Cattle Feeding System and Shelter to Create a Controlled Environment

Abstract

An improved cattle feeding system and shelter. The shelter has a building foundation frame extending upwardly from the ground with an awning frame extending upwardly from the foundation frame and over it. This allows for an awning to be placed over the shelter frame to at least partially enclose it. The awning has a portion which is optionally opened to selectively allow air ventilation or catching the warmth of a southern sun exposure. The shelter has a drover's alley gate configuration which may be placed within the interior of the building to help control animal movements. The entire system is built on a partial cement floor of a configuration which enhances cleanliness inside of the shelter.

1 . A feed lot shelter to be positioned on the ground for confined animals having an interior configuration for helping to control the movement of animals, said shelter comprising:
 a building foundation frame extending upwardly from the ground;   a roof combined with the foundation frame, said roof at least partially enclosing said shelter;   a permanent fence extending generally longitudinally under the roof for helping to divide a dry bedding pack zone and a drover's alley;   a feed bunk area adjacent to the drover's alley;   two double hinged gates, each gate having a hinged attachment end and a distal end, wherein the hinged attachment ends are positioned in close proximity with each other to allow each gate to independently pivot through generally the same space, and wherein each gate has a first position wherein it forms a barrier with the permanent fence preventing access between the dry bedding pack zone and the drover's alley and a second position providing access between the dry bedding pack zone and the drover's alley.   
     
     
         2 . A feed lot shelter to be positioned on the ground for confined animals having an interior configuration for helping to control the movement of animals, said shelter comprising:
 a building foundation frame extending upwardly from the ground;   a roof combined with the foundation frame, said roof at least partially enclosing said shelter;   a first permanent fence for helping to divide a first dry bedding pack zone and a first drover's alley;   a second permanent fence spaced apart from and generally parallel to the first permanent fence, said second permanent fence for helping to divide a second dry bedding pack zone and a second drover's alley;   a feed bunk area adjacent to the first and second drover's alley;   two double hinged gates mounted between the permanent fences, each gate having a hinged attachment end and a distal end, wherein the hinged attachment ends are positioned in close proximity with each other to allow each gate to independently pivot through generally the same space, and wherein each gate has a first position wherein it forms a barrier with the permanent fence preventing access between the dry bedding pack zone and the drover's alley and a second position providing access between the dry bedding pack zone and the drover's alley.   
     
     
         3 . A feed lot shelter to be positioned on the ground for confined animals having an interior configuration for helping to control the movement of animals, said shelter comprising:
 a building foundation frame extending upwardly from the ground;   a roof combined with the foundation frame, said roof at least partially enclosing said shelter;   a first permanent fence for helping to divide a first dry bedding pack zone and a first drover's alley;   a second permanent fence spaced apart from and generally parallel to the first permanent fence, said second permanent fence for helping to divide a second dry bedding pack zone and a second drover's alley;   two double hinged gates mounted between the permanent fences, each gate having a hinged attachment end and a distal end, wherein the hinged attachment ends are positioned in close proximity with each other to allow each gate to pivot through generally the same space, and wherein each gate is adapted to move independent from the other gate between a first position wherein the gate forms a barrier with the first permanent fence, a second position wherein the gate forms a barrier with the foundation frame, and a third position wherein the gate forms a barrier with the second permanent fence.   
     
     
         4 . The shelter of  claim 3  further comprising a feed bunk area adjacent to the drover's alley. 
     
     
         5 . A feed lot shelter to be positioned on the ground for confined animals having an interior configuration for helping to control the movement of animals, said shelter comprising:
 a building foundation frame extending upwardly from the ground;   a roof combined with the foundation frame, said roof at least partially enclosing said shelter;   a first permanent fence for helping to divide a first dry bedding pack zone and a first drover's alley;   a second permanent fence spaced apart from and generally parallel to the first permanent fence, said second permanent fence for helping to divide a second dry bedding pack zone and a second drover's alley;   two double hinged gates mounted between the permanent fences, each gate having a hinged attachment end and a distal end, wherein the hinged attachment ends are positioned in close proximity with each other to allow each gate to pivot through generally the same space, and wherein each gate is adapted to move independent from the other gate between a first position wherein the gate forms a barrier with the first permanent fence, a second position wherein the gate forms a barrier with the foundation frame, and a third position wherein the gate forms a barrier with the second permanent fence;   a third permanent fence in-between and generally perpendicular to the first and second permanent fence to help divide the first dry bedding pack zone from the second dry bedding pack zone, said third permanent fence have a first end forming a barrier with the foundation frame and a second end extending toward the hinged attachment ends of the gates.   
     
     
         6 . The shelter of  claim 5  further comprising a feed bunk area adjacent to the drover's alley.