System and method for fowl vaccination
AssigneeUniversity of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsMark W Jackwood, Brian Jordan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, apparatus and system for delivery of live or attenuated viral and bacterial vaccines to fowl are described.
Claims15
A method for vaccinating fowl in need thereof comprising wetting a population of fowl with an effective amount of an aqueous composition comprising a vaccination agent wherein the aqueous composition is applied at a temperature sufficient to maintain a concentration of the vaccination agent during wetting.
An apparatus for applying an effective amount of a vaccination agent to a population of fowl comprising a refrigerated vessel configured to contain a pressurized aqueous vaccination composition;
- a delivery outlet configured to provide fluid communication between the vessel and a valve;
- and a nozzle in fluid communication with the valve such that when the valve is actuated, the composition is applied to the fowl.
A system for applying a vaccination composition to a population of 1-5 day-old chickens comprising:
- a) an apparatus for applying an effective amount of the vaccination agent to a population of fowl comprising a refrigerated vessel configured to contain a pressurized aqueous vaccination composition;
- a delivery outlet configured to provide fluid communication between the vessel and a valve;
- and a nozzle in fluid communication with the valve such that when the valve is actuated, the composition is applied to the fowl;
- b) an application hood defining an application space;
- an actuation detector in electronic communication with the valve and proximate the application area;
- and wherein the nozzle is positioned within the hood such that the composition is applied within the application space;
- c) a conveyor configured to transport a population of 1-5 day-old chickens on a defined path through the application space and in proximity to the actuation detector such that upon passing in proximity to the actuation detector the valve is actuated;
- and when the population is transported along the path beyond the actuation detector, the valve is closed.
A method for applying an aqueous composition to a population of chickens, the method comprising:
- containing a population of chickens in a carrier tray;
- transporting the carrier tray at a substantially constant speed through an application hood;
- determining that the carrier tray has entered an application space defined within the application hood;
- based on determining that the carrier tray has entered the application space, opening a valve, wherein opening the valve causes the aqueous composition to be delivered to a spray nozzle at a substantially constant pressure and flow rate;
- determining that the carrier tray has exited the application space;
- and
- based on determining that the carrier tray has exited the application space, closing the valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.