Animal husbandry – Feeding device – Hopper and trough
Patent
1994-11-08
1997-03-04
Swiatek, Robert P.
Animal husbandry
Feeding device
Hopper and trough
119 515, A01K 706
Patent
active
056069340
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to animal feeders, and is in particular but not exclusively related to animal feeders for the feeding of pigs.
In the commercial farming of pigs, the achievement of high growth rates at an economical cost is considered paramount. The cost and effect on growth of feedstuff, which must contain a mixture of dietary components to ensure healthy and vigorous growth, is such that an improvement in the means of supply of feedstuff can have considerable effect on overall cost of production.
In one stage of the rearing of pigs, termed the- growing stage, the pigs are provided with an unlimited supply of feed, the objective being to encourage the pigs to eat as much as possible, and at this stage considerable wastage of feed occurs in using for example filled feeding troughs, as much feed is rooted out of such a trough, and stale feed goes uneaten.
Self-feeders for livestock are well known in the art. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,695,597 a feeder includes a feed agitator with a chain having spaced bars thereon which is agitated by a hog. U.S. Pat. No. 2,153,455 discloses a feed hopper and a spoked wheel which are both rotatable with respect to a shaft mounted with agitators. Bars are arranged peripherally around the top of the wheel and extend to the hopper to define compartments. U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,107 on the other hand illustrates a linear type livestock feeder with a front partition adapted for agitating feed when abutted by an animal.
European Patent Application No. 0,044,465 relates to a rotary self-feeder, wherein a feed wheel is movable by livestock to dispense feed to the outer periphery of a feed trough. The feed wheel increasingly resists movement in response to increasing quantities of feed on the trough, thereby reducing wastage.
Apparatus used for the provision of unlimited supplies of feed now includes the single space feeder. In this feeder, a supply of feed is provided in a framework so that the feed is accessible by one animal only, and commonly the animal must operate a dispensing mechanism to cause feed to fall into a trough, wherefrom the pig feeds. Wastage is limited, in that feed is provided only when the pig desires to eat and operates the dispensing mechanism. It is commonly believed at present that single-space feeders are the most effective means of supply of feedstuff to growing pigs.
It has however been discovered by the Applicant that such single space feeders are not the most effective apparatus for the encouragement of feeding for growth. In particular, a pig feeding in a single space feeder, having the entire feed supply at its disposal, has no incentive to feed vigorously. The Applicants have found that competitive feeding, where more than one pig has access to an animal-operated feed supply and pigs compete for the same portions of feed, gives a greater rate of feeding leading to enhanced growth rates. A study of growth rates has shown that a feeder according to the present invention can give a 12.7% improvement in growth rate over the single-space feeder, which translates into a considerable cost advantage.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an animal feeding apparatus whereby an element of competition for feed is introduced by providing limited amounts of feedstuff which each feeding animal is presented with an equal opportunity to consume. The invention also seeks to provide feed in such a manner effectively without wastage by inhibiting the rooting out of feed from the apparatus.
It will be appreciated that a large number of feeding apparati will be utilised on a commercial farm, and therefore the feeders used must be of low cost, as any cost element introduced by such equipment will be reflected in the final cost of the product. It is a further object of the invention to provide feed apparatus at low cost.
Other factors at play in the feeding equation include the freshness and moisture content of the feed provided, and the invention seeks to provide apparatus whereby feed is provided at optimum levels of freshness and moisture content.
According t
REFERENCES:
patent: 1199655 (1916-09-01), Battle
patent: 1240437 (1917-09-01), Gore et al.
patent: 1309090 (1919-07-01), Henson
patent: 1818419 (1930-05-01), Miller
patent: 3741162 (1973-06-01), Lopez
patent: 4729344 (1988-03-01), Winkel
patent: 4895109 (1990-01-01), De Groot et al.
patent: 5044318 (1991-09-01), Sutton et al.
patent: 5085173 (1992-02-01), Powers
Abbott Yvonne R.
Swiatek Robert P.
LandOfFree
Animal feeding apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Animal feeding apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Animal feeding apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2139349