Research of the operating process of the mobile mixed fodder dispenser with a spiral-crewed dosing unit

Abstract

Highly productive dairy cows require additional distribution of concentrated fodder. Many farms of Russia and the Perm Krai use displacement feed propotioners, one of them is a spiral-crewed dosing unit. This dosing unit has good dosing accuracy and can be installed on the battery-driven dispenser. The device is equipped with the battery capacity of 55 A·h, a transporting spiral has the diameter of 97 mm with the pitch of 73 mm and the rotating frequency of 43 min-1. The dispenser was tested at several commercial dairy farms of the Perm Krai. Since the amount of concentrated fodder is individual for every cow, it must be calculated according to corresponding methodology taking into account the milk yield per day. In-process tests show operating capacity of the designed dispenser with a spiral-screwed dosing unit and its efficiency in mixed fodder distribution. The volume of dispensed fodder is equal to 552…604 g during the test. Taking into account the loss of time to move the dispenser between the animals, its productivity is equal to 3.11 kg/min, inequality in the dose of bulk bran does not exceed 4.18%, and 3.27% in the dose of granulated mixed fodder. Power consumption for fodder distribution is 45 … 47 W/h. In-process tests justify the value of earlier conducted scientific research.