Feeding system and method for feeding animals

A feeding system for feeding animals comprising at least one feeding place with feed from a feed supply, wherein the feeding system comprises:

• at least one autonomous feeding device comprising a container for accommodating a batch of feed from the feed supply, wherein the autonomous feeding device is configured to take feed held in the container to the feeding place and dispense it at the feeding place,
• a feed-quantity measuring device for repeatedly measuring a feed-quantity value for a quantity of feed which is available for consumption by the animals at the feeding place,
• a feed-loading system for loading feed from the feed supply into the container of the autonomous feeding device,
• a control system configured to receive feed-quantity values from the feed-quantity measuring device measured at the feeding place at different measurement instants, wherein the control system is configured to
• store a plurality of feed-quantity values received from the feed-quantity measuring device in a memory,
• determine at least one value of a variable (λ, hn) which is representative of a relation between the feed-quantity values and time at least at, and/or after, a last measurement instant, based on the plurality of feed-quantity values stored in the memory,
• control the feed-loading system and/or the autonomous feeding device to load a subsequent batch of feed and/or to take a loaded subsequent batch of feed to the feeding place, based on the determined value of the variable (λ, hn),
• determine a starting time t1 to start loading the subsequent batch of feed and/or taking the loaded subsequent batch of feed to the feeding place, based on the determined value of the variable (λ, hn),
• determine the starting time t1 by calculating back from a future depletion time t2 for the feeding place by a time interval x, which depends on a required loading time for loading the subsequent batch of feed and/or a required delivery time for delivering feed held in the container to the feeding place by means of the autonomous feeding device, and
• send a start command to the feed-loading system at the starting time t1 to start loading the subsequent batch of feed, or to the autonomous feeding device to start taking a loaded batch of feed to the feeding place.