Patent ID: 7814863

Claim:
A liquid feed system for supplying liquid feed to piglets, the system comprising: a feeding area and a supply of natural sow's milk provided at a first temperature at said feeding area, the feeding area and the supply of natural sow's milk being accessible to piglets for consumption of the natural sow's milk while at the first temperature; a reservoir containing a supply of a liquid milk-replacer product; at least one feeding station installed at a position accessible by piglets from the feeding area, each feeding station being connected to and arranged to fluidly communicate with the reservoir to receive the liquid milk-replacer product therefrom; and a refrigeration mechanism arranged to cool the liquid milk-replacer product to arrive at the feeding station from the reservoir at a second temperature that is below the first temperature at which the natural sow's milk is provided, below an ambient temperature at the feeding area and the feeding station, and known to be less desirable for consumption by the piglets; whereby the system is arranged is provide natural sow's milk at a consumption temperature more preferable to piglets than the second temperature at which the milk replacer product is provided.