An implement for feeding young animals

Abstract: An implement for feeding young animals, such as calves, which implement comprises a metering device (4), while the implement is provided with means giving it the characteristics of a milking robot.

Description: The invention relates to an implement for feeding young animals, such as calves, which implement comprises a metering device and means giving the implement the characteristics of a milking robot, said means comprising a movable robot arm construction with a movable robot arm. Such an implement is known e.g. from EP-A-0189954. Such implements have the disadvantage of not making the young animal used to automatic milking by a milking robot. For that reason, the young animals, once being mature and functioning as milk production animals, need a period of some weeks to get accustomed to a milking robot. The animals not only produce less milk in this period, but require a continuous supervision, which is very time-consuming. In practice it appears that approximately 10 percent of the cows are unable to adapt themselves to automatic milking by means of a milking robot, which results in a permanent loss of milk production. The invention aims at obviating these drawbacks. For that purpose the implement is characterized in that the movable robot arm is provided with said metering device and in that said metering device is constituted by a drinking nipple and/or a feeding trough. Although the implement is not a milking robot, the implement itself and the surroundings thereof give characteristics of a milking robot. From SU-A-1701206 the application of calf training for milking is known, however, the implement described therein does not relate to accustoming to a milking robot. The metering device is moved by the movable robot arm and the movable robot arm construction to the level of the young animal's mouth. The metering device is constituted by a drinking nipple and/or a feeding trough. This drinking nipple simplifies feeding in that the young animal is able to suck on a nipple resembling a teat of a mother cow. In a preferred embodiment, the drinking nipple is made of a flexible material. Furthermore, the feeding trough makes the animal used to a milking robot. According to again another inventive feature, the robot arm construction is provided with a supporting unit which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the implement along at least one rail, relative to which supporting unit the pivotable portion of the robot arm construction is pivotable in sideward direction. According to a further inventive feature, the sidewards pivotable portion of the robot arm construction is pivotable in sideward direction relative to the implement with the aid of an air cushion and/or a cylinder, disposed between said pivotable portion and the supporting unit. In comparison with a cylinder, an air cushion has the advantage of functioning more cheaply and reliably than a cylinder. According to another aspect of the invention, the implement comprises a dummy robot arm construction and/or a dummy robot arm. Such a robot arm construction and/or robot arm has the external and/or acoustic and/or odorous characteristics of a movable robot arm construction and/or a movable robot arm and can moreover be movable. Finally the implement may be provided with loudspeakers producing the sounds of a milking robot and/or may be characterized by the presence of lubricants and disinfecting liquids to give the implement the odour of a milking robot. According to another inventive feature, the implement is provided with identification means. By means of these identification means it is possible to distinguish the young animals one from another. According to again another aspect of the invention, the young animal is fed provided that a preset time has elapsed since its last feeding. In accordance with another inventive feature, the invention relates to a method of feeding young animals by means of an implement as described above, characterized in that the time spent by the young animal in the implement corresponds to the time spent by an animal in a milking robot. This has the advantage that the young animal, such as a calf, is able to get accustomed to the period of time spent by an animal, such as a dairy cow, in a milking robot for being milked. The time spent by the young animal in the implement can be prolonged per feeding. In a preferred embodiment, the time spent by the young animal in the implement can be prolonged gradually, so that the young animal will spend less time in the implement at a very early age than at a more advanced age. The invention will now be explained in further detail with reference to the drawings of an exemplary embodiment of an implement according to the invention. Figure 1 is a front view of an implement according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of a milking robot, and Figure 3 is a side view of a movable robot arm construction. The embodiment according to Figure 1 shows the implement 1. The implement has the external features of a milking robot 9 as shown in Figure 2. Such a milking robot is known from EP-0 848 588. The implement comprises a movable robot arm construction 2 with a movable robot arm 3 which is provided with a metering device 4. The milking robot is also provided with a movable robot arm construction 11 with a movable robot arm 12. In this embodiment both the implement 1 and the milking robot 9 are provided with two rails 7, 10, along which a supporting unit 6, 15 is capable of moving in the longitudinal direction of the animal (Figures 1, 2 and 3). The movable robot arm construction 2 of the implement and the movable robot arm construction 11 of the milking robot 9 are capable of pivoting around a running wheel 8, 14, respectively, in the transverse direction of the animal (Figures 1, 2 and 3). The young animal is able to get accustomed to the external, acoustic and odorous characteristics of the milking robot 9, because of the fact that the construction of the implement 1 has the same characteristics and comprises the same components as the milking robot 9. The pivoting movement of the robot arm construction can take place by means of a cylinder 13 as represented in the embodiment of the milking robot 9 (Figures 2 and 3), or by means of an air cushion 5, as shown in the embodiment of the implement 1 according to Figure 1. In comparison with a cylinder, an air cushion 5 has the advantage of being cheaper and functioning more reliably than a cylinder 13. In an embodiment of the invention, the implement 1 may also be provided with a dummy robot arm construction 2 and a dummy robot arm 3, which can be movable and which are provided with means making the dummy robot arm construction, the dummy robot arm, respectively, resemble the movable robot arm construction, the movable robot arm of the milking robot 9, respectively, as to the external, acoustic and odorous aspects. For that purpose, in an embodiment of the invention, in the implement 1 there may be disposed loudspeakers simulating the sound of a milking robot 9.

Claims: An implement for feeding young animals, such as calves, which implement comprises a metering device (4) and means giving the implement (1) the characteristics of a milking robot (9), said means comprising a movable robot arm construction (2) with a movable robot arm (3), characterized in that the movable robot arm (3) is provided with said metering device (4)and in that said metering device (4) is constituted by a drinking nipple and/or a feeding trough. An implement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the robot arm construction (2) is provided with a supporting unit (6) which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the implement (1) along at least one rail (7), relative to which supporting unit (6) the pivotable portion of the robot arm construction (2) is pivotable in sideward direction. An implement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sidewards pivotable portion of the robot arm construction (2) is pivotable in sideward direction relative to the implement with the aid of an air cushion (5) and/or a cylinder, disposed between said pivotable portion and the supporting unit (6). An implement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the implement is provided with a dummy robot arm construction and/or a dummy robot arm. An implement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the implement is provided with identification means. An implement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the implement is provided with loudspeakers producing the sounds of a milking robot. An implement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized by the presence of lubricants and disinfecting liquids to give the implement the odour of a milking robot. A method of feeding young animals by means of an implement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the time spent by the young animal in the implement corresponds to the time spent by an animal in a milking robot. A method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the time spent by the young animal in the implement is increased per feeding. A method as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the young animal is fed provided that a preset time has elapsed since its last feeding.

Inventors: VAN DEN BERG KAREL, VAN DER LELY ALEXANDER, VAN DER LELY OLAF, VAN DEN BERG, KAREL, VAN DER LELY, ALEXANDER, VAN DER LELY, OLAF
Applicants: MAASLAND NV, MAASLAND N.V.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A01K15
IPC codes: A01K15, A01K9