System and method for feeding animals
First Claim
1. A system for feeding an animal, comprising:
- a) a frame;
b) a feeding compartment operatively coupled to the frame, further comprising a first entry door configured to control access and ingress into the feeding compartment by the animal, and further comprising at least one first exit door configured to provide egress from the feeding compartment by the animal;
c) a feed delivery system operatively coupled to the feeding compartment and configured to dispense feed to the animal in the feeding compartment;
d) at least one controller configured to operatively control at least one or more of the first entry door, the at least one first exit door and the feed delivery system; and
e) the feeding compartment comprising a first ejection mechanism configured to eject the animal from the feeding compartment, and wherein the at least one controller is further configured to operatively control the first ejection mechanism, and wherein the first ejection mechanism comprises a first panel having a range of travel across the feeding compartment to the at least one first exit door, the range of travel of the first panel to the at least one first exit door configured to physically push the animal out of the feeding compartment through the at least one first exit door.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A feeding system is provided to permit sequential entry to animals, one at a time, into a feeding station that weighs the animal, and then provides or prevents access to feed based on body weight or other criteria. It exits each animal if no feed is to be provided, or after feeding for a specified period of time. The system accommodates animals housed in groups, and allows individual animals to be fed precisely with minimal labour input. Feed consumption by individual animals is limited by the amount of time they remain in the feeding area of the station and the amount of feed provided to them. The system provides for the ongoing collection of data about the animals growth and controls and monitors feed intake and body weight.
39 Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A system for feeding an animal, comprising:
-
a) a frame; b) a feeding compartment operatively coupled to the frame, further comprising a first entry door configured to control access and ingress into the feeding compartment by the animal, and further comprising at least one first exit door configured to provide egress from the feeding compartment by the animal; c) a feed delivery system operatively coupled to the feeding compartment and configured to dispense feed to the animal in the feeding compartment; d) at least one controller configured to operatively control at least one or more of the first entry door, the at least one first exit door and the feed delivery system; and e) the feeding compartment comprising a first ejection mechanism configured to eject the animal from the feeding compartment, and wherein the at least one controller is further configured to operatively control the first ejection mechanism, and wherein the first ejection mechanism comprises a first panel having a range of travel across the feeding compartment to the at least one first exit door, the range of travel of the first panel to the at least one first exit door configured to physically push the animal out of the feeding compartment through the at least one first exit door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method for feeding an animal the method comprising the steps of:
-
a) providing a system for feeding the animal, the system comprising; i) a frame, ii) a feeding compartment operatively coupled to the frame, further comprising a first entry door configured to control access and ingress into the feeding compartment by the animal, and further comprising at least one first exit door configured to provide egress from the feeding compartment by the animal, iii) a feed delivery system operatively coupled to the feeding compartment and configured to dispense feed to the animal in the feeding compartment, iv) at least one controller configured to operatively control at least one or more of the first entry door, the at least one first exit door and the feed delivery system, and v) the feeding compartment comprising a first ejection mechanism configured to eject the animal from the feeding compartment, and wherein the at least one controller is further configured to operatively control the first ejection mechanism, and wherein the first ejection mechanism comprises a first panel having a range of travel from one side to another side of the feeding compartment to the at least one first exit door, the range of travel of the first panel to the at least one first exit door configured to physically push the animal out of the feeding compartment through the at least one first exit door; b) opening the first entry door to the feeding compartment to provide access and ingress into the feeding compartment by the animal, wherein the feeding compartment is operatively coupled to the frame, and wherein the first entry door is operatively controlled by the at least one controller; c) dispensing feed from the feed delivery system into the feeding compartment if the animal meets at least one predetermined criteria for receiving the feed, the feed delivery system operatively controlled by the at least one controller; and d) ejecting the animal from the feeding compartment through the at least one first exit door disposed in the feeding compartment if;
i) the animal has eaten at least some of the dispensed feed, ii) a predetermined period of time for feeding has expired, or iii) the animal does not meet the at least one predetermined criteria for receiving the feed, wherein the at least one first exit door is operatively controlled by the at least one controller. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
Specification