A FEEDING AND/OR DRINKING COLUMN ON BEHALF OF ANIMALS

Abstract: A feeding and/or drinking column for animals, such as cows or goats, said column comprising a central axis surrounded by several reservoirs (3) and feeding troughs (6), as well as at least one metering device (5) for dosing feed and/or drink from at least one of the reservoirs (3) to at least one of the feeding troughs (6), while the feeding and/or drinking column is provided with a framework (1) located around the central axis, to which framework (1) primarily the feeding troughs and reservoirs (3) are fitted.

Description: A FEEDING AND/OR DRINKING COLUMN ON BEHALF OF ANIMALS The invention relates to a feeding and/or drinking column for animals, such as cows, said column comprising a central axis surrounded by several reservoirs and feeding troughs, as well as at least one metering device for dosing feed and/or drink from at least one of the reservoirs to at least one of the feeding troughs. Such a feeding and/or drinking column is known. A disadvantage of this construction is the size of the feeding and/or drinking column as a result of which the latter occupies much space in the shed. Furthermore, the production of the feeding and/or drinking column entails high cost because there are used components that vary per feeding and/or drinking column, depending on the number of animals to be fed and the specific wishes of the user. The invention aims at obviating these drawbacks. For that purpose the feeding and/or drinking column is provided with a framework located around the central axis, to which framework primarily the feeding troughs and reservoirs are fitted. In this manner there is achieved a construction occupying little space. The compactness may be increased in that a cross-section of the framework perpendicular to the central axis is substantially circular. There is also obtained a great accessibility of the feeding troughs in that the circumference of the feeding column is substantially circular. This makes it possible for the livestock to reach the feeding troughs easily from all directions. In this manner the capacity of the feeding and/or drinking column can be utilized as efficiently as possible. The feeding and/or drinking column is provided with partitions disposed between the feeding troughs and having such dimensions that they prevent the animals from disturbing each other during eating or drinking, or eating one another's feed. In this manner the animals are able to eat quietly, without being distracted by animals in the vicinity of the feeding troughs. The shortest distance between two adjacent partitions equals approximately the width of the outside of the feeding trough. Thus there is again achieved a great compactness of the feeding column. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the number of partitions equals the number of feeding troughs. The feeding and/or drinking column can easily be assembled because one or more components fitted to the framework are detachable. One or more components can be disassembled without tools being used, so that they can easily be fitted to the framework and be removed therefrom. The aforementioned components comprise a partition and/or a reservoir and/or a feeding trough. Finally a component may also comprise a metering device. In this manner the feeding and/or drinking column can easily be adapted to the user's wishes. Exchanging components is also very simple and the capacity of the feeding and/or drinking column can be utilized optimally and efficiently. At least one subset of the components is similar in shape. Because of the fact that the feeding and/or drinking column consists of uniform components, said components can be produced in large numbers, so that the production cost remain low. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the storage room is located above the feeding troughs . As a result thereof a separate drive unit for transporting the feed is not required, as the gravitational force causes the feed to flow from the storage room to the feeding troughs . The metering device is preferably located in the middle of a cross-section perpendicular to the central axis of the framework so as to be able easily to serve the feeding troughs . Due to the fact that the reservoirs are almost contiguous they occupy little space. For the purpose of filling the reservoirs the latter are provided with a filling aperture. The feeding troughs are almost contiguous as well, so that the maximum number of feeding troughs can be disposed along the circumference of the feeding and/or drinking column. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the number of feeding troughs equals the maximum number of animals to be fed that are able to position themselves side by side along the circumference formed by the totality of feeding troughs . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at a specific radius of the circular circumference of the framework the number of feeding troughs for feeding cows amounts to twelve. According to another inventive feature, the feeding and/or drinking column is provided with at least one weighing device which is suitable for being used in a feeding trough and/or a metering device. By means of said weighing device it is possible to establish the amount of feed in the metering device and/or the feeding trough. At least part of the weighing device is in particular movable about a central axis. Therefore, one or more weighing devices that can be used both for the metering device and for one or more feeding troughs, will suffice. This has the advantage that the cost of some weighing devices can be saved. According to an inventive feature, the metering device is disposed between at least one reservoir and at least one feeding trough. In this manner it is achieved that the feed can flow by gravitational force from a reservoir via the metering device to the feeding trough, so that no separate drive means are required. The metering device comprises at least one storage room, so that the feed or the ingredients thereof are not directly supplied to a feeding trough. The metering device may also comprise mixing means for mixing the material present in the storage room. The animals are thus prevented from eating selectively only specific feed ingredients. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the metering device is movable about a central axis, and in particular rotatable about this central axis, so that it is possible to serve several feeding troughs by means of the metering device. To that end, according to an inventive feature, for moving the metering device the latter is provided with a drive unit. In accordance with the invention, the feeding and/or drinking column further comprises removing means for removing substances that are unfit for consumption from the flow of feed. In this manner undesired feed ingredients, such as metal objects and plastics, can be removed from the feed. The removing means comprise at least one magnet and/or at least one electromagnet and/or at least one reel. With the reel it is possible to remove metal objects from the flow of feed by means of eddy currents. The feeding and/or drinking column is provided with identification means for identifying an individual animal, while the column is capable of operating fully automatically. According to an inventive feature, before the animals are fed by means of the feeding and/or drinking column, the individual animal is identified, after which, by means of the metering device, the feed is composed of ingredients emanating from one or more reservoirs, according to the nutritive need of the individual animal, and the feed is supplied to the feeding trough. By means of a weighing device in the metering device, the amount of feed can be attuned to the nutritive need of the individual animal. In accordance with another inventive feature, during pouring the feed into a feeding trough, the amount of feed is attuned to the nutritive need of the individual animal by means of a weighing device. Finally the amount of feed can also be attuned to the nutritive need of the individual animal by means of the weighing device in a feeding