Livestock restraint

Abstract

Livestock Restraint apparatus for a livestock animal comprises a mounting structure 10 and a cradle 12 having a first 14 a second 18 end. The first end 14 is pivotably connected to the mounting structure so that the cradle can pivot between a supporting position and a releasing position. A cradle support 20 supports the cradle 12 in the supporting position, and is releasable to allow the second end 18 of the cradle to drop and move the cradle 12 from the supporting position into the release position. A restraint 16 restrains the animal on the cradle 12. The restraint may be rigid and pivotable between restraining and release positions. The restraint may have two curved side bars 62, 64 and a cross bar 66 extending between them to retrain rear legs of an animal. The cradle support may have a support strut [100, fig. 4] pivotably connected to the cradle and a control mechanism. In use, the animal, such as a lamb, may be lain on their back and restrained to be checked or operated on, such as during castrations.

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to restraints for livestock. It has particular application in the restraint of lambs but may be used for other animals. Background to the Invention There are occasions when lambs, or other livestock animals, need to be lain on their backs and restrained so that they can be checked or operated on, for example during castration. The method of doing this depends on the size of the animal, but for lambs it typically involves the animal being manhandled onto its back, for example on a bale of straw or other raised surface, and held in place manually by at least one person while another person carries out the inspection or operation. This can be to some extent inefficient in terms of the amount of labour time involved. There is therefore a need for apparatus to help in the restraint of the animal in this situation. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a restraint apparatus for a livestock animal, the apparatus comprising: a mounting structure, a cradle having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotably connected to the mounting structure so that the cradle can pivot between a supporting position and a releasing position, a cradle support operable to support the cradle in the supporting position, and releasable to allow the cradle to drop from the supporting position into the release position, and a restraint arranged to restrain the animal on the cradle. The restraint may be rigid. The restraint may be pivotable between a restraining position and a release position. The restraint may comprise two curved side bars arranged to restrain the rear legs of the animal. The restraint may further comprise a cross bar extending between the side bars. Each of the side bars may comprise an arched portion arranged to extend over a leg of animal to restrain the animal on the cradle. Each of the side bars may further comprise an end portion extending between the arched portion and the cross bar. When the restraint is in a restraining position, the end portion of each of the side bars may extend upwards at an inclined angle from the arched portion to the cross bar. The end portion and a part of the arched portion may thereby form a side restraint arranged to restrain the animal. The cradle support may comprise a support strut having a first end and a second end. The support strut may be pivotably connected to the cradle at its first end. The support strut may be pivotably connected to a control mechanism at its second end. The control mechanism may be operable to move the second end of the support strut to control movement of the cradle between the supporting position and the releasing position. The control mechanism may comprise a rotatable member having an axis of rotation. With the cradle in the supporting position, the weight of the cradle acting on the strut may tend to rotate the rotatable member in a first direction about the axis of rotation towards a stopped position in which a stop mechanism prevents lowering of the cradle from the supporting position. Rotation of the rotatable member in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, from the stopped position may move the second end of the strut through an over-centre position. Beyond the over-centre position the weight of the cradle acting on the strut may tend to rotate the rotatable member in the second direction about the axis of rotation away from the stopped position towards a release position. The restraint apparatus may further comprise, in any combination, any one or more features of embodiments of the invention, which are shown in the accompanying drawings, as will now be described. Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective side view of a livestock restraint apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is perspective end view of the restraint apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is perspective plan view of the restraint apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 is perspective side view of the cradle support mechanism of the restraint apparatus of Figure 1 with the cradle in a supporting position; Figure 5 is perspective side view of the cradle support mechanism of the restraint apparatus of Figure 1 with the cradle in a partially lowered position; Figure 6 is perspective side view of the cradle support mechanism of the restraint apparatus of Figure 1 with the cradle in a fully lowered position; Figure 7 is perspective side view of the restraint apparatus of Figure 1 in a releasing position; and Figure 8 is perspective side view of the restraint apparatus of Figure 1 with the cradle in use. Detailed Description Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a restraint apparatus for a livestock animal, such as a lamb, comprises a mounting structure 10, a cradle 12 which is pivotably connected to the mounting structure 10 at a first end 14, which will also be referred to as its inner end, and has a restraint 16 pivotably mounted at its second end 18, which will also be referred to as its outer end, and a releasable support mechanism 20 which is operable to support the cradle 12 in a raised supporting position, which may be substantially horizontal as shown in Figures 1 to 3, and releasable to lower the cradle into a releasing position. The mounting structure 10 may be arranged for mounting on a rigid structure 22 such as a gate, fence or other barrier. Generally it needs to be rigid and large enough to pivotably support the first end 14 of the cradle 12 and the support mechanism 20. For example it may be comprise a frame 24 comprising a front part 26 and a rear part 28, with the two parts joined at the top by one or more cross pieces 30 so that they are spaced apart with a gap between them. This allows the support structure to be simple placed over the rigid barrier 22 so that it rests on the top of the structure with the cross pieces 30 resting on top of the structure and the front and rear parts 26, 28 on opposite sides of the structure. The front part 26 of the frame may two uprights 32, 34 joined by one or more cross members 36, and the rear part 28 of the frame may be of the same construction, or for example it may be significantly shorter so that it hooks easily over the top of the barrier 22. The cross pieces 30 may directly join the uprights 32, 34 of the front part 26 to the corresponding uprights on the rear part 28 as shown in the Figures. The cradle 12 may conveniently comprise a cradle frame 40 comprising two side bars 42, 44 with a sheet or web of flexible material 46 slung between them on which the animal can lie. The side bars 42, 44 may be joined to each other by cross members 48, 50 which in turn may be connected to the side bars 42, 44 by vertical links 52, 54 so that the cross members 48 are below the flexible material 46 when it is hanging below the level of the side bars 42, 44 as shown. The position of the cross members 48, 50 can vary, but one may be at the second end 18 of the frame and one towards, but spaced away from, the first end 14. In the embodiment shown, the cross member 50 at the outer end 18 of the frame is