Alfa-laval Agri Inc.

William Edward Spencer

Lars H Andersson

Philip M Wirth

Joe S Sheen

Joseph S Sheen

A livestock identification apparatus 10 for automatically identifying and sorting livestock as they walk through the apparatus 10 is disclosed. The apparatus 10 includes an alley 12, a gate 14 for controlling passage through the alley 12, and an identification sensor 18 disposed within or adjacent the alley 12 for identifying animals passing through the alley 12. The identification sensor 18 includes a pair of rigid antennas 48,50 positioned on opposite sides of the alley 12 for energizing and reading transponders on animals passing through the alley 12. In another embodiment of the invention, the identification sensor 208 includes a gate 204 controlling entry into a milking parlor or other confined area, a first stationary antenna 210 positioned on one side of the entrance to the milking parlor and a second moveable antenna 212 integrally formed with the gate 204.

Livestock identification apparatus

A livestock cutter gate apparatus includes an elongated alley having a first end presenting an entrance and a second end presenting a main exit and a sort exit, and a first air-driven gate positioned in the alley between the main exit and the sort exit. The first gate is shiftable between a sorting position in which it blocks the main exit and opens the sort exit, and a non-sorting position in which it blocks the sort exit and opens the main exit. A pair of saloon gates are positioned in the alley at the entrance and are shiftable between a closed position in which they block the entrance from incoming livestock and an open position in which they open the entrance. An identification system is provided for identifying livestock entering the alley and providing a signal indicative of the presence in the alley of an animal that is to be sorted, and a solenoid-driven spool valve is responsive to the signal for shifting the first gate to the sorting position and the saloon gates to the closed position upon receipt of the signal from the sensor means. An exit gate is positioned in the sort exit and is shiftable between a first position in which the gate in disposed in the path of movement of livestock through the sort exit and a second position in which the gate is removed from the path of movement. The exit gate is moved by livestock passing through the sort exit and is associated with a limit switch that signals the spool valve to actuate the first gate and saloon gates when the exit gate is moved, shifting the first gate to the non-sorting position and the saloon gates to the open position.

Growing community of inventors

Parkville, MO, United States of America

William Edward Spencer