Abstract: An improved hog/livestock feeder uses a bump cone on a pendulum swivel as opposed to rotary motion. A support structure suspends a feed hopper directly above a feed pan. A bump cone swings with a pendulum motion within a funnel in the hopper. The lower edge of the bump cone is accessible between the open bottom of the hopper and the upper rim of the feed pan, such that when an animal nudges the bump cone, a gap between the hopper funnel and bump cone widens, and feed falls from the hopper and into the feed pan. The device enabling the bump cone to swing a pendulum motion may be a spring, a multi-axis joint, or a length of flexible material. A raised feed diverter structure may extend upwardly from the bottom of the feed pan, and the bump cone may be perforated to further distribute the feed.

Abstract: An improved hog/livestock feeder uses a bump cone on a pendulum swivel as opposed to rotary motion. A support structure suspends a feed hopper directly above a feed pan. A bump cone swings with a pendulum motion within a funnel in the hopper. The lower edge of the bump cone is accessible between the open bottom of the hopper and the upper rim of the feed pan, such that when an animal nudges the bump cone, a gap between the hopper funnel and bump cone widens, and feed falls from the hopper and into the feed pan. The device enabling the bump cone to swing a pendulum motion may be a spring, a multi-axis joint, or a length of flexible material. A raised feed diverter structure may extend upwardly from the bottom of the feed pan, and the bump cone may be perforated to further distribute the feed.

Abstract: Embedded thermochromic pigments address problems associated with determining whether an electrically heated mat is operating properly. At least a portion of the mat, or an attachment, includes a thermochromic pigment, such that when the mat is properly activated, the entire mat, or a region of the mat, changes color, hue or intensity, giving a visual indication as to heating status. The thermochromic pigment may change the color at a predetermined temperature associated with animal husbandry such as 80 Deg. F in conjunction with a farrowing application. One or both of the upper and lower layers of the mat may be constructed of plastic such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and the thermochromic pigment may be added to the plastic prior to molding the mat. Alternatively, the thermochromic pigment may be contained in a label or patch affixed to the mat material through a mold labeling process.