Abstract:
A method of isolating a newborn calf from the calf&#39;s mother. A rigid pen, including an outer frame defining an open floor attached to a motorized vehicle. The vehicle is operated to raise the pen off the ground and deliver the raised pen to an area at which the calf and the mother cow are located. The vehicle then positions the raised pen over the calf. Finally, the pen is lowered such that the calf is inside of the pen and the mother cow is outside of the pen. In one embodiment, the frame defines an opening at a side adjacent the motorized vehicle, with the method further including the vehicle operator entering the pen via the opening. In one embodiment, the pen further includes a foldable inner cage attached to an interior of the frame.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present invention relates to a portable pen and related method of use for isolating a newborn calf from the calf&#39;s mother. More particularly, it relates to a portable pen and method of use that provides a user with a safe, enclosed area in which to attend to a newborn calf without fear of being attacked by the mother cow. 
   One of the many daily jobs associated with farming is attending to cows, along with other farm animals. Like most animals, cows instinctively seek to protect their newborn calves from harm, whether actual or perceived. Often times, the mother cow will attack or otherwise aggressively approach a human or animal that is attempting to interact with a newborn calf. 
   Due to their large size, the protective nature of a mother cow can prove highly dangerous to a farmhand. In particular, the farmer or cattleman must attend to a newborn calf shortly after birth and periodically thereafter. Where the newborn calf and mother cow are located in a relatively open area, it is virtually impossible for the farmhand to approach the newborn calf without being attacked by the mother cow. 
   One solution to the above problem is to isolate the calf from its mother. For example, most farms have immovable, permanently installed fences or pens. Once inside of the fenced area, the calf is effectively isolated from the mother cow. However, this technique still requires the farmhand to somehow guide the mother cow outside of the fenced area (and thus away from the calf), an action that the mother cow will resist. Conversely, it may be possible to place the calf on a platform or similar apparatus, and then transport the platform to a location away from the mother cow. Again, however, the farmhand is entirely unprotected from advances of the mother cow while loading the calf. Finally, calf-birthing pens have been suggested, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,385, in which the calf is immediately separated from its mother following birth. Unfortunately, the mother cow will likely resist being restrained within a birthing pen, possibly leading to complications during birth. 
   Attending to a newborn calf is a common task performed by farmers and cattlemen. A protective mother cow can make this task exceedingly dangerous. Unfortunately, suggested techniques for separating the newborn calf from the mother cow focus upon guiding or otherwise driving the mother cow away from the newborn calf and are normally resisted by the mother cow. Therefore, a need exists for an apparatus and related method of use for isolating a newborn calf from its mother in a relatively non-obtrusive manner that provides the farmer or cattleman with full protection from the mother cow. 
   SUMMARY 
   One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of isolating a newborn calf from the calf&#39;s mother. The method includes providing a portable, rigid pen including an outer frame defining an open floor. The pen is attached to a motorized vehicle. The vehicle is operated to raise the pen off of the ground. The vehicle is then driven to bring the raised pen to an area at which the calf and the mother cow are located. A confirmation is then made that a bottom of the pen is raised to a height greater than a height of the calf. The vehicle is operated to position the raised pen over the calf. Finally, the pen is lowered such that the calf is inside of the pen and the mother cow is outside of the pen. In one preferred embodiment, the frame defines an opening at a side adjacent the motorized vehicle, with the method further including the motor vehicle operator entering the pen from the motorized vehicle via the opening. In another preferred embodiment, the pen further includes a foldable inner cage attached to an interior of the frame. With this in mind, one preferred method further includes unfolding the cage, placing the newborn into the inner cage, raising the pen, and using the motorized vehicle to move the pen otherwise maintaining the calf to a location away from the other cow. 
