In determine and ascertain the physical state of birds and animals in a livestock raising establishment, the batches of such creatures are weighed at certain time intervals, the information on the weight of a bird or an animal is signalled to a computer and is stored in the memory of the latter, the average weight of a number of birds or animals is calculated which gives an indication of the physical state of the respective creatures. To practice the method a weighing apparatus is used including a weighing platform, a load cell attached to the said platform and being capable of converting the pressure of the load on the platform into an electric signal, and an electronic interface adapted to receive the signal and transmit it to a computer with wiring connecting the constituents of the system.
A method of automatically suggesting to the producer what ration a group of livestock should be fed currently, based on the amount of each ration originally requested. As a producer prepares to mix feed for a particular group of animals, the controller will automatically suggest, based on the amount of feed consumed what particular ration should currently be mixed. This feature is built into the software of the IBM compatible batch controller. The resulting benefit to the producer is a savings of approximately 2 to 3 dollars per head of livestock--each individual farmer typically feeds 4 to 20 thousand head per year.
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.
A bird feeder having a movable perch that is coupled to a scale or weight indicator to provide the weight of a bird that rests on the perch adjacent the feeder for permitting the study of bird feeding habits and weight. The scale can be used with different types of weighing mechanisms, but upon lighting on the perch, a signal is provided to sound an alarm, and/or give an indication that a bird has alighted, and then to provide a weight signal that can be on a meter or a chart recorder, or the like.
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 method and apparatus for treating animals that are milked in an automated milking system. For the animals involved or groups of such animals, there is stored a predetermined desired weight pattern for such animals or groups of animals, which weight pattern is based on the animal's actual weight pattern which extends over a relatively long period of time including, at least, each animal's last lactation period, into a computer memory. An animal is weighed in a milking compartment where it is simultaneously milked and fed two to four times in each twenty-four hour period. On the basis of the animal's ongoing weights, having in view its earlier established desired weight values, there is determined average actual weight values taking into account the weight variations due to contents of the animal's digestive tract and udder to provide expected variations around the average value. Thereafter, when the desired weight value stored in the computer memory applicable to the particular time insofar as the animal's life cycle is concerned is different than the actual average weight of the animal, considering variations, the quantity of feed to be distributed to the animal while it is being milked in the milking compartment is adjusted accordingly. If the actual weight of an animal is sufficiently different from the expected weight, the operator of the automated milking process is informed of such fact by signals provided to capture the operator's attention.
