Abstract: A portable hay feeder with open sides pivotally connected with angle brackets which are pivotally connected with roof rafters of the unit in such fashion that the sides will swing in an essentially vertical position as an animal pushes the sides against hay contained between the sides; spacer bar or rods forming vertical openings in the sides are properly spaced so that an animal may eat but the animal's head will not go between the upright space bars, thus the animals head pushes the sides inward allowing total consumption and minimizing waste.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus has a floor with first and second sides, ends and a top. A side wall is attached to the floor and encloses the floor means with the side wall permitting limited access there through. Opposite ends of the side wall are pivotally secured so that they can be unlocked and opened thereby allowing a tractor to enter the enclosure for depositing hay within the enclosure. The remaining side wall is slidably attached in a manner to permit the side wall to urge toward the opposite side wall so that access can be had at all times to the hay contained therein as it is eaten by the animals.

Abstract: A livestock feeder device comprises an inner frame defined by an upper circular rail and a lower circular rail resting against the ground together with a number of uprights for receiving and confining a cylindrical bale. An outer frame around the inner frame is defined by a lower panel and an upper area having inclined spaced bars arranged so that the animal can present its head through the bars but is halted at the shoulder. The spacing between the inner and outer frames is such that the animal can reach the bale and is encouraged by the frame to eat with its head remaining between the inner and outer frames so as to deposit any waste in that area for subsequent eating. This avoids the trampling of any waste and thus reduces losses.

Abstract: A livestock feeder for hay bales, stacks and the like comprising fence-like sides and ends hinged to each other at their ends and pivotally supported on posts centrally secured to the ends, to permit movement from a normal rectangular configuration to one of a parallelogram with the side sections closer to each other. Such a construction permits animals feeding along the sides of the feeder, to have access to feed in the center of the feeder as they bear against the sides thereby collapsing them inwardly.

Abstract: A hay feeder is described for installation in the corner of a box stall or the like including a pair of vertically disposed transversely extending back wall portions secured to the sides or walls of the box stall. An arcuate front wall portion extends between the back wall portions to define a hay storage compartment having an open upper end. The front wall portion has spaced-apart access openings formed therein to permit an animal to feed therethrough. The access openings have a vertical height substantially less than the vertical height of the front wall portions. The hay feeder is comprised of a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene and is provided with strengthening ribs on the front wall portion.

Abstract: A hay rack top which is designed to fit on conventional hay rack enclosures or bunks in order to protect hay bales and hay placed in the enclosure from the elements, which includes multiple, shaped braces designed for clamping in spaced relationship to the top ring of a conventional hay rack and extending upwardly and inwardly to support a flexible cover secured on the arms of the braces by means of a draw string tightened around shoulders shaped in the braces. The braces are easily removed from the hay rack by loosening the clamps, and the top can be quickly and easily removed from the braces by loosening the draw string.

Abstract: A plurality of identical panel sections are pivotally interconnected by a pin received in aligned sleeves. The sections may pivot in one direction until adjacent corners abut and in the opposite direction until the sections abut against a horizontally extending pin end portion thereby limiting further the angle of pivotal movement.

Abstract: An adapter rigidly attached to a hay bale feeder enables the feeder to be transported by means of the forks of a conventional bale mover. The adapter is attached to the exterior of the feeder and includes a pair of pockets or openings for receiving the forks of the bale mover. The adapter can be retrofitted to preexisting feeders, or can be integrally attached to the feeder during a manufacturing process.

Abstract: A material handling implement includes a frame member with coupling members for connecting a first end of the frame to a prime mover, such as by way of a standard three-point connection on a tractor. Pivotally mounted on the other end of the frame is a yoke, such that the arms of the yoke extend laterally to each side of the frame. A hook is secured to each arm on one face of the yoke for use in transporting other implements, for example a round hay bale feeder. An elongated spear is mounted on another face of the yoke for spearing and transporting materials, such as round hay bales. Hydraulic piston and cylinder means are provided for pivoting the yoke to alternately position the hooks and the spear for use.

Abstract: Haybox for feeding horses, provided at the upper part with a cover (3) in the form of a rack with transverse bars (4) and provided at the base with a loose, spring-loaded bottom (8). This bottom can move along guide bars (10) running through perforations in the bottom, which are attached to supporting plates (12) fixed to side walls (2a) and (2b). Around the bars (10) pressure springs (11) are arranged which will press the bottom (8) in an empty condition of the box against the rack. The bottom may be made tiltable by means of a body spherical at the top (13) which abuts bottom (8), the dimension of the perforations (9) being larger than the diameter of the bars (10). The box may contain 2 or 4 pressure springs and be fixed to the wall inclined with respect to the horizontal.

