GB2155301A - Poultry feed assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

An assembly (10) for the self-choice feeding of battery-housed poultry comprises cages (12, 13 etc.) and (42,43 etc.) from which the birds have access to compartmented feed troughs (15,45). Alternate compartments of each trough are filled with whole grain and the intervening compartments with a protein balancer, so that the birds can select the proportions of their feed components in accordance with their biological needs. Optical and mechanical detectors (not shown) indicate when a compartment is empty, or nearly so. This information is used to bring the appropriate hopper (21,22,51,52) into place and to actuate it to refill the compartment concerned up to the required level. Alternatively, a single feed compartment is associated within each cage is provided with a mixture of whole grain and protein balances. Means are provided for detecting the relative amounts of each component in a sample and for maintaining the ratio of these components at a preselected value or range of values. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Feed assemblies The present invention relates to feed assemblies and in particular, but not exclusively, to feed assemblies for the self-choice feeding of poultry.

By self-choice feeding of poultry in this context and throughout the application is meant at least initially presenting the birds with a choice of two (or more) different feed components so that the birds can themselves select the proportions of each component in their diet.

Past work at the East of Scotland College of Agriculture has established that self-choice feeding is effective in biological terms insofar as the birds select a diet directly related to their nutrient requirements. As each bird has a different nutrient requirement, self-choice feeding can be used to encourage equal productivity for a reduced food input where the feed component ratio is determined on a bird by bird basis.

In more detail, it has been demonstrated that hens given free access to a large number of feed ingredients selected a diet which allowed good performance and showed a far from random choice between the ingredients. In essence, they selected a diet which allowed potential output to be attained, if possible, without excess nutrient intake.

Briefly, the feed given to the hens can be considered as comprising two basic components, namely an energy-giving component required by the hens for maintenance of their biological state (this will also contain some protein nutrients) and secondly an additional protein nutrient component which will be required by the hens if they are to achieve their egg-laying potential. Within a flock, the ideal ratio between these two components varies between individuals and also, for each individual, from the time of laying the first egg. For this reason, any single feed will, at best, be the right feed for only a small proportion of the individual hens for only a small proportion of their laying period.

The consequences are, that when given the most economic single feed, most birds will be over-supplied with nutrients while others will be forced to over-eat from the energy-giving component in an attempt to increase their nutrient intake to the point where they can achieve their egg-laying potential. Although most birds in this latter group will succeed in attaining their egg-laying potential, this is at the cost of becoming overweight through excessive intake of the energy-giving component, naturally a wasteful process.

Clearly it is desirable that the hens should have continous access to each component of the feed so that they will not be forced to taken an excess of one component in an attempt to remedy a deficiency in the other component.

In practice, cereals, especially whole cereals, are normally used to provide the energy-giving component referred to above and these provide the bulk of the hen's feed both by weight and cost.

The protein nutrient or "balancer" usually takes the form of specially prepared pellets. If desired, a suitable type of nut can be used instead however.

The potential advantages of successfully choicefeeding poultry on a whole cereal and a balancer, are firstly that the diet selected will contain about 2 per cent less protein than the most economic single feed, secondly because a substantial proportion of the diet will be as a whole cereal this will need no processing, thirdly output per bird will be higher as no bird will be under-supplied with nutrients, mistakes will be fewer and to a greater extent the birds will be able to compensate for any mistakes which are made, and fourthly over-consumption of energy and bird fatness will be reduced.

Self-choice feeding has been demonstrated to be successful in deep litter houses and for growing birds (particularly turkeys). These two systems are readily open to self-choice feeding, because of floor-feeding arrangements with bulk hoppers.

However self choice feeding has not been widely applied by egg producers whose main system relies upon battery cages. The reason for this is the problem of how to provide within the spacial and economic confines of the battery systems, two food components permanently within reach of a bird at the same time.

