Animal husbandry – Feeding device – Having electronic identification and feed control
Patent
1996-11-05
1998-04-21
Manahan, Todd E.
Animal husbandry
Feeding device
Having electronic identification and feed control
119 574, 119665, 119792, A01K 502, A01K 1300
Patent
active
057407576
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This application concerns an apparatus for providing improved care for bison, and more particularly concerns an apparatus which can provide a predetermined ration of feed to animals, and more particularly bison in a herd. The apparatus also provides for medicating the bison during feeding, and a method of medicating animals during feeding by electronically identifying them and responsively delivering a quantity of medication. Finally, the method and apparatus hereof provide a convenient and efficient means of applying an insect repellant, such as a fly spray, to bison during feeding.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Bison, often called the American Buffalo, are animals which were on the brink of extinction due to overhunting and have been repopulated to a point where they can again be harvested. The bison is a very desirable animal to raise for meat production because of the lean character of its meat and its hardiness on the open range. For this these reasons, as well as the fact that bison meat commands premium prices, ranchers in many parts of the United States and Canada have found that bison are a preferred range animal to domestic cattle.
In many ways, raising bison has proven to be a difficult proposition because of fundamental differences from domestic livestock. Bison retain their wildness, making them avoid humans and resistant to capture. They are extremely difficult to catch for normal veterinary treatment and will often injure their handlers. They do not do well in enclosures and instead seem to thrive on the range. However, ranchers seeking to maximize growth, breeding capacity and success, and maintain healthy herds often attempt to supplement the typical forage of ranch-raised bison by feeding range blocks for additional nutrition.
While this type of feeding produces some favorable results, it also presents noticeable problems. Bison herds include dominant animals which claim excessive portions of these range blocks when deposited on the ground. If smaller or less dominant animals approach, the dominant bison will gore its rival often resulting in serious injury or death. The dominant bison will then eat an excessive share (in the view of the rancher); and may be on a growth curve plateau, a dominant bull, or a cow out of breeding and lactation.
Another problem presented with raising bison and similar inherently wild animals involves administering medication. Administering the correct amount of medication to herd animals is particularly difficult. Wild animals retreat from humans, and thus a primary practical alternative to capture and injection is administration of the medication orally with feed. However, dominant animals will often consume the feed of weaker or submissive animals, thus compounding the problem of reduced feed.
Similarly, flies present a real problem for bison as well as other range animals. The concentration of manure on limited range land may result in fly infestations which spread disease or unacceptably harass the bison. While domestic animals may be caught and sprayed manually, or ear tags or fly masks may be worn by domesticated animals, these are impractical solutions to a continuous problem requiring periodic handling in the case of wild animals. It is difficult or impossible for human handlers to approach the bison and administer an effective fly spray. Thus, there has developed a need for an apparatus and method for effectively administering a fly spray to bison and like wild animals in confinement.
While domestic cattle may placidly share hay or feed supplements, bison are inherently different animals. Accordingly, there has developed a real need for an alternative to conventional range feeding for bison which will reduce the likelihood of injury to bison in the herd, provide a rationed feed according to the desires of the rancher, and prevent "poaching" of feed intended for smaller bison by larger or more dominant animals. In addition, there is a particular need for a feeder which can be used as a standalone
REFERENCES:
patent: 3116716 (1964-01-01), Sime
patent: 3557757 (1971-01-01), Brooks
patent: 3870023 (1975-03-01), Wilson
patent: 3900005 (1975-08-01), Goldsmith
patent: 3934607 (1976-01-01), Revesz
patent: 3943888 (1976-03-01), Nordegren et al.
patent: 3999517 (1976-12-01), Andersson
patent: 4011838 (1977-03-01), Nordegren et al.
patent: 4021166 (1977-05-01), Glanvall et al.
patent: 4023588 (1977-05-01), Olander
patent: 4033295 (1977-07-01), Soderlund
patent: 4046208 (1977-09-01), Stenstrom
patent: 4079832 (1978-03-01), Gallei
patent: 4080995 (1978-03-01), Olander
patent: 4126103 (1978-11-01), Olander
patent: 4162683 (1979-07-01), Brooks
patent: 4174721 (1979-11-01), Wuchse
patent: 4196696 (1980-04-01), Olander
patent: 4214552 (1980-07-01), Olander
patent: 4214553 (1980-07-01), Olander
patent: 4231323 (1980-11-01), Olander
patent: 4253419 (1981-03-01), Yang
patent: 4322021 (1982-03-01), Olsson
patent: 4331102 (1982-05-01), Olander
patent: 4334502 (1982-06-01), Cox
patent: 4463706 (1984-08-01), Meister et al.
patent: 4485762 (1984-12-01), Sutton et al.
patent: 4516592 (1985-05-01), Schultz et al.
patent: 4517923 (1985-05-01), Palmer
patent: 4532892 (1985-08-01), Kuzara
patent: 4572105 (1986-02-01), Chowdhury et al.
patent: 4580529 (1986-04-01), Wilson
patent: 4582021 (1986-04-01), Herr
patent: 4672917 (1987-06-01), Fox
patent: 4684330 (1987-08-01), Andersson et al.
patent: 4712511 (1987-12-01), Zamzow et al.
patent: 4807566 (1989-02-01), Chowdhury
patent: 4838203 (1989-06-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 4993365 (1991-02-01), Weerstra
patent: 5056467 (1991-10-01), Schaefer
patent: 5069165 (1991-12-01), Rousseau
patent: 5088447 (1992-02-01), Spencer et al.
patent: 5195455 (1993-03-01), van der Lely et al.
patent: 5241924 (1993-09-01), Lundin et al.
patent: 5259337 (1993-11-01), Rasmussen
patent: 5309864 (1994-05-01), Harmsen et al.
Alfa-Laval Agri, Inc. Farmtronix Brochure No. SA-2266 entitled "Computer Feeding" copyrighted in 1987.
Alfa-Laval Agri, Inc. Brochure No. SA 2226 entitled "The De Laval Feed Car." dated Dec. 1985.
Jitco Industries, Inc.
Manahan Todd #E.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for feeding animals in a herd does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for feeding animals in a herd, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for feeding animals in a herd will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2050733