Patent ID: 7107931

Claim:
In an apparatus for providing domestic animals with a desired predetermined feed mixture supplied from a plurality of supply containers to a mixing chamber which is connected to a removal location for a domestic animal, a method for monitoring the feed mixture to maintain a desired predetermined feed mixture over time comprising the steps of: providing a predetermined feed mixture to a mixing chamber from a plurality of supply containers, each housing an ingredient of the feed mixture, by feeding a desired amount of an ingredient from at least two of the plurality of supply containers to the mixing chamber to obtain the desired predetermined feed mixture, wherein each ingredient is fed for a selected time period to obtain the desired amount; measuring at predetermined intervals an amount of currently discharged ingredient from each of the plurality of supply containers over the selected time period; comparing the amount of currently discharged ingredient to the desired amount of ingredient; and adjusting the selected time period for feeding each ingredient to insure the desired amount of ingredients in the desired predetermined feed mixture.