A smart feeding system and method for early-weaned piglets

Abstract

This invention belongs to the technical field of livestock breeding equipment and discloses an intelligent feeding system and method for early-weaned piglets. The system includes: a feed silo unit for storing and automatically conveying milk replacer powder; a milk mixing station unit connected to the feed silo unit for receiving the powder and automatically mixing it with water at a controllable temperature to form liquid milk; a conveying pipeline unit connected to the outlet of the milk mixing station unit for conveying milk, the conveying pipeline unit including a circulation pipeline and a milk return control valve; and at least one end-feeding unit that supplies milk to the piglets through the conveying pipeline unit. The milk mixing station unit can circulate the milk at regular intervals through the circulation pipeline and the milk return control valve. This invention provides an intelligent feeding system and method for early-weaned piglets, which achieves automated feeding, greatly reducing manual labor; at the same time, it ensures controllable milk-to-water ratio and temperature during feeding, thereby improving the survival rate, health, and growth rate of piglets.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of livestock breeding equipment technology, and in particular relates to an intelligent feeding system and method for early-weaned piglets. Background Technology

[0002] With advancements in modern pig farming breeding and feeding management techniques, the average number of piglets per litter has been continuously increasing. However, the limited number of effective teats and milk production capacity of sows means that some weaker piglets in the pen struggle to secure teats and obtain sufficient nutrition, leading to problems such as exhaustion and being crushed, thus affecting the overall survival rate. Therefore, early weaning and artificial feeding of some piglets has become an effective means to improve their survival rate and uniformity.

[0003] Currently, most piglet feeding equipment on the market is designed for piglets after the conventional weaning age (such as 21-28 days old). The feeding mode is often to manually prepare milk powder at regular intervals and then add the prepared milk liquid into the feed trough one by one. This is not only labor-intensive and inefficient, but also makes it difficult to ensure the consistency of milk temperature and ratio, which can easily lead to diarrhea, uneven growth, and even increased mortality in piglets.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a specialized feeding device that can automatically and intelligently meet the nutritional and physiological needs of early-weaned piglets, in order to reduce labor costs and significantly improve the survival rate, health and growth rate of piglets. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides an intelligent feeding system and method for early-weaned piglets, which realizes automated feeding, greatly reducing the amount of manual labor; at the same time, it can ensure that the milk-water ratio and temperature are controllable during the feeding process, thereby improving the survival rate, health and growth rate of piglets.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, one aspect of the present invention discloses an intelligent feeding system for early-weaned piglets, comprising: The silo unit is used to store and automatically convey milk substitute powder. The milk preparation station unit is connected to the feed silo unit and is used to receive powder and automatically mix it with water of controllable temperature in proportion to form liquid milk. A delivery pipeline unit is connected to the outlet of the milk preparation station unit and is used to deliver milk. The delivery pipeline unit includes a milk supply pipeline, a circulation pipeline, and a return milk control valve. At least one end-feeding unit supplies milk through the delivery pipeline unit for feeding piglets; The milk preparation station unit can circulate milk at regular intervals through the circulation pipeline and the return milk control valve.

[0007] The working principle of this application is as follows: When piglets need to be fed, the feed silo unit delivers a quantitative amount of milk replacer powder to the milk mixing station unit. The milk mixing station unit receives the powder and automatically mixes it into liquid milk according to the preset milk-to-water ratio and temperature. Then, the liquid milk is delivered to the end feeding unit through the conveying pipeline unit. Finally, the piglets are fed through the end feeding unit, thereby realizing fully automated feeding of piglets with controllable milk-to-water ratio and temperature during the feeding process, thereby improving the survival rate, health and growth rate of piglets.

[0008] It should be noted that because some milk in the pipeline (milk in the dead corners of the pipeline) cannot be drunk by piglets, this stagnant milk will settle and spoil (studies have shown that milk will settle and spoil if it does not flow for 4 hours). Therefore, before feeding piglets, open the milk return control valve to allow the stirred milk to circulate in the circulation pipeline at regular intervals, circulating this stagnant milk to prevent the dead milk (non-flowing milk) from turning sour or clogging the pipeline, thus preventing piglets from drinking spoiled milk and affecting their health.

