METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING PIGLETS FROM SUFFOCATING UNDER THE DAM IN A BROODING PEN

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing piglets from suffocating under the dam in a brooding pen provided with a particular bay (1) or similar space reserved for the dam, the purpose of which apparatus is to lower the death-rate of piglets during the first days of their life. When the dam stands up in order to eat or drink, it is known that the piglets creep under the dam because the place where it has lain is warm. When the dam then lies down again, all piglets do not always move off quickly enough, and every now and then one of them is choked to death. The problem is solved so that when the dam is standing, by blowing air thereunder there are arranged unpleasant conditions for the piglets. This is achieved by employing the apparatus which comprises a brooding pen provided with a bay reserved for the dam, in which bay is placed a photocell (2, 3). The photocell indicates when the dam stands up, in which case the blower (5) is switched into operation. The air flow is directed so that at least the major part thereof is blown towards the space under the dam. Respectively, when the dam lies down, the photocell (2, 3) switches the blower (5) off.

Description: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTIXG PIGLETS FROM SUFFOCATING UNDER THE DAM IN A BROODING PEN The present invention relates to a method for preven¬ ting piglets from suffocating under the dam in a broo¬ ding pen provided with a particular bay or equivalent space reserved for the dam, the said method comprising a suitable sensor, for example a photocell, for detec¬ ting when the dam stands up and lies down. The inven¬ tion also relates to an apparatus as an application of the aforementioned method. It is generally known that when the dam stands up to eat or drink either during or after farrowing, the pig¬ lets tend to creep under the dam. This is evidently due to the fact that the place where the dam has lain is warm, as well as to the piglets' natural instinct to be in immediate contact with the dam. When the dam lies down again, there is great danger that all piglets do not move away from under the dam quickly enough. Piglets are often killed, particularly under old and fat brooding sows. In prior practice it has been tried to eliminate this drawback for instance by constructing various bay structures for brooding pens. The purpose of such bays is to limit the movements of the dam, whereas the pig¬ lets can move freely in the pen irrespective of the bay. In the prior art it is also known to employ heat lamps or heat planes in the brooding pen. The use the¬ reof is based on the fact that piglets like warm and light conditions and consequently tend to draw close to the lamp or equivalent. In the British Patent Publication No. 952 189 is intro¬ duced a bay construction for a brooding sow, the bay OMPI - comprising separate side partitions with respect to the piglets, which partitions can be lifted up and lowered down. While the dam is lying down, the partitions at the sides of the bay are lifted up, so that the piglets can suck the dam in a normal way. When the dan stands up, the photocell detects the action and lowers imme¬ diately the partitions down. Now the piglets cannot enter the dangerous area. Similarly, after the dam has lain down, the photocell guides the partitions upwards. The drawback of the described arrangement is its com¬ plex structure. This naturally leads to a high price. The purpose of the present invention is, among other things, to avoid the above drawbacks. The invention is based on the idea that in the brooding pen is ar¬ ranged a situation with strongly opposed conditions with respect to the piglets. It is generally known that piglets do not like draft nor cold, whereas they are drawn to warm, light and draftless places. Accor¬ dingly, the invention is characterized by the novel features presented mainly in the Patent Claim 1. The characteristic features of the apparatus according to the invention are enlisted in the Patent Claim 3. The most remarkable advantages of a method and appara¬ tus according to the invention is its "naturality". Experience has shown that already after one da the piglets learn to behave safely, so that they no more try to creep under the dam. Another advantage of the apparatus is its simple construction and low price. It can for example be a part of the brooding pen. Moreover, it is sufficient that the apparatus is em¬ ployed for instance 24 hours after the farrowing, whe¬ reafter it can be switched off. A separate, indepen¬ dent apparatus can be shifted to another brooding pen when necessary. In the following the invention is explained in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Figure 1 is an illustration of one preferred embodiment of the invention in perspective view. Figure 2 is an illustration of the apparatus of Figure 1 seen from behind. The arrangement according to the invention comprises a narrow bay 1 or similar space reserved for the dam, which space forms part of the brooding pen. The bay 1 can be of any of the conventional types. At the sides of the bay 1, preferably at its center, is adjus¬ ted a photocell, which consists of a suitable receiver 2 and of a transmitter 3. These are placed at such a height from the ground that while the dam is lying down, a ray of light or equivalent can unobstructedly enter through the bay 1. When the dam stands up, its back obstructs the passage of the ray of light. At the other end of the bay f, comparatively near to the ground, is placed the horizontal pipe 4. The pipe 4 is provided with several small perforations 8 , through which air can be blown evenly in narrow jets to the space under the dam when it is standing up. The air is blowed with the blower 5 or with a similar device through the vertical pipe 6 further to the horizontal pipe 4. On the opposite side