Patent ID: 7540261

Claim:
A method for quantifying at least one liquid consumed by at least one animal via an animal watering system, said animal watering system including at least one control unit, at least one flow measurement device, and at least one flow control device, comprising: activating at least one algorithm for performing said quantifying, said algorithm performed via said at least one control unit; activating an air purge timer to begin an air purge mode; opening said at least one flow control device; maintaining said at least one flow control device open until said air purge time expires; closing said at least one flow control device upon expiration of said air purge timer, said closing ending said air purge mode; adjusting a flow quantity parameter to account for liquid dispensed through said animal watering system while said air purge timer is active, said adjusting increasing an accuracy of said quantifying; opening said at least one flow control device to provide said at least one liquid to said at least one animal; monitoring said at least one liquid provided to said at least one animal via said at least one measurement device; and quantifying said at least one liquid provided to said at least one animal.