Abstract: An animal feeding system employs an openwork manger suspended in such manner as to cause a feeding animal to raise its head in grasping hay between opening of the manger and upon pulling tending to tear hay flakes and bunches apart. Means is provided to discourage animal penetration to beneath the manger thus precluding fouling of that area and possible animal bunching in restricted space.

Abstract: Juxtaposed pairs of upright portable bunker wall sections are erected on level ground in longitudinal alignment and tied together and braced by a system of adjustable and portable bracing units along the length of the elongated open ended and open top silage bunker thus formed. The bunker is filled with silage up to a proper level by a mobile loading machine with the formation of the silage bunk progressing rearwardly. As the silage bunk is thus formed, the forwardmost bunker wall sections are shifted to the rear end of the bunker to enable the formation of a uniform depth silage bunk of any desired length. As bunker wall sections are removed, the formed or molded silage bunk is covered and protected by a dark plastic film.

Abstract: The livestock feeder includes a relatively shallow, open top tank having a substantially solid bottom and generally vertical side and end walls, a rack located inside the tank for receiving different types of feed and having a plurality of horizontally spaced frame members which extend upwardly from the tank bottom with their lower ends spaced inwardly from the tank walls to define feeding troughs therebetween, and an outer framework having a plurality of frame members which are arranged to discourage the withdrawal of loose feed from the feeder. In a preferred embodiment the frame members are horizontally spaced in parallel relationship and extend diagonally from the upper extremity of the tank walls. Adjacent pairs of the diagonally extending outer frame members define a vertically angled opening through which individual livestock can project its head, while standing on the ground outside any one of the four sides of the feeder, and eat feed held in the rack and/or the feeding troughs.

Abstract: An improved loader feeder apparatus for loading, transporting and feeding bales of hay and the like which includes a tine assembly connected to an axle which is pivotally movable on the axle to a loading position wherein a portion of the tine assembly is engagable with a bale of hay and the like for securing the bale of hay and the like to the tine assembly and which is pivotally movable on the axle to a hauling position wherein the tine assembly cooperates to support a bale of hay and the like a distance above the ground for transporting the bale of hay and the like to various locations. The loader feeder apparatus includes a rear wall assembly which is connected to the axle, a first side wall assembly which is connected to the rear wall assembly, a second side wall assembly which is connected to the rear wall assembly, a first gate assembly which is hingedly connected to the first side wall assembly and a second gate assembly which is hingedly connected to the second side wall assembly.

Abstract: A hay enclosure includes two end sections and two sections along each side. Diagonally opposite side sections are equal in length, although the two sections on each side have different lengths. The enclosure is pivotally movable to a second position wherein two triangular-in-shape enclosures are formed having an area smaller than the rectangular enclosure area. A circular enclosure includes four arcuate sections which may be collapsed about a bale of hay into two pillow-shaped enclosures. Adjacent sections are pivotally interconnected by vertically spaced apart hinges, with the upper hinge including a downwardly extending pin received in a sleeve, and the lower hinge including a pair of abutting vertically aligned sleeves in which a movable pin is received.

Abstract: A feeding wagon has a wheeled frame and a reinforced, enclosed receptacle with an entrance through which crop can be loaded. The receptacle can be attached to the frame by hydraulic cylinder and swash plate assemblies that engage coupling points on upwardly extending supports that are fastened at the sides of the receptacle. The swash plates are pivoted to lift the receptacle onto the frame with the aid of guides. A crop feeding device, including a pick up and advancing member on an auxiliary frame, is connected to the front of the receptacle frame adjacent the entrance. After the receptacle is loaded by the device, it is transported to a site and separated from the frame. The sidewalls of the receptacle have openings that can be exposed so that cattle can withdraw fodder until the receptacle has been emptied. In the meanwhile, a second receptacle can be loaded by the same feeding device and on the same wheeled frame.

Abstract: A self feeding bunk or barrier used for permitting cattle to eat directly from stacks of forage such as hay, and which comprises a modular member having an upright, slat barrier through which the animals can feed from a forage stack that the sections surround. The barrier modules include a horizontal support deck attached to the upright barrier and held by end frames. The horizontal floor or deck is of sufficient lateral width (outwardly from the stack) so that the animal which is feeding cannot reach through the upright barrier for eating unless it is standing on the deck. The barrier module is securely held by the animal itself as it eats so that the barrier cannot be dislodged.

