JPS6156965B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for feeding a plurality of free-ranging animals at respective feeding stations in the same enclosure. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to animal feeding, and more particularly to pigs or hogs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Typically, many free-range pigs of the same age are kept in the same pen or pen. It is well known that if such animals are allowed to feed freely, their weights will vary greatly and at the same time they cannot be sent to slaughter. This is partly due to differences in genetics, but primarily because pigs that are more aggressive and faster eaters receive more feed than less aggressive and slower eaters in the same pen. This is due to the competition that occurs between feeders to take away the food. This phenomenon means that each individual animal does not consume the prescribed amount of feed calculated based on its body weight, resulting in inadequate feed utilization. Also, the slower-eating pigs in the pen will take longer than would normally be expected to reach a suitable weight for slaughter, thereby negatively impacting the utilization efficiency of the pen, and During the extended breeding period, the animals will eat more feed than necessary. While it is true that pigs that eat quickly reach slaughter weight in a shorter period of time than would normally be expected, these pigs may also be consuming more feed than would normally be expected. Become.

The digestive system of pigs is similar to that of humans, so overeating is unhealthy and inconvenient for pigs, just as it is for humans. When fed with conventional feeding equipment, pigs who are fast eaters are given more feed than pigs who are slow eaters, creating competition for feeding, which is a stress-producing factor and reduces growth. This is considered to have an adverse effect.

STATEMENT OF THE PRIOR ART In order to overcome these disadvantages, a plurality of feeding areas are provided, each of which is provided with a water supply nipple, which substantially reduces the feeding rate of the slower eating pigs in the pen. It has been proposed to use a feeding device that continuously supplies dry feed to the feeding area at a rate corresponding to . However, it was found that not all pigs were able to operate the water nipples satisfactorily and some ended up eating feed that remained dry. Furthermore, the known devices do not allow metered feed to be delivered to each feeding location with the desired accuracy. In other words, it has been found that the amount of feed supplied to each feeding area differs by more than 10%. In the known device, feed is fed continuously and relatively slowly to each feeding area. Therefore, the pigs can start eating the supplied feed without waiting, but since the amount of feed supplied to the feeding area is very small, it takes time to accumulate an appropriate amount, and the pigs can start eating the feed in a very small amount. Only feed can be put into the mouth. This has an adverse effect on the pig's sense of security, especially in pigs that are very fast eaters and can become a bit restless and try to change from one feeding area to another. It is well known that during the growth period of animals there is a need to vary the protein content of the feed. In the known feeding device, such changes can be made simply by changing the feed mixture at appropriate intervals, but in practice this is disadvantageous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a feeding method that allows more accurately measured feed to be supplied to each feeding area and increases the animal's sense of security. That is, the present invention
During one feeding period, feed is delivered to each feeding area in portions not exceeding several mouthfuls, sequentially at intervals such that the feed rate substantially corresponds to the desired eating rate of each animal. The present invention provides a method for feeding a plurality of free-ranging animals at respective feeding stations in the same enclosure. The time interval for feeding feed to each feeding area can be selected to provide sufficient time for the animal to chew and swallow the previously fed feed. On the other hand, the time interval must not be so long that the animal becomes restless and tries to change its feeding area. It has been found, in accordance with the method of the present invention, that feeding pigs by providing feed in portions at the feeding area has a beneficial psychological effect on the pigs. Apparently, the pigs follow the feeding rhythm and forget about their neighbors and their own aggressive nature. Furthermore, feeding feed little by little makes it possible to feed feed more accurately and uniformly to each feeding location than when feed is fed continuously. That is, in the simplest form, feed can be measured using a measuring cup, measuring container, or the like.

According to the present invention, the time interval of feed supply to the same feeding place can be changed during the same feeding time,
Thereby, the feeding rhythm of the pig can be controlled to a desired state. For example, if the pig is hungry and more restless, the time interval can be made longer at the end than at the beginning of its feeding period. Of course, the time interval can also be changed for each feeding time, and the feeding time can be made longer or shorter as necessary.

