Animal drafting gate

Abstract

An animal drafting gate, comprising: a post; and one or more teardrop-shaped rails, each teardrop-shaped rail comprising: a vertex adjacent the post; a distal rounded portion; and a pair of arms divergently extending between the vertex and opposing ends of the distal rounded portion to form a teardrop-shaped loop. An animal drafting gate, comprising: a post; one or more rails configured to impede animal thoroughfare in a closed disposition to allow animal thoroughfare in an open disposition; and cladding affixed to the one or more rails across substantially the full height of the gate.

Description

ANIMAL DRAFTING GATE FIELD This invention relates to an animal drafting gate and a system for the animal drafting gate. BACKGROUND Drafting or sorting of farm animals is a process commonly practiced in animal husbandry. Farmworkers often need to split up a large herd of animals into smaller herds and draft the smaller herds into designated pens according to a predefined drafting scheme. Sometimes the drafting system may be complemented by a suitable animal identification system. Traditional manual drafting requires a farmworker to be stationed at a sorting junction. As the animals to be drafted approach the junction, the farmworker must manually direct each animal to the appropriate pen. This process is labour intensive and potentially dangerous due to the worker being in close proximity to moving animals. Automatic animal drafting is generally preferred as it effectively overcomes these drawbacks. SUMMARY According to a first example embodiment, there is provided an animal drafting gate, comprising: a post; and one or more teardrop-shaped rails, each teardrop- shaped rail comprising: a vertex adjacent the post; a distal rounded portion; and a pair of arms divergently extending between the vertex and opposing ends of the distal rounded portion to form a teardrop-shaped loop. According to a second example embodiment, there is provided an animal drafting gate, comprising: a post; one or more rails configured to impede animal thoroughfare in a closed disposition to allow animal thoroughfare in an open disposition; and cladding affixed to the one or more rails across substantially the full height of the gate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention, in which: Figure 1 shows an example automatic three-way animal drafting system. Figure 2 shows an example animal drafting gate. Figure 3 shows a top view of the gate of Figure 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 shows an example automatic three-way animal drafting system. The system comprises an ingress raceway 102 which allows entry of an animal into the system, a first egress raceway 104 which allows the animal to exit the system (such as towards a first pen), a second egress raceway 106 which allows the animal to exit the system (such as towards a second pen), and a junction 108 at which the ingress raceway 102 splits into the first egress raceway 104 and the second egress raceway 106. These are formed by a series of interconnected panels which ensure an animal must pass from the ingress raceway 102 and through one of the first egress raceway 104 and the second egress raceway 106 to pass through the system. That is, the panels may be of a sufficient size and construction that an animal cannot pass over or through the panels. For example, each panel may comprise a series of horizontal steel rails. In addition, the panels may be laterally spaced apart such that only a single animal can pass through the raceway at a time. The system further comprises a drafting structure 110 which enables animals to be routed through a selected one of the first egress raceway 104 and the second egress raceway 106. The drafting structure 110 may be configured as a single gate which selectively blocks one of the first egress raceway 104 and the second egress raceway 106, thereby only allowing an animal to exit through the other. Such a gate may be mounted at the junction 108 and pivotable to block either egress raceway. The system may additionally or alternatively have a gate structure 120 across each egress raceway 104, 106. These gate structures 120 may be independently controlled to allow thoroughfare through a single one of the egress raceways 104, 106. Each such gate structure comprises a pair of gates 122 which move between an open disposition and a closed disposition. In the closed disposition, the gates 122 substantially impede an animal from moving through the respective egress raceway 104, 106. In the open disposition, the gates 122 are positioned to allow the animal to move through the respective egress raceway 104, 106. An example of such a gate is shown in Figures 2 and 3. In some cases, an ingress gate structure 130 may further be provided in the ingress raceway 102. The ingress gate structure can be used to impede an animal from entering the junction 108 from the ingress raceway 102. Such an ingress gate structure 130 may be the same as the gate structure 120 in construction and operation. Automatic Control While the gate structures 120 may be operated through human control, in some embodiments the gate structure 120 and / or the ingress gate structure 130 are controlled by an electronic actuation system. In some cases, the electronic actuation system can use human input to determine which gate structure 120 to open. For example, a human may press a first button to open the gate structure 120 of the first egress raceway 104 and a second button to open the gate structure 120 of the second egress raceway 106. In other cases, the electronic actuation system selectively opens a gate structure 120 based on electronic input. For example, an electronic animal identification tag reader 150 may be disposed in the ingress raceway 102. The reader 150 reads an electronic animal identification tag affixed to each animal, usually to an ear of the animal. After the animal has been identified by the reader 150, a controller can cause the electronic actuation system to open an appropriate gate structure 120. In this manner, the system may be automatically controlled to draft animals with minimal manual intervention. Gates Figure 2 shows an example animal drafting gate 300 from a side view, and Figure 3 shows the gate 300 from a top view. The animal drafting gate 300 may be one of a pair of gates in a gate structure, such as gate structure 120. The gate 200 comprises a post 310. The post 310 comprises mounting points 311. For example, two mounting points 311 may be provided at opposing ends of the post 310. The mounting points 311 are configured to be engaged in a frame, such as ina raceway. This provides a hinging point such that the gate may move relative to the frame about an axis defined by the mounting points 311. The post 310 may further comprise an engagement flange 312. The engagement flange is configured to be engaged with an automated actuator, such as in an electronic actuation system. The automated actuator can push or pull against the engagement flange 312 in use to rotate the gate about its mounting and move the gate between a closed and an open disposition. The gate has one or more teardrop-shaped rails 320 which are connected to the post 310. The connection may be through the post 310 and rails 320 being integrally formed. Where the post 310 and rails 320 are not integrally formed, they may be affixed via a permanent process such as welding or a non-permanent process such as bolting. The teardrop shape of each rail 320 is formed by a vertex 321 adjacent the post, a distal rounded portion 322, and a pair of arms 323 between the vertex 321 and the distal rounded portion 322. The pair of arms diverge from the vertex 321 to connect with opposing ends of the distal rounded portion 322 to form a teardrop- shaped loop. The portions of the rail 320 may be a single integral structure or an assembly of constituent parts joined together via a permanent or non-permanent affixture. The rail may have a solid or hollow core, and may be formed of metal. The teardrop shape of the rails 320 may not be symmetric. In some cases, a face 321 oriented towards an oncoming animal may be more rounded to avoid sharp edges or other portions which might injure the animal in case of impact. The opposite face 322 may be relatively flatter. The gate may comprise a plurality of rails 320, for example four rails, which are spaced along the post 310. The spacing may be equal across the post, such that the distance between any pair of neighbouring rails 320 is substantially the same. All rails 320 within the plurality may identical, or at least substantially similar in shape and size. In practice, the number of rails and the spacing may be selected for a preferred height requirement, which may be based on the animal for which the gate is to be used. The gate could be configured to be high enough that an animal cannot pass over it and the spacing small enough that an animal cannot pass through it. In use, the gate may move between an open and closed position. From time to time, an animal may have their head located near the gate when this occurs. The teardrop shape, and in particular the face 321, reduce the risk of injury to the animal from having their head caught between two gates, or otherwise by contact with the gate. Cladding In some cases, the gate 300 may be provided with cladding 340 arranged across the rails 320. The cladding 340 may be located on a face of the gate 300 oriented towards an oncoming animal. In this manner, the cladding 340 can prevent the animal from putting a hoof or other body part in the spacing between the rails 320. The cladding 340 may be provided across substantially the full height of the gate 300 so as to prevent direct collision with any of the rails 320. The cladding 340 may be formed of one or more strips which are connected so as to generally mirror the shape of the rails 320. Alternatively, the cladding 340 may be formed as a single sheet which is curved in the same manner as the rails 320. This can avoid the cladding 340 from impeding any benefits arising from the shape of the rails 320. In any case, the cladding 340 is preferably substantially smooth such that an animal colliding with any protrusions at walking speed is unlikely to result in physical harm or discomfort to the animal. The cladding 340 may be formed of any sufficiently strong material. For example, the cladding may be formed of a metal, such as steel. The provision of cladding 340 may dissuade an animal from attempt to pass through rails of the gate. This can reduce the risk of injury to the animal, particular where the gate moves. Figures 2 and 3 show a gate having both teardrop-shaped rails 320 and cladding 340. There is a synergy between these features in that both can reduce the risk of injury to animals during use. However, in practice either of these features may be provided in isolation. That is, there is no requirement that a single gate provide both of these features. Interpretation While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of the Applicant’s general inventive concept. Itis acknowledged that the terms “comprise”, “comprises” and “comprising” may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, these terms are intended to have an inclusive meaning — i.e., they will be taken to mean an inclusion of the listed components which the use directly references, and possibly also of other non-specified components or elements. Reference to any document in this specification does not constitute an admission that it is prior art, validly combinable with other documents or that it forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An animal drafting gate, comprising: a post; and one or more teardrop-shaped rails, each teardrop-shaped rail comprising: a vertex adjacent the post; a distal rounded portion; and a pair of arms divergently extending between the vertex and opposing ends of the distal rounded portion to form a teardrop- shaped loop.

