Provided herein are mechanisms and methods for the automated distribution of active ingredients (whether oral or contact based) to wild and domestic animal populations as well as a method for monitoring animal activity and estimating consumption and/or application of such ingredients within the population through the utilization of the mechanisms themselves. The inventive device pertains to a manner of delivering either an active oral ingredient or active contact ingredient within a bait pellet or like substrate for ingestion or external contact and/or coating of a target population. The device allows for controlled access of such a bait pellet (or like substrate) for such a target population coupled with the ability to retain freshness thereof for multiple timed access events without the need for human involvement. A properly sized, configured, and automated delivery device is thus provided to meet these needs. Delivery components are also encompassed herein.

In one aspect, a method for feeding animals includes selecting a plurality of strains of sporulated living microbes and form a microbial solution; and applying the microbial solution to a carrier. In another aspect during use, the method includes feeding animals with the microbial infused carrier to deliver microbes to a gastrointestinal tract alive; and germinating the microbes in the digestive tract and stimulating local intestinal immunity with the microbes.

A wrap removal assembly includes an elongated support member extending along a central longitudinal axis and having an exterior surface. A snagging wire is disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the elongated support member and includes an active material changeable between a first shape and a second shape in response to a control signal. The snagging wire presents a catch spaced outward and away from the exterior surface when disposed in the first shape to snag the wrap material and gather the wrap material around the elongated support member. The snagging wire is positioned substantially flat against the exterior surface of the elongated support member when disposed in the second shape to release the wrap material and allow removal of the wrap material from the elongated support member.

A feed mixer and liner therefor. The feed mixer including: a container formed from two side walls, two end walls, wherein the end walls have a slope and curvature and are connected to the side walls to form an auger well, and a base connected with the side walls and end walls at a lower end thereof; and a liner configured to have a truncated conical shape that matches the slope and curvature of the end walls and fits within the auger well such that: a bottom of the liner contacts the base and has a diameter similar to a diameter of the path of the auger at the base; and a top of the liner contacts with the end walls and side walls. The auger well may include two auger wells and the liner may include two truncated conical shapes fitting in each of the two auger wells.

A system for the controlled distribution of food for feeding animals, which includes a plurality of concentric circular sections with feeders for animals, a self-propelled central pivot machine arranged in a center of concentric circular sections, the self-propelled machine having a pivot base and a main head; a first pivoting span connected to the pivot base and at the proximal end of which the main head is arranged, while at the distal end a food discharge head is arranged; a main pipe that moves food to the main head and from the latter to the food discharge head and to the respective feeders arranged in the circular concentric sections.

A pet feeding device includes an accommodating body, a cover, a pivoting assembly and a counterweight. The accommodating body has an accommodating space. The cover is pivotally connected to the accommodating body and to close or open the accommodating space. The pivoting assembly is connected to the accommodating body and the cover and for pivotally connecting the cover on the accommodating body. The counterweight is separately connected to the accommodating body and includes a swinging end and a positioning end. The swinging end has a curved surface and is disposed on one end of the counterweight. The positioning end is disposed on the other end of the counterweight. When the swinging end of the counterweight contacts a ground, the pet feeding device is in a rolling state, and when the positioning end of the counterweight contacts the ground, the pet feeding device is in a positioning state.

An encapsulated food processing machine receives packages of frozen or freeze-dried food encapsulated in edible film. The machine heats water, pumps it to the portion of the machine with the encapsulated food, and mixes the encapsulated food while heating it with the warm water. The result is a ready-to-eat meal. In use, a user determines a number of packages of encapsulated food based on a pet's size and weight, and places the packages into a specially designed bowl. The user selects the number and type of packages on the machine, which prepares the food via the aforementioned process. The bowl with the ready-to-eat meal is then removed from the machine, and the pet eats the meal directly from the bowl.

A packaged food product includes a container and a food product. The container has a rim and at least one wall extending away from the rim. The at least one wall defines a storage area, and the food product is retained within the storage area such that the food product is in contact with the at least one wall. The at least one wall is readily deformable by a hand of a user to reduce a volume of the storage area. Reducing the volume of the storage area causes the food product to exit the storage area. The container includes an integral tool portion for breaking up the food product after removal from the storage area. The food product can be a wet cat or dog food.

A packaged food product includes a container and a food product. The container has a rim and at least one wall extending away from the rim. The at least one wall defines a storage area, and the food product is retained within the storage area such that the food product is in contact with the at least one wall. The at least one wall is readily deformable by a hand of a user to reduce a volume of the storage area. Reducing the volume of the storage area causes the food product to exit the storage area. The container includes an integral tool portion for breaking up the food product after removal from the storage area. The food product can be a wet cat or dog food.

A knife with a serrated cutting edge may include a plate having a leading edge forming a plurality of teeth seats arranged in a stepped configuration, with each of the plurality of teeth seats. The knife may also include a plurality of elongate cutting elements each affixed to one of the teeth seats formed by the leading edge. The cutting elements may form a portion of the serrated cutting edge, and each may have a top surface and a bottom surface. The cutting edge may be on the top surface and the bottom surface may be affixed to one of the teeth seats. The serrated cutting edge has a plurality of primary serrations and a plurality of secondary serrations, with each of the cutting elements forming at least one of the primary serrations and at least one of the secondary serrations.