NZ213833A - Race for pesticidal treatment of animals: spaced apart overhead rails cause animals to lower their heads - Google Patents

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Specittcition f/ied: Ci'sss: .... f^OlftO./.QQ PQHWSfjco Publi cation Dai.-: .. P.O. Journal, No: .. .0O3t -S'jAN 1'98'4" N.Z.No.

NEW ZEALAND t t 150CT1985 *** <■<*/ . - C S ^ , • Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION \ "IMPROVEMENTS IN PESTICIDAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS" j We, NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIAL GASES LIMITED, a New Zealand Company, of NZIG House, 133-137 The Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement : - NX. SMcSftcohon In our companding Australian Patent Applieafcien (30)120 No.88131/83 we describe and claim an invention for impeding the progress of animals at the entrance end portion of a race in order to provide a separation between animals passing in single file through the race, separation is necessary for the operation of a sighting device which effects the spraying of the individual animals. From approximately mid-length of the race end the animals are free to proceed at their normal speed during which they are sprayed with a pesticde for example.

The race of our pending applioafcion has performed well in the field and the failure rate through insufficient separation of animals when automatically applying pesticide to the animals passing through the race has been small.

Nevertheless, we have experimented with improvements ^pec'tficdiibo apuao to the race of our pending application in order to eliminate the possibility of failure to apply pesticide to an animal as desired. In our pVncl'in^'iipplTcation we impede the progress of the animals by providing closely spaced apart portions of side panels of the race at the entrance end thereof so that movement of the legs of the 15 animals arc restricted.

/ Our experiments to improve the race have included the suspension of flexible screens across the race between the side walls and at a height above the floor of the race such that animals are caused to lower their heads in order r~ 213833 to proceed through the race. This provides a separation between the rump portion of a leading animal and the brisket portion of the animal immediately following. The separation provides the necessary break for a sighting device of an electronic system which triggers the spraying of each individual animal.

We have found that opaque screens fail to produce the desired effect as the animals regard the screen as a barrier and baulk before coming into contact with the screen thereby interrupting the steady flow of animals through the race. From these experiments we have deduced that sheep wi11 proceed through a race if they can see a sufficiently clear space ahead of them.

The present invention consists in a race of the kind formed as an open ended gangway and comprising a base, a pair of side frames esxtending upwardly from the base, a floor between said frames and panels on said frames to constitute side walls, characterised in that the race includes at least one rail extending longitudinally of the gangway positioned below the tops of said walls and above said floor, which rail only partially obstructs the forward view and is adapted to cause an animal passing through the race to lower its head.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a race according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the race shown in Figure 1. and.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the race of Figure 1. 3 2 1 "* ^ Referring to the drawings, the race^bmpli^fcs a base 1, a pair of side frames 2 and a floor 3 which may be slightly ramped at each end as indicated. Adjustable wall panels 4 extend longitudinally of the race and are located by pins 5 which project from the bottom of each panel 4 and home in holes (not shown) formed in the floor as single holes or as series of holes permitting positional adjustment of the distance between the two panels to suit the size of animal being treated. The upper edge of each panels 4 is pivotally connected to one end of a respective link 19. The other end of each link 19 is pivotally connected to a selectively adjustable lever 6 which is pivoted at one frame 2 and includes a pin 7 which selectively engages one of a series of holes 8 in an adjustment plate 9 at the other frame 2. Movement of lever 6 effects the concerted inward or outward movement of panels 4.

The panels 4 are spaced apart sufficiently for animals to proceed through the race in single file whilst being restrained from wandering from a locus being a straight line path virtually corresponding to the longitudinal centre-line of the floor.

In order to provide the illusion of a space ahead together with means to cause an animal to lower its head and thereby cause the animals to became spaced apart, two overhead rails 10 connected with the frames 2 and adjustably suspended above the floor are provided at the departure end of the race. 2 1 383 The rails 10 may take the form of metal tubes or alternatively metal plates. It is of course possible to use materials other than metals, rigid plastics or wood being possible alternatives however, for the rugged use to which the apparatus is subjected metal components are preferred.

The rails 10 are placed generally parallel to each other and parallel to the centre line of the floor of the race, either side of the centre line. Additionally a third rail (not shown) may be employed and if so employed it is located centrally between the other fins. It may be suspended to the same height as its neighbours or alternatively it may be located on a higher plane. The purpose of a centrally located rail is to prevent an animal lifting its head whilst passing beneath the rails 10 and becoming caught by the head or neck. We have found however, that with two rails 10 spaced either side of the centre line animals such as sheep lower their head when approaching the rails and retain their head in the lowered position until they are free of the departure end of the race. To ensure that the sheep do not attempt to place their heads between the rails when only two are used the rails 10 may be joined by a cross bar 11 at the entrance end of the rails.

Because separation is caused by the overhead rails and the resultant lowering of the head of an animal traversing the race, straight sided side panels 4 may be employed in the race.

Alternatively the panels may include humps 12 as described in our copending application which restrict the width of the race.

To compensate for flocks of sheep of differing sizes the rails 10 are vertically adjustable. To enable adjustment of the rails 10, screw-down clamps 15 are provided attached to beams 16 and 17 which clampingly engage upward projections 18 of the rails 10. Beams 16 and 17 are tiwedly attached to frames 2.

Liquid treatment nozzles (not shown) are provided at desired locations so to direct the treatment liquid selectively downwardly toward the animal passing along the race. These nozzles may be attached to beams 16 and 17 or to rails 10. If the nozzles are adjustable the liquid may be jetted forwardly downwardly or rearwardly of the mounting point at which the nozzle is located as desired. At or near the middle of each side panel 4 a further adjustable nozzle 20 may be provided.

Spraying is triggered by a sighting device 21 of an electronic system (not shown) which detects the passing of the individual animals.

In operation, to allow the progress of the animals at the required spacing when going through the departure end portion of the race, the panels 4 are adjusted so to permit only one animal at a time to proceed through the race and the rails 10 are vertically adjusted to suit the height of the animals.

The animals proceed through the race in single file 6 2 1 ** ** r each lowering it3 head as it passes beneath the rails.

This causes the animals to separate to provide a necessary break for the sighting device 21 of the electronic system which effects the spraying of the individual animals.

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