Furthermore, the amount of feed that is sequentially supplied can also be varied within a certain range. The psychological effects mentioned above are
It has been found that if each portion of feed requires a relatively long time for the pig to eat it, it is not obtainable. On the other hand, it is preferable that each portion of feed is an amount that satisfies the pig for a short period of time. According to the invention, each portion of feed does not substantially exceed one mouthful.

The method of the invention can use any type of feed suitable for metering into portions. For example, an appropriate amount of liquid can be added to the feed before weighing. However, in such cases the feed tends to stick to the walls with which it comes into contact. It is therefore usually preferable to use dry feed, in which case suitable liquids may be added to the dry feed at each feeding location. The liquid is supplied discontinuously in the required quantities, so that at each feeding station there is immediately a precise relative amount of dry feed and liquid. The liquid to be supplied may be a mixture of two or more different liquids immediately before being supplied to the feeding area. If, for example, the liquids are water and a protein-containing liquid, the mixing ratio can be adjusted to precisely control the supply of the protein-containing liquid according to the changing needs of the animal.

The feeding area may be a plurality of adjacent tubs or tubs, for example arranged in a circle or in a straight line. In principle, each portion of feed can be supplied to the feeding area at the same time or in a predetermined sequence. In practice, each portion of feed is supplied by the rotor via a plurality of ducts or passages, each connected to a respective feeding location. That is, as the rotor rotates, each portion of feed is sequentially delivered to each feeding location. As the rotor rotates at a substantially constant rotational speed, each portion of feed is delivered to each feeding location at substantially constant time intervals, if desired.
Change the rotation speed of the rotor. and/or
This can also be varied by having a predetermined stop period or interval between rotations of the rotor. As mentioned above, dry feed and liquid can be supplied to each feeding area separately. The dry feed can, for example, contain all the feed ingredients necessary for the desired growth of the animal, and the liquid can be water. Alternatively, the dry feed may be a carbohydrate feed and the liquids may be standard nutrient containing liquids and water.

The present invention also provides a feed storage tank, a metered amount of feed from the storage tank in an amount not exceeding several mouthfuls, and a predetermined delivery of the measured feed to each feeding area multiple times during one feeding period. The present invention provides an apparatus for feeding a plurality of animals at each feeding station, which comprises a metering and feeding means for feeding at time intervals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 shows one of the feeding apparatuses of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of a specific example.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line of FIG. 1.

3 to 6 are schematic perspective views showing various feeding systems using the apparatus of the present invention.

In Figures 1 and 2, dry feed 1 is
It is encased in a cylindrical feed storage tank 2 with an annular conical bottom plate 3 (which may also have other upwardly arched or flat shapes). A hollow dispensing cone 4 is provided centrally within the reservoir 2, the bottom end 5 of the cone 4 being located above the bottom plate 3 with a small gap therebetween. The cylindrical wall of the feed storage tank 2 has a bottom end 6 which is also spaced above the bottom plate 3;
An annular space or slot is formed between the bottom end 6 and the bottom plate 3. The radial distance between the distribution cone 4 and the inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the storage tank 2 is such that when the feed is withdrawn through the space formed between the bottom end 6 of the cylindrical wall of the storage tank 2 and the bottom plate 3, the feed 1 The distance is sufficient for the container to fall under its own weight into the annular gap formed between the cone 4 and the inner wall of the storage tank 2. However, the size of the space formed between the bottom end 6 of the cylindrical wall of the storage tank 2 and the bottom plate 3 is made small so that the feed 1 does not flow out due to the weight of the feed in the storage tank 2 alone, and The gap between the bottom end 5 of the body 4 and the bottom plate 3 is further reduced. If desired, these spaces and gaps may be adjustable using removable spacers (not shown). The cylindrical wall of the feed storage tank 2 has a bottom skirt 7 of larger diameter, and the bottom plate 3
An annular chamber 8 is formed together with the external rim portion 3a. This chamber 8 communicates with the interior of the storage tank 2 through the space or slot between the bottom end 6 of the storage tank wall and the bottom plate 3. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of openings 9 having the same shape and size are formed in the rim portion 3a of the bottom plate 3 in a circular arrangement.

