Abstract:
An animal management system provides an alley to control the handling of animals when procedures are to be performed on the animals by veterinarians or cattle producers. The alley is formed by a base frame, and included therewith are a headgate and preferably two wedge-shaped access doors rotatably mounted with the base frame. The headgate is movable between an entrapping position to a releasing position for an animal, and coordinated movement of the at least one access door ensures that a lead animal is properly positioned while other down line animals do not interfere with care given to, or procedures performed on, the lead animal in the headgate. Each access door allows convenient access for persons to the lead animal, and the selective use of one of two doors at a time facilitates the access to and movement of animals of different sizes in the alley. The system may also include an articulating hitch assembly for coupling the alley with a towing vehicle and decoupling the alley so that the hitch assembly substantially does not block the exit of the alley.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   None. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Veterinarians and cattle producers often need to give a herd of cattle a number of vaccinations, or certain health-related procedures, all in one setting. This type of mass care can be efficient because it requires the least amount of time burden for the veterinarian or other worker. Managing a large group of cattle for this type of care can be difficult, and so-called “alleys” have been devised to aid in this effort. Most alleys are narrow paths created by metal framing or fencing that have an open entrance at one end and a long and fairly narrow lineup area that leads to a chute, the chute including a headgate or similar device for entrapping the head of a cow. The headgate, along with other features of the chute, is what allows persons to safely conduct procedures on or give care to the cow while keeping the animal properly confined for an amount of time. The animals typically are herded in a single file line in the alley and follow each other up to the headgate, and upon being released from the headgate, move forward to exit the alley. 
   While such alleys tend to get the animals moving generally in the right direction, there often is not enough, or proper, structure in the alley to more precisely position the animals just before, and right as they reach, the headgate. For example, as a lead cow is approaching the headgate, if they become fearful, they may back up into the cows behind them. To solve this problem, some alleys have a type of door that may be swung behind the cow as they approach the headgate to block efforts to back up and prevent later cows in the line from crowding the cow currently at the headgate. However, doors of conventional configurations do not always provide a strong mechanism for preventing unwanted lead cow movement, and may even discourage cows in line behind the lead from moving forward to the headgate upon release therefrom of the lead cow. 
   Another issue relates to the portability of alleys. Some alley designs are configured to be pulled essentially as a trailer behind a vehicle so that they can be transported to a variety of locations for use. Because the alley is typically much longer than it is wide, trailoring of the alley requires that is be pulled along lengthwise. However, this presents a problem because any hitching mechanism would need to be located at either the entrance or exit (i.e., at the headgate) of the alley. Therefore, when the alley is disengaged from the vehicle, the hitching mechanism would still typically remain and may block or inhibit the movement of cattle into or out of the alley. 
   Thus, there is a need for an alley or similar system to manage cattle movement to a headgate, so that procedures or other veterinary care may be given. Such an alley, in one embodiment, is transportable by trailoring behind a vehicle. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An animal management system provides an alley formed by a base frame and having a headgate and at least one, and preferably two, wedge-shaped access doors rotatably mounted therewith. The base frame generally has a first side section, a second side section, an entrance and an exit where the headgate is mounted. The headgate is movable between an entrapping position to a releasing position for an animal, and coordinated movement of the at least one access door ensures that a lead animal is properly positioned while other down line animals do not interfere with care given to the lead animal in the headgate. Each access door allows convenient access for the veterinarian or other individuals to the lead animal, and the use of two doors facilitates the access to and movement of animals of different sizes in the alley. The system may also include an articulating hitch assembly for coupling the alley with a towing vehicle and decoupling the alley so that the hitch assembly substantially does not block the exit of the alley. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicated like elements in the various views: 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of one embodiment of an animal management system of the present invention shown coupled with an exemplary towing vehicle; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial front elevational view of the system of  FIG. 1  showing articulation of a hitch assembly to decouple the system from the towing vehicle; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial front elevational view of the system of  FIG. 1  showing lowering of the alley to the ground in a use position; 
       FIG. 4  is a close-up partial front elevational view of the system of  FIG. 1  showing the cattle alley lifting mechanism; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a close-up partial top plan view of the system of  FIG. 1  showing the movement of the access doors; 
       FIG. 7  is a close-up partial top plan view of the system of  FIG. 1  showing the squeeze assembly in the extended position; 
       FIG. 8  is a close-up partial top plan view of the system of  FIG. 1  showing the squeeze assembly in the retracted position; 
       FIG. 9  is a partial front elevational view of another embodiment of the system of the present invention having a sorting gate; and 
       FIG. 10  is a close-up partial top plan view of the system of  FIG. 9 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference initially to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an animal management system  10  coupled with a towing vehicle  500 . The system  10  includes a base frame  12  having a first end  14 , a second end  16 , a first side section  18 , and a second side section  20  to define an elongate alley  22  therebetween, as can be seen in more detail in  FIG. 5 . The base frame  12  may include various vertical structural members  24  and horizontal structural members  26  rigidly affixed together to support the remaining components of the system  10 . For instance, vertical and horizontal structural members  24  and  26 , and other base frame  12  components, may be manufactured of steel, and may be welded together. An entrance  28  to the alley  22  is formed at the first end  14  and an exit  30  to the alley  22  is formed at the second end  16 . In this arrangement, the first side section  18  may also be referred to as the “left side” of the alley  22 , and the second side section  20  may also be referred to as the “right side” of the alley  22 . A headgate  32  is mounted to the base frame  12  at the exit  30  and is generally movable between an entrapping position for securing the head of an animal therein (e.g., a cow) and a releasing position whereby the animal is free to move through the exit  30  and out of the alley  22 . Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the headgate may be of any type, and for example, may be actuated through hydraulic means (e.g., hydraulic cylinder) or manually (e.g., typically under spring force). A pair of wedge-shaped doors  34  is pivotably mounted onto the base frame  12  preferably on the left side  18  of the alley  22  for swinging thereof into and out of the alley  22  for selective obstruction of the pathway of an animal in the alley. More specifically, the wedge-shaped doors  34  comprise a leading door  34   a  and a trailing door  34   b , and each swingingly mount with a lower longitudinal member  36  and an upper longitudinal member  38 . In another embodiment of the system  10 , one of the doors  34  may be omitted if only one general size group of animals (e.g., cows) are moved through the alley  22 . For example, if only adult or larger cows are used, then leading door  34   a  may be omitted if desired, because the cow will fit well between the headgate  32  and the trailing door  34   b  within the alley  22 ; conversely, if only immature or smaller cows up to a given length are used, then trailing door  34   b  can be omitted, as the small cow will fit between the headgate  32  and the leading door  34   a  within the alley  22 . However, it is preferred to include both leading and trailing doors  34   a ,  34   b  so that more efficient access to and movement of animals of varying sizes may be achieved, as will be more fully explained herein. 
   Selective swinging of the wedge-shaped doors  34  may be accomplished by hydraulic cylinders  40  or similar means pivotably coupled with the doors  34  on one end and with secured with various structural members  24 ,  26  of the base frame  12  frame components. For example, the cylinders  40  may be coupled with upper lateral members  42  interconnecting upper longitudinal members  38  of the base frame  12 . In  FIG. 6 , a closed position C D  for the doors  34  is shown by one set of dashed lines; a partially-open position PO D  for the doors  34  is shown by a set of solid lines; and a fully-open position O D  for the doors  34  is shown by another set of dashed lines. Each of the doors  34  preferably has a first vertical panel  43 , a second vertical panel  44  offset at an angle from the first panel  43  and a curved bracing member  46  spanning therebetween. The doors  34  may have a lower region  47  having a width such that when the doors  34  are in the closed position C D , the alley  22  is substantially blocked, and an upper region  49 . The height of the lower region  47  may be sufficiently above the average line-of-sight for the typical size of cattle traveling through the alley  22  (e.g., average adult) so that an animal rearward of one of the doors  34  in the closed position C D  cannot see another animal forward of the respective door  34 ; the rearward animal, thus, has an obstructed view. It should also be understood that a door  34  being “wedge shaped” does not require a specific wedge or “pie” like shape, but merely a degree of narrowing of the space between the first and second panels  43 ,  44  moving from the bracing member  44  towards the mounting with the lower and upper longitudinal members  36  and  38 . 
