Inventors:
Steven J. Hoff - Ames IA
Mark S. Honeyman - Ames IA
James D. McKean - Ames IA
Emmett J. Stevermer - Ames IA
Dwaine S. Bundy - Ames IA
Fernando Perez-Munoz - Ames IA
Steven E. Bryce - Souderton PA
William E. Backhaus - Ida Grove IA
Assignee:
Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc. - Ames IA
International Classification:
A01K 500
Abstract:
A gestation sow feeding system has a sow bedding enclosure, a gated scale weighing station, an alley connecting the scale weighing station with two separate feeding pens having entry and exist gates, and a bypass gate connecting the alley and the bedding enclosure. The traffic of sows through the system is monitored and controlled by a computer which controls the gates of the system, measures the weight and average daily gain of each sow weighed, and directs the weighed sow to the feeding pen for a ration of feed to permit the sow to adjust to a targeted average daily weight stored in the computer.