A system (20) for distributing a plurality of predetermined amounts of predetermined feeds including at least one feed component to preselected recipients (22) thereof at a plurality of respective feeding locations (24), the system comprising:
- a track assembly (26) comprising a track (28);
- a feeder assembly (30) movable along the track (28), the feeder assembly (30) comprising a feeder unit (42) comprising:
- a mixer subassembly (32) for preparing a preselected one or more of the feed components together to provide the predetermined amounts of the predetermined feeds;
- a dispensing subassembly (34), configured to receive the predetermined feeds from the mixer subassembly (32) and to provide the predetermined feeds to the preselected recipients thereof, the dispensing subassembly comprising at least one nipple element in fluid communication with the mixer subassembly, said at least one nipple element being configured to allow the predetermined feeds to flow therethrough;
- at least one tank (31A, 31B) for holding at least one of the feed components, configured to be in fluid communication with the mixer subassembly (32);
- a feeder mounting assembly (36), for mounting the feeder assembly (30) to the track (28);
- a motion assembly (38) for moving the feeder assembly (30) along the track (28) between a home location at which said at least one tank receives said at least one of the feed components, and the respective feeding locations;
- a controller operatively connected with the feeder assembly and the motion assembly, for causing the feeder assembly to provide the predetermined feeds to the preselected recipients thereof respectively at the respective feeding locations, when the dispensing subassembly is located at the respective feeding locations;
- the dispensing subassembly comprising a swing arm on which said at least one nipple element is mounted, for positioning said at least one nipple element for the preselected recipients thereof at a selected one of the feeding locations, wherein the feeder assembly provides the predetermined feeds in the predetermined amounts to the respective preselected recipients when the feeder assembly is at the respective feeding locations therefor;
- the dispensing subassembly additionally comprising at least one nozzle (88) positioned for spraying a cleansing agent onto said at least one nipple element (78) after each of the preselected recipients have respectively fed from said at least one nipple element (78);
- and
- the dispensing subassembly additionally comprises a guard element (82) formed to protect at least one nozzle (88) from the preselected recipients, when said preselected recipients respectively thrust toward said at least one nipple element (78), said guard element (82) being pivotably mounted to the swing arm and biased to a lowered position, in which the guard element (82) is partially positioned between the preselected recipient and the nipple, and movable to a raised position, in which said at least one nipple element is accessible to the preselected recipient.