In addition, the feeding device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is
It has a rotor rotatably mounted around the vertical axis of the storage tank 2. This rotor has bottom plate 3
and between the bottom ends 5 and 6, the inner end 11 of the opening 9
The rotor extends radially to a position adjacent to the
It has an arm 10. rotor arm 10
can be rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2, pointing rearward as shown. As shown in FIG. 2, a feed scraping wire or finger 10a, one end of which is attached to the front surface of the rotor arm in the rotational direction, extends forward in the rotational direction of the rotor and radially inwardly, so that the feed scrapes into the cone 4.
to prevent it from being pushed radially inward under the

The rotor of the feeding device also has an upwardly open liquid dispensing container 12 to which the inner end of the rotor arm 10 is fixed. Distribution container 12
has an outer cylindrical wall 12a and an inner cylindrical wall 12b arranged concentrically with the wall 12a about the rotor rotation axis. The height of the inner cylindrical wall 12b is slightly lower than the height of the outer cylindrical wall 12a, and the height of the first
As you can clearly see from the figure, it is over. A liquid outlet 22 shaped like a flow passage extends radially outwardly and downwardly from the upper end of the inner cylindrical wall 12b. The liquid is supplied through valves 15a, 16a and 15b, 16 which can be controlled manually or automatically.
a pair of liquid supply pipes 14a and 14b having b
Through this, the annular space surrounded by the outer cylindrical wall 12a and the inner cylindrical wall 12b of the container 12 can be supplied. The rotor, consisting of a liquid dispensing vessel 12 and rotor arm 10, is rotated by an electric motor 17 connected to the dispensing vessel by a shaft 13 and controlled in a manner to be explained in more detail below.

A funnel-shaped feed supply duct 18 is provided directly below each opening 9 of the bottom plate 3, and the lower end of the duct is
It is connected by tubes or passageways (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) to each feeding station, which may be trough-like or otherwise shaped. These feeding locations are shown in Figure 3~
They can be arranged circularly or linearly as shown in FIG. A plurality of funnel-shaped liquid supply ducts 20 corresponding to the number of feed supply ducts 18 are arranged annularly substantially concentrically with the annular arrangement of ducts 18, with the ducts 20 also extending into suitable tubes or passageways (not shown). Therefore, it is connected to each feeding place.

The blocking plate 19 can be detachably attached to either duct 1.
8 and the bottom end of the skirt part 7 and can thereby close off its feed supply duct. The corresponding liquid supply duct 20 can be closed by a removable stopper 23 or by other means blocking the fluid passage extending between the feeding device and each feeding location, and the liquid supply pipe 14
The lower ends of a and 14b extend into the rotatable liquid dispensing container 12 from an upper opening between the cylindrical walls 12a and 12b of the container. When different liquids, such as water and a protein-containing liquid, are supplied to this part of the container 12, rotation of the container mixes the liquids. When the liquid reaches the level of the upper end of the cylindrical wall 12b, it flows into the center of the container and then flows out of the container 12 through the liquid outlet 22. A second top-open stationary container 26 is formed by the bottom central portion of the device. The inside of the liquid supply duct 20 has a V-shaped notch 25 at the upper end of the duct.
It communicates with the second container via. When one or more liquid supply ducts 20 are closed, liquid flows through the notches 25 into the fixed container 26, and when the fixed container is full, the liquid flows out through the remaining V-shaped notches 25 and flows into the other open liquids. It is distributed to the supply duct 20.

The skirt portion 7 has outwardly extending ears or mounting portions 24 which are provided with holes for screws or bolts for mounting the device.

The device described above operates as follows.

