Birth monitoring system for piglets
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for raising piglets comprising:
- providing a farrowing crate having a sow containing area and at least one piglet area into which the piglets can move;
locating a pregnant sow in the sow containing area of the farrowing crate;
when the sow is expected to give birth, locating in the crate a sensor at a location to detect the presence of one or more piglets in the piglet area after birth;
and, on detection of presence of the one or more piglets, causing the sensor to communicate a signal to an operator indicating to the operator that birth of piglets is in progress.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The number of piglets dying at birth is reduced by providing a motion or weight sensor in a farrowing crate at the piglet area thereof so that, when the sow is expected to give birth, the motion sensor is located in the crate at a location to detect motion of one or more piglets after birth and, on detection of motion of the one or more piglets, causing the motion sensor to wirelessly communicate a signal to a pager carried by an operator indicating to the operator that birth of piglets is in progress.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for raising piglets comprising:
-
providing a farrowing crate having a sow containing area and at least one piglet area into which the piglets can move;
locating a pregnant sow in the sow containing area of the farrowing crate;
when the sow is expected to give birth, locating in the crate a sensor at a location to detect the presence of one or more piglets in the piglet area after birth;
and, on detection of presence of the one or more piglets, causing the sensor to communicate a signal to an operator indicating to the operator that birth of piglets is in progress. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. Apparatus for use in raising piglets wherein a pregnant sow is located in a farrowing crate having a sow containing area and at least one piglet area into which the piglets can move, the apparatus comprising:
-
a sensor arranged to be at a location to detect presence of one or more piglets after birth within the at least one piglet area;
and a control system arranged for causing wireless communication of a signal to an operator indicating to the operator that birth of piglets is in progress. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification