AN IMPLEMENT FOR FEEDING AND/OR WATERING ANIMALS

Abstract: A feeding and/or drinking implement for animals, such as cows, goats or lamas, provided with feeding troughs (1) and comprising an imaginary axis around which the feeding troughs (1) are disposed at a fixed distance from the imaginary axis. Because of the fact that the feeding troughs (1) are disposed in a circular form around the imaginary axis, the feeding implement occupies less space in the shed. The animals are able to position themselves side by side around the feeding troughs (1) and to approach the feeding troughs (1) up to a distance at which they almost touch each other.

Description: AN IMPLEMENT FOR FEEDING AND/OR WATERING ANIMALS The invention relates to an implement according to the preamble of claim 1. Such an implement is described in the non-published earlier application NL-A-1010898. This application discloses a feeding and/or drinking column for animals, such as cows, which is provided with feeding troughs. The application NL-A-1010898 is integrally included in the present application. The implement described in NL-A-1010898 may be improved by reducing the size of the implement. The fact is that the implement occupies much space in the shed, while relatively few animals can be fed simultaneously on the basis of the existing number of feeding troughs . Since the introduction of the milking robot large numbers of animals spend much time in the shed. Therefore, the shed should comprise facilities for milking and feeding the animals. Besides, there should remain sufficient freedom of movement for the animals, so that they are able to walk easily to the milking robot. Moreover, the animals are accustomed by nature to walk about and to graze in a group. However, a shed having a large surface area is expensive. Therefore, an efficient use of the space in the shed is of major importance for the purpose of keeping as many animals as possible in an optimal condition on a smallest possible surface area, while there is enough room available for enabling the animals to walk about freely. In this manner there is achieved an economical and efficient management. The invention aims at utilizing the space in the shed as effectively as possible and to feed as many animals as possible simultaneously by means of an implement occupying as little as possible of the available space. For that purpose, in accordance with the invention, the feeding troughs overlap each other partially seen in plan view. In this manner there is obtained a considerable space saving because the animals are able to eat closer together. The herd behaviour of the animals is not disturbed, because large numbers of animals are able to eat and drink at the same time. As a result of the specific arrangement of the feeding troughs, the implement exerts a great attraction on the animals. At last, transport and storage of the implement are simplified because the implement occupies little space. The partial overlap of the feeding troughs seen in plan view is achieved in practice by arranging the feeding troughs side by side at different levels, certain parts of the feeding troughs overlapping each other. In accordance with an inventive feature, the implement comprises an imaginary axis around which the feeding troughs are disposed at a fixed distance from the imaginary axis. When the feeding troughs are disposed in a circular form around the imaginary axis, the feeding implement occupies less space in the shed. The animals are able to position themselves side by side around the feeding troughs and to approach the feeding troughs up to a distance at which they almost touch each other. Due to the fact that, seen in plan view, the feeding troughs are located around an imaginary axis so as to overlap each other, there is obtained an implement by means of which relatively many animals are fed, while the implement occupies relatively little surface area in the shed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the feeding troughs are substantially identical. By making use of uniform feeding troughs it is achieved that the production cost of the implement are maintained at a low level. The solution to the problem of an implement provided with feeding troughs for feeding animals, enabling to feed relatively many animals simultaneously and occupying relatively little surface area in the shed, may also be obtained by means of an alternative implement. This implement for feeding and/or watering animals, such as cows, is provided with several feeding troughs, the implement comprising an imaginary axis around which a first series of feeding troughs is disposed at a first fixed distance from the imaginary axis, and a second series of feeding troughs is disposed at a second fixed distance from the imaginary axis, the arrangement being such that, seen in plan view, a first radius extending from the imaginary axis through the centre of a feeding trough of the first series and a second radius extending from the imaginary axis through the centre of an adjacent feeding trough of the second series enclose an angle greater than zero. Such an implement is also a solution to the problem how to utilize the space in the shed as efficiently as possible and how to feed as many animals as possible simultaneously by means of an implement occupying a minimum of space. The