Device, system and method for livestock feeding

Abstract

A device, system and a method for livestock feeding, and in particular, to such a device, system and method in which, the meal size and frequency of meal delivery are controllable based on measureable parameters and expected livestock growth curve, more preferably real time parameters.

1 . A feed volume and feed delivery frequency actuating device ( 100 ) for controlling the feed volume and feed frequency of feed delivered to livestock through an automatic feed dispenser system ( 70 ) wherein said actuating device ( 100 ) is retrofit and/or integrated with a feed dispenser ( 90 ) about a feed drop zone ( 150 ), the actuating device comprising:
 a. a divider ( 102 ) for dividing said feed drop zone ( 150 ) internal to said feed dispenser ( 90 ) and along the horizontal cross-section of said drop zone ( 150 ), into at least two size controllable zones, including
 i. a feed delivery closed zone ( 154 ); and 
 ii. a feed delivery open zone ( 152 ); and wherein 
   b. said divider ( 102 ) may be displaced along a distance equal to about the horizontal cross-section of said drop zone ( 150 ) for defining said at least two size controllable zones ( 152 , 154 ); and wherein   c. said divider ( 102 ) is displaced about said drop zone ( 150 ) with an actuator ( 110 ), wherein said actuator ( 110 ) is associated with said divider ( 102 ) through at least one driving shaft ( 112 ); and wherein   d. the upper edge of said divider ( 102 ) is further removably associated with a hinged cover ( 104 ) for defining said feed delivery closed zone ( 154 ).   
     
     
         2 . The actuating device of  claim 1  wherein said hinged cover ( 104 ) is coupled with an external face of said feed dispenser with a hinge ( 106 ). 
     
     
         3 . The actuating device of  claim 1  wherein said actuator ( 110 ) is disposed on an external surface of said feed dispenser ( 90 ). 
     
     
         4 . The actuating device of  claim 1  wherein said actuator is provided in the form selected form the group consisting of a manual actuator, a mechanical actuator, an electronic actuator, an automatic actuator or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The actuating device of  claim 4  wherein said automated actuating device is controllable from at least one selected from the group consisting of a remote location, wirelessly, cellular, optical, IR, RF or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The actuating device of  claim 4  wherein said automated actuating device is controlled by a controller ( 210 ). 
     
     
         7 . A feed dispenser including at least one actuating device ( 100 ) of  claim 1  wherein the feed dispenser is a master or slave feed dispenser and wherein said hinged cover ( 104 ) is coupled with an external face of said feed dispenser with a hinge ( 106 ); and wherein said actuator ( 110 ) is disposed on said external surface. 
     
     
         8 . A feed dispenser including at least two actuating device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1  wherein said feed dispenser ( 90 ) is a master ( 90   m ) or slave ( 90   s ) feed dispenser and wherein a first actuating device ( 100 L) is associated with a first face of said feed dispenser and wherein a second actuating device ( 100 R) is associated with a second face of said feed dispenser wherein said first and second face are disposed on opposite faces of said feed dispenser therein defining at least three size controllable zones ( 152 , 154 L,  154 R) including one central feed delivery open zone ( 152 ) and two feed delivery closed zone ( 154 ) on either side of said central feed delivery open zone ( 152 ). 
     
     
         9 . The feed dispenser of  claim 8  further comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of volume sensor, level sensor or weight sensor. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for controlling the feed volume and feed frequency of feed delivered to a plurality of feed dispensers ( 90 ) as part of an automatic livestock feed dispenser system ( 70 ), the apparatus comprising:
 a. a feed volume and feed delivery frequency actuating device ( 100 ) of  claim 1  associated with at least one feed dispenser; and   b. at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of volume sensor, level sensor or weight sensor; wherein said sensor is disposed internally to said feed dispenser ( 90 ).   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a controller ( 210 ) for controlling said actuating device ( 100 ) based on data obtained and processed with a data processing module ( 220 ) and wherein said data is communicated to said controller with a communication module ( 215 ). 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said communication module ( 215 ) provides for communication between said controller ( 210 ) and said actuating device ( 100 ). 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said data processing module ( 220 ) obtains and processes data for example including but not limited to livestock data, feed data, environmental data, market data, livestock psychological data, livestock behavioral data, livestock housing data, livestock eating frequency, livestock metabolic data, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . An automatic livestock feed delivery system for automatically dispensing feed to livestock, being raised within a livestock housing, the system comprising:
 a. feed supply infrastructure to convey livestock feed from a central feed supply to a plurality of feed dispensers ( 90 ) wherein each of said feed dispensers are disposed about a feed outlet points ( 160 );   b. a feed volume and feed delivery frequency actuating device ( 100 ) for controlling the feed volume and frequency of delivering said feed volume to livestock; and   c. at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of volume sensor, level sensor or weight sensor; wherein said sensor is disposed internally with said feed dispenser ( 90 ); and   d. a controller ( 210 ) for controlling said actuating device ( 100 ) based on data obtained and processed with a data processing module ( 220 ) and wherein said data is communicated to said controller with a communication module ( 215 ).   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said communication module ( 215 ) provides for communication between said controller ( 210 ) and said actuating device ( 100 ). 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said data processing module ( 220 ) obtains and processes data for example including but not limited to livestock data, feed data, environmental data, market data, livestock psychological data, livestock behavioral data, livestock housing data, livestock eating frequency, livestock metabolic data, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said actuating device is associated with said feed dispenser ( 90 ) or with said infrastructure system at feed outlet points ( 160 ), 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said plurality of feed dispensers are provided in the form of master feed dispensers ( 90   m ) comprising a feed level sensor ( 96 ) and wherein said feed supply infrastructure is a closed loop system for circulating said feed. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein at least two actuating devices  100  are associated with at least two or more individual master feed dispenser ( 90   m ) within at least one or more production line, providing for at least one or more sub-production line within said at least one or more production line. 
     
     
         20 . A method for optimizing livestock yields and livestock parameters by utilizing a feed volume and feed delivery frequency actuating device ( 100 ) within an automatic feed delivery system, the method comprising:
 a. Obtain data selected from the group consisting of livestock data, environmental data, livestock housing data, grower data, marketing data, environmental data, weather data, feed data, livestock growth chart or any combination thereof; and   b. Integrate and analyze said obtained data to determine optimal growing conditions according to said available data;   c. Adjust controllable conditions associated with said automatic feeding system selected from the group consisting of feeding frequency, meal size, livestock housing environmental conditions, livestock system activation frequency, to optimize feed frequency, livestock metabolism and livestock distribution about the feed supply infrastructure within livestock housing; wherein feed frequency and feed volume are controlled in an inversely proportional manner;   d. continuously monitor and analyze livestock growing rate and adjust said controllable conditions until livestock reaches market size target weight.