal shaft 13 is drawn through the feeding apparatus, said shaft supporting, on one hand,- fee arms 14 articulated in the hoppers 4 in the middle at the shaft for delivery of hay and, on the other hand, wall por tior.3 15 in the * ?ut-_r hoppers, which portions are joir-.-rd to the ≤r-aft and adjustable relative to each other and .--re designed to form dispensing means for basic and concentrate feed. As the shaft -is turned in one direction, hay is fed out in the hopper 4 in the middle and the dispensing means in the outer hoppers 5 and 6 stand still while, inversely, when the shaft is turned in the other direction, the dis¬ pensing means are turned and dispense basic and concentrate feed in predetermined amounts to the cattle while the feed arms yield at their inner joints. The wall portions are preferably arranged on a tube (not shown) threaded on -the shaft 13, and joined to the shaft via a single-way connection (not shown) . Alternatively, the feed arms may be securely connected to a tube (not shown) threaded on the shaft 13 and single-way connections (not shown) may be coupled between, on one hand, the tubes of the dispensing means and the shafts 13 and, on the other hand, the tube of the hay delivery part and the shaft 13 such that either the dispensing means or the feed arms are activated as the shaft 13 is turned in either direction. In order to activate and drive the feeding apparatus according to the invention an electric motor 16 with a timer 17 connected thereto is coupled to one end of the shaft, whereby the motor can be activated by means of the timer so as to provide appropriate feeding of the cattle. The invention is of course not limited to the embodi¬ ment described in the foregoing or illustrated in the dra¬ wings but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims. ITUREA, 0,','PI - IFO

Claims: CLAIM; 1. Feeding apparatus especially for cattle, in which apparatus separate feeding tables (2) are provided each with one feed bowl (3) for each animal, c h r a c t e - r i z e d in that a first hopper (4) and at least one second hopper (5, 6) are connected to each of the feed bowls (3) , said first hopper having means (14) for continuous supply of hay to the respective feed bowl and the other hopper having means (15) for recurrently dis- - pensing predetermined quantities of basic and/or concentr feed to the respective feed bowl. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a shaft (13) extends horizontally through the hoppers (4, 5 and 6) of the feeding tables (2) said hay feeding means (14) and, respectively, said basic and/or concentrate feed -dispensing means (15) being acti¬ vated upon turning of the shaft in either direction. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the hay feeding means includes a number of feed arms (14) which are arranged along and around the shaft (13) and designed for delivery of hay to the feed bowl (3) upon turning of the shaft. . Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 - 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the basic and concentr feed dispensing means includes a number of wall portions (15) which are adjustable relative to each other and arranged around the shaft and define portion compartments for portionally feeding out basic and/or concentrate feed to the feed bowl (3) upon turning of the shaft. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claims 3 and 4, c h a r a t e r i z e d in that the hay feeding means (14) is activated upon turning of the shaft (13) in one direction and that the basic and/or concentrate feed dispensing means (15) is activated upon turning of the shaft (13) in the other direction. 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the hay feeding means also includes a first tube part which is threaded on the shaft and joined to the shaft (13) via a first single-way connection and supports the feed arms (14) , and that the basic and/or 5 concentrate feed dispensing means also includes a second tube part which is threaded on the shaft and is joined to * the shaft via a second single-way connection acting in the opposite direction relative to the first single- way connection and which supports the wall portions (15) . 10 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that the feed arms (14) of the hay feeding . means are articulated in one direction to the shaft (13) , and that the wall portions (15) of the basic and/or concentrate feed dispensing means are attached to a tube „ 15 part threaded on the shaft and joined to the shaft via a single-way connection acting in a direction opposite the mentioned direction. 8. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims / C h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second 20 hopper consists of a hopper (5) for basic feed and a hopper (6) for concentrate feed, said hoppers being disposed on either side of the first hopper (4) for hay. 9. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a grating (11) 25 is arranged in front of each of the outlet openings of the first hoppers (4) to prevent the cattle from pulling out too large amounts of hay from the first hopper.

Inventors: NILSSON K
Applicants: NILSSON K
Application year: 1980
Main classification: A01K5
IPC codes: A01K5