[0009] Therefore, before each feeding, the milk needs to be circulated to mix and heat the dead milk from the previous feeding with the newly prepared milk, thereby preventing pipe blockage and milk spoilage caused by milk sedimentation. In addition, when piglets are not fed for a long time, clean water can be introduced to achieve self-cleaning of the pipes in the system and ensure that the pipes are clean.

[0010] Furthermore, the hopper unit includes: The silo body is used to load powder materials; The conveying auger is inclined and installed inside the lower part of the bin, with its discharge end extending to the discharge port outside the bin. At least one arch-breaking ball is movably housed within the chamber and located above the feed inlet of the conveying auger; During the feeding process of the conveying auger, the arch-breaking ball is driven to vibrate and break up the arches of the powder in the bin.

[0011] Furthermore, the side wall of the hopper is a vertical surface, and the feed inlet is located near the bottom of the side wall of the hopper, away from the discharge outlet.

[0012] Furthermore, the angle (α) between the axis of the conveying auger and the horizontal plane is greater than or equal to 40°.

[0013] Furthermore, the number of the arch-breaking small balls is one or more, and they are made of smooth metal or wear-resistant polymer materials.

[0014] Furthermore, it also includes a control unit, which is communicatively connected to the feed silo unit, milk mixing station unit, conveying pipeline network unit and end feeding unit, respectively, and is used to control the automatic operation and data management of the entire system according to the preset feeding strategy.

[0015] Furthermore, the milk preparation station unit includes a mixing tank, a temperature sensor and a level sensor installed in the mixing tank, a clean water pipeline and a hot water pipeline supplying water to the mixing tank, an inlet valve and an inlet flow meter installed on the pipeline, a stirrer installed in the mixing tank, a milk pump for pumping milk, and a milk flow meter for monitoring the milk flow rate; the control unit controls the opening degree of the clean water and hot water inlet valves according to the feedback from the temperature sensor.

[0016] Furthermore, the end-feeding unit includes a feed trough, a water level controller for monitoring the liquid level in the feed trough, and an end control device connected to a branch of the delivery pipeline unit. The end control device is controlled by the control unit and is used to open or close the milk supply passage to the feed trough in response to the request of the corresponding water level controller, and to record the feeding data of the unit.

[0017] Another aspect of the present invention discloses an intelligent feeding method for early-weaned piglets, comprising the following steps: S1 Data Input Steps: Input the group information of piglets in each end feeding unit into the control unit; S2 Automatic Milk Preparation Steps: The control unit triggers or starts the milk preparation station unit according to the plan to prepare water at a constant temperature, add powder in a quantitative amount and stir and mix to form liquid milk; S3 Pipeline Circulation Steps: After mixing is completed, the milk is circulated in the circulation pipeline formed by the milk preparation station unit and the delivery pipeline network unit by opening the milk return control valve. S4 On-Demand Supply Step: After the cycle is completed, in response to the low liquid level signal sent by the water level controller of the end feeding unit, the control unit commands to open the corresponding milk supply passage and replenish milk to the feed trough until the set liquid level is reached. S5 Data Recording and Adjustment Steps: The control unit records the time, unit, and consumption data of each milk supply, and dynamically adjusts the subsequent milk preparation amount, concentration, or feeding interval based on historical data and growth models.

[0018] Furthermore, the data recording and adjustment steps include: uploading the feeding data to a cloud platform or remote terminal via a remote communication module, supporting managers to remotely view and adjust strategies.

[0019] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1) Fully automated and precise: The entire process from powder feed addition, constant temperature water mixing, mixing and stirring to on-demand delivery is fully automated, ensuring the consistency of milk-water ratio and temperature, and meeting the fine nutritional needs of early-weaned piglets. 2) Dynamic adaptation and efficient utilization: The system can dynamically adjust the milk supply program according to the age and feeding behavior of piglets, realizing biomimetic feeding of "small meals frequently", which can not only ensure that each piglet gets sufficient nutrition, but also effectively prevent feed waste and overfeeding. 3) Significantly improves hygiene and health: The closed delivery system, the timed milk circulation function of the pipeline (anti-sedimentation, constant temperature), and the integrated self-cleaning function greatly reduce the risk of bacterial growth and "dead milk", reduce digestive tract diseases in piglets, and improve survival rate. 4) Intelligent management and data-driven approach: Real-time monitoring, recording and analysis of feed intake data provides scientific decision-making basis for farm managers, facilitates optimization of feeding strategies and tracking of pig health, and improves the overall management level and production efficiency of farms.

[0020] 5) Reduce labor intensity: Freeing feeders from heavy physical labor (such as carrying, brewing, and cleaning), one person can manage more piglets, greatly improving labor productivity. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the intelligent feeding system for early-weaned piglets according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the silo unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a side sectional view of the silo unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the milk preparation station unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the material trough according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a comparison of a set of experimental data from an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] The attached figures are labeled as follows: 1. Feed hopper unit; 11. Bin cover; 12. Bin body; 13. Conveying auger; 14. Arch breaking ball; 15. Feed inlet; 16. Discharge outlet; 2. Milk preparation station unit; 21. Mixing tank; 22. Clean water pipeline; 23. Hot water pipeline; 24. Inlet water flow meter; 25. Clean water electric valve; 26. Hot water electric valve; 27. Milk pump; 28. Milk outlet flow meter; 29. ​​Milk supply pipeline; 3. Conveying pipeline network unit; 31. Circulation pipeline; 32. Milk return control valve; 4. End-feeding unit; 41. Feed trough; 42. Water level controller; 43. End-of-line control device; 44. Milk supply passage. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] like Figure 1-5 As shown, one aspect of the present invention discloses an intelligent feeding system for early-weaned piglets, comprising: Storage unit 1 is used to store and automatically convey milk substitute powder; Milk preparation station unit 2 is connected to feed hopper unit 1 and is used to receive powder and automatically mix it with water of controllable temperature in proportion to form liquid milk; The conveying pipeline unit 3 is connected to the outlet of the milk preparation station unit 2 and is used to convey milk. The conveying pipeline unit 3 includes a circulation pipeline 31 and a milk return control valve 32. At least one end-feeding unit 4 supplies milk through a delivery pipeline unit 3 for feeding piglets; Among them, the milk preparation station unit 2 can circulate milk at regular intervals through the circulation pipeline 31 and the return milk control valve 32.

[0026] The working principle of this application is as follows: When piglets need to be fed, the feed silo unit 1 delivers a fixed amount of milk replacer powder to the milk mixing station unit 2. The milk mixing station unit 2 receives the powder and automatically mixes it into liquid milk according to the preset milk-to-water ratio and temperature. Then, the liquid milk is delivered to the end feeding unit 4 through the conveying pipeline unit 3. Finally, the piglets are fed through the end feeding unit, thereby realizing fully automated feeding of piglets with controllable milk-to-water ratio and temperature during the feeding process, thereby improving the survival rate, health and growth rate of piglets.

[0027] It should be noted that because some milk in the pipeline (milk in the dead corners of the pipeline) cannot be drunk by piglets, this part of the milk does not flow and will settle and spoil (studies have shown that milk will settle and spoil if it does not flow for 4 hours). Therefore, before feeding piglets, open the milk return control valve 32 to allow the stirred milk to circulate in the circulation pipeline 31 at regular intervals, so as to circulate out this part of the stagnant milk, avoid the dead milk (non-flowing milk) from turning sour or clogging the pipeline, and thus avoid the piglets drinking spoiled milk and affecting their health.

[0028] Therefore, before each feeding, the milk needs to be circulated to mix and heat the previously stored dead milk with the newly prepared milk. This prevents pipe blockage and milk spoilage caused by milk sedimentation. In addition, when piglets are not fed for a long time, clean water can be introduced to achieve self-cleaning of the system's pipes, maintaining the efficiency of cleanliness of equipment and environment, effectively reducing bacterial growth, lowering the risk of disease in piglets, reducing the burden of manual cleaning, and improving the hygiene standards and operational efficiency of breeding management.

[0029] Following the above embodiments, more specifically, as Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the main body of the silo unit 1 is a silo body 12 with a cylindrical or square top and vertical side walls. The top of the silo body 12 is provided with an openable and closable silo cover 11 for easy addition of powder and sealing. The silo body 12 is stably supported on the ground or base by multiple legs at its bottom.

[0030] Inside the lower part of the hopper 12, a conveying auger 13 is installed at an angle, with the feed inlet 15 of the conveying auger 13 ( Figure 3 The lower left part is located at the bottom of the silo body 12 near the side wall of the silo body 12. The reason for this design is that when the powder is fed into the inlet 15, the powder near the side wall is fed vertically, while the powder away from the side wall is fed at an angle. Therefore, the downward force of the powder near the side wall is greater than that of the powder away from the side wall. As a result, the powder near the side wall will fall first relative to the powder away from the side wall, and the powder away from the side wall will fall later. This effectively solves the problem of arching and bridging that is easily formed when the powder is fed into the inlet 15 at the same time, thereby preventing the formation of powder arching.

[0031] Conveying auger 13 discharge end ( Figure 3 The upper right part extends outward through the side wall of the hopper 12 and is connected to the discharge port 16 at the end.

[0032] Following the above embodiment, a more preferred design parameter is the tilt angle α of the conveying auger 13, i.e., the angle between its axis and the horizontal plane. In this embodiment, the angle α is set to ≥40°. This design is based on considerations of the flow characteristics of powder. For example, for milk powder, its angle of repose is usually around 40°. If the auger tilt angle is too small (much smaller than the angle of repose), the powder is prone to accumulate above the auger and cannot naturally slide into the gap between the auger blades, resulting in a decrease in conveying efficiency or even blockage. An tilt angle of ≥40° can ensure that most of the powder flows smoothly to the auger inlet under the action of gravity. At the same time, the preferred range of the tilt angle α is 40° to 60°, because if it exceeds 60°, the volume of the hopper 12 will be too small.

[0033] Inside the hopper 12, one or more anti-arching balls 14 are placed in the space above the blades of the conveying auger 13. The diameter of the anti-arching balls 14 should be moderate so that they can be effectively driven by the rotating auger blades without being easily transported away or stuck by the auger. At the same time, the anti-arching balls 14 can be made of smooth metal (such as stainless steel) or wear-resistant polymer engineering plastic to ensure that they are not easy to adhere to powder, easy to clean and highly durable.

[0034] The working process of silo unit 1 is as follows: Open the silo cover 11, add the powder (such as milk powder) to be conveyed into the silo body 12, close the silo cover 11, start the conveying auger 13, the auger blades scrape up the powder at the bottom and lift it up along the spiral channel, and finally the powder is continuously discharged from the discharge port 16, completing the lifting and conveying operation. While the conveying auger 3 is feeding material, its blades periodically collide with or push the arch-breaking ball 14 above. This causes the arch-breaking ball 14 to roll and bounce continuously in the bin, generating slight, random vibrations. This vibration energy is transmitted through the bin structure and the powder itself, effectively interfering with and destroying the adhesion and arch structure caused by electrostatic forces, van der Waals forces, etc. formed between powder particles, thereby preventing the occurrence of arching and ensuring that the powder can be continuously replenished to the feeding end of the conveying auger 13. Since the side walls of the silo body 12 are vertical, the positive pressure of the powder on the silo wall is small, and the friction is also reduced accordingly, which further assists the downward flow of the powder. The vertical wall also simplifies the processing and manufacturing of the silo body.

[0035] In summary, the silo unit 1, through ingenious integration of mechanical structure and design of key parameters, and the special use of smooth-surfaced anti-arching balls 14, achieves reliable anti-arching and continuous conveying functions with the simplest mechanism, while also taking into account the hygiene and ease of maintenance of the equipment, and has good economic benefits and application prospects.

[0036] Following the above embodiments, more preferably, in order to realize intelligent automated control of the feeding process of the feeding system, a control unit is also included. The control unit is communicatively connected to the feed bin unit 1, the milk mixing station unit 2, the conveying pipeline network unit 3 and the end feeding unit 4, respectively, and is used to control the automatic operation and data management of the entire system according to the preset feeding strategy.

[0037] Following the above embodiments, more specifically, as Figure 4 As shown, the milk preparation station unit 2 includes a mixing tank 21, a temperature sensor and a level sensor installed in the mixing tank 21, a clean water pipeline 22 and a hot water pipeline 23 supplying water to the mixing tank 21, an inlet valve and an inlet flow meter 24 installed on the pipelines, a stirrer installed inside the mixing tank 21, a milk pump 27 for pumping milk, and a milk flow meter 28 for monitoring the milk flow rate; the control unit controls the opening degree of the clean water and hot water inlet valves according to the feedback from the temperature sensor. The inlet valves include a clean water electric valve 25 installed on the clean water pipeline 22 and a hot water electric valve 26 installed on the hot water pipeline 23.

[0038] The working process is as follows: When the mixing tank 21 needs water, the control unit opens the hot water electric valve 26 according to the set water temperature (e.g., 55℃), and at the same time, the clean water electric valve 25 can be finely adjusted for temperature correction; the temperature sensor provides real-time feedback to ensure accurate water temperature; after the water flow meter 24 measures the water volume to the preset value (e.g., 20L), all water inlet valves are closed; then, the chamber 12 delivers a fixed amount of milk substitute powder to the mixing tank 21 according to the instruction, and at the same time, the agitator in the tank is started to mix. After the mixture is evenly mixed, the return milk control valve 32 is opened first, and the milk pump 27 is started, so that the milk circulates in the closed loop formed by the milk supply pipeline 29, the circulation pipeline 31 and the mixing tank 21 for several minutes to preheat the pipeline, mix the milk and prevent sedimentation; after the circulation is completed, the return milk control valve 32 is closed, and the milk can be pumped into the end feeding unit 4 through the milk supply pipeline 29. The milk flow meter 28 is used to measure the total output.

[0039] Following the above embodiments, more specifically, as Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, the end-feeding unit 4 includes a feed trough 41, a water level controller 42 for monitoring the liquid level in the feed trough, and an end control device 43 connected to a branch of the delivery pipeline unit 3. The end control device 43 is controlled by the control unit and is used to open or close the milk supply passage 44 to the feed trough in response to the request of the corresponding water level controller 42, and to record the feeding data of the unit.

[0040] The end control device 5 is installed on the branch of the delivery pipeline unit 3 leading to each end feeding unit 4. It is usually an electrically controlled valve. It receives signals from the corresponding water level controller 42 and the main command from the control unit to control whether milk flows into the feed trough 41. It can also estimate the feed intake of the unit by measuring the valve opening time or by integrating a small flow meter.

[0041] The working principle is as follows: When the liquid level in the feed trough 41 drops to the low trigger point of the water level controller 42 due to piglet feeding, the water level controller 42 will send a signal to the control unit, which will then control the end control device 4 to open and start feeding the feed trough 41. When the liquid level in the feed trough 41 rises to the high trigger point, the water level controller 42 will send a signal to the control unit, which will then control the end control device 4 to close and stop feeding the feed trough 41. At the same time, the feed intake of the unit is estimated by measuring the opening time of the valve or by the integrated small flow meter.

[0042] The control unit is the brain of the system, and it can be a PLC, an industrial computer, or a dedicated controller. It connects to and controls the conveying auger 13 of the feed silo unit 1, all valves and various sensors of the milk mixing station unit 2, and all end control devices 5. At the same time, it connects to the farm's data platform to obtain pig herd information and uploads and stores operational data (such as feeding time, feed intake, milk mixing frequency, fault alarms, etc. of each unit) to the cloud platform or remote terminal, thereby supporting managers to remotely view and adjust strategies. Managers can set parameters, view status, and adjust feeding plans through on-site touch screens or remote computers / mobile apps.

[0043] Another aspect of the present invention discloses an intelligent feeding method for early-weaned piglets, comprising the following steps: S1 Data Input Steps: Input the group information of piglets in each terminal feeding unit 4 into the control unit; S2 Automatic Milk Preparation Steps: The control unit triggers or starts the milk preparation station unit 2 according to the plan to prepare water at a constant temperature, add powder in a quantitative amount and stir and mix to form liquid milk; S3 Pipeline Circulation Steps: After mixing is completed, the milk is circulated in the circulation pipeline 31 formed by the milk preparation station unit 2 and the delivery pipeline network unit 3 by opening the milk return control valve 32. S4 On-demand supply step: After the cycle is completed, in response to the low liquid level signal issued by the water level controller 42 of the end feeding unit 4, the control unit commands to open the corresponding milk supply passage 44 and replenish milk to the feed trough 41 until the set liquid level is reached. S5 Data Recording and Adjustment Steps: The control unit records the time, unit, and consumption data of each milk supply, and dynamically adjusts the subsequent milk preparation amount, concentration, or feeding interval based on historical data and growth models.

[0044] Following the above embodiments, more specifically, the data recording and adjustment steps include: uploading the feeding data to a cloud platform or remote terminal via a remote communication module, supporting managers to remotely view and adjust strategies.

[0045] A specific example is as follows: Suppose there are 4 units (A, B, C, D) of early-weaned piglets that need to use this system, with approximately 200 piglets per unit, each 12 days old.

[0046] 1) Administrators enter information for each unit on the cloud platform or remote terminal; 2) Set the initial milk preparation volume to 80L (for 4 units), water temperature to 55℃, and start the system; milk preparation station unit 2 automatically dispenses water, adds powder, and stirs; after completion, it first circulates through the pipeline; 3) When the cycle ends, the A unit feed tank 41 sends a low liquid level trigger request, the end control device 43 opens, milk is injected into the A unit feed tank 41, and stops when the liquid is full; 4) Subsequently, units B, C, and D successively triggered requests, and the system supplied them in sequence; 5) The control unit records the number of times each unit is replenished and the approximate amount consumed during this feeding. After a period of data accumulation, the system analysis found that piglets eat more frequently in the evening, so it automatically adjusts the strategy to increase the frequency of milk preparation or the amount of milk prepared at one time before evening. 6) Once all milk has been delivered, the low liquid level signal in mixing tank 21 is triggered, automatically starting preparation for the next round of milk preparation; Through the above methods, efficient and precise automated intelligent feeding of early-weaned piglets has been achieved.

[0047] like Figure 6 As shown, a set of experimental data comparing piglets fed with and without this invention is presented below:

[0048] It should be noted that 21d means 21 days; The proportion of CD category pigs (<4kg) is an ultimate outcome indicator for measuring the effectiveness of the feeding system. "CD category pigs" usually refer to weak piglets, sick piglets, or individuals with severely delayed growth that are at the bottom of the weight or physical condition in the same pig herd. Using a weight of less than 4kg as the classification standard is a common threshold for suckling or recently weaned piglets.

[0049] This percentage directly reflects: 1) Pig herd evenness: The higher the proportion, the worse the evenness, and the greater the management difficulty; 2) Potential mortality rate: Pigs with blood type CD are the primary high-risk group for being crushed, starved, or dying from disease; 3) Production efficiency: These types of pigs grow slowly, which prolongs the time to market and reduces the overall feed conversion ratio, directly affecting the breeding income.

[0050] In conclusion: 1. For batches using equipment throughout the entire process: the number of first-parity and multiparous pigs weaned increased by 0.2 heads, and the litter weight at 21 days increased by 8.12 kg; 2. The proportion of Class C and D pigs (<4kg) decreased by 7.85%; Therefore, the use of this invention not only reduces the need for manual operation and lowers labor costs, but also improves the survival rate, health, and growth rate of piglets, thereby reducing the overall operating costs of the farm and improving economic efficiency.