   The system  10  is preferably transported by coupling with towing vehicle through an articulating hitch assembly  48  mounted with the base frame  12 , as seen in  FIGS. 1–3  and  5 . The hitch assembly  48  includes a generally L-shaped rigid coupling member  50  having a hitch ball receiver  52  at a forward end  54  thereof, a pair of bracing arms  56  interconnecting the coupling member  50  with the base frame  12 , and an upper working member  58 . The bracing arms  56  are mounted to the coupling member  50  on a first end  60 , and are each releasably pinned with a sleeve  62  on an opposing second end  64  thereof. The sleeves  62  are extended over forward vertical members  66  of the base frame  12  and are fixed in position. The bracing arms  56  thus provide lateral and longitudinal support, with respect to the alley  22 , to the coupling member  50  when in the transport position. The coupling member  50  moves upwardly and downwardly around a hitch assembly pivot point  68  where the member  50  is pivotably mounted to the frame  12 . The upper working member  58  extends from the coupling member  50  at the pivot point  68 , and has a free end  70  pivotably coupled with the working end of a hydraulic cylinder  72  mounted with another upper lateral member  42  of the base frame  12 . 
   The hitch assembly  48  is shown in a towing position in  FIG. 1 . Once the desired location for use of the alley  22  is chosen, the bracing arms  56  are first unpinned from the sleeves  62  on the second end  64  and detached from the coupling member  50  (or if pivotally connected with the coupling member  50 , rotated laterally outwardly therefrom) on the first end  60 . Then, the hydraulic cylinder  72  is activated and retracted by pulling the free end  70  of the upper working member  58  rearwardly, thereby rotating the upper working member  58  and coupling member  50  clockwise about the pivot point  68 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . This action dismounts the receiver  52  from a hitch ball  502  of the towing vehicle  500 . Preferably, the hydraulic cylinder moves the hitch assembly  48  upwardly to the position shown in  FIG. 9 , such that sufficient vertical clearance between the surface the system  10  is resting upon and the lowermost point of the coupling member  50  is attained for cattle or other animals to move out of the exit  30  and out of the alley  22  when released from the headgate  32 . Reverse activation to achieve extension of the hydraulic cylinder  72  will move the hitch assembly back to position for mounting with the towing vehicle  500 . 
   To make use of the alley  22  to manage cattle movement, the system  10  must be lowered so that the same rests on an underlying surface or ground. This is preferably done prior to the hitch assembly  48  being dismounted from the towing vehicle  500  so that the weight of the system  10  is borne by the alley  22 , as seen in more detail in  FIG. 4 . Each axle assembly  74  includes at least one wheel  76  mounted with a generally horizontal support member  78  and a vertical support member  80  extending from each horizontal member  78 . Two wheels are show for each axle assembly  74  in the figures, but one wheel could be used as an example. The vertical support member  80  has a bracket  82  extending therefrom, and another hydraulic cylinder  84  is coupled to the bracket  82  on a lower end  86  and coupled to one of the upper longitudinal members  38  on an upper end  88  of the cylinder  84 . Each hydraulic cylinder  84  is in an extended position when the wheels  76  support the system  10  for transportation, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Retraction of the cylinders  84 , as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , will cause the other components of the system  10  (e.g., alley  22 ) to lower with respect to the axle assemblies  74  until the base frame  12  rests upon the underlying surface or ground. The base frame  12  is thus immobilized until the cylinders  84  are once again extended. 
