AN INSTURMNETED SEINGLE TREE FOR DIRECT DRAFT MEASUREMENT OF ANIMAL DRAWIN IMPLEMENTS

A direct draft measurement system was developed based on the swingle tree- the rear component of the single-animal harnessing (or yoking) system . The prototype was made from a tube, on which four strain gages were attached. The pull of the draft animal through the flexible pull chains or ropes causes the beam to bend, The bending strain is sensed by the strain gages and the bridge converts this to a voltage signal. Counterweights keep the tube correctly oriented if the angle of pull changes , while end bearing follow the variations in the angle of pull. Hence, the voltage output is proportional to the draft. the device has highly linear response, acceptable sensitivity negligible error and hysteresis. It is suitable for electronic data acquisition, non-intrusive , easy to attach and detach and is reasonably priced.