Field of the invention

The invention is concerned with the supply of liquid to animals including, but not limited to, the supply of drinking water to small animals such as poultry.

Background to the Invention

In the chicken farming industry, drinking water is supplied to chickens via drinking lines which are filled with water. Fresh water is added to the system only when the birds drink from the lines and clean water enters the system to replace that which is used.

The lines, and the pipework to feed the lines, are situated within an

environment that is at a constant ~30°C+. This leads to the following

issues:

• Biofilm build-up within both the drinker lines and all associated

pipework

• Growth of non-pathogenic & potentially pathogenic microorganisms

• Deposition of minerals and formation of scale within both the drinker lines and all associated pipework.

High temperature water, far outside of ideal drinking water range for the birds, meaning the birds are less inclined to drink water. This impacts their desire to feed, and thus add weight.

• Stagnant & semi-stagnant water, especially prevalent when the birds are in the chick stage of their lifecycle when water consumption is low and they huddle in groups. As a result, outlying drinker lines may not be utilised at all, or insignificantly utilised, for several days. Also, water stagnation can affect both chemical and microbial qualities of drinking water with scientific reports suggesting that stagnant water inside water drinking systems

exhibit increased accumulation of chemicals (such as copper and zinc) and increased bacterial contamination levels.

Statements of the Invention The present invention provides a system for supplying water to animals in which water is circulated to reduce water stagnation and to reduce temperature of water to closer to the ideal drinking temperature of 15°C-18°C.

Preferably, additional benefits are provided to the water via the Pure Ionic systems which can: eliminate or reduce microorganic content within the water source at the point of entry; reduce the load on the birds' immune

systems; bolster the birds' immune system via pH correction; reduce antibiotic and other medicinal dosing requirements; decrease chick mortality rate

(especially with respect to bacterial septicaemia and E.Coli); decrease number of chick rejects, decrease in footpad dermatitis, enhance poultry meat quality, enhance feed conversion rate, and assist in weight increase when combined with standard industrial farming methods.

The system is equipped with a scavenger tank to provide water aeration, oxygenation and disinfection.

Additionally, pure water containing Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of less than 20 ppm may also be provided by the said system, referred to as the Pure Ionic system, via addition of filtration steps. This can facilitate the addition of water ozonisation apparatus into the system.

Optionally, the system may be provided with means for ozonising the water on a continuing basis through recirculation to effectively kill pathogenic viruses, bacteria etc.

The system may be equipped with remote condition monitoring system by which water parameters such as temperature, TDS, ORP, flow rate, pH, ozone concentration and others are monitored via probes. Live readings from the probes are transmitted from the system to the interface/controller to monitor the status or the condition of the water.

Optionally, the system mav also be equipped with a Dosatron (a water-powered, non-electric chemical injector which accurately inject chemicals into water lines) to facilitate dosing of drinking water with supplemental materials including vitamins and organic acids. Also, the Dosatron can facilitate the addition of Pure Ionic vitamin water into the drinking water.

Brief Description of the Drawing

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic representation of an example of a system in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring to the accompanying drawing, a system for supplying water to poultry comprises a storage tank (header tank) 1, a scavenger tank 2, drinker lines 3, a chiller circuit 4, a Pure Ionic (PI) water filtration and adjustment system 5, a filtration system 7, an ozonisation apparatus 8 (optional), a Dosatron 9 (optional), pumps 10 and distribution pipes 6 to the drinker lines 3.

Water is recirculated around a loop, where fresh water is added on an 'as needed' basis due to consumption. The new water is first purified, pH

corrected and other adjustments made through the PI system 5, before it arrives at tank 1.

Tank 1 is mounted outside a heated shed on an elevated platform. Water is pumped via pumps 10 from tank 1 to the distribution pipework 6 and then into the drinker lines 3.A series of valves at the start of the drinker lines 3 are adjusted to control water pressure running through the drinker lines 3.

Valves at the end of the drinker lines 3 are opened, allowing water to be released from the lines and then directed through pipework to a scavenger tank 2 mounted outside the building at a lower level than the drinker lines.

Tank 2 provides ongoing aeration, oxygenation and disinfection of the water. In tank 2, a cooling circuit may be deployed. This automatically detects the temperature within the tank and, when outside the pre-determined limits, cools the water down to an appropriate temperature. In this way, microorganic growth is mitigated and improved drinking conditions are provided for the animals. Bio- film build-up is prevented or minimised and bio-film removal is facilitated.

Water leaves tank 2 via pumps 10 which direct the water through a water filtration system 7 and then to tank 1 where it may now re-enter the drinker lines 3. Filtration system 7 mitigates any microorganism growth and provides improved drinking water quality. In this way, bio-film build-up is prevented.

All pipework is made of certified and food grade materials.

Optionally, ozonisation apparatus 8 may be added at any point between point 1 and 6 if directly ozonating the water or at point 2 or 1 when using ozonated air. Additional purification/adjustment methods can be added if required.

Additional pumps may be added before point 5 and are used to direct the flow from the water mains to point 5.

Cooling circuits may be deployed at either tank 1 or 2 or, if a suitable system is available, on pipework to/from the drinker lines 3.

Optionally, a Dosatron 9 may be added at any point between point 1 and 6. This permits dosing of drinking water with supplements including vitamins and organic acids.

The system may be equipped with remote condition monitoring comprising probes to detect water temperature, pH, TDS, ORP (oxidation-reduction potential), ozone concentration, flow rate and other parameters. Theprobes transmit live updates on the condition and status of water in the system to the interface/controller. This enables farmers to have continuous and updated monitoring of the system and introduce corrections to the system, if needed. The system may be equipped with an alarm-bypass switch which can shut down supply of drinking water in case of poor quality of water or water that falls outside pre-determined criteria.