Currently, conventional mixed-feed systems in use in battery houses fall into two types. The first type is based upon a large V-shaped trough running along the front of the cage, which will contain some two to three inches of meal filled from a travelling hopper. The major problem with this system is that feed wastage is becoming unacceptably high in relation to the increasing real price of food. The second, newer, type of feeding system is automated to a greater or lesser extent and comprises one or other variants of a static hopper with a chain and flight delivery system. There is usually very little food in the feeding trough at any one time in this system and wastage is thereby reduced.Both systems are however subject to the common drawback that the two feed components are mixed in a preselected ratio irrespective of the wants of any particular bird or group of birds so that the proportions consumed will not necessarily reflect the biological needs of the birds.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for the self-choice feeding of battery-housed poultry comprises a first container space for providing a particular bird or group of birds with access to a first feed component, a second container space for providing the same bird or birds with access to a second feed component, detection means for detecting when the container spaces have been emptied or emptied to a predetermined extent and supply means for supplying a container space so detected with an appropriate amount of the appropriate feed component.

According to a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus for the self-choice feeding of batteryhoused poultry comprises a container space for providing a particular bird or group of birds with access to a mixture of two feed components, removal means for removing the mixture from the same bird or birds before either component has been exhausted, detection means for detecting the relative amounts of the two components remaining in the removed mixture, and supply means responsive to information from the detection means to add a further quantity of one or both feed components to the container space so as to change the ratio of these components to some preselected value or range of values e.g. to restore the ratio to its original value or to change the ratio in proportion to the biological wants of the bird or birds as measured by the detection means.

Conveniently, the supply means is provided by two containers, one for each feed component.

Conveniently, the container spaces are constructed of material having a low reflectivity e.g.

dark material, and the detection means comprises a light sensor operating by detecting visual or other light reflected from the surface of any feedstuff within the container spaces e.g. as a result of it not having been consumed, and preferably higher than a preset level above the bottoms of the containers.

Alternatively, the container spaces may have reflective bottoms and the detection means operates by detecting visual or other light reflected from these reflective bottoms when these are exposed as a result of food from the container having been consumed.

Alternatively, the detection means may operate by discriminating between the different wave lengths and/or polarisations of the visual or other light reflected from the surface of the various feed components whether mixed together or presented separately.

Conveniently, the detection means comprises a detector adapted to distinguish between the containers for the two different feed components in dependence on the position of the detector along its path of travel over the container spaces.

Conveniently, in this latter case, the detector is operated by mechanical or electronic means to distinguish between the containers for the two differ ent feed components in dependence on the position of these detectors along a path of travel over the feed container spaces.

In one embodiment, the detection means for presence or absence of feedstuff is adapted to provide positional or compartment information e.g. by having binary markers on the edges of the com partments.

Preferably, however, distinguishing between odd and even numbered container spaces is carried out by two electronic proximity switches actuated by two rows of marker studs or like marker means.

In one such embodiment, for example, these two switches are aligned with the two rows of studs longitudinally and with the optical detectors transversely.

Conveniently, two further electronic proximity switches are provided, one aligned with a filling auger for one container and one row of markers, and the other aligned with a filling auger for the other container and the other row of markers.

These augers are conveniently under the control of one or more control units to which these further switches send information concerning the position of the augers with respect to the feed compartments.

Conveniently, the optical detectors are mounted one compartment ahead of the augers.

As an alternative to containers, e.g. in the form of hoppers, the supply means may instead or additionally comprise a chain and flight system.

Alternatively, instead of having the container spaces fixed in position with respect to its associated cage, they may be moving as part of a continuous conveyor along the cages or as an open conveyor for providing a particular bird or group of birds with access to the first and second feed components.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a simplified partially diagrammatic perspective view (not to scale) of part of a self-choice feed assembly in accordance with the present invention Thus referring now to the drawing, reference numeral 10 includes a self-choice feed assembly comprising two rows of cages 12, 13 etc. and 42, 43 etc. each designed to accommodate three birds, say.