tubular, with a round cross section, and connected slightly above the bottom ends of the vertical links 54. The restraint 16 may be pivotably connected to the second end 18 of the cradle 12 by means of a hinge mechanism 60. The restraint 16 may comprise two side bars 62, 64 and a cross bar 66. Each of the side bars 62, 64 may comprise an arched portion 68 towards its hinged end which is arranged to extend over and restrain the leg of the animal forming a leg restraint as will be described in more detail below. The cross bar 66 may be connected to the distal end 67 of each of the side bars 62, 64, i.e. the end furthest from the hinge mechanism 60, and may thereby be arranged to extend across the chest of the animal. When the restraint 16 is in its restraining position as shown in Figure 1 to 3, the arched portions 68 of the side bars 62, 64 extend upwards away from the hinge mechanism 60 and then downwards towards the cradle 12. They then comprise an end portion 70 which extends back up at an inclined angle away from the cradle 12 towards their distal ends 67. The end portions 70 and part of the arched portions 68 nearest to them form side restraints as will be described below. As can best be seen in Figure 2, when the restraint 16 is in the restraining position, the arched portions 68 are inclined inwards so that their tops are closer together than their bases, or closer together than the points of connection between the two side bars and the hinge mechanism 60. The restraint may conveniently be made of metal tubing formed into the required shape, but could of course be made of plastics or other suitable materials. A restraint tether 72, which may for example comprise a chain 74 and helical spring 76, may be arranged to secure the restraint 16 releasably in its restraining position. The hinge mechanism 60 may for example comprise a short first tube 80 fixed to the outer end of each side of the cradle 12, for example at the bottom ends of the two outer vertical links 54, and a short second tube 82 fixed to the outer end of each of the side bars 62, 64, with the first and second tubes arranged end to end with a common horizontal axis, and a hinge pin 84 extending through both the first and second tube 80. 82. The hinge pin 84 may be a single rod extending through all four of the tube sections 80. 82, or there may be a separate hinge pin on each side. It will be appreciated that various other hinge mechanisms may be used. The hinged connection between the cradle 12 and the mounting structure may for example comprise a short first tube 90 fixed to the mounting structure 10, for example at the top ends of the two uprights 32, 34 of the front part 26 of the mounting structure, and a short second tube 92 fixed to the inner end of each of the side bars 42, 44 of the cradle 12. The first and second tubes 90, 92 may be arranged end to end with a common horizontal axis, which forms the hinge axis of the cradle, and a hinge pin 94 extending through both the first and second tube 90. 92 to form the hinge with a hinge axis 93 about which the cradle 12 can rotate. The hinge pin 94 may be a single rod extending through all four of the tube sections 90. 92, or there may be a separate hinge pin 94 on each side. It will be appreciated that various other hinge mechanisms may be used. Referring to Figures 4 to 6, the releasable support structure 20 may comprise a rigid strut 100 having one end pivotably connected to the cradle 12, for example on one of the side arms 42, at a pivotable connection 102 having a pivot axis 103 spaced from the hinge axis 93 of the cradle. It may further comprise a strut control arm 104 which is rotatably mounted on the support structure 10, so as to be rotatable about a control arm pivot axis. For example as shown the strut control arm 104 may extend upwards form a transverse bar 106, which is in turn mounted on the front part 26 of the support structure by its own hinge mechanism 108 which allows it to rotate about its own horizontal axis, which is below the hinge axis of the cradle hinge mechanism. The strut 100 may have one end pivotably connected to the control arm 104 at a pivotable connection 107 having a pivot axis 109. With particular reference to Figure 6, the hinge mechanism 108 for the releasable support structure 20 may comprise a pair of short tubes 110 mounted on the front of the support structure 10, and a pair of short tubes 112 mounted on the transverse bar 106 with a hinge pin 114 extending through the two pairs of tubes 110, 112 to connect them together to form a hinge with a hinge axis 116. A control handle 118 is rigidly connected to the transverse bar 106, for example being retained in a socket 120 at the end of the transverse bar 106. The control handle may be removably retained in the socket 120, and a further socket 122 may be provided on the opposite end of the transverse bar 106 so that the control handle can be connected to either side of the cradle 12. Referring to Figure 4, with the cradle 12 in the horizontal supporting position, the control handle 118 is upright, extending vertically upwards from the transverse bar 106. For the support structure to support the cradle in this position, the connection point 107 at the lower end of the strut 100, and its associated pivot axis 109, are closer to the cradle pivot axis 93 than a plane through the hinge axis 116 of the releasable support structure and the pivot axis 103 of the upper connection point 102 between the strut 100 and the cradle 12. This means that the weight of the cradle, acting downwards on the strut 100, tends to push the control arm 104 inwards (towards the support structure) and to rotate the transverse bar 106 about its axis 116. This rotation is limited by a stop mechanism 124 which can be in a variety of forms, such as a bolt screw threaded into the control arm 104 and arranged to contact the support structure 10 to limit inward movement of the control arm 104. The stop mechanism 124, acting through the control arm 104 and the strut 100, therefore supports the cradle 12 in its raised position. To release the support mechanism, the handle is moved outwards and downwards, as shown in Figure 5, rotating the transverse bar 106 and the control arm 104 about the axis 116. Once the pivot axis 109 of the lower end of the strut 100 passes through an over-centre position in the plane through the hinge axis 116 of the releasable support structure and the pivot axis 103 of the upper connection point 102 of the strut, the weight of the cradle 12 acting through the strut 100 starts to tend to rotate the control arm 104 downwards away from the support structure 10. The cradle 12 can therefore continue to move downwards under its own weight, but controlled by an operator holding the control handle 118, until it reaches its lowered release position as shown in Figure 6. When the cradle 12 is in its lowered release position, referring to Figure 7, the restraint 16 can be pivoted from its restraining position to a release position to release the animal. Figure 8 shows the restraint apparatus in use with a livestock animal 130, with the arched portions 68 of the two side arms 62,64 of the restraint 16 extending over and restraining the rear legs of the animal as it lies on the cradle 12, and the cross bar 66 of the restraint across the chest of the animal. The restraint tether 72 is secured to the cradle 12 and the restraint 16 so that the tension spring 76 pulls downward on the restraint 16 to hold the animal in place. As can be seen from Figure 8, when the cradle 5 is supported on a gate or barrier the animal is supported at a good height for ease of handling, avoiding the need for the operator to bend down. Also once the animal is restrained in the cradle, the operator is free to use both hands to work on the animal. These health benefits are in addition to the advantage that a single operator can restrain and handle the animal unassisted. 10 It will be appreciated that many variations can be made to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, and in other embodiments of the invention, the shape and construction of the various parts of the restraint apparatus can take a variety of forms.

