An animal interaction device with a base, a housing, and a feeding mechanism having a rotatable platform mounted on the top surface of the base to rotate about an axis of rotation. There is a low profile drive cavity between the platform and the base and a food tray disposed on a top surface of the platform. A drive mechanism is located within the drive cavity and includes a drive mechanism with a curved rack gear engaged with the rotatable platform. There is a horizontally disposed worm drive mounted in communication with the curved rack gear to enable rotation of the rotatable platform about the axis of rotation. As the platform is rotated, the food tray moves from a first position where the tray is concealed under the housing to a second position outside of the housing, thereby allowing access to the food tray by an animal.

An apparatus for raising livestock includes one or more confinement pens together with alleyways for transfer of the animals from one location to another. The apparatus includes one or more cameras for obtaining images of all animals in the containment area. A processor is provided for analyzing the images, the processor being arranged to allocate an arbitrary identification to each animal and to track all animals continually to maintain the allocation. From this tracking various data related to individual animals or the animals as a group can be obtained to assess their characteristics and to provide an indication to the worker of the animal to be extracted. The processor can be arranged to detect by image analysis of the image a quantity of feed and/or water in a feeder and to obtain images of the farrowing pen including the sow confinement area and at least one piglet confinement area.

An apparatus for raising livestock includes one or more confinement pens together with alleyways for transfer of the animals from one location to another. The apparatus includes one or more cameras for obtaining images of all animals in the containment area. A processor is provided for analyzing the images, the processor being arranged to allocate an arbitrary identification to each animal and to track all animals continually to maintain the allocation. From this tracking various data related to individual animals or the animals as a group can be obtained to assess their characteristics and to provide an indication to the worker of the animal to be extracted. The processor can be arranged to detect by image analysis of the image a quantity of feed and/or water in a feeder and to obtain images of the farrowing pen including the sow confinement area and at least one piglet confinement area.

A base of an animal training includes a dispenser that comprises a storage compartment configured to store rewards and to dispense rewards, a base signaling module configured to generate a reward signal, and a base wireless module configured to receive a dispense signal. A first target is detached from the base at a first target location at a first fixed distance from the base. The first target comprises a first target signaling module, a first sensor, and a first target wireless module. A second target is disposed at a second location, wherein the second location is a fixed distance from the base and comprises a second target signaling module, a second sensor, and a second target wireless module. The base further comprises a system configuration module, the system configuration module configured to access and modify configuration information of the dispenser, the first target, and the second target.

A base of an animal training includes a dispenser that comprises a storage compartment configured to store rewards and to dispense rewards, a base signaling module configured to generate a reward signal, and a base wireless module configured to receive a dispense signal. A first target is detached from the base at a first target location at a first fixed distance from the base. The first target comprises a first target signaling module, a first sensor, and a first target wireless module. A second target is disposed at a second location, wherein the second location is a fixed distance from the base and comprises a second target signaling module, a second sensor, and a second target wireless module. The base further comprises a system configuration module, the system configuration module configured to access and modify configuration information of the dispenser, the first target, and the second target.

Disclosed is an animal feeding activity detector integrated into or affixed to a feeding bowl, and which has activity sensing means, decision means, and indication means. The sensing means measures a physical quantity indicative of animal feeding activity. The decision means, comprising a microcontroller with programmed instructions, ascertains if measurements qualify as animal feeding activity. The indication means gives a spatially and temporally immediate indication of whether activity has been detected.

Disclosed is an animal feeding activity detector integrated into or affixed to a feeding bowl, and which has activity sensing means, decision means, and indication means. The sensing means measures a physical quantity indicative of animal feeding activity. The decision means, comprising a microcontroller with programmed instructions, ascertains if measurements qualify as animal feeding activity. The indication means gives a spatially and temporally immediate indication of whether activity has been detected.

An apparatus for farming animals, with a trough, a distributing system, an identifying system, a database and a control unit that allows, once an animal has been identified, the time passed ‘t’ since the time T.sub.0 corresponding to the last feed of said animal to be measured, a new value of the credit feed weight MC to be computed with the formula $\mathrm{MC}\left(t\right)=\frac{MP}{\Delta T}*\left(t-T_0\right)+M{C}_0$
and a succession of feed portions to be distributed to the trough until the animal is sated or until a zero or negative credit feed weight MC is obtained.

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.

Systems and methods for automated pet food dispensing are described. One apparatus includes a receptacle configured to hold a sealed container containing wet pet food. The apparatus may include an electrically-operated plunger configured to interface with the receptacle. A processing system may be connected to the electrically-operated plunger. In one aspect, the processing system is configured to initiate a pet feeding event by actuating the plunger to interface with the receptacle, puncture the sealed container, and dispense the wet pet food into the food bowl. The processing system may maintain a time history to determine one or more future pet feeding events.