2. The gate of claim 1, wherein each teardrop-shaped rail in the gate is substantially similar in shape and size to any other teardrop-shaped rail in the gate.

3. The gate of claim 1 or 2, wherein the gate comprises a plurality of rails, the plurality of rails being spaced substantially equally part across the height of the gate.

4. The gate of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gate comprises four teardrop- shaped rails.

5. The gate of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rails are substantially vertically aligned.

6. An animal drafting gate, comprising: a post; one or more rails configured to impede animal thoroughfare in a closed disposition to allow animal thoroughfare in an open disposition; and cladding affixed to the one or more rails across substantially the full height of the gate.

7. The animal drafting gate of claim 6, wherein the cladding surface is substantially smooth.

8. The animal drafting gate of claim 6 or 7, wherein the cladding uses a single steel sheet that conforms to the teardrop-shaped structure.

9. The animal drafting gate of any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the cladded portion directly faces an animal to be drafted approaching the animal drafting gate.

10. The animal drafting gate of any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the cladding is substantially straight in the plane of the height of the animal drafting gate.

11. An animal drafting system comprising: an ingress raceway configured to receive an animal entering into the system; a first egress raceway configured to allow an animal to exit the system; a second egress raceway configured to allow an animal to exit the system; a junction at which the ingress raceway splits into the first egress raceway and the second egress raceway; a gate structure comprising the gate of any of claims 1 to 10; wherein the gate is configured to move between an open state and a closed state, such that in the open state the gate is configured to allow animal thoroughfare and in the closed state the gate is configured to impede animal thoroughfare.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the gate structure is positioned to selectively allow passage through one of the first egress raceway and the second egress raceway.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising: an electronic identification tag reader located in the ingress raceway, the reader being configured to interrogate an electronic identification tag of an animal in the ingress raceway; and a drafting controller configured to control, based on animal identifier read by the tag reader, the drafting gate such that the animal is routed towards one of the first egress raceway and second egress raceway.

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