When the motor 17 starts rotating, the rotor arm 10 and the liquid dispensing container 12 are connected to the liquid outlet 2.
2 at an appropriate rotational speed. At the same time, one or both liquid supply pipes 14a and 14b are passed through valves 15a, 16a and 15b, 16.
The supply of liquid is started via b. Arm 10
Due to the rotation of the bottom plate 3, the small amount of feed placed on the bottom plate 3 is forced radially outwards over the edge 11 and falls through the opening 9 through which its rotor arm passes and further through the feed supply duct 18. They fall to each feeding area. The liquid outlet 22 extends radially in the same direction as the rotor arm 10. Therefore, when one portion of feed is supplied through the feed supply duct 18 to the feeding area, one portion of the liquid
The quantity also flows through the liquid outlet 22 and one liquid supply duct 20 to the feeding location. Rotation of the rotor supplies feed and liquid simultaneously and sequentially to each feeding location. If the number of animals to be fed is the same as the number of feeding stations or feed supply ducts 18, all feed and liquid supply ducts are opened. However, if the number of animals to be fed is less than the number of feeding stations, one or more of the feed supply ducts 18 may be closed with a closure plate 19 and the corresponding liquid supply duct 20 may be closed with a stopper 23 or other such as mentioned above. Closed in a manner that prevents the supply of dry feed or liquids to feeding areas that are not in use.

The amount of dry feed delivered to each feeding location by one revolution of the rotor arm 10 is determined primarily by the following factors.

(a) the radial gap between the bottom edges 5 and 6, the vertical gap between these bottom edges and the bottom plate 3 and the slope of the bottom plate 3; (b) the consistency of the dry feed (powder or (c) the shape of the rotor arm 10, (d) the rotational speed of the rotor arm.

The total amount of feed delivered to each feeding area during a feeding period is based, among other things, on the length of the feeding period, the rotational speed of the rotor arm, and the total number of rotations of the rotor during that feeding period. .

Among these factors, the length of feeding time, the rotational speed of the rotor arm, and the total number of rotations of the rotor can be varied, while the other factors are held constant. The operating time of the motor 17, i.e. the length of the feeding time, is, for example, such that, other factors being equal, the total amount of feed delivered to the feeding area is proportional to the length of the feeding time. Can be controlled with a switch. The number of revolutions of the rotor arm per feeding time can be adjusted by controlling the motor so that the motor stops for a short time after each revolution. Motor activation and shutdown times can be controlled using a conventional electrical recycler.

The amount of liquid supplied through the supply pipes 14a and 14b, i.e. the amount of liquid supplied to each feeding location, is controlled by the valves 15a, 15b, 16a and 16.
It can be controlled with b. One of the valves in each liquid supply tube, e.g. valves 16a and 16b, may be a flow control valve, which can e.g. deliver 2.5 times the amount of liquid than the amount of dry feed being delivered to each feeding station. The valves 15a and 15b may be open/close valves, which are controlled by the motor 17.
An electrical control circuit controls the stopping and directing of the liquid supply through the tubes 14a and 14b along with the motor.

In addition, the function of the motor 17 and the valve 15a,
The functions of 15b, 16a, and 16b are to adjust the length of feeding time, the time interval for feeding each amount of feed to one feeding area, and the feeding schedule according to a predetermined feeding schedule according to the animal's needs. It can also be controlled by an electrical circuit 21 programmed to vary the total amount of feed and/or feed composition. Such feeding programs typically include
Changes in the number of feedings per 24 hours and changes in the total amount of feed per feeding period due to increase in animal weight. This includes changes in the relationship between wet feed and feed liquid (ratio of standard nutrient liquid measurements to water measurements) and changes in the length of each feeding period. For example, tube 14a
and the ratio of the amounts of the two types of liquids supplied through the flow rate control valve 16a and 14b, as necessary.
and 16b, the electrical control circuit controlling the supply of liquid to the tubes 14a and 14b, i.e. the mixing ratio of the liquids to each other, to a ratio found by testing to be optimal for the growth of the animal. It can be programmed to do so. If desired, the electrical control circuit can be used to control several feeding devices and can be used for automatic control of feed supply over the entire growth period of the animal. For example, the control circuit is manufactured by Texas Instruments Incorporated called "TI550" which is used to control the operation of many feeding devices.
Intelligent Programmable Control Systems, such as those marketed by Instruments Inc.
Control System) can be used. The control circuit may also be used to indicate before each feeding period the total amount of feed to be delivered to the device controlled by the circuit during that period.

