Device for supplying feed to animals
AssigneeLely Enterprises A.G., a Swiss Limited Liability Company
InventorsAlexander van der Lely, Karel van den Berg, Howard Sie, Lucien Eliza Niels Voogd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for supplying feed to animals, such as cows. Said device is provided with a plurality of feeding troughs disposed on a framework which is located around a central axis. Each feeding trough is accessible to an animal and has an entrance side for the head of an animal. At least one feeding trough has a shape that widens from the entrance side. Preferably all the feeding troughs have a shape that widens from the entrance side.
Claims31
A device for supplying feed to animals, such as cows, said device being provided with a plurality of feeding troughs (6) disposed on a framework (1) which is located around a central axis (2), each feeding trough (6) being accessible to an animal and having an entrance side for the head of an animal, characterized in that at least one feeding trough (6) has a shape that widens from the entrance side.
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is provided with identification means (7) for identifying an individual animal.
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is disposed a partition (4) between two adjacent feeding troughs (6).
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is provided with at least one partition frame (14) extending from a feeding trough (6) over a distance that equals at least approximately half of the average length of an animal.
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is provided with a measuring means (29) for measuring the height and/or the weight of an animal.
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is provided with means for giving the animal a signal indicating that the animal is expected at a milk box.
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the device comprising a bottom (5, 8), characterized in that the bottom (5, 8) slopes downwards in a direction away from the central axis (2).
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the device comprising a bottom (5, 8), characterized in that the bottom (5) has a raised portion (8) on which the animal can stand.
An assembly of a device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a bottom (5) having a floor portion (8) on which an animal can stand for making use of the device, characterized in that the floor portion (8) is provided with means (28) for adjusting the orientation of the floor portion (8) relative to the bottom (5), and means for locking the floor portion (8) in an adjusted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.