Title: Portable calf pen and method of use
Abstract: A method of isolating a newborn calf from the calf'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.
Patent Number: 6,964,245 Issued on 11/15/2005 to Beck
| Inventors:
|
Beck; Virgil (3327 Woodland Hill Dr. SE., Bemidji, MN)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
820657 |
| Filed:
|
April 8, 2004 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
119/512; 119/843 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A01K 003/00 |
| Field of Search: |
119/512,510,843,840,732
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 3095858 | Jul., 1963 | Bauer.
| |
| 3237602 | Mar., 1966 | Rens.
| |
| 3931796 | Jan., 1976 | Hoffman.
| |
| 4821679 | Apr., 1989 | Hackert.
| |
| 5138981 | Aug., 1992 | Akins.
| |
| 5186125 | Feb., 1993 | Halyung.
| |
| 5291857 | Mar., 1994 | Braun, Jr.
| |
| 5372092 | Dec., 1994 | Pederson.
| |
| 5655484 | Aug., 1997 | Aaberg.
| |
| 5785006 | Jul., 1998 | Prentice.
| |
| 5924385 | Jul., 1999 | Cossel.
| |
| 6035808 | Mar., 2000 | Herman.
| |
Primary Examiner: Luu; Teri Pham
Assistant Examiner: Smith; Kimberly S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dicke, Billig & Czaja, PLLC
Claims
1. A method of isolating a newborn calf from the calf's mother, the method comprising:
a) providing a rigid pen having an open floor;
b) attaching the pen to a motorized vehicle;
c) operating the vehicle to raise the pen off of the ground;
d) driving the vehicle and raised pen to an area at which the calf and the mother
cow are located;
e) confirming that a bottom of the pen is raised to a height greater than a height
of the calf;
f) operating the motorized vehicle to position the raised pen over the calf; and
g) lowering the pen onto the ground such that the calf is inside of the pen and
the mother cow is outside of the pen.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein step e) further includes operating the vehicle
to further raise the bottom of the pen to a height greater than a height of the calf.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein steps a)-g) are performed by a user operating
the motorized vehicle, the method further comprising:
h) the user exiting the motorized vehicle and entering the pen.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the pen defines a front having a coupling device
for attachment to the motorized vehicle and defining an opening, and further wherein
step h) is characterized by the user entering the pen through the opening.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein step h) is further characterized by the user
not touching the ground until inside of the pen.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein step h) is further characterized by the mother
cow being impeded from entering the pen via the opening.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the motorized vehicle includes a front end
positioned adjacent the front of the cage following step b), and further wherein
step h) is further characterized by a spacing being established between the front
end of the motorized vehicle and the front side of the pen, the spacing being less
than an approximate width of an adult cow.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the pen includes an outer frame and an inner
cage connected to, and positioned within, the frame, the method further comprising:
h) directing the calf into the inner cage.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
i) raising the pen, including the calf within the inner cage.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
j) driving the vehicle, including the pen and the calf within the inner cage,
to a different location.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
k) releasing the calf from the inner cage; and
l) releasing the calf from the pen.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the inner cage is foldable relative to the
frame, the method further comprising:
unfolding the inner cage prior to step h).
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed at a farm.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the motorized vehicle is repeatedly operated
apart from the pen in a vicinity of the mother cow.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the motorized vehicle is a skid steer loader.
Description
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to a portable pen and related method of use for
isolating a newborn calf from the calf'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'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'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'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.
*