feeding troughs of the first series and the feeding troughs of the second series are located at different distances from the imaginary axis. In comparison with the first implement described, this implement occupies almost the same surface area of the shed when the same number of animals is positioned around the imaginary axis. However, the radius of the implement is longer because of the fact that the feeding troughs are disposed at two different distances from the imaginary axis. The feeding troughs of the first series and/or the feeding troughs of the second series are substantially identical. In accordance with an inventive feature, the implement comprises one or more floorboards extending below one or more feeding troughs and having an inclination in the direction of the imaginary axis. By means of the inclined floorboards it is achieved that the feeding troughs are better accessible to the animals. Moreover, in this situation the animals are in a more comfortable position when they are eating. Seen in plan view, the feeding troughs overlap each other. In practice it is desirable to realize this by arranging the feeding troughs side by side at different levels around the imaginary axis. In a preferred embodiment, below the feeding troughs arranged close to the bottom there may be disposed a floorboard extending from the imaginary axis and having an upward inclination seen from the imaginary axis. In a preferred embodiment, below the feeding troughs arranged farther from the bottom there may be disposed a floorboard extending from the imaginary axis and having a downward inclination seen from the imaginary axis. In a preferred embodiment, the inclination ranges approximately between 1° and 30°. Especially cows enjoy eating when they are in an inclined position. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the implement may be provided with one or more partition elements which are dimensioned and designed so as to prevent the animals from hindering each other during eating or drinking and/or to prevent the animals from eating and/or drinking from each other's feeding troughs. Especially for the implement in which the feeding troughs overlap each other it is important that the animals eat from the right feeding trough. This is achieved by arranging the partitions in such a manner that, when approaching the implement in the direction of the imaginary axis, the animal can only observe one feeding trough. Moreover, the partitions have a particular shape, which also contributes to obtaining that the animals eat from the right feeding trough. For that purpose, the partition is provided with a curve at the side of the partition located closest to the imaginary axis. According to a last inventive feature, the implement is preferably designed in the form of a movable column. In this manner it is achieved that the implement can easily be used at any desirable place in the shed. In particular the implement is considered to be included in the implement as described in the application NL-A-1010898. The implement will now be explained in further detail with reference to the figures . Figure 1 is a plan view of an implement for feeding animals according to the invention, the feeding troughs overlapping each other; Figure 2 is a plan view of an implement for feeding animals according to the invention, said implement comprising an imaginary axis; Figure 3 is again a plan view of an implement for feeding animals according to the invention, said implement comprising an imaginary axis; Figure 4 is a plan view of an implement for feeding animals according to the invention, in which implement the feeding troughs are arranged at a first distance from the imaginary axis and at a second distance from the imaginary axis; Figure 5 is a plan view of an implement for feeding animals according to the invention, said implement being provided with partitions; Figure 6 is a cross-section of an implement for feeding animals according to the invention, and Figure 7 is a side view of an implement for feeding animals according to the invention. Figure 1 is a plan view of an implement for feeding animals according to the invention, the feeding troughs 1 overlapping each other. The feeding troughs 1 are identical. The implement shown is adapted for feeding 14 animals simultaneously. In this figure the feeding troughs 1 are arranged side by side in a row. In comparison with an implement in which an equal number of feeding troughs 1 is arranged in a row in a non-overlapping manner, the space occupied is reduced by a half. In order to obtain a more comfortable eating position of the animals, there may be disposed one or more inclined floorboards below the feeding troughs 1. Figure 2 is a plan view of the implement, in which the identical feeding troughs 1 are disposed at a fixed distance from the imaginary axis. The implement is adapted for feeding 14 animals simultaneously. In a plan view the animals are positioned at the outside of the feeding troughs 1 around the imaginary axis . The animals are able to approach the imaginary axis up to a distance at which they almost touch each other. Figure 3 is again a plan view of an implement for feeding animals according to the invention, said implement comprising an imaginary axis. Starting from the idea that the animals have approximately uniform dimensions, the