Method and system for monitoring the dispensing of drugs or nutrients to

Abstract

The disclosed system comprises one or more stationary dispensers associated with drinking fountains for farm animals, for dispensing predetermined doses of drugs or nutrients, operating in cooperation with a plurality of portable units constructed for individual animals. The portable units are designed to interact electronically with a stationary dispenser to control the amount and timing of the doses. The stationary dispenser includes in circuit relation, an interrogator-transmitter, a reply receiver, and a liquid dispenser responsive to the reply receiver. Each portable system comprises a coded passive transponder, a timer, and a memory element. When an animal comes within range of the stationary dispenser, its portable transponder is interrogated. A coded reply is sent by the animal's transponder indicating whether animal has received a dose within a preceeding preselected time interval. If a positive reply is received by the stationary dispenser circuit, no further action is taken. The animal may drink but no dose of medication or nutrient will be dispensed. If a negative reply is received, then the dispenser valve is enabled, releasing the desired pre-measured dose if the animal drinks. Operation of the dispenser valve also causes a coded signal to be transmitted from the interrogator-transmitter to the animal's portable unit setting a memory element, indicating that the animal has received the required dose, and initiating the running of the preselected time period, after elapse of which, the memory element is reset for enabling the next dosage.