The caged birds have access to two troughs 15, 45 located in front of each row of cages and divided up-into compartments 17, 18, 19 20 etc. and 47, 48, 49, 50 etc. as shown. These compartments are filled from travelling hoppers 21, 22 and 51, 52 each hopper containing one of the two feed components to be fed to the birds. Thus hoppers 21, 51, for example, might contain grain for loading into the odd number compartments 17, 19 and 47, 49 etc. while the hoppers 22, 52 might contain the protein balancer, in the form of pellets, say, for loading into the even number compartments 18, 20 and 48, 50 etc. Thus birds arriving at the troughs 15, 45 are presented with equal access to each of the two feed components.

Reference numerals 23, 24 etc, indicate filling chutes for the hoppers and numerals 29, 59 indicate the egg collection trays.

Each of the hopper assemblies 21, 22 and 51, 52 incorporates feed delivery augers 26, 27 and 56, 57 operative to feed material from the hopper to the appropriate feed compartment.

The augers of each pair of augers are driven by a single continuously running motor operating through respective electrically-operated clutches.

Each hopper assembly carries an opto-electronic light sensor mounted one compartment's length ahead of the leading hopper in that assembly.

In essence, the opto-electronic sensor comprises a light source and photo-electric detector. The source produces a narrow beam of light which is reflected from the surface of any food in the compartment back into the detector. The angles that the light source and the detector subtend to the surface of the food are equal and simultaneousiy variable by preset control. This provides an adjustable distance from the sensor beyond which no reflection can occur. As the light beam is of finite width and the sensor is sufficiently close to the surface of the food, the range of distances over which reflection can take place is sufficient for the presence of food above the point of "no reflection" to be detectable up to the top of the compartment.

On the far side of the apparatus, a series of studs is arranged in two rows along the length of the cage assembly. One row of studs is arranged with the studs in alignment with the leading edge of the odd number compartments 17, 19 and 47, 49 etc. and the other row of studs is arranged with the studs in alignment with the leading edges of the even numbered compartments 16, 18 and 46, 48 etc.

The presence or absence of the studs is detected by stud-sensors in the form of electromechanical contact devices or electronic proximity sensors.

The assembly is completed by a control unit adapted to receive signals from the stud-sensors and from the light sensors and to position and actuate the appropriate auger whenever a feed compartment need refilling.

In operation of the assembly above described, the hoppers 21, 22 and 51, 52 are made to peridocially traverse the feed compartments of the two troughs 15, 45 at a constant speed by a suitably modified automated drive system (not shown) such as is already known, for example, with conventional hopper feed systems. This process is started manually or by a timer control.

When feedstuff is present on the bottom of the compartments and above the preset level, reflection occurs and the light sensor sends a signal to the control unit. At points where there is little or no food, however, the light sensor sees no reflection and does not send any signal to the control unit. It can discriminate areas of feed which are above the preset level as small as 6 mm diameter.

During its passage across a compartment which is almost completely empty, the output of the light sensor will go on and off as it detects patches of feed on the exposed bottom. It is important that the light sensor can indicate a very low percentage of bottom cover as it is undesirable to have feedstuff remaining in the compartments for too long in the warm, humid environment of a battery house.

At the same time as the travelling assembly traverses the feed compartments, the position sensors will detect a marker stud in alignment with the leading edge of a compartment and produce an electrical signal which will indicate to the control unit whether the compartment is odd numbered or even numbered. The signal will also enable an electronic clock to operate in conjuction with the output of the optical detector.

The optical sensor arrives at the leading edge of the compartment at the same time as the position sensors and is now 'looking' into the compartment.

If feed is present and above the preset level, the sensor produces an electrical output which permits the clock to continue its count. When the sensor reaches a point where there is no food or food below the preset level, its output ceases and the clock count is stopped until the next time it encounters food above the preset level.

As the optical detector is capable of discriminating small areas of feed, the magnitude of the count achieved by the time the optical detector has reached the end of the compartment will be an approximation of the percentage cover of the bottom of the compartment. Should this count magnitude be less than a preset, small value, the compartment requires filling and this information is stored in the control unit until the appropriate auger and its associated electromechanical or electronic sensor reach that particular compartment and its associated marker.When that point is reached, the sensor produces an electrical output which indicates to the control unit that the appropriate auger is fully over the bin and releases the previously stored information to the electromagnetic clutch to start the auger for a preset length of time determined by the speed of the travelling assembly, the length of the compartment and the diameter of auger outlet.

