Abstract: A livestock tracking system includes the collection of animal data upon loading of the livestock for transport and the collection of similar data upon unloading, thereby monitoring and tracking same. Livestock is transported from a grouped plurality to individual animals capable of being weighed and then put into transport containers. Each transport container is readily identifiable throughout the process such that upon the unloading of the livestock the information pertaining to the livestock within each container can be compared to data collected upon loading and therefore traced. While the most important data is weight, other measurements may be utilized. A method incorporating this system is also disclosed.

Abstract: The device of the present invention provides a novel feeder which generally comprises a feed reservoir, a trough, and an actuable feed dispensing mechanism all of which are operably connected to provide a structure which readily accommodates the three-dimensional space-envelope described by the normal range of feeding movements of the feeding animal thereby preventing injury to the animal and minimizing eating movements that are wasteful of feed. The device of the invention optionally incorporates a novel, feed-dispensing mechanism which is removably situated in the throat of the feed reservoir. The mechanism comprises a series of removable adjacent tubular segments, exemplified by cylindrical ring segments, through which runs a removable ring segments, through which runs a removable rigid support member, such as a rod. In the un-actuated state, the feed dispensing mechanism completely occludes the throat of the feeder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel feeder which readily accommodates the three-dimensional space-envelope described by the normal range of feeding movements of a feeding animal, minimizes eating movements that are wasteful of feed, and prevents injury to the feeding animal. The feeder optionally incorporates a novel, feed-dispensing mechanism which can be removed from the throat of the feeder reservoir. The mechanism has a series of removable adjacent tubular segments, such as cylindrical rings, through which runs a removable rigid support, such as a rod. When un-actuated, the mechanism completely occludes the throat of the feeder. When a feeding animal displaces the segments upwardly, feed passes through the opening created in the throat of the feeder. When the segments return to their original position by the force of gravity, the feeder throat is occluded and feed flow stops.