Chute for immobilizing animals

摘要

A chute for immobilizing an animal (e.g. cow) wherein the chute during a hoof-trimming operation or the like. The chute is comprised of an inner wall and an outer wall and a front and rear gate. The inner wall has a rectangular opening near the front thereof with a backing plate having a hole secured over the backside of the opening in the inner wall. A removable pad is comprised of a rectangular frame which fits in the opening in the inner wall. The frame has a flexible cover (e.g. anti-microbial material) secured over its front. An inflatable bladder (e.g. pneumatic inner tube) is inserted through the hole in the backing plate and is positioned within the frame and behind the cover. The bladder is then inflated whereby the bladder expands to produce a pillow-like support for the cow's shoulder while the cow is in the chute.

主权项

1. A chute for immobilizing a four-legged animal having a head and front shoulders, said chute comprising:
a frame having inner and outer side walls, each of said side walls having a front end and a rear end, said inner wall having an inside surface and an outside surface, said inner wall having an opening formed therein near said front end thereof; a front gate pivotally mounted on said frame and moveable between an open position and a closed position; a backing plate secured to said outside surface of said inner wall and over said opening in said inner wall, said backing plate having a hole therethrough; and a pad comprising: a pad frame sized to fit within said opening in said inner wall; means for securing said pad frame to said backing plate; a cover secured over a front of said pad frame; and an inflatable bladder inserted through said hole in said backing plate into said pad frame and behind said cover whereby said bladder when inflated will expand to force said cover outward to provide a pillow-like comfort support for said animal.