[0051] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An intelligent feeding system for early-weaned piglets, characterized in that, include: The silo unit is used to store and automatically convey milk substitute powder. The milk preparation station unit is connected to the feed silo unit and is used to receive powder and automatically mix it with water of controllable temperature in proportion to form liquid milk. A delivery pipeline unit is connected to the outlet of the milk preparation station unit and is used to deliver milk. The delivery pipeline unit includes a milk supply pipeline, a circulation pipeline, and a return milk control valve. At least one end-feeding unit supplies milk through the delivery pipeline unit for feeding piglets; The milk preparation station unit can circulate milk at regular intervals through the circulation pipeline and the return milk control valve.

2. The intelligent feeding system for early-weaned piglets according to claim 1, characterized in that, The silo unit includes: The silo body is used to load powder materials; The conveying auger is inclined and installed inside the lower part of the bin, with its discharge end extending to the discharge port outside the bin. At least one arch-breaking ball is movably housed within the chamber and located above the feed inlet of the conveying auger; During the feeding process of the conveying auger, the arch-breaking ball is driven to vibrate and break up the arches of the powder in the bin.

3. The intelligent feeding system for early-weaned piglets according to claim 2, characterized in that, The side wall of the silo is a vertical surface, and the feed inlet is located near the bottom of the side wall of the silo away from the discharge outlet.

4. The intelligent feeding system for early-weaned piglets according to claim 3, characterized in that, The angle (α) between the axis of the conveying auger and the horizontal plane is greater than or equal to 40°.

5. The intelligent feeding system for early-weaned piglets according to claim 2, characterized in that, The number of the arch-breaking small balls is one or more, and they are made of smooth metal or wear-resistant polymer materials.

6. A smart feeding system for early-weaned piglets according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, It also includes a control unit, which is communicatively connected to the feed silo unit, milk mixing station unit, conveying pipeline network unit and end feeding unit, respectively, and is used to control the automatic operation and data management of the entire system according to the preset feeding strategy.

7. The intelligent feeding system for early-weaned piglets according to claim 6, characterized in that, The milk preparation station unit includes a mixing tank, a temperature sensor and a liquid level sensor installed in the mixing tank, a clean water pipeline and a hot water pipeline supplying water to the mixing tank, an inlet valve and an inlet flow meter installed on the pipeline, a stirrer installed in the mixing tank, a milk pump for pumping milk, and a milk flow meter for monitoring the milk flow rate; the control unit controls the opening degree of the clean water and hot water inlet valves according to the feedback of the temperature sensor.

8. The intelligent feeding system for early-weaned piglets according to claim 7, characterized in that, The end-feeding unit includes a feed trough, a water level controller for monitoring the liquid level in the feed trough, and an end control device connected to a branch of the delivery pipeline unit. The end control device is controlled by the control unit and is used to open or close the milk supply passage to the feed trough in response to the request of the corresponding water level controller, and to record the feeding data of the unit.

9. A method for intelligent feeding of early-weaned piglets, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1 Data Input Steps: Input the group information of piglets in each terminal feeding unit into the control unit; S2 Automatic Milk Preparation Steps: The control unit triggers or starts the milk preparation station unit according to the plan to prepare water at a constant temperature, add powder in a quantitative amount and stir and mix to form liquid milk; S3 Pipeline Circulation Steps: After mixing is completed, the milk is circulated in the circulation pipeline formed by the milk preparation station unit and the delivery pipeline network unit by opening the milk return control valve. S4 On-Demand Supply Step: After the cycle is completed, in response to the low liquid level signal sent by the water level controller of the end feeding unit, the control unit commands to open the corresponding milk supply passage and replenish milk to the feed trough until the set liquid level is reached. S5 Data Recording and Adjustment Steps: The control unit records the time, unit, and consumption data of each milk supply, and dynamically adjusts the subsequent milk preparation amount, concentration, or feeding interval based on historical data and growth models.

10. The intelligent feeding method for early-weaned piglets according to claim 9, characterized in that, The data recording and adjustment steps include: uploading the foraging data to a cloud platform or remote terminal via a remote communication module, enabling managers to remotely view and adjust strategies.

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