A feed component apportionment system for feeding livestock is disclosed. The system may include feed sources configured for dispensing feed components during a dispensing operation. At least one feed handling system is operatively configured for receiving feed components from the feed sources and moving the feed components using a feed displacer. The feed handling system is configured to apportion each feed component along at least one of the one or more feed displacers during a feed handling operation. At least one feed component aggregator is operatively configured to receive each of the feed components from the feed sources and provide an aggregated output of the feed sources during a feed component aggregator operation. At least one controller is operatively configured to control the dispensing operation, the feed handling operation, and the feed component aggregator operation.

An autonomous vehicle includes a frame with a motor, a bumper connected to the frame via a connecting device, and a sensor detecting displacement of the bumper upon a collision. The sensor is connected with a propulsion system that interrupts displacing the vehicle upon detecting a displacement. The connecting device includes a ring, a first ball part, a second ball part, a shaft, and a spring. The ring is fixedly connected to the frame, and the first and second ball part rotatably tilt in the ring. The shaft extends through the ring and the first ball part, and through and beyond the second ball part to a second end, at which the shaft is connected to the bumper by a joint. At least one ball part is displaceable along the shaft. The spring extends around the shaft between the second ball part and a spring connector, and pretensionedly presses the first and second ball parts against the ring. Upon a collision with an obstacle, the bumpers shifts, and the shaft tilts with respect to the frame. This tilting pushes the two ball parts away from each other. The spring also tilts, as a whole, preventing plastic deformation. The spring now exerts a larger spring force on the ball parts, and, after taking away the obstacle, will move back and realign. This will also realign the sensor, ensuring a longer effective lifetime of the sensor and thus of the safety of the vehicle.

An autonomous vehicle includes a frame with a motor, a bumper connected to the frame via a connecting device, and a sensor detecting displacement of the bumper upon a collision. The sensor is connected with a propulsion system that interrupts displacing the vehicle upon detecting a displacement. The connecting device includes a ring, a first ball part, a second ball part, a shaft, and a spring. The ring is fixedly connected to the frame, and the first and second ball part rotatably tilt in the ring. The shaft extends through the ring and the first ball part, and through and beyond the second ball part to a second end, at which the shaft is connected to the bumper by a joint. At least one ball part is displaceable along the shaft. The spring extends around the shaft between the second ball part and a spring connector, and pretensionedly presses the first and second ball parts against the ring. Upon a collision with an obstacle, the bumpers shifts, and the shaft tilts with respect to the frame. This tilting pushes the two ball parts away from each other. The spring also tilts, as a whole, preventing plastic deformation. The spring now exerts a larger spring force on the ball parts, and, after taking away the obstacle, will move back and realign. This will also realign the sensor, ensuring a longer effective lifetime of the sensor and thus of the safety of the vehicle.

A method for treating a feline with renal disease, the method comprising orally administering about 5 to about 70 grams of a pet food composition or pet food compositions to the feline at multiple intervals throughout the day.

A method for treating a feline with renal disease, the method comprising orally administering about 5 to about 70 grams of a pet food composition or pet food compositions to the feline at multiple intervals throughout the day.

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.

Generating consensus feeding appetite forecasts include providing a first feeding parameter data set associated with a first feeding parameter to a first feeding appetite forecast model and providing a second feeding parameter data set associated with a second feeding parameter to a second feeding appetite forecast model different from the first forecast model. The first feeding appetite forecast model is adaptively weighted with a first weighting factor relative to a second weighting factor for the second feeding appetite forecast model. An aggregated appetite score based on a combination of the first feeding appetite forecast model using the first weight factor and the second feeding appetite forecast model using the second weight factor. Further, a feeding instruction signal based at least in part on the aggregated appetite score is provided for modifying the operations of a feed control system.

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.

A granular coating conveyor system for coating granular particles carried in compartments along a tubular conveyor member. Coating fluid is fed over the granular particles through radial nozzles located inside a co-axial rotating blender with tubular member upstream discharge port and tubular member downstream return ingress port for the granular particles. The blender is a drum having a helicoidal spiral screw integrally mounted to an interior peripheral wall face of the drum and extending therealong radially outwardly of the tubular member mixing in the drum in tumbling fashion the granular particles with coating fluid and guiding same therealong, so as to dynamically form a kidney shape mass of granular particles.

A feed distribution assembly for transporting and dispensing feed includes a trailer and a silo. The silo is coupled to a bed of the trailer and is configured to position feed. The trailer is configured to couple to a vehicle to transport the feed to a desired location. An auger is coupled to a bottom of the silo. The auger is configured to selectively convey the feed from the silo to dispense the feed at the desired location.