Abstract: Livestock feeding apparatus including a housing having a head insertion opening and a dosing device responsive to the presence of selected specimens of the livestock for presenting food within the housing. An animal may gain access to the food by inserting its head through the opening. A valve is mounted adjacent the head insertion opening for movement between a closed position in which the valve occludes the opening and an open position in which the valve does not occlude the opening. Mechanisms are provided for moving the valve to the open position when one of the selected livestock specimens is present and returning the valve to the closed position after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. The valve prevents an animal from loitering in feeding position with its head inserted in the opening.