trough. Depending on the location of one or more weighing devices in the feeding and/or drinking column and the assembly of the various components of the feeding and/or drinking column, various configurations of various components are possible, while in the various configurations the weight of the feed supplied can each time be determined. By means of the weighing device, which is in connection with the feeding trough, the eating speed of an animal is established and the value thereof is subsequently stored in a memory. The nutritive need of the individual animal is determined with the aid of one or more values stored in a memory and relating to the eating speed of the individual animal. The eating speed of an animal having a great nutritive need will be considerably higher than that of an animal having a small nutritive need. The small nutritive need may result for example from an animal's illness. So the eating speed also relates to the animal's condition. According to a last inventive feature, the feed that has not been consumed by the individual animal is automatically removed from the feeding trough with the aid of removing means. The invention will now be explained in further detail with reference to the figures . Figure 1 is a side view of the framework provided with a storage room; Figure 2 is a plan view of the framework according to cross-section II-II; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a feeding and/or drinking column, and Figure 4 is a plan view of a feeding and/or drinking column provided with several reservoirs. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the framework 1 has a substantially circular circumference. At the upper side of the framework 1 there is located a storage room 2 consisting of several reservoirs 3. On the framework 1 there are provided facilities for placing the reservoirs 3. The framework 1 is also provided with partitions 4 which are detachably arranged on the framework 1. The framework 1 is preferably designed as a steel tubular construction. Figure 2 is a cross-section according to the line II- II. The framework 1 is divided into three segments per quarter. In this embodiment totally twelve cows can be fed at the same time. Figure 3 is a cross-section of the feeding column, showing the framework 1, the reservoirs 3, the partitions 4, the metering device 5 which may be provided, if desired, with a storage room, the feeding troughs 6, identification means 7 and a drive unit 8 for the metering device 5. Because of the cylindrical geometry of the feeding and/or drinking column the construction occupies little space, while the feeding and/or drinking column is optimally accessible to the animals from all directions . In the metering device 5 there is disposed an electromagnet 9 by means of which metal objects can be removed from the flow of feed. Figure 4 is a plan view of the feeding and/or drinking column, showing the reservoirs 3 with filling apertures 10, the framework 1 and the partitions 4.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A feeding and/or drinking column for animals, such as cows, said column comprising a central axis surrounded by several reservoirs (3) and feeding troughs (6), as well as at least one metering device (5) for dosing feed and/or drink from at least one of the reservoirs (3) to at least one of the feeding troughs (6), characterized in that the feeding and/or drinking column is provided with a framework ( 1 ) located around the central axis, to which framework (1) primarily the feeding troughs (6) and reservoirs (3) are fitted. 2. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that a cross-section of the framework (1) perpendicular to the central axis is substantially circular. 3. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the feeding column is provided with partitions (4) disposed between the feeding troughs (6) and having such dimensions that they prevent the animals from disturbing each other during eating or drinking. 4. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more components fitted to the framework (1) are detachable. 5. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that one or more components can be disassembled without tools being used. 6. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that a component comprises a partition (4). 7. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that a component comprises a reservoir (3) . 8. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that a component comprises a feeding trough ( 6 ) . 9. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that a component comprises a metering device (5). 10. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that at least one subset of the components is mutually similar in shape. 11. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feeding and/or drinking column is provided with at least one weighing device which is suitable for being used in a feeding trough (6) and/or a metering device (5). 12. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that at least part of the weighing device is in particular movable about a central axis. 13. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metering device (5) is disposed between at least one reservoir (3) and at least one feeding trough ( 6) . 14. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metering device (5) comprises at least one storage room. 15. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metering device (5) comprises mixing means for mixing the material present in the storage room. 16. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metering device (5) is rotatable about a central axis. 17. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metering device (5) is provided with a drive unit (8) for moving the metering device ( 5 ) . 18. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feeding and/or drinking column comprises removing means for removing substances that are unfit for consumption from the flow of feed. 19. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the removing means comprise at least one magnet and/or at least one electromagnet (9) and/or at least one reel . 20. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feeding and/or drinking column is provided with identification means for identifying an individual animal. 21. A feeding and/or drinking column as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feeding and/or drinking column is movable. 22. A method of feeding animals by means of a feeding and/or drinking column as described in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individual animal is identified, after which, by means of the metering device, the feed is composed of ingredients emanating from one or more reservoirs (3), depending on the nutritive need of the individual animal, and the feed is supplied to the feeding trough. 23. A method as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that, by means of a weighing device in the metering device (5), the amount of feed is attuned to the nutritive need of the individual animal. 24. A method as claimed in claim 22 or 23, characterized in that, during pouring the feed into a feeding trough (6), the amount of feed is attuned to the nutritive need of the individual animal by means of a weighing device. 25. A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that the amount of feed is attuned to the nutritive need of the individual animal by means of a weighing device in a feeding trough ( 6 ) . 26. A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that, by means of a weighing device in a feeding trough ( 6 ) , the eating speed of the individual animal is established and the value thereof is stored in a memory. 27. A method as claimed in claim 26, characterized in that the nutritive need of the individual animal is determined with the aid of one or more values stored in a memory. 28. A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 27, characterized in that the feed that has not been consumed by the individual animal is automatically removed from the feeding trough ( 6 ) with the aid of removing means .

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