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System and method for uniformly delivering feed rations to the feedbunks of animal pens in a feedlot

  • US 5,878,402 A
  • Filed: 05/27/1997
  • Issued: 03/02/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A system for uniformly delivering assigned feed rations to feedbunks associated with animal pens in a feedlot, said system comprising:

  • a feed delivery vehicle capable of traveling on the ground of said feedlot alongside a feedbunk during a specified feeding cycle, and said feed delivery vehicle having a feed storage compartment for storing a supply of feed for delivery to the feedbunk;

    weighing means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for weighing the amount of feed in said feed storage compartment, and producing a first data signal indicative of the measured weight of said feed supply as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle;

    data storage means aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for storing feed ration delivery data, wherein said feed ration delivery data specifies an assigned quantity of feed to be dispensed into the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle;

    speed measuring means for measuring the speed of said feed delivery vehicle relative to said ground as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle, and producing a second data signal indicative of the speed of said feed delivery vehicle as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle;

    control means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for producing a control signal for the feedbunk, using(i) said feed ration delivery data,(ii) said first and second data signals produced as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle, and(iii) feedbunk length data specifying the length of the feedbunk along which said feed delivery vehicle travels;

    feed dispensing means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for dispensing the assigned amount of feed into and along the length of the feedbunk in response to the production of said control signal such that, for each incremental distance or so traveled by said feed delivery vehicle along the length of the feedbunk, a substantially constant amount of feed is dispensed into the feedbunk as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk; and

    feed dispensed data producing means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for processing said first data signal as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle, and producing feed ration dispensed data indicative of the actual amount of feed dispensed into the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle, wherein said data storage means, said control means, and said feed dispensed data producing means are realized in a programmed computer system disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, and wherein said programmed computer system is interfaced within a satellite telecommunication network.

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