animals N are able to position themselves around the imaginary axis at a fixed distance from the imaginary axis on the circumference of a circle or at least on a part p of the circumference of a circle. The parameter p is in the range 0<p<l, p=h corresponding with a quarter of the circumference of a circle, p=h corresponding with a half of the circumference of a circle, p=l corresponding with the entire circumference of a circle, etc. Seen in plan view, the uniform feeding troughs 1 have a width t, said width t being defined by the greatest distance between a first point on the aperture of the feeding trough 1 and a second point on the aperture of the feeding trough 1, said first and second point being located at a fixed distance x from the imaginary axis. In this manner there is formed a first isosceles triangle 3 with a base having a length t, a vertex defined as φ, and a first and second side having a length x, said sides extending from the imaginary axis to the respective first and second points. The first isosceles triangle 3 is shown in Figure 3. A second feeding trough 1 overlaps the first feeding trough 1. Seen in plan view, the second feeding trough 1 has the same dimensions as the first feeding trough 1, the second feeding trough 1 thus also having a width t, such that there is formed a second isosceles triangle 4 with a base having a length t, a vertex φ, and a first and second side having a length x. The second feeding trough 1 overlaps the first feeding trough 1 through an angle a which is defined as the angle between the second side of the first isosceles triangle 3 and the first side of the second isosceles triangle 4, such that the overlap ε is defined as ε = 1 - a/φ. On the basis of these data the minimum distance x is defined by the formula x = pπ 2sm ( b - ) εN in which the number of animals N depends on the width of the shoulder s of the animal and the distance from the shoulder to the imaginary axis r so that P_7T N arcsin ( ) The solution to the problem of an implement for feeding animals provided with feeding troughs 1, enabling to feed relatively many animals simultaneously and occupying relatively little space in the shed, may also be obtained by means of an alternative implement. For that purpose, the implement for feeding and/or watering animals N, such as cows, comprises an imaginary axis surrounded by several, substantially identical feeding troughs 1 which, seen in plan view, are disposed at a fixed distance from the imaginary axis on the circumference of a circle or at least on a part p of the circumference of a circle, p being in the range 0<p<l, characterized in that the feeding troughs 1 overlap each other at least partially, while, seen in plan view, a first feeding trough has a width t, said width t being defined by the greatest distance between a first point on the aperture of the feeding trough 1 and a second point on the aperture of the feeding trough 1, said first and second point being located at a fixed distance x from the imaginary axis, in such a manner that there is formed a first isosceles triangle 3 with a base having a length t , a vertex defined as φ, and a first and second side having a length x, said sides extending from the imaginary axis to the respective first and second points, and a second feeding trough 1 has a width t , such that there is formed a second isosceles triangle 4 with a base having a length t, a vertex φ, and a first and second side x , said second feeding trough overlapping the first feeding trough through an angle defined as the angle between the second side of the first isosceles triangle 3 and the first side of the second isosceles triangle 4, such that the overlap ε is defined as ε = 1 - /φ, so that the minimum fixed distance x is defined by the formula In accordance with a feature of this alternative embodiment, the overlap ε is in the range h≤ε≤l , ε=l corresponding to the feeding troughs 1 which do not overlap each other, but are only contiguous, ε=h corresponding to feeding troughs 1 entirely overlapping each other, etc. The fixed distance x almost corresponds to the length of the radius of the implement, so that by means of the aforementioned formula it is possible to dimension the implement . In Figure 4 the feeding troughs 1 are arranged at a first distance from the imaginary axis and at a second distance from the imaginary axis. The feeding troughs 1 are disposed in two rings, while the centres of the feeding troughs 1 are shifted relative to each other. The animals eating at the inner ring have to stretch their necks to some extent, while the animals eating at the outer ring have to pull in their necks to some extent. As shown in Figure 4, the implement together with the eating animals occupies approximately the same space in the shed as an implement in which an equal number of feeding troughs 1 is arranged at a fixed distance from the imaginary axis . However, the implement itself occupies more space than an implement in which an equal number of feeding troughs 1 is arranged at a fixed distance from the imaginary axis. In practice, the animals eating from the outer ring will move somewhat away from the imaginary axis and the animals eating from the inner ring will move somewhat closer to the imaginary axis, so that in practice this implement with eating animals will occupy more space in the