One variation of a method for selectively serving primary reinforcers to an animal includes: accessing a set of characteristics of an animal and estimating a target caloric intake of the animal based on the set of characteristics; identifying a type of primary reinforcer loaded into a training apparatus configured to dispense units of the primary reinforcer based on behaviors performed by the animal responsive to commands output by the training apparatus; in response to identifying the type of primary reinforcer as a first primary reinforcer, loading a first nutrient profile for the first primary reinforcer; and, in response to the first nutrient profile specifying a first caloric density of units of the first primary reinforcer, loading a first training protocol for a first training session for the animal onto the training apparatus based on the target caloric intake of the animal.

A smart feeder includes a food storage chamber and a rotating push plate mechanism. The food storage chamber conveys food to the rotating push plate mechanism through a conveying device, and the rotating push plate mechanism is configured to rotate and hit the food. The rotating push plate mechanism includes a rotating push plate, a first driving mechanism and a food passage. The food passage is in communication with an outlet of the food storage chamber, and the rotating push plate is rotatably installed inside the food passage. The first driving mechanism is configured to drive the rotating push plate to rotate. The food passage includes an outlet segment and a hitting cavity, and the outlet segment is tangent to the hitting cavity. The hitting cavity is in communication with the outlet of the food storage chamber. The rotating push plate is rotatably installed in the hitting cavity.

A feeder including: a) a base portion having a serving area; b) a chamber portion supported by the base portion and configured to retain a granular material within a chamber interior; c) a dispenser configured to segregate a portion of the granular material from the chamber interior and transfer the portion of the granular material from the chamber portion to the serving area, wherein the dispenser includes: i) a rocker body; and ii) one or more fins projecting from the rocker body; and wherein the feeder includes one or more of: i) the fin(s) are flexible; ii) sensing device(s) part of a sensing tower configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the chamber portion; and/or iii) sensing device(s) configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the serving area.

The present abstract refers to an utility model patent application for a dosing dispenser (1), belonging to the field of equipments for dosing and timing the dispensing of animal feed, comprising: a cabinet (2) with compartment (3) that houses the hopper (6) whose outlet (7) opens to a compartment (4) with a vertical outlet pipe (10) and that houses a batch dosing dispenser (20) comprising: a dosing chamber (21); movable carriage (24) whose top wall (25) and bottom wall (26) slide on walls (8) and (9) and between these is mounted the dosing chamber (21) whose upper inlet (22) and lower outlet (23) remain against the walls (8) and (9) and the wall (25) constitutes the closing drawer (28) of the lower outlet (7); the dosing device (20) also comprises a drive mechanism (30) that moves the carriage (24) between the position in which the inlet (22) aligns with the lower outlet (7) of the hopper (6) and the outlet (23) is closed against the bottom wall (9) and position in which the outlet (23) aligns with the outlet pipe (10) and the drawer (28) closes the outlet (7) of the hopper (6).

A feeding system for feeding animals, in particular cows, includes a feed supply system with feed for the animals. The feed includes one or more feed types. An autonomous feeding device is configured to automatically feed the animals with feed from the feed supply system. A feed supply observation system measures the quantity of feed of each feed type in the feed supply system, while a feed consumption observation system observes the consumption of feed of each feed type from the feed supply system. A control system is connected to the feed supply observation system in order to receive values of the observed quantity of feed of each feed type in the feed supply system. The control system is further connected to the feed consumption observation system in order to receive values of the observed consumption of feed of each feed type from the feed supply system. The received values of the observed consumption of feed are stored as historical data in a memory of the control system. The control system is configured to predict the future consumption of feed of each feed type from the feed supply system on the basis of the historical data. The control system is further configured to determine for each feed type of the feed supply system, on the basis of the values of the observed quantity of feed of the feed type in the feed supply system and the predicted future consumption of feed of the feed type from the feed supply system, an expected period of time until the feed of the feed type in the feed supply system runs low.

An automatic feeding device for animals is described herein. The automatic feeding device includes a hopper and a dispenser. The hopper includes a bulk container for storing feed and a feed outlet. The dispenser includes an enclosure containing a power source, an electric motor, and a controller. The dispenser also includes dispensing means connected to the electric motor and configured to dispense feed received from the feed outlet when the electric motor is energized. The controller can be configured to energize the electric motor according to a schedule based at least in part on a selection of at least one astronomical event and at least one corresponding offset time.

One variation of a method for acclimating a dog to autonomous training with a training apparatus, includes: accessing a video feed of a working field; dispensing a first set of treats into the working field at a first frequency and outputting an audible reinforcer at a first volume level; estimating a first acclimation score representative of acclimation to dispensation of the first set of treats; in response to the first acclimation score exceeding a threshold acclimation, dispensing a second set of treats at a second frequency less than the first frequency and outputting the audible reinforcer at a second volume greater than the first volume; estimating a second acclimation score responsive to the second set of treats; in response to the second acclimation score exceeding the threshold acclimation, the second frequency falling below a threshold frequency, and the second volume exceeding a threshold volume, verifying acclimation of the dog.

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.

One variation of a method for selectively serving primary reinforcers to an animal includes: accessing a set of characteristics of an animal and estimating a target caloric intake of the animal based on the set of characteristics; identifying a type of primary reinforcer loaded into a training apparatus configured to dispense units of the primary reinforcer based on behaviors performed by the animal responsive to commands output by the training apparatus; in response to identifying the type of primary reinforcer as a first primary reinforcer, loading a first nutrient profile for the first primary reinforcer; and, in response to the first nutrient profile specifying a first caloric density of units of the first primary reinforcer, loading a first training protocol for a first training session for the animal onto the training apparatus based on the target caloric intake of the animal.

A feeding apparatus includes a storage chamber, an ejection channel and a discharging adjustment structure. The storage chamber has a discharging hole. The ejection channel communicates with the storage chamber through the discharging hole. The discharging adjustment structure is disposed in the storage chamber and includes a fixing member and a baffle. The fixing member is disposed on a side wall of the storage chamber and is adjacent to the discharging hole. The baffle is movably disposed on the fixing member, and one end of the baffle is adjacent to the discharging hole.