The feeding apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be used in conjunction with any suitable feeding area,
It is preferable that each adjacent feeding area be individually separated by a partition plate. Figure 3 shows a circular feeding area 27.
, the feeding device is located directly above and coaxially with the feeding area, and the dry feed and liquids conveyed via the tube 28 are routed directly to the feeding area through each feed duct of the device. Supplied. FIG. 4 shows a conventional pig house 29 having linearly partitioned feeding areas 30, and FIGS.
The figures each show a system with a linear feeding station 31 of another embodiment. In FIG. 5, two feeding devices are provided above a group of feeding locations arranged in a straight line, and in FIG. 6, one feeding device is used. In the system shown in Figures 4 to 6, the feeding device is such that a feed duct is connected to each feeding location by a suitable feed tube 32, such that the tube 32 does not deviate significantly from the vertical position (preferably , above the feeding area at an angle of 45° or less with the vertical axis). The liquid supply ducts of the feeding device are similarly connected to each feeding location by tubes or ducts (not shown).

EXAMPLE The feeding device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is capable of feeding feed to 10 feeding locations. The radial distance between the bottom ends 5 and 6 can be approximately 20 mm, and the vertical distance between the cylindrical wall bottom end 6 of the feed storage tank 2 and the bottom plate 3 can be approximately 10 mm. The annular inner end 11 of the opening 9 is approximately
Can have an arc length of 155mm. Average weight approx.
When feeding a 50 kg pig, the feeding time per feeding can be, for example, about 15 minutes, and the dry feed may be coarse barley. rotor arm 1 of 10
Approximately 13 g of dry feed is delivered to each feeding area per rotation. If the motor 17 rotates at a speed of 9 rpm, and the motor stops for approximately 4 seconds after each rotation of the arm, a total amount of approximately 0.7 kg of dry feed will be supplied to each feeding location during the feeding period. Valves 16a and 16
According to b, the liquid supply is adjusted to 2.5 times the dry feed weight for each feeding location. Water and liquid feed supplements are provided in tubes 14a and 1, respectively.
4b and valves 16a and 16
b is adjusted so that these liquids are supplied in a ratio of 1:2.

The liquid feed supplement may be a standard protein-containing liquid, and the feed mixture can be varied throughout the animal's growing season by varying the amounts of protein-containing liquid, dry feed or ground barley, and water, respectively. The protein-containing liquid supplement may be, for example, 20% solids consisting of 30 parts meat and bone meal broth and 70 parts blood. When feeding young pigs, a mixture of 50% by weight of the protein-containing liquid supplement, 15% by weight of water and 35% by weight of coarse barley can be used.

Various changes may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the dry feed metering means may be in the form of a rotating partition device, by means of which a fixed amount of dry feed flows from the feed storage tank into each feed supply duct. It is also possible to arrange the feed supply ducts in a linear manner and to sequentially supply a predetermined amount of dry feed to each duct by the reciprocating feed supply means. If all feed ingredients are liquid, the feeding device should be 1 in the diagram.
2, 14 to 17 and 20 may be included. moreover,
Valves 15a, 15b, 16a and 16b may be placed outside the device. Finally, liquid supply may be provided by conventional liquid supply valves located at each feeding location.