On reaching a compartment in which the depth of feed is below the preset level, the absence of electrical output from the photoelectric detector associated with hoppers 21, 22, say, will inhibit the clock count in the control unit and, if the position sensor output indicates that an even numbered compartment is concerned then the control unit will, if necessary, operate first to bring the hopper 22 over the empty compartment and thereafter to operate the drive to auger 27 until the compartment concerned has been filled to its original level with nuts. However if the position sensor produces an output to indicate that an odd numbered compartment has been detected, then the control unit will, if necessary, operate first to bring the hopper 21 over the empty compartment and thereafter to drive the auger 26 until the compartment concerned has been filled to its original level with grain.

When one of the compartment-state ident (CSI) switches reaches a compartment marker its output pulse is used to start a timer which produces an output for the length of time that it takes for the compartment-state sensor (CSS) to travel the length of one compar tment. This timer output selects one of two registers (A or B) and starts a counter which will generate 100 pulses during the timer 'on' period. This train of pulses is fed to a comparator via a gate controlled by the output of the CSS. Whilst the CSS 'sees' feed the gate is open and the count pulses enter the comparator.

When the CSS does not 'see' feed in the compartment, its lack of output allows the gate to close and the comparator stops accumulating pulses until the CSS reaches more feed, opening the gate and allowing more pulses to enter the comparator.

At the end of the timer period the total number of pulses that entered the comparator is compared with the setting of the user operated switch on the control panel. A totally covered compartment bottom represents a total count of 100 equivalent to 100 per cent cover. Using a decimal coded user switch allows the comparison to be made directly in per cent bottom cover. If the count exceeds the switch setting then a zero is loaded into the selected register; if the count is less than the switch setting, a 'fill' command is loaded into the register.

If the compartment being sensed was an 'A' compartment, the first time that compartment fill ident A (CFI-A) reaches an A marker, its output pulse will start a timer with an output pulse duration of 2 seconds which is applied to a gate. The TFI output pulse also unloads the contents of the register onto the gate. If the contents are zero the gate does not open and nothing further happens in the A feed system; if the contents of the register represent a fill command, the gate is opened and the 2 second pulse is passed through, via amplifiers, to the 'A' auger clutch and filling takes place.

As the 'B' auger is physically further behind the CSS and CSl than the 'A' auger, the 'B' register must wait for two 'B' marker pulses from TFI-B before operation of the 'B' clutch is contem plated. It also needs to carry the results of two compartment sense comparisons at any time, each result being moved through the register in turn each time the TFI-B passes a 'B' marker.

One fhp motor is used to propel the traverser along the cage assembly. Each pair of augersl clutches is belt driven by one fhp motor. When the 'FEED' start button is pressed the feed contactor closes, energising the auger drive motors, the low voltage power supply to the electronic circuitry and a delay timer. The timer operates for 15 seconds to allow the auger drives and the eletronics to stabilise. At the end of the 15 seconds the delay timer operates the drive contactor energising the traverser drive motor. When the traverser reaches the end of the cage assembly a limit switch is actuated by the end stop de-energising the feed and drive contactors and energising a second delay timer.

After a 5 second delay the timer operates the reverse drive contactor which energises the drive motor to run in reverse, back to the start position where another limit switch is actuated. This stops the drive motor and the system waits for the next 'FEED' command. During the reverse run the feed motors and the electronics are not energised. The function of the 'FEED' start button can be duplicated by a timer switch to provide a start function at predetermined time intervals and thus provide for unattended operation.

As an alternative to the method of feeding poultry using fixed feed compartments whose contents are individually monitored and filled by an assembly travelling periodically along the length of the cage structure, it is envisaged that feed could be presented to the poultry by a continuous, slow moving, open conveyor belt.

