Abstract: An interactive feeding device and method for animals. The device (10) includes an actuator (12) activatable by an animal, a container (18), a chute (20), a motor (14), a delivery mechanism (16) driven by the motor (14) to control passage of food from the food container (18) to the chute (20), and a controller device to operate the motor (14) subsequently to the actuator (12). The food delivery mechanism (16) preferably includes an upper (42) and lower (46) plates having upper and lower openings centered about the chute axis (48), and a disc (50) having an aperture (56) and being pivotally mounted between the plates. The aperture (56) of the disc (50) controls the passage of food from the container (18) to the chute (20) upon pivoting of the disc (50). The method includes the steps of receiving a request from an animal, providing a value of a parameter concerning the animal, retrieving a profile based on the value; and generating a command to the delivery mechanism using the profile.

Abstract: There is disclosed a computerized automatic feeder system for feeding individualized prescribed rations to cattle confined in successive individual stalls aligned along a set path. The system comprises an apparatus capable of moving to each stall successively and having appropriate devices for preparing, at each stall, an individualized ratio for the cattle head in that stall and delivering it to the animal. A computer is mounted on the apparatus for controlling the operations of moving the apparatus to the stalls and preparing and delivering the rations.