   As seen in more detail in  FIGS. 5–8 , a squeeze assembly  86  is also mounted with the base frame  12 , and under actuation by a hydraulic cylinder  88 , directs and thereby restricts animal movement when positioned in a confinement area  90  between either of the wedge-shaped doors  34  and the headgate  32 . A controller  92  may be mounted with the base frame  12  such that user commands may be inputted for directing the activity of the hydraulic cylinders  40  and  88  to thereby induce movement of each of the wedge-shaped doors  34  and squeeze assembly  86 , respectively (and preferably, the headgate  32 ). For example, the controller  92  may have various levers or buttons to accept user input and being connected with circuitry generating signals for activation of a motor and hydraulic pump (not shown) to generate movement of the hydraulic cylinders  40  and  88 , or other mechanisms implemented to affect motion of various components of the system  10 . Another controller (not shown) may be provided for accepting user commands for directing the activity of hydraulic cylinders  72  and  84  to induce movement of the hitch assembly  48  and axle assembly  74 . 
   The squeeze assembly  86  includes directing plate  94 , contact plate  96  and brace bars  98 . Directing plate  94  is slidably coupled with one of the vertical or horizontal structural members  24 ,  26  of the base frame  12  on one end  100  thereof, and pivotably connected with the contact plate  96  on an opposing end  102  thereof. The brace bars  98  are each pivotably coupled with a base frame structural member  24 ,  26  on one end  104  thereof, and with the contact plate  96  on an opposing end  106  thereof. A bracket member  108  extends from the right side or second side section  20  of the alley  22 . The hydraulic cylinder  88  has one end  110  possessing a pivot connection with the bracket member  108  and an opposing end  112  possessing a pivot connection with one of the brace bars  98 ; alternatively, the opposing end  112  may have a pivot connection with the contact plate  96 . Extension of the hydraulic cylinder  88  causes rotation of the brace bars  98  away from the base frame structural members  24 ,  26  on the second side section  20  of the alley  22 , the contact plate  96  to move inwardly in the alley  22 , and the one end  100  of the directing plate  94  to slide forwardly along a guide (not shown) on one of the base frame  12  structural members  24 ,  26 . This movement arranges the squeeze assembly  86  as shown in  FIG. 7  to provide less lateral space in the confinement area  90 . Retraction of the hydraulic cylinder  88  causes the brace bars  98  to rotate towards the second side section  22  of the alley  20 , the contact plate  96  to move outwardly in the alley  22 , and the directing plate end  100  to slide rearwardly. Accordingly, the squeeze assembly  86  provides increased lateral space in the confinement area  90 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . When an animal is entering the confinement area  90  past the wedge-shaped doors  34 , or leaving the confinement area  90  by moving past the headgate  32  out the alley exit  30 , the squeeze assembly  86  is typically moved to the retracted position shown in FIG.  8 . Conversely, the squeeze assembly  86  may be moved to the extended position shown in  FIG. 7  when an animal is in the confinement area  90  for receiving Veterinary care or other services, so that there is little room for the animal to try and move laterally or turn around. However, if an animal is too large to fit in the lateral dimension between the contact plate  96  and the first side section  18  or left side of the alley  22  when the squeeze assembly  86  is in the extended position, the assembly  86  may be held in the retracted position while that particular animal is being handled. 
   The movement of cattle though the alley  22  is best understood with reference to  FIGS. 5–8 . Upon the system  10  being lowered to the ground, cattle may enter in a single file line through entrance  28  of the alley  22 . The wedge-shaped doors  34  are initially in the fully open position O D , as seen in  FIGS. 1–3 . Once a first cow passes the appropriate door  34  (e.g., the leading door  34   a  for smaller cows, trailing door  34   b  for larger cows) and into the confinement area  90 , such door  34  will quickly move to the closed position C D  to prevent the cow from backing out of the area  90  and obstruct the travel of other successive cows into the area  90 . Additionally, when the cow has moved sufficiently forward, the headgate  32  will move inwardly to an entrapping position to prevent the animal from leaving through the alley exit  30 . Simultaneous with movement of the appropriate door  34  to the closed position, or anytime thereafter, the squeeze assembly  86  may move to the extended position such that contact plate  96  narrows the width of the alley  22  in the confinement area  90 , further restricting animal movement. Because the doors  34  are solid and cannot be seen through by successive cows, these cows generally tend to not push on the doors  34  to reach the leading cow, thereby putting less stress on the doors  34  and other components of the system  10 . 
