System for controlling feed of livestock

Abstract

A system for economically controlling feed of livestock to effect maximum consumption of all feed ingredients supplied to livestock comprising cage structure for confining livestock in a plurality of separate groups, separate feed troughs on the cage structure for each of the groups of livestock, and individual travelling feed dispensing hoppers for dispensing feed into the separate feed troughs. The system also includes a control mechanism for periodically effecting travel and return of the feed hoppers to dispense feed into the troughs numerous times in the course of each day. Each of the feed dispensing hoppers includes feed dispensing mechanism for causing feed to be dispensed therefrom into the troughs associated therewith. The feed dispensing mechanisms in the hopper for one group of livestock is of such capacity as to dispense all the feed that the group of livestock can eat during the course of each day with such feed being dispensed in small quantities numerous times each day. The feed dispensing mechanism in the hoppers for all other groups of livestock are of substantially identical dispensing capacity, but of about 5-10% less than the capacity of that for the one group of livestock to be fed all that it can eat.