shed. Figure 5 shows a plan view of the implement for feeding animals provided with partition elements 2 which are dimensioned and designed so as to prevent the animals from hindering each other during eating or drinking. For that purpose, the partition element 2 is provided with a curve at its side located closest to the imaginary axis . The feeding troughs 1 are disposed on a part of the circumference of a circle at a fixed distance from an imaginary axis . Figure 6 is a cross-section according to the line VI of an implement for feeding animals, corresponding to Figure 5. The animals are able to eat from the feeding troughs 1 in a comfortable manner. Figure 7 is a side view VII of the implement for feeding animals, in which the partition elements 2 are left out. Figure 7 corresponds to Figures 5 and 6. By means of the particular position of the feeding troughs 1 it is achieved that the feeding troughs 1 overlap each other in plan view. In particular the identification means and the metering device as described in application NL-A-1010898 are included in this application.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An implement for feeding and/or watering animals, such as cows, provided with several feeding troughs (1), characterized in that, seen in plan view, the feeding troughs (1) partially overlap each other. 2. An implement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the implement comprises an imaginary axis around which the feeding troughs (1) are disposed at a fixed distance from the imaginary axis. 3. In implement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the feeding troughs (1) are substantially identical. 4. An implement for feeding and/or watering animals N, such as cows, comprising an imaginary axis surrounded by several, substantially identical feeding troughs (1) which, seen in plan view, are disposed at a fixed distance from the imaginary axis on the circumference of a circle or at least on a part p of the circumference of a circle, p being in the range 0<p<l, characterized in that, seen in plan view, the feeding troughs (1) overlap each other at least partially, while a first feeding trough (1) has a width t, said width t being defined by the greatest distance between a first point on the aperture of the feeding trough ( 1 ) and a second point on the aperture of the feeding trough ( 1 ) , said first and second point being located at a fixed distance x from the imaginary axis, in such a manner that there is formed a first isosceles triangle (3) with a base having a length t , a vertex defined as φ, and a first and second side having a length x , said sides extending from the imaginary axis to the respective first and second points, and a second feeding trough (1) has a width t , such that there is formed a second isosceles triangle (4) with a base having a length t, a vertex φ, and a first and second side having a length x , which second feeding trough overlaps the first feeding trough through an angle α which is defined as the angle between the second side of the first isosceles triangle (3) and the first side of the second isosceles triangle (4), such that the overlap ε is defined as ε = 1 - cc/φ, so that the minimum fixed distance x is defined by the formula t x = 2sin ( ^ ) 5. An implement as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the overlap ε is in the range h≤ε≤l . 6. An implement as claimed in any one of claims 4 or 5 , characterized in that the fixed distance x almost corresponds to the length of the radius of the implement. 7. An implement for feeding and/or watering animals, such as cows, provided with several feeding troughs (1) / characterized in that the implement comprises an imaginary axis around which a first series of feeding troughs is disposed at a first fixed distance from the imaginary axis, and a second series of feeding troughs (1) is disposed at a second fixed distance from the imaginary axis, the arrangement being such that, seen in plan view, a first radius extending from the imaginary axis through the centre of a feeding trough (1) of the first series, and a second radius extending from the imaginary axis through the centre of an adjacent feeding trough (1) of the second series enclose an angle greater than zero. 8. An implement as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the feeding troughs (1) of the first and/or the second series are substantially identical. 9. An implement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the implement is provided with one or more floorboards extending below one or more feeding troughs (1) and having an inclination in the direction of the imaginary axis . 10. An implement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the implement is provided with one or more partition elements (2) which are dimensioned and designed so as to prevent the animals from hindering each other during eating or drinking and/or to prevent the animals from eating and/or drinking from each other's feeding troughs. 11. An implement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the implement is preferably designed in the form of a movable column.

Inventors: VAN DEN BERG KAREL, VAN DEN BERG, KAREL
Applicants: BERG KAREL VAN DEN, MAASLAND NV, MAASLAND N.V., VAN DEN BERG, KAREL
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A01K5
IPC codes: A01K5, A01K7