   Another aspect of the present invention relates to a portable pen for use in separating a newborn calf from the calf&#39;s mother. The pen includes a frame and a coupling device. The frame defines a front, a back, and opposing sides that combine to define an interior pen area. In this regard, the pen is characterized by an open floor. Further, the front forms an enlarged opening that is otherwise larger than the opening defined by at least one of the back and opposing sides. The coupling device is mounted to an exterior of the front of the frame and is adapted for connection to a corresponding mounting component of a motorized vehicle. In one preferred embodiment, the pen further includes a door hingedly attached to the back of the frame. In this regard, attachment of the door is such that the door can swing inwardly or outwardly relative to the frame. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a portable pen in accordance with the present invention including an inner cage in an unfolded state; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the pen of  FIG. 1 , with the inner cage in a folded state; and 
       FIG. 3  is a side, perspective view of the pen of  FIG. 1  coupled to a motorized vehicle in accordance with a method of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   One embodiment of a portable pen  10  in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The pen  10  includes a frame  12 , a coupling device  14 , and an inner cage  16 . These components are described in greater detail below. In general terms, the coupling device  14  is attached to an exterior of the frame  12 , whereas the inner cage  16  is attached to an interior of the frame  12 . During use, the coupling device  14  facilitates attachment of the pen  10  to a motorized vehicle (shown, for example at  18  in  FIG. 3 ) that is otherwise used to lift and transport the pen  10 . In this regard, the pen  10  can be placed over and around a newborn calf (not shown) to isolate the newborn calf from the mother cow (not shown). Further, where provided, the inner cage  16  is available to assist in moving the newborn calf to a remote location. 
   The frame  12  is comprised of rigid metal horizontal bars (referenced generally at  20 ), and defines a front  30 , a back  32 , and first and second opposing sides  34 ,  36  that combine to define an interior region  38 . Further, the front  30 , the back  32 , and the opposing sides  34 ,  36  have a common bottom beam  40 . The frame  12  does not include a bottom wall or other structure extending between the bottom beams  40 , except for the inner cage  16  as described below. That is to say, the frame  12  is characterized as having an open bottom. In one embodiment, the frame  12  is square in transverse cross-section, having dimensions on the order of 8 ft.×8 ft. Alternatively, other shapes and dimensions are equally acceptable. Further, in one embodiment, the frame  12  has a fairly substantial height, on the order of approximately 5.5 ft. Alternatively, other heights are equally acceptable; preferably, however, the frame  12  has a height greater than a height of an average cow (on the order of 3.5 ft.). 
   The front  30  defines an opening  50 . For example, in one embodiment, the front  30  includes first and second side sections  52 ,  54 , with the opening  50  being defined as a spacing between the sections  52 ,  54 . In one embodiment, the opening  50  extends to the bottom beam  40 . Alternatively, the opening  50  can encompass less than an entire height of the front  30 . Regardless, the opening  50  is preferably centered relative to a width of the front  30 , and has a width on the order of 4 ft. Other dimensions are equally acceptable. As a point of reference, however, spacings are established between adjacent ones of the horizontal bars  20 ; the opening  50  is larger than the spacing between the bars  20 . As described in greater detail below, the opening  50  allows a user (not shown) to enter and exit the interior region  38  of the frame  12 . 
   In one preferred embodiment, the back  32  forms an opening  60  within which a door  62  is disposed. In particular, the back  32  includes first and second door frame members  64 ,  66 . The door  62  is mounted to the first doorframe member  64  by a plurality of hinges  68 . In this regard, the hinges  68  are preferably configured to allow the door  62  to swing inwardly or outwardly relative to the frame  12 . In one embodiment, the door  62  further includes a latching member  70  adapted to selectively engage the second doorframe member  66 . For example, in one preferred embodiment, the latching member  70  includes a spring-loaded dowel, the leading end of which is sized to be selectively received within an aperture (not shown) formed in the second doorframe member  66 . With this configuration, then, the latching member  70  can selectively lock and unlock the door  62  relative to the second doorframe member  66 . Alternatively, a wide variety of other latching techniques are equally acceptable. 
