Abstract: A feeding system for measuring, monitoring and managing feed intake to determine feed efficiency of individual animals of a dairy herd. The feeding system includes at least one feed trough that contains feed to be consumed by the individual animals of the dairy herd. At least one load cell is coupled to the at least one feed trough for detecting a weight of the feed contained within the at least one feed trough. Lifting assemblies support the at least one load cell. The lifting assemblies can be actuated to move the at least one load cell and the at least one feed trough between a set feeding position, in which the individual animals consume the amount of feed contained within the feed trough, and a pivoted discharge position in which the amount of feed is discharged from the feed trough.

Abstract: A highly automated system to identify, measure, manage and control individual animals in grazing environments to monitor, analyze, model, predict, promote, optimize, and mitigate a variety of conditions and interactions relating to the grazing environment and an animal's health, welfare, performance, productivity, efficiency, quality, economic and genetic value. The system having a transmitters that identify individual animals. A weighing device that weighs the animal while the animal consumes substances and a dispensing device that controls substance provision to individual animals. A computer considers a number of factors in generating control signals sent to the system to dispense a prescribed amount of mineral, vitamin, medicinal or supplement compound to an individual animal. The system models, predicts and estimates a number of conditions related to the animal and its grazing environment that improve animal welfare, increases production, and preserves and conserves resources.

Abstract: A highly automated system and method for acquiring animal consumption and behavior data including stations where consumables are fed to animals. The stations being equipped with RFID equipment for reading RFID tags in close proximity to the station, and weighing devices for measuring the weight of the consumables. The RFID equipment and the weighing device are connected to a computer which calculates the weight of the trough at specific times by using weight data collected before and after the specified time to enhance the accuracy of the weight measurement. The computer uses a “mathematical weighted filter technique” to estimate the weight of the trough before and after a consumption event. The computer uses a method to divide the reduction/increase in weighed matter between the RFID tag last seen and the next RFID tag appearing, providing the reduction/increase in matter is less than a specified amount.

Abstract: A highly automated system and method for acquiring animal consumption and behavior data comprising stations where consumables are fed to animals. The stations being equipped with RFID equipment for reading RFID tags in close proximity to the station, and weighing devices for measuring the weight of the consumables. The RFID equipment and the weighing device are connected to a computer which calculates the weight of the trough at specific times by using weight data collected before and after the specified time to enhance the accuracy of the weight measurement. The computer uses a “mathematical weighted filter technique” to estimate the weight of the trough before and after a consumption event. The computer uses a method to divide the reduction/increase in weighed matter between the RFID tag last seen and the next RFID tag appearing, providing the reduction/increase in matter is less than a specified amount.

Abstract: A highly automated non-confining system to continuously, or at selected time intervals identify, measure, monitor and manage the consumption behavior, substance intake, body weight and growth of individual animals in their usual production environment including range, pasture, feedlot, dairy and farm without disruption to typical behaviors in order to determine, analyze, model and predict a variety of conditions relating to animal health, productivity, efficiency and quality. A transmitter generally attached to the animal identifies the individual animal by a unique individual code. A weighing device measures animal weight while an animal is consuming substances. An antenna receives the unique signal from the transmitter and a transmitting and receiving device sends acquired signals to a computer and receives instructions from a computer.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system and method having a plurality of antennas located at selected spaced intervals along an elongate feed or drinking trough. Each animal, to be monitored, is equipped with a passive transponder having a unique identification code. An electronic control system transmits an electronic signal sequentially to each one of the plurality of antennas such that each activated antenna emits a signal and, any passive transponder sufficiently adjacent to the activated antenna, receives the signal and generates a return electronic signal which is sent to the activated antenna. A computer, coupled to the plurality of antennas, receives a return signal from the passive transponder and generates preliminary results concerning an animal behavior which effects animal consumption activity.