Claims

1. A restraint apparatus for a livestock animal, the apparatus comprising: a mounting structure, a cradle having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotably connected to the mounting structure so that the cradle can pivot between a supporting position and a releasing position, a cradle support operable to support the cradle in the supporting position, and releasable to allow the second end of the cradle to drop thereby to move the cradle from the supporting position into the release position, and a restraint arranged to restrain the animal on the cradle.

2. A restraint apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the restraint is rigid and pivotable between a restraining position and a release position.

3. A restraint apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the restraint comprises two curved side bars arranged to restrain the rear legs of the animal and a cross bar extending between the side bars.

4. A restraint apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each of the side bars comprises an arched portion arranged to extend over a leg of animal to restrain the animal on the cradle.

5. A restraint apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of the side bars further comprises an end portion extending between the arched portion and the cross bar.

6. A restraint according to claim 5 wherein, when the restraint is in a restraining position, the end portion extends upwards at an inclined angle from the arched portion to the cross bar whereby the end portion and a part of the arched portion form a side restraint arranged to restrain the animal.

7. A restraint apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the cradle support comprise a support strut having a first end and a second end, the support strut being pivotably connected to the cradle at its first end, and pivotably connected to a control mechanism at its second end, wherein the control mechanism is operableto move the second end of the support strut to control movement of the cradle between the supporting position and the releasing position.

8. A restraint apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the control mechanism 5 comprises a rotatable member having an axis of rotation, and wherein, with thecradle in the supporting position, the weight of the cradle acting on the strut tends to rotate the rotatable member in a first direction about the axis of rotation towards a stopped position in which a stop mechanism prevents lowering of the cradle from the supporting position.

109. A restraint according to claim 8 in which rotation of the rotatable member in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, from the stopped position moves the second end of the strut through an over-centre position beyond which the weight of the cradle acting on the strut tends to rotate the rotatable member in the 15 second direction about the axis of rotation away from the stopped position towardsa release position.

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