   In one embodiment, the coupling device  14  includes first and second plates  80 ,  82  and a cross bar  84 . The first and second plates  80 ,  82  and the cross bar  84  are configured for attachment to a conventional coupling body provided with skid steer loaders. As such, the plates  80 ,  82  extend in an angular fashion, sloping inwardly relative to front  30 . The cross bar  84  extends across the first and second plates  80 ,  82 , and provides a surface for engaging the mounting component associated with the motorized vehicle (for example, the motorized vehicle  18  of  FIG. 3 ). Alternatively, the coupling device  14  can assume a wide variety of other forms suitable for attachment to a corresponding component of the motorized vehicle. Preferably, however, the coupling device  14  is configured to position the motorized vehicle in close proximity to the front  30  of the frame  12  as described in greater detail below. 
   The inner cage  16  is shown in  FIG. 1  as being attached to the side  34 . Alternatively, the inner cage  16  can be attached to any other portion of the frame  12 . Regardless, the inner cage  16  is positioned within the interior region  38  of the frame  12  and, in one preferred embodiment, includes a floor  90 , a sidewall  92 , and a door  94 . The floor  90  extends from the frame  12  to the sidewall  92 . The door  94  is openable relative to the sidewall  92 . In one preferred embodiment, the door  94  is hinged to the frame  12 , and includes a latch (not shown) that selectively secures the door  94  to the sidewall  92 . Regardless, in one embodiment, the floor  90  is of a continuous nature, such as a wood or metal platform, whereas the sidewall  92  and the door  94  are covered by a screen  96  or similar material that facilitates viewing of an interior of the inner cage  16 . In a further preferred embodiment, a screen  98  is secured to the back  32  of the frame  12  in a region of the inner cage  16 , and a screen  100  is secured to the first side  34  of the frame  12  in a region of the inner cage  16 . With this construction, access to the inner cage  16  via spacing between the bars  20  associated with the frame  12  is limited. 
   In one embodiment, the inner cage  16  is configured to be retractable or transitionable from the unfolded state of  FIG. 1  to a folded state as shown in  FIG. 2 . In this regard, and in one embodiment, the floor  90  is pivotably mounted to the side  34  of the frame  12  such as by one or more hinges (not shown), and is not otherwise secured to the back  32  of the frame  12 . Similarly, the sidewall  92  is pivotably mounted to the floor  90 , such as by hinges (not shown), and is not otherwise rigidly mounted to the back  32  of the frame  12 . With this configuration, then, the inner cage  16  can be transitioned from the unfolded state of  FIG. 1  to the folded state of  FIG. 2  by swinging the door  94  away from the sidewall  92 , and then pivoting the floor  90  and the sidewall  92  upwardly against the side  34  of the frame  12  as shown in  FIG. 2 . A latching device (not shown) can further be provided with the sidewall  92  that otherwise selectively secures the sidewall  92  to the side  34  of the frame  12  in the unfolded state of  FIG. 1 . In a further embodiment, the hinged mounting of the sidewall  92  to the floor  90  allows the sidewall  92  to fully unfold relative to the floor  90  such that the sidewall  92  and the floor  90  can rest on the ground (not shown) in an additional, second unfolded state. While in this second unfolded state, a calf (not shown) can more easily be positioned on the unfolded sidewall  92  and/or floor  90 . Alternatively, a variety of other constructions are equally acceptable. In an alternative embodiment, the inner cage  16  is permanently maintained in the unfolded state shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   In one preferred embodiment, a bin (not shown) is mounted to an interior of the frame  12  such as along one of the front  30 , back  32 , and/or opposing sides  34 ,  36 . The bin provides a convenient location for a user to store necessary supplies during transport of the pen  10 . 
   Prior to use, the pen  10  is stored with the bottom beam  40  on the ground. During use, and with reference to  FIG. 3 , the motorized vehicle  18  is driven toward the pen  10  and attached to the coupling device  14 . In one embodiment, the motorizing vehicle  18  is a skid steer loader, for example, a skid steer loader sold under the trade name BOBCAT® made by Bobcat Company Business Unit of Ingersoll-Rand Company. Regardless, the motorized vehicle  18  includes a cab  110 , moveable arms  112 , and a front end attachment device  114 . The motorized vehicle is driven toward the pen  10  such that the front end attachment device  114  engages the coupling device  14 . Once properly engaged, the moveable arms  112  are actuated to lift the pen  10  off of the ground (un-numbered in  FIG. 3 ). While the inner cage  16  is shown in  FIG. 3  as being in an unfolded state, in an alternative embodiment, the inner cage  16  is folded prior to movement of the pen  10 . 
