The present invention belongs to the field of machines and agricultural implements, more concretely agricultural implements for the mixture and/or distribution of a solid product having variable granulometry, such as, for example, silage, crumbs, clusters, in powder, among others, such as feedstuff and mineral supplements. Moreover, the present invention brings as main advantage, relative to the implements known to the state of the art, the fact that it has a torque limiting means over the movable parts, such as helical pitch threads, augers and/or beater arms, so that there is no overload in the hydraulic system of the implement that is operatively associated to the tractor unit. Further, the invention in question counts on a protection means, with paralyzation and partial reversal and/or rotation reducer, in an independent and/or synchronized form, of the movable parts, in case the hydraulic circuit of the implement detects a pressure that is over the preestablished value, avoiding damages and unscheduled stops of the implement.

The invention consists of novel systems and methods for mixing and/or applying biologies including live biologies and/or any additive having therapeutic or growth promoting value with and/or to animal feed, thereby creating treated animal feed, and for delivering such treated animal feed to animals in need via a delivery system. The invention also provides a system and method to treat seed with biologies prior to or contemporaneously with packaging, storing, and/or planting.

A method of preparing a feed ration for an animal includes storing a cut crop material in an accumulation having an oxygen barrier. The cut crop material is fermented within the accumulation to form a silage material. A nutritive value of the silage material is determined with a nutrition sensor. A desired amount of maceration of the silage material is determined based on the determined nutritive value of the silage material. The silage material is then macerated with a mechanical macerator to achieve the desired amount of maceration. The macerated silage material is then combined with other feed materials to define the feed ration, and may then be fed to the animal.

A control system for mixing materials for livestock feed including a container that receives the materials, agitators that mix the materials in the container, a driveline that drives the agitators at an output speed with an output torque, a power source that provides an input speed at an input torque, a continuously variable transmission that connects the driveline and the power source and having a hydrostatic loop to provide a speed ratio between the input speed and the output speed, a plurality of sensors positioned between the power source and the agitators that provides mixing signals commensurate to mixing parameters, and an electronic control unit configured to receive the mixing signals, extract mixing parameter values from the mixing signals, and actuate the continuously variable transmission and adjust the speed ratio based on the mixing parameter values to enhance efficiency of the mixing of the materials.

A method of preparing a feed ration for an animal includes storing a cut crop material in an accumulation having an oxygen barrier. The cut crop material is fermented within the accumulation to form a silage material. A nutritive value of the silage material is determined with a nutrition sensor. A desired amount of maceration of the silage material is determined based on the determined nutritive value of the silage material. The silage material is then macerated with a mechanical macerator to achieve the desired amount of maceration. The macerated silage material is then combined with other feed materials to define the feed ration, and may then be fed to the animal.

A mixing paddle that is configured to rotate about a horizontal rotation axis and includes at least one eccentric arm which includes a first portion inclined with respect to a plane containing the rotation axis, so as to cause the ingredients contained in the mixing chamber to move in a first axial direction when the mixing paddle rotates in a first direction of rotation, a second portion having a cross section oriented radially with respect to the rotation axis in order, when the mixing paddle rotates in a second direction of rotation, to bring about a radial movement of the ingredients towards the outside of the mixing chamber.

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 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 mixing paddle that is configured to rotate about a horizontal rotation axis and includes at least one eccentric arm which includes a first portion inclined with respect to a plane containing the rotation axis, so as to cause the ingredients contained in the mixing chamber to move in a first axial direction when the mixing paddle rotates in a first direction of rotation, a second portion having a cross section oriented radially with respect to the rotation axis in order, when the mixing paddle rotates in a second direction of rotation, to bring about a radial movement of the ingredients towards the outside of the mixing chamber.

An animal feeding apparatus includes a drum having a longitudinal axis, the drum having a center of gravity below the longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising a perforated section arrayed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum so that feed contained in the drum can pass through the perforations of the perforated section when the drum is pushed by an animal to cause the drum to rock back and forth along the longitudinal axis of the drum.