Development of a Mobile Solar-powered Dairy Concentrate Feeder

A mobile, solar-powered, computer-controlled, concentrate feeder was built and tested with dairy cattle in an intensive rotational grazing system. The feeder successfully controlled individual feeding of a grain mix to 16 dairy cattle that were grazing pasture divided into nine paddocks. Folding stall gates were needed to protect each cow while eating. An experimental photovoltaic power supply was tested to evaluate the potential of using solar energy to power a mobile feeder. During the trial, the photovoltaic system provided approximately 38 MJ of energy. Although this did not meet the 120 MJ requirement of the feeder, calculations showed that photovoltaics could power such a feeder if the feeder were appropriately designed for the available power. The amount of feed dispensed to animals was measured to be within 6% of the programmed ration.