Accurate metering and control system and method for livestock feeding operation

A method of distributing material from a moving vehicle evenly along a path to be traveled by said vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing the path length remaining;
• (b) storing the amount of material remaining to be distributed along said path;
• and
• (c) controlling at least one material distributing rate parameter based upon the path length remaining to be traveled and the amount of material remaining to be distributed;
• (d) accurately monitoring the flow rate of material from the vehicle and repeatedly calculating the amount of material remaining to distribute based upon the flow rate over time;
• (e) accurately monitoring the position of said vehicle along said path;
• (f) repeatedly calculating the distance remaining to be traveled along said path based upon said vehicle position;
• and
• (g) repeatedly changing said at least one material distributing rate parameter each time the path length remaining to be traveled and the amount of material remaining to be distributed are recalculated.

A feed monitoring and control system for evenly distributing livestock feed along an elongate feed bunk from a moving feed distributing vehicle, the system comprising:

• (a) means for storing the length of said feed bunk remaining to be traveled by said vehicle;
• (b) means for storing the amount of feed remaining to be distributed to said bunk;
• (c) flow rate sensing means for detecting the flow rate of said feed from the vehicle;
• (d) vehicle position detecting means for detecting the position of said vehicle along said bunk;
• and
• (c) programmable controller means for calculating desired set points for one or more distribution rate parameters based upon said remaining path length and said remaining material amount and for outputting said desired set points wherein said vehicle can be configured thereby, said programmable controller means being connected to said means for storing bunk length remaining, said means for storing feed remaining, said flow rate sensing means and said vehicle position detecting means, said programmable controller means providing a repetitive indication of a said distribution rate determining parameter based upon feedback from said flow rate sensing means and said position detecting means.

A feed monitoring and control system for evenly distributing livestock feed along an elongate feed bunk from a moving feed distributing vehicle, the system comprising:

• (a) programmable means for repeatedly calculating and for storing the length of said feed bunk remaining to be traveled by said vehicle as said vehicle traverses said bunk;
• (b) means for repeatedly calculating and storing the amount of feed remaining to be distributed to said bunk;
• and
• (c) said programmable means is programmed to repeatedly calculate desired set points for one or more distribution rate parameters based upon said remaining path length and said remaining material amount and to output each said desired set point wherein said vehicle can be repeatedly configured thereby.

A method of evenly distributing feed from a feed distributing vehicle along a feed bunk extending a certain length alongside and adjacent to a feeding pen containing a number of livestock to be fed, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing the bunk length;
• (b) storing the total amount of feed to be distributed along said bunk;
• (c) calculating the position of said vehicle along said bunk and calculating the bunk length remaining to be traveled from said vehicle position;
• (d) sensing the amount of feed distributed and calculating the amount of feed remaining to be distributed along said bunk;
• and
• (e) controlling at least one feed distributing rate parameter based upon the bunk length remaining to be traveled and the amount of feed remaining to be distributed.

A method of evenly distributing feed from a feed distributing vehicle along a feed bunk extending a certain length alongside and adjacent to a feeding pen containing a number of livestock to be fed, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing the bunk length;
• (b) storing the total amount of feed to be distributed along said bunk;
• and
• (c) controlling at least one feed distributing rate parameter based upon the path length remaining to be traveled and the amount of feed remaining to be distributed;
• (d) accurately monitoring the flow rate of feed from the vehicle and repeatedly calculating the amount of feed remaining to distribute based upon the flow rate over time;
• (e) accurately monitoring the position of said vehicle;
• (f) repeatedly calculating the distance remaining to be traveled along said bunk based upon said vehicle position;
• and
• (g) repeatedly changing said at least one feed distributing rate parameter each time the path length remaining to be traveled and the amount of feed remaining to be distributed are recalculated.

A method of distributing feed from a feed distributing vehicle along a feed bunk extending a certain length alongside and adjacent to a feeding pen containing a number of livestock to be fed, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing the bunk length;
• (b) computing pattern feeding criteria for altering the distribution of feed along said feed bunk to compensate for irregularities in pen shape or configuration or cattle eating habits;
• (c) storing the position of said vehicle along said feed bunk;
• (d) selectively altering the distribution of feed along said bunk based upon the position of said vehicle along said bunk and said pattern feeding criteria. A1 An optional GPS sensor 46 mounted on the truck 1 is connected to the CPU 3 to provide position sensing for the truck 1.