Determining the Degree of Mixing of a Fodder Mixture with a Spectral Sensor

A method for determining a current homogeneity parameter of a fodder mixture for farm animals while mixing the fodder mixture in a mixing container of a fodder mixing apparatus, wherein the fodder mixture comprises at least two different fodder components, comprising:

• recording, in sequence, optical spectra of the fodder mixture with a spectral sensor while mixing, characterized by the steps:
• receiving, by an electronic control unit, at least three optical spectra recorded by the spectral sensor,
• determining, by the electronic control unit, a fodder value for each of the at least three optical spectra using a prediction model, wherein the fodder values are in particular selected from a group comprising carbohydrate, fat, fiber, protein, dry matter, and water,
• calculating, by the electronic control unit, an initial standard deviation of the determined fodder values, and
• determining, by the electronic control unit, the current homogeneity parameter based on the initial standard deviation of the determined fodder values.

A fodder mixing apparatus comprising:

• a mixing container,
• at least one mixing device, in particular a mixing auger, arranged in the mixing container,
• a spectral sensor, and
• an electronic control unit, wherein the fodder mixing apparatus, in particular the electronic control unit, is configured to carry out a method according to any one of the preceding claims.