摘要:
A livestock management system is provided that sorts animals for split-weight feeding based on a calculated median weight of a herd. The system includes a pen area (10) partitioned into a first feeding area (16) containing at least a first feeder (12), a second feeding area (17) containing at least a second feeder (13), and a common watering area (18) containing at least one waterer (11). First and second one-way gates (23, 25) are respectively provided between the feeding areas and the watering area allowing animals to pass from the feeding areas into the watering area. A walk-through scale (27) has an inlet (28) open to the watering area, and first and second outlets (29, 30) open to the first and second feeding areas, respectively. The walk-through scale has a sort gate (31) for selectively directing animals into the first and second feeding areas based on a comparison of a detected weight of the animal and a calculated median weight of the herd.
摘要:
A ventilation inlet includes a housing having two air inlets apertures, a solid wind-deflecting rear wall, and a baffle supported for pivotal movement about a pivot point. A spring or other biasing mechanism is operatively connected to the baffle. Air entering the housing opens the baffle and enters the livestock confinement building. The baffle, positioned responsive to the amount and pressure of air entering the housing, directs the flow of air into the confinement space so as to optimize the speed and direction of the external fresh air entering the confinement space. The design of the ventilation inlet is optimized by calculating the necessary operators required to enable the baffle to properly respond to the incoming air.
摘要:
A feeder (10) for dispensing feed to livestock includes a trough (11) and a hopper (12) mounted above the trough (11). The hopper (12) includes a sidewall, a bottom (20), a central feed discharge hole (21) through the bottom (20), and a plurality of gravity flow feed openings (30) arranged around the central feed discharge hole (21). A deflector (22) is mounted in the hopper (12) above and vertically spaced from the hopper bottom (20) to cover the central feed discharge hole (21) to restrict gravity flow of feed from the hopper (12) through the central feed discharge hole (21). A sweep member (25) is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis for sweeping feed under the deflector (22) to the central feed discharge hole (21) for discharge into the trough (11). A closure system (31) is associated with the gravity flow feed openings (30) to automatically close the gravity flow feed openings (30) once animals start moving the sweep member (25) to sweep feed to the central feed discharge hole (21).
摘要:
A system for measuring a level of dry bulk material within a container has a columnar device supported vertically within the container. The columnar device has a closed lower end and openings through a sidewall thereof for allowing dry bulk material within the container to flow into and out of the columnar device. A load cell is used to measure a weight of the dry bulk material within the columnar device, which is then correlated to the level of dry bulk solids within the container. The columnar device and the sidewall openings therein can be provided in various shapes and configurations.
摘要:
A ceiling ventilation inlet includes a housing having an air inlet aperture, an air outlet aperture, and a baffle supported for linear movement adjacent the air outlet aperture. A spring is positioned such that the baffle moves dependant upon air pressure difference between the confinement space and the external environment. Air entering the housing opens the baffle and enters the livestock confinement building in a 360 degree dispersion pattern. The spring causes the baffle to direct the flow of air into the confinement space at a near constant rate so as to optimize ventilation. The greater the air pressure difference between the confinement space and the external environment the greater the air outlet area becomes. Since the inlet is responsive to the pressure difference and the air outlet area increases or decreases in size, the airflow velocity entering the confinement space may be optimized at a near constant rate. Mathematical equations and limiting parameters define the relationship between the geometrical design of the ceiling ventilation inlet and the optimum and acceptable range of properties for the spring.