Swine vaccination system

Abstract

A system for vaccinating swine according to one embodiment includes a housing having an open first end and an open opposite second end. The housing has a pair of side walls that are angled and non-parallel to one another such that at the second end only a single piglet can exit at one time. The system also includes a vaccination station for individually vaccinating piglets. The vaccination station is located between the pair of side walls in a region thereof that is sized to only permit one piglet to stand between the side walls. The vaccination station includes at least one sensor that detects the presence of the one piglet within the vaccination station and at least one spray nozzle positioned within the vaccination station such that a vaccine dose discharged therefrom is directed upwardly into facial areas of the piglet effectively.

1 . A system for vaccinating swine comprising:
 a housing having an open first end and an open opposite second end, the housing having a pair of side walls that are angled and non-parallel to one another such that at the second end only a single piglet can exit at one time; and   a vaccination station for individually vaccinating piglets, the vaccination station being located between the pair of side walls in a region thereof that is sized to only permit one piglet to stand between the side walls, the vaccination station including at least one sensor that detects the presence of the one piglet within the vaccination station and at least one spray nozzle positioned within the vaccination station such that a vaccine dose discharged therefrom is directed upwardly into facial areas of the piglet effectively.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a floor that is perpendicular to the side walls oriented vertically and at least one spray nozzle is positioned along the floor and angled and oriented to discharge the vaccine dose toward and into the facial areas of the piglet. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one side wall contains a spray nozzle that is elevated relative to a floor of the housing and is oriented to spray the vaccine dose into the eyes and nose of the piglet. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each side wall contains at least one spray nozzle, each being oriented to spray the vaccine dose into the eyes and nose of the piglet. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the spray nozzle associated with the side wail is vertically adjustable within a track to permit a height of the spray nozzle relative to a floor of the housing to be adjusted. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the spray nozzle is part of an automated system and is driven within the track to a desired height by action of a controller. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzle includes a movable head that sprays the vaccine dose in a fan action. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the side walls are spaced at the first end to permit a plurality of piglets to enter the housing at the same time. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a motion sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is a mass sensor that detects the weight of the piglet in the vaccination station. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzle is oriented at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to a floor of the housing resulting in at least some of the vaccine dose being discharged at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the floor. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further including:
 a means for transporting each individual piglet from a location outside of the vaccination station to the vaccination station and then from the vaccination station after the vaccine dose has been discharged.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the means for transporting comprises a conveyor belt that includes a means for grasping and holding each piglet in an individual, spaced manner. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the means for grasping comprises an openable clamp. 
     
     
         15 . A system for vaccinating swine comprising:
 a housing having an open first end that serves as an entrance and an opposite second end, the housing being defined by a wall that tapers inwardly toward the second end, the housing being angled relative to a ground plane such that the second end is positioned lower than the first end to cause the housing to slope downward from the first end to the second end; and   a vaccination station for individually vaccinating piglets, the vaccination station being located within the housing between the first and second ends, the vaccination station including at least one sensor that detects the presence of the one piglet within the vaccination station and at least one spray nozzle positioned within the vaccination station such that a vaccine dose discharged therefrom is directed upwardly into facial areas of the piglet effectively.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the housing has a frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the second end is open and serves as an exit. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein one spray nozzle is disposed at or near a bottom surface of the housing on which the piglet slides toward the second end and one or more other spray nozzles are provided and elevated relative to nozzle proximate the bottom surface and oriented to spray the vaccine dose into the eyes and nose of the piglet. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the elevated spray nozzle is vertically adjustable within a track to permit a height of the other spray nozzle relative to the bottom surface to be adjusted. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the spray nozzle is part of an automated system and is driven within the track to a desired height by action of a controller. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the spray nozzle includes a movable head that sprays the vaccine dose in a fan action. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a motion sensor. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor is a mass sensor that detects the weight of the piglet in the vaccination station. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the spray nozzle is oriented at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the bottom surface of the housing resulting in at least some of the vaccine dose being discharged at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         25 . A system for vaccinating swine comprising:
 a housing having an open first end and an open opposite second end such that only a single piglet can enter the first end and exit the opposite end one time; and   at least one vaccination station for individually vaccinating piglets, the at least one vaccination station being located within the housing, the vaccination station including at least one sensor that detects the presence of the one piglet within the vaccination station and at least one spray nozzle positioned within the vaccination station such that a vaccine dose discharged therefrom is directed upwardly into facial areas of the piglet effectively.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the housing is enclosed. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the housing being angled relative to a ground plane such that the second end is positioned lower than the first end to cause the housing to slope downward from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         28 . A system for vaccinating swine comprising:
 a housing having an open first end and an open opposite second end, the housing comprising a pair of side walls disposed opposite each other;   an intermediate wall disposed within the housing and between the pair of side walls to form a plurality of smaller housings; and   at least one vaccination station for individually vaccinating piglets, the vaccination station including at least one sensor that detects the presence of the one piglet within the vaccination station and at least one spray nozzle positioned within the vaccination station such that a vaccine dose discharged therefrom is directed upwardly into facial areas of the piglet effectively,   wherein the smaller housings have a open entrance end and an open opposite exit end such that only a single piglet can enter the entrance end and exit the exit end at one time; and   wherein the at least one vaccination station is located between the side walls and the intermediate wall.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the pair of side walls and the intermediate wall are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         30 . A method for vaccinating swine, comprising the steps of:
 entering a plurality of piglets into a first end of a housing;   metering the plurality of piglets to form a single file line of individual piglets;   sensing the individual piglet when entering a vaccination station;   spraying the facial area of the individual piglets with a vaccine at the vaccination station; and   exiting the individual piglet from a second end of the housing.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the spraying step occurs automatically once the individual piglet is sensed by the sensing step. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the spraying step includes angling a spray nozzle upwards to spray the facial area of the piglet. 
     
     
         33 . A method of vaccinating swine comprising the system of any one of  claims 1  to  29 . 
     
     
         34 . A spray nozzle for use in the system of any one or more of  claims 1  to  29 . 
     
     
         35 . A spray dose for use in the system of any one or more of  claims 1  to  29 .