   Regardless, the motorized vehicle  18 , including the mounted pen  10 , is driven to a location of the newborn calf (not shown) and the calf&#39;s mother cow. Notably, the motorized vehicle  18  is preferably a machine that is otherwise commonly used on the premises in question (e.g., a farm), and in particular is normally operated in close proximity to the mother cow. With this preferred embodiment, then, the mother cow is less likely to become alarmed upon seeing and hearing the motorized vehicle  18  as it approaches the newborn calf. 
   Once the pen  10  is relatively close to the newborn calf (not shown), the user operates the motorized vehicle  18  to further lift the pen  10 . In particular, the bottom beam  40  of the frame  12  is lifted to a height that is greater than a height of the newborn calf. Once the pen  10  has been sufficiently raised, the motorized vehicle  18  is further driven such that the pen  10  is over or above the newborn calf. It has been found that upon being approached by the pen  10  of the present invention in conjunction with the motorized vehicle  18 , the mother cow (not shown) will move away from the newborn calf. The motorized vehicle  18  is then operated to lower the pen  10  until the bottom  40  rests on the ground (un-numbered in  FIG. 3 ), with the newborn calf being positioned within the interior region  38  of the frame  12 . The user (not shown) then exits the cab  110  and enters the interior region  38  of the frame  12 . In particular, the user enters the pen  10  via the opening  50  in the front  30  of the frame  12 . In this regard, the close proximity of the motorized vehicle  18 , and in particular, the cab  110 , relative to the front  30  of the frame  12  allows the user to enter the pen  10  without stepping on the ground outside of the pen  10 . 
   Once inside the interior region  38 , the user (not shown) can perform various operations on the newborn calf (not shown). In this regard, the motorized vehicle  18  effectively closes the opening  50  relative to the mother cow (not shown). In particular, due to the close proximity between the motorized vehicle  18  and the front  30  of the frame  12 , the mother cow cannot fit between the motorized vehicle  18  and the frame  12  in a way that would otherwise afford the mother cow access to the opening  50 . 
   Where necessary, the newborn calf (not shown) can be transported to a separate location using the pen  10  of the present invention. In particular, the inner cage  16  is positioned in the unfolded state (best shown in  FIG. 1 ). The door  94  is opened, and the user (not shown) places the newborn calf on the floor  90 . The door  94  is then closed, thus securing the newborn calf within the inner cage  16 . Alternatively, the floor  90  and the sidewall  92  are both unfolded relative to the frame  12  such that the floor  90  and the sidewall  92  rest on the ground. The newborn calf can then be placed on one or both of the floor  90 /sidewall  92 . Regardless, the user then exits the pen  10  and returns the cab  110  of the motorized vehicle  18 . The motorized vehicle  18  is operated to raise the moveable arms  112 , and thus the pen  10  including the newborn calf otherwise secured within the inner cage  16 . Once the pen  10  has been raised a sufficient distance above ground level, the motorized vehicle  18  is driven to the desired location. The user then releases the newborn calf from the inner cage  16 , such as by opening the door  94  and lifting or guiding the newborn calf from the inner cage  16 . Subsequently, the newborn calf can be released from the frame  12  by lifting the pen  10 . Alternatively, the door  62  can be opened, and the motorized vehicle  18  operated to move the pen  10  away from the newborn calf, with the opening  60  ( FIG. 1 ) providing clearance for the newborn calf. In this regard, by allowing the door  62  to preferably open inwardly or outwardly relative to the frame  12 , the newborn calf can be released at a wide variety of locations, such as against or in close proximity to a structure, wall, etc. 
   The portable pen and related method of use of the present invention provides a marked improvement over previous designs. Newborn calves are readily isolated from their mother cow, and a structure is provided that allows the user to easily gain access to the pen while preventing access by the mother cow. 
   Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.