Swine vaccination system
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 method for vaccinating swine, comprising the steps of:
directing a plurality of piglets each having a facial area into a first end of a housing;
metering the plurality of piglets to form a single file line of individual piglets directed into the housing toward a vaccination station associated therewith, the vaccination station having one or more spray nozzles mounted therein;
sensing each individual piglet entering the vaccination station;
selecting at least one of the one or more spray nozzles arranged to be upwardly inclined relative to the facial area of the individual piglet wherein the one or more spray nozzles is positioned along a vertical track member of a track system associated with the vaccination station and is arranged to be upwardly inclined, the one or more spray nozzles being automatically adjusted according to a height of the facial area of each individual piglet, via movement of the one or more spray nozzles along the vertical track member by a motorized assembly, such that the at least one of the one or more spray nozzles is directed along the upward inclination toward the facial area of the individual piglet;
actuating the selected at least one of the one or more spray nozzles to emit a spray of a vaccine along the upward inclination into engagement with the facial area of each of the individual piglets; and
directing the individual piglet toward a second end of the housing to exit the housing.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting and actuating steps automatically occur once each individual piglet is sensed by the sensing step.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a narrowing chute that directs the piglets toward the second end such that the piglets are metered into a single file line through the vaccination station by the narrowing chute, the narrowing chute having a pair of inwardly angled side walls.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the narrowing chute is associated with the vaccination station and includes a plurality of narrowing chute spray nozzles positioned along the side walls, with the narrowing chute spray nozzles arranged to be upwardly inclined toward the facial area of the individual piglets.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the one or more spray nozzles is configured to be adjustable to change at least one of spray characteristics and a spray pattern of the spray of the vaccine.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the one or more spray nozzles is movable so as to rotate or pivot to emit the vaccine along the upward inclination into engagement with the facial area of the individual piglet.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaccine is administered to immunize the conjunctive associated lymphoid system and the gut associated lymphoid system.
8. A method for vaccinating swine, comprising the steps of:
directing a plurality of piglets each having a facial area into a first end of a housing, the housing including a narrowing chute arranged to meter the piglets into a single file line of individual piglets and to direct the individual piglets through a vaccination station toward a second end of the housing, the vaccination station having one or more spray nozzles mounted therein and arranged in communication with and to be selectively actuated by a controller;
sensing a height of the facial area of each individual piglet, using one or more optical beam sensors, upon each individual piglet entering the vaccination station;
selecting at least one of the one or more spray nozzles arranged to be upwardly inclined toward the facial area of the individual piglet from the sensed height of the facial area;
actuating the selecting at least one of the one or more spray nozzles to emit a spray of a vaccine along the upward inclination into engagement with the facial area of each of the individual piglets; and
directing the individual piglet toward a second end of the housing to exit the housing.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the vaccine is administered to immunize the conjunctive associated lymphoid system and the gut associated lymphoid system.