Effects of the Invention Pigs are raised until they reach a weight suitable for slaughter using the feeding method of the present invention and the conventional feeding method, the Clay-Olsson method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,157,157. Comparing the amount of feed consumed, it was found that the feeding method of the present invention can save about 20% of feed compared to the conventional method.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of one specific example of the feeding device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of Fig. 1, and Figs. 3 to 6 show the use of the feeding device of the present invention. It is a typical perspective view showing various feeding systems. The main symbols in the drawings have the following meanings.
1: dry feed, 2: feed storage tank, 10: rotor arm, 12: liquid distribution container, 18: feed supply duct, 20: liquid supply duct, 22: liquid outlet, 27, 30 and 31: feeding area .

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Multiple animals left free in the same enclosure,
using a feeding device having feeding areas corresponding to the number of animals in the enclosure that are freely accessible to all of the animals;
During one feeding period, portions not exceeding several mouthfuls for the animal were distributed to each feeding location at time intervals such that the feeding rate substantially corresponded to the predetermined feeding rate for the animal. A method of feeding a plurality of animals free-ranging in the same enclosure at their respective feeding areas, characterized by sequential feeding of feed. 2. The method of feeding the animal according to item 1 above, wherein the animal is a pig. 3. The method of feeding the feed according to item 2 above, in which the time interval of feeding is varied during the same feeding period. 4. A method of feeding the feed described in paragraph 2 above, in which the amount of feed does not exceed one mouthful. 5. The method of feeding the feed according to item 2 above, in which the feed is dry feed, and an amount of liquid suitable for each portion of the feed is supplied to each feeding area. 6. The feeding method according to item 5 above, wherein the feeding liquid is prepared by mixing at least two different liquids before feeding to each feeding area. 7. A method of feeding the animal according to paragraph 5, in which dry feed and liquid are supplied to each feeding area in relative amounts to constitute a feed mixture containing all the feed ingredients necessary for the desired growth of the animal. . 8. The feeding method according to item 2 above, which sequentially supplies each amount of feed to a plurality of feeding locations. 9. A feed storage tank, and from the storage tank, measure out an amount of feed not exceeding several mouthfuls for the animal, and deliver the measured feed to each feeding area multiple times during a single feeding period for a specified period of time. A device for feeding feed to a plurality of free-ranging animals in the same enclosure at respective feeding locations, characterized by comprising a measuring and feeding means for feeding feed at intervals. 10 The storage tank is a dry feed storage tank, and the measuring and supplying means is used to supply each amount of feed to each feeding place, and also to supply measured liquid to the feeding place. 9. The feeding device according to item 9 above, which is provided with a liquid measuring and supplying means. 11 said feed metering and dispensing means comprises a rotor arm below said storage tank forming an annular slot in communication with said storage tank and having a free end extending radially through said slot; Equipment for feeding food under Section 9. 12 The feed measuring and supplying means each further include:
11. The feeding device of claim 10, having a plurality of feed passages extending from below the slot to directly above each lower feeding area. 13. A liquid dispensing container, the liquid metering and supply means being rotatably mounted about a vertical axis of the device, the container being connected to a liquid outlet radially spaced from the axis and to each feeding station. a plurality of liquid supply passages having upper open ends annularly arranged around the axis, and the liquid outlets directed toward the annularly arranged upper open ends; The feeding device according to item 9 above. 14. The feeding device of clause 10, wherein the liquid metering and supplying means further comprises at least two liquid supply pipes for supplying different liquids to the container. 15. The feeding device of paragraph 13 above, wherein the liquid outlet is an overflow passage. 16. The feed feeding device of item 12 above, comprising means for selectively closing any of the feed supply passages. 17. The feed feeding device of item 13 above, comprising means for selectively closing any of the liquid supply passages. 18 (a) The feeding time interval of each feed quantity to be supplied to each feeding area sequentially; (b) The number of times each feed quantity is fed to each feeding area during one feeding period; (c) Each feed quantity; (d) the number of feedings per 24 hours; and (e) the composition of the feed to be fed to each feeding area, with electrical control means for controlling the operating characteristics of the device. Device. 19. The feed feeding device of item 18 above, wherein the control means is used to change the time interval of feeding during one feeding period.