The two components of the feed would be placed on the belt by a mechanism capable of varying the proportion of the components and the remnains of the feed mixture at the other end of the belt would enter a device capable of measuring the proportions remaining after the poultry had taken their choice. The result of this measurement would then be used to vary the proportions of feed being placed on the belt by the supply mechanism.

This closed loop would ensure that the supply matched the demand in terms of proportion of each feed and could also be used to control total quantity supplied and/or, by varying belt speed, total remaining.

It is envisaged that the feed components will be supplied to the belt, mixed together, by a hopper which is filled by the outlets of two augers. The augers will either be driven by individual variable speed motors or through clutches which are engaged for externally varied periods of time. The proportions of feed can thus be controlled.

It is required to discriminate between the two feed types to assess the proportions of each remaining. One practical method would involve a rotary separator relying on the different mass of each feed. The mixed feed remaining would be sampled for a fixed time at regular intervals. The sample would be weighed, separated into its components and one component weighted. These measurements would then be used to control the speed or period of operation of the supply augers to match the demand by the poultry for each component.

Another method of controlling the augers would depend on the discrimination of the different wavelengths of light reflected by the two feed components. A periodic optical scan of the feed remaining on the conveyor when it has passed the last cage would yield the appropriate control information. Weighing the mixed remnants periodically could be used to vary the speed of conveyor belt or to modify the control of the augers in order that wastage of feed is minimised.

Although, obviously, the dimensions of the illustrated assembly can be varied without in any way departing from the scope of the present invention, conveniently the vertical dividers 25, 55 defining the trough compartments are 50 mm high and are spaced apart to give a 75 mm length dimension to the compartments in the direction of hopper travel.

With these dimensions, the hoppers 21, 22 and 51, 52 will operate to load each compartment to a depth of no more than 25 mm, say, to prevent wastage.

In an alternative arrangement (not shown), rather than use light reflected back from the food to determine the contents of the compartments, the opto-electronic sensor instead comprises a light source and a photo-electric detector designed to detect any light reflected from the compartment floors which are made of polished stainless steel to increase their reflectivity. Alternatively, the compartment floors might be fitted with a reflective metal strip. In this case, when foodstuff is present on the bottom of the compartments, the reflection of the beam is interrupted and the light sensor fails to send a signal to the control unit. At points where the bottom is clear of feed, however, the light sensor sees a reflection and produces an output voltage. As before, it can discriminate amounts of feed as small as 6 mm diameter.

Claims (8)

1. An apparatus for the self-choice feeding of battery-housed poultry comprising a first container space for providing a particular bird or group of birds with access to a first feed component, a second container space for providing the same bird or birds with access to a second feed component, detection means for detecting when the container spaces have been emptied or emptied to a predetermined extent and supply means for supplying a container space so detected with an appropriate amount of the appropriate feed component.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the container spaces are constructed of material having a low reflectivity and the detection means comprises a light sensor operating by detecting visual or other light reflected from the surface of any feedstuff within the container spaces.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 in which the light sensor operates by detecting light reflected from the surface of feedstuff higher than a preset level above the bottoms of the containers.

4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the container spaces have reflective bottoms and the detection means comprises a light sensor operating by detecting visual or other light reflected from these reflective bottoms when these are exposed as a result of food from the container having been consumed.

5. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the detection means comprises a light sensor operating by discriminating between the different wavelengths and polarisations of the visual or other light reflected from the surface of the various feed components whether mixed together or presented separately.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the detection means additionally comprises a marker sensor operating to distinguish between the containers for the two different feed components.

7. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

8. An apparatus for the self-choice feeding of battery-housed poultry comprising a container space for providing a particular bird or group of birds with access to a mixture of two feed components, removal means for removing the mixture from the same bird or birds before either component has been exhausted, detection means for detecting the relative amounts of the two components remaining in the removed mixture, and supply means responsive to information from the detection means to add a further quantity of one or both feed components to the container space so as to change the ratio of these components to some preselected value or range of values.