Animal handling system comprising carriages having a resiliently supported line mechanism and a coupling device

Реферат: An animal handling system (10) comprises a first conveyor (12) having an elevated rail (14) with a plurality of carriages (18) movable along the rail. A resiliently supported line mechanism (20) is suspended from each carriage, and an animal coupling device (22) is attached to each line mechanism for coupling an animal such as a sheep to the carriage. The resiliently supported line mechanism comprises a housing coupled to the carriage which houses a tether such as steel cable biased by a spring to retract into the housing. A support is provided beneath the first conveyor for supporting sheep coupled to the coupling device. The support comprises a plurality of work stations (30) having latching mechanisms attached to corresponding manipulators (36). The limb restraints can be attached to the latching mechanisms to thereby restrain a sheep to a particular work station.