Abstract: A hay enclosure includes two end sections and two sections along each side. Diagonally opposite side sections are equal in length, although the two sections on each side have different lengths. The enclosure is pivotally movable to a second position wherein two triangular-in-shape enclosures are formed having an area smaller than the rectangular enclosure area. A circular enclosure includes four arcuate sections which may be collapsed about a bale of hay into two pillow-shaped enclosures. Adjacent sections are pivotally interconnected by vertically spaced apart hinges, with the upper hinge including a downwardly extending pin received in a sleeve, and the lower hinge including a pair of abutting vertically aligned sleeves in which a movable pin is received.

Abstract: A hay hauler and feeder includes a platform of wood framed in steel with demountable racks which, when in place, serve as self-feeders, on sides, front and rear. Feeding stations are divided with steel bars angled to the right or left to limit and control hay withdrawal in order that the contents may be fed with minimum wastage. The hauler-feeder is mounted on a single axle mounting with four wheels in tandem which are capable of oscillation for maximum uniform weight distribution and a trailer jack at the front tongue for leveling when field-feeding.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel, portable, animal feeding station which provides livestock, at virtually any desired location, waste-free access to fibrous feed material in quantities heretofore unobtainable with a portable unit. Compacted fibrous feed is charged into a rectangular-shaped, variable volume hopper formed by a pair of upstanding stationary, spaced-apart, opposing end walls and a pair of movably suspended mesh-covered side panels. The side panels are movably suspended on sloping tracks mounted interior the end walls such that the panels are positioned by gravity against the confined feed mass. Feeding livestock are able to grasp the fibrous feed through the mesh according to their need, and in doing so forcibly urge the panel, along the sloping tracks, against the remaining feed mass.

Abstract: A roughage feeder unit for cattle or livestock comprises an upright gate assembly mounted on supports at opposite ends of the assembly and provided with ground engaging wheels and skids to support the gate assembly for movement over the ground. The unit includes a device coupled to the gate assembly for anchoring the gate assembly to the ground and adapted to restrict the gate assembly to movement over a predetermined distance relative to the ground. A preferred embodiment of the anchoring device comprises a telescoping brace adapted to be secured to the ground by a stake and provided with a stop to limit the movement of the gate assembly relative to the stake.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling and feeding large hay bales comprising the separable, cooperative, combination of a coupler unit adapted to be attached to a three-point lift hitch on a tractor, and a lift fork unit which can be readily converted into a bale feeding container by removably securing a pair of upright wall assemblies to its opposite sides. The wall assemblies have feeding spaces therein through which livestock may project their heads to reach a large hay bale supported inside the container on the lift arms of the lift fork unit. A latch device on the coupler unit is releasably engaged with coupling means on the lift fork unit in such a way that the operator of a tractor on which the coupler is mounted may actuate controls to release the latch from the tractor operator's seat.

Abstract: A fork lift for carrying large hay bales in combination with a feed rack comprising barred panels through which animals are able to feed on the bales. The lift is coupled to the three point hitch of a tractor and backed against the feed rack to position the rack around the bale and to insert the forks of the lift beneath the bale. The lift includes notched arms which lift the feed rack above the ground when the lift is raised for transport of the bale. Lowering of the lift deposits the bale on the ground within the feed rack and automatically uncouples the lift from the rack.

Abstract: A transportable feeder frame apparatus for enclosing and moving pre-formed haystacks in conjunction with a prime mover, such as a farm tractor; the same including means for elevating the stack for transportation to a desired feeding location, whereat the same is lowered to the ground, and the prime mover detached for use with additional frame means. The enclosing frame effectively controls self-feeding by livestock and prevents trampling of the feed materials to minimize waste.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading, transporting and feeding large hay bales and hay stacks. An open bottomed trailer includes a frame mounted on a wheel assembly. Four panels mounted on the frame comprise a plurality of spaced bars. A pivotal lift supported within the panels includes a pair of pivotally supported forks and a hydraulic cylinder to pivot the forks and to lift a hay bale or stack supported thereon. In feeding, the lift is lowered and animals are allowed to feed on the hay through the barred panels.

Abstract: Three tubular rings are spaced apart by tubular vertical members. Animal-head openings are defined by the top and middle rings and the opposite vertical members. The space from the middle ring to the bottom ring is covered with woven-wire fencing material. The circular structure may be disassembled into three arcuate sections having angle-iron members at opposite ends with legs which overlap and are bolted together. An alternate embodiment is of a unitary construction. The method of using the circular feed bunk includes placing the hay on the ground and placing the feed bunk on its side adjacent the hay and then tipping the feed bunk onto and over the hay whereby the animals may feed on the hay through the animal-head openings. The bunk may be rolled between feeding stations when positioned on its side.