   At this point, the veterinarian or other person performing procedures on the entrapped animal may enter through an opening  114  in the left side or alley first side section  18  formed by the respective wedge-shaped door  34  that has moved to the closed position C D  or to another position away from the fully-open position O D  inwardly into the alley  22  a sufficient amount for the person to pass through the opening  114  without the animal blocking their path. 
   Subsequently, the wedge-shaped door  34  that has moved to the closed position C D  is moved to the partially open position PO D  so that successive cattle can see the leading cow entrapped in the confinement area  90 . This tends to make the successive cattle want to follow the lead cow into the confinement area  90 . The lead cow is then released by moving the headgate outwardly into a releasing position and the contact plate  96  of the squeeze assembly  86  moves to the retracted position so that the animal can easily move through exit  30  and out of the alley  22 . The respective door  34  in the partially-open position PO D  is then moved to the fully-open position O D  so that the next cow in line behind the lead cow can move into the confinement area  90 . This next cow in line tends to want to follow the lead cow out of the alley exit  30 , so it will naturally move forward in the alley  22 , as will other successive cows in line with respect to the cow ahead of them. As soon as this cow attempts to follow the lead cow out of the alley exit  30 , the headgate  32  will move to the entrapping position to capture the cow. At generally the same time, or at any time after the following cow has cleared the forward point of the respective door  34  (at the bracing member  46 ), the door will immediately move to the closed position C D  to prevent additional cows from attempting to enter the confinement area  90 , and if needed, the squeeze assembly  86  will move to extend the contact plate  96  towards the confined animal. Again, the particular door  34  in motion depends on the size of the animal being confined (e.g., leading door  34   a  for small cows, trailing door  34   b  for large cows). At this point, the process can be repeated for each cow to be treated. Because, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the hitch assembly  48  may be rotated upwardly, cows can easily move out of the alley exit  30  without having to avoid the hitch assembly  48 . 
   The wedge-shape of the doors  34  is advantageous for a couple of reasons. First, the shape of the doors  34  provides a degree of longitudinal space in the alley  22  between the leading cow and the next cow in line. At the same time, the doors  34  are sufficiently narrow near the pivot point at the left side or side section  18  of the alley  12 . This ensures that the door  34  is balanced about the pivot, making it easy to swing, and does not protrude excessively into the alley  22  when in the fully-opened position O D , nor outside the alley  22  which could interfere with the movements operator of the system  10 . 
     FIGS. 9 and 10  show an additional feature that may be implemented with the system  10  of the present invention. A sorting gate  116  may be coupled with one of the forward vertical members  66  of the base frame  12  by a set of clamps  118 . These clamps  118  allow the sorting gate  116  to swing or pivot relative to the base frame  12 . Ideally, the clamps  118  attach with one forward vertical member  66  at either the left or right side (i.e., on first or second side sections  18  or  20 ) of the frame  12 . The sorting gate  116  is formed to have a first section  120  extending from the clamps  118  and hingedly connected with a second section  122 . The second section  122  has a vertical rod  124  arranged to extend through an opening  126  in the coupling member  50  of the hitch assembly  48 . However, other means may be used to affix the position of the sorting gate second section  122  with respect to the hitch assembly  48 . This configuration for the sorting gate  116  allows the operator to direct animals leaving through the exit  30  of the alley in a certain direction, for example, to a particular holding pen for a certain type of cattle (e.g., dairy or beef cattle, male or female cattle, adult cows and calves, etc.). In the arrangement shown in  FIG. 10 , animals leaving the alley  22  are directed to their right. The clamps  118  may be moved to the forward vertical member  66  on the right side of the frame  12 , if desired, which would then position the sorting gate  116  to direct the travel of animals leaving the alley exit  30  to their left, opposite of what is shown in  FIG. 10 . 
   From the forgoing, it can be seen that various embodiments and features of the animal management system  10  of the present invention provide a safe, efficient and effective tool for arranging cattle or other animals to receive various procedures, such as those performed by veterinarians. The system  10  may also be transportable for use in various locations where cattle may be located. Furthermore, since certain changes may be made in the above invention without departing from the scope hereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.