Animal husbandry – Feeding device – Timer-controlled
Patent
1983-01-10
1984-11-13
Chamblee, Hugh R.
Animal husbandry
Feeding device
Timer-controlled
119 5111, 119 515, 119 61, A01K 502
Patent
active
044819072
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method of simultaneously feeding a plurality of animals, especially swines or hogs, which are able to move freely within the same enclosure, fodder being supplied to a number of separate feeding places corresponding to the number of animals in the enclosure.
Such methods by means of which it is attempted to secure that all the animals within the enclosure or the pigpen obtain substantially the same amount of fodder although they may move freely within the enclosure, are known for example from British Pat. No. 1,467,220 and from the applicant's published British Patent Application GB No. 2,056,837 A. Furthermore, by means of the method disclosed in the said patent application it is possible to prolong the eating period of the animals. However, by both of the known methods there are certain limitations regarding the possible prolongation of the eating period, because sooner or later some of the animals will become impatient and tend to change feeding place when the fodder supply rate is decreased.
It is well known that the more slowly eating animals utilize the fodder better than the quick eaters, and that in their natural surroundings, the pigs or hogs are eating small portions of fodder during long periods.
The present invention provides a method of the above type, which renders it possible to reduce the fodder supply rate to the respective feeding places to a still higher extent than is possible by using the above known methods, without even the most impatient of the animals tending to change feeding place.
The method according to the invention is characterized in that at least part of the fodder is supplied to each separate feeding place at a supply position thereof where the animal can eat the fodder with difficulty only, while the animal is able to rake the fodder from the supply position to a better eating position of the feeding place. It has been found that the fact that the animals have to rake the fodder supplied to the respective feeding places to a more comfortable eating position satisfy the natural rooting or searching tendency of certain animals, especially swines or hogs, in connection with their eating. The fact that the rooting or searching tendency of the animals is satisfied, delays the eating rate of the animals without their becoming impatient. The eating period for a given fodder ration may thereby become substantially prolonged compared to the prolongation possible by means of the known methods. The extent to which the eating time may be prolonged is to some extent dependent on the structure and composition of the fodder. However, tests have shown that the eating period for a swine weighing 50 kg may be extended to about one hour for a normal fodder ration by 3 daily feeding periods.
The fodder may be supplied to the respective feeding places continuously or intermittently in small portions, which may be in the order of one mouthful or smaller. Irrespective of the manner in which the fodder is supplied, equal amounts of fodder are preferably, but not necessarily supplied to the respective feeding places in order to secure a substantially uniform growth of the animals. However, the fodder supply rate ought to be adjustable, because it has been found that the maximum eating period which may be obtained by using the method according to the invention, to some extent varies from one group of animals to another, or from one enclosure or pigpen to another. The slowest possible fodder supply rate may easily be determined by observing the behavior of the animals when the supply rate is continuously decreased. When signs of agitation and change of feeding place are observed the minimum fodder supply rate has been reached.
The fodder may be supplied as finished mixed fodder, or it may be supplied partly as dry fodder and partly as liquid. In the latter case, the dry fodder may be supplied to each feeding place at the supply position while the liquid may be supplied directly at the eating position. Alternatively, the dry fodder and the liquid may be supplied to
REFERENCES:
patent: 3157157 (1964-11-01), Clay et al.
patent: 3386418 (1968-06-01), Biehl
patent: 3556057 (1971-01-01), Icking
Biomat Inc.
Chamblee Hugh R.
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