A feed delivery system for individualized rations for specific livestock includes a programmable controller responsive to status of the livestock. Individual elements of a feed ration are combined to meet the requirements of a specific animal and delivered only to that animal. Plural delivery containers may each be loaded with different rations for different animals. The inventive concept may also be used for delivery of food to hospital patients having different dietary requirements, for delivery of different components to various worksites in a manufacturing process, or for delivery of chemicals to a chemical process.

An apparatus for automatically milking animals, such as cows, comprising a robotic mechanism, two computers each having a display screen and keyboard, the apparatus having a plurality of exchangeable parts provided with a signalling device to transmit information when an exchangeable part is malfunctioning, the signalling device also identifying the malfunctioning part on one of the display screens of a computer. An emergency electrical battery is provided at an individual compartment for milking an animal for providing electrical power in the event of failure of the main power, and a computer is provided for closing down non-vital functions in the event of such power failure or of malfunctioning of the part or parts concerned. The teat cups of the set of teat cups which are automatically installed and removed from the last animal being milked can also be individually installed manually on the animal's teats, and a second set of teat cups for similar manual installation and removal is also provided, including conduits for pulsating the teat cups of the second set connected to a vacuum source, and for conveying milk received in such teat cups to a receptacle.

A drinking trough for dispensing of medication to an animal to be treated. The drinking trough comprises a drinking bowl and a supply of water coupled to the drinking bowl via a water supply conduit. A valve is located along the water supply conduit for controlling dispensing of water into the drinking bowl, and operation of the valve is controlled by a lever. A plurality of medication administering containers are coupled to the water supply conduit for each administering of a desired medication to the supplied water. Each one of the medication administering containers has an associated control valve coupled to the computer to operate the associated control valve and facilitate automatic dispensing of the medication from a desired one of the medication administering containers into the water supply conduit.

A poultry breeding method comprises the steps of providing a cage device for hens with an independent cage section so as to be free from contact with the other cages and auxiliary devices of the cage device, providing the independent cage section with a weight sensor for producing an electric signal representing the actual weight of hens housed in the cages of the independent cage section, applying the electric signal from the weight sensor to an electronic control device having stored therein ideal hen weight data relating to the hens housed in the cages, comparing the ideal hen weight data with the actual weight represented by the electronic signal, and using the result of the comparison for controlling the operation of a device for supplying feed to the hens. The method enables the hens to maintain at their ideal weight and their fecundity to be increased.

A poultry feeding system for a shed housing a flock of birds includes a female feeding line, a male feeding line, and a feed supply system which includes a weigh bin for supplying feed to the female feed line, and a weigh bin for supplying feed to the male feed line. An array of weighing cells for automatically weighing and identifying at least some of the individual birds of the flock, is arranged about the shed and data provided by the weighing cells is processed by first computer device to average the overall weight of the flock in the shed. Data from the first computer device is processed by second computer device to calculate the ration of feed for the shed for a predetermined time interval to maintain optimum productive weight of the birds. A control device activates the feeding system at a predetermined time to supply the determined ration of feed.