of the bay, with respect to the horizontal pipe 4, is placed in a conventional fashion a heat lamp 7 or other similar illumination and/or radiation device. The apparatus according to the invention functions in the following manner. While the dam is lying down in the bay 1, the piglets can suck it ' in a natural way. When the dam stands up for example to drink or eat, its back obstructs the ray of light coming from the photocell 2, 3. As a consequence the blower 5 is switched on and starts blowing air under the cam . OMPI WIPO through the perforations 8 of the horizontal pipe 4, in this case only from one direction A. Thus under the dam is formed a condition which is unpleasant for the piglets, and they turn to the direction of the air flow. On the opposite side of the brooding pen, out¬ side the bay 1 , in the direction of the air flow, is located a heat lamp 7, which further emphasizes the contradictory circumstances. When the dam lies down again, the receiver 2 of the photocell detects the ray. of light coming from the transmitter 3, the blower 5 stops operation and the piglets return to suck the dugs of the dam. Experience has shown that new-born piglets generally learn during the first 24 hours to retreat from under the dam and to move towards the heat lamp 7 immediate¬ ly when the dam stands up. Thus the method according to the invention remarkably decreases the death-rate of piglets during the first days of their lives. The apparatus 4, 5, 6 of the invention and the detec¬ tor 2, 3 attached to it can form a stationary part of the bay 1. In this case for example the horizontal pipe 4 can be replaced by the pipe 4' belonging to the structure of the bay 1, which pipe 4' can be perfora¬ ted like the horizontal pipe 4. On the other hand, the apparatus with the detector can form a separate device to be attached to the bay, as presented in Fi¬ gures 1 and 2. In the above embodiment of the invention the blower 5 is arranged in connection to each apparatus. It is also possible that several separate apparatuses have the same blower in common. In these cases, a compres¬ sor or other generally known device which produces pressure air, can also be used instead of the blower. The blowing of the air under the standing dam can be carried out, except from blowing it through the hori¬ zontal pipe 4, 4' provided with perforations 8, also through one or several suitable nozzles which efficient¬ ly spread the air flow in a fanlike fashion. If is pointed out that the blowing of the air in the brooding pen can, if desired, also be arranged to take place from a direction other than that of the above embodiment, or from several directions. The essential feature of the invention is that the air flows away from under the dam standing in the bay or equivalent space. In the above the invention has been described mainly with reference to one preferred embodiment only. It is, however, clear that the invention is by no means limited exclusively to the described application, but the apparatuses according to the invention can vary even to a great extent without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the following patent claims.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. A method for preventing piglets from suffocating under the dam in a brooding pen provided with a par¬ ticular bay (1) or equivalent space reserved for the dam, in which method the standing up and lying down of the dam are detected by a suitable sensor, for ins¬ tance a photocell (2, 3), c h a r a c t e r i z e d , in that after the dam has stood up, under it are ar¬ ranged unpleasant conditions for the piglets by blowing air thereunder according to the indication of the pho¬ tocell (2,3). 2. The method of Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the air is blown mainly from one side of the dam towards a heat lamp (7) or equivalent, which is placed outside the bay (1) in the direction of the air flow. € 3. An apparatus for applying the method of Claim 1, the said apparatus comprising a brooding pen provided with a particular bay (1> or similar space reserved for the dam, wherein is placed preferably a photocell (2, 3) or si -ilar detector, which detector indicates when the dam stands up or lies down, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that the photocell (2, 3) is connected to a blower (5) or equivalent, which, according to the indication of the photocell (2, 3), blows an air flow so that at least the major part thereof is directed to the space under the dam. 4. The apparatus of Claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in the brooding pen, outside the bay (1) there is placed a heat lamp (7) or equivalent in the direc¬ tion (A) of the air flow. 5. The apparatus of Claim 3 or 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that for spreading and directing the air flow the apparatus comprises a preferably vertical pipe (6) , which is connected to the blower (5) , and a horizontal pipe (4) parallel to the lengthwise direction of the bay (1) and further connected to the vertical pipe (6), the said horizontal pipe (4) being provided with perfo¬ rations (8) in' order to spread the air evenly in small jets mainly to the area under the dam while the dam is standing up. 6. The apparatus of Claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the horizontal pipe (4 T ), through which the air is blown, forms an essential part in the construc¬ tion of the bay (1). 7. The apparatus of Claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the apparatus (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) is separated from the bay (1) and independently shiftable. 8. The apparatus of any of the previous claims, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the blower (5) or equiva¬ lent is connected to several apparatuses (2, 3, 4, 5, 6). O PI

Inventors: SALMINEN ENSIO
Applicants: SALMINEN ENSIO
Application year: 1981
Main classification: A01K1
IPC codes: A01K1, A01K29