Livestock access feed from a groove positioned between two Adjusters, drawing it out through openings in the Adjuster Guard.
The system naturally limits intake time to around five minutes, as animals require saliva on their tongue to lift feed from the groove. As licking continues, saliva production reduces, slowing intake. Sheep typically lick at around 120 times per minute, while cattle average about 60.
At the most restricted setting, this equates to approximately a heaped tablespoon for sheep and half a cup for cattle per feeding session.
The Adjuster Guard is essential to the system. It prevents animals from pushing or displacing feed, encourages a consistent feeding position, and reduces aggressive or dominant behaviour. Without it, consistent ration control cannot be achieved.
All animals have a similar capacity to produce saliva, regardless of their position in the social hierarchy. Because feed intake relies on saliva, even dominant animals will eventually run out and be unable to continue feeding.
When this happens, they naturally move away from the feeder, creating space for other animals to access feed. This allows more timid or subordinate animals to feed without being displaced, helping to ensure more even intake across the group.
In a paddock situation, the saliva restriction system can limit daily feed intake approximately as follows:
In feedlot or containment situations, the lowest setting typically allows about twice the intake of a paddock setting.
Advantage Feeders have two Adjuster Plates that move perpendicular to each other. By positioning these plates, the feeder can limit how easily animals can lick the feed from the groove.
At the most restricted settings, animals need a moist tongue for the feed to stick and be lifted out. After roughly five minutes of licking, the tongue dries, and they can no longer extract feed, naturally limiting intake.
Each feeder includes a feed rationing chart on the panel above the trough, providing a recommended starting point for how much feed animals will consume at different settings.
This chart is a guide only. Farmers should monitor actual feed intake to determine the ideal settings for their conditions, as feed type, climate, and animal behaviour can all affect consumption. If animals are eating more than desired, the slides should be closed; if they are eating less than desired, the slides should be opened.
Advantage Feeders can help manage stock both on pasture and in feedlots. On pasture, creep feeding and grain-assist systems may reduce or eliminate the need for traditional feedlot finishing.
For stock in feedlots, the feeders can reduce labour for backgrounding or pre-conditioning by controlling access to feed at the trough. The system allows stock to gradually transition from a low-concentrate ration to a higher-concentrate ration simply by adjusting the plates, helping them adapt safely and efficiently.
The feeder has a 90 mm / 3.5 inch outlet. Feed mixes with less than 25% chaff and particle lengths under 25 mm / 1 inch will flow through the system. Very coarse or fibrous feeds can reduce the ability to control ration precisely.
The mix should also contain less than 1% molasses to ensure proper flow and consistent intake control.
The feeders can be moved by skidding them across the ground or lifting them with a front-end loader, depending on conditions and equipment availability.
Australia, New Zealand, England & Ireland:
The 150HD, 800HD and 1800HD feeders can be picked up and moved full. The 3800HD can be moved with 2000kg of feed in it. The 800HD and 1800HD feeders can be skidded full. The 3800HD can be skidded with 1500kg of feed.
United States & Canada:
The 200HD, 1200HD and 2500HD feeders can be picked up and moved full. The 5300HD and 8000HD can be moved with 4000lb of feed in it. The 1200HD and 2500HD feeders can be skidded full. The 5300HD and 8000HD can be skidded with 3000lb of feed.
Animals prefer fresh feed. If feed is left in the trough, it can become stale, and stock may ignore it, leading to waste.
The Adjusters should be set so the feed is just about to flow into the trough. Animals then scoop the feed directly into their mouths, rather than relying on feed that has already fallen. The trough usually remains nearly empty because it is slightly easier for stock to consume any occasional spillage than to lick feed from the wider gap between the Adjusters.
The most practical and cost-effective solution in most situations is to place a rubber mat beneath the feeder. This helps protect the ground, reduce mud, and maintain a stable feeding area.
The feed sits approximately 40 mm / 1.6 inches below the licking area. Birds cannot easily reach it because their beaks and feet do not fit into the groove.
If a bird does manage to reach the feed, the Adjuster Guard prevents it from flicking feed out.
When feeding sheep, the Creep Panel is commonly used to further deter birds and reduce exposure to weather, while still allowing ewes to feed comfortably.
Some pests may be able to access the feed. However, the saliva restriction system naturally limits their intake – they will only consume a small amount and cannot empty the feeder.
The correct position depends on the type of feed and whether the licking area is prone to clogging.
The system’s design ensures feed moves efficiently while maintaining controlled intake.
It depends on the type of feed:
Even with the specialised Adjuster Guard, it is common to run a cleaning tool along the licking groove about once per week. The feeders make this easy because the Adjuster Guard clips in and out for quick access.
Advantage Feeders products come with a 5-year warranty for fitness for purpose when using appropriate feeds. This includes:
This ensures peace of mind and long-term reliability when the feeders are used correctly.
Note: Actual capacity depends on the density of the feed.
Some feeder models allow the height to be adjusted to suit different livestock, while others are fixed. Adjustment methods vary by model.
For exact details on which models can be adjusted, how to do it, and recommended settings, please refer to the product specifications for each feeder.
Yes. Creep feeding gates and panels can be purchased and attached to the feeders at any time after assembly.
Yes. Spare parts for all Advantage Feeders models are available and can be ordered at any time. This ensures you can maintain and service your feeder for long-term reliability.
When you order flat-pack feeders, you will receive links to detailed assembly instructions through the Advantage Feeders engineering portal. These guides provide step-by-step instructions to make assembly straightforward and efficient.
Start by feeding a safe, low-starch pellet with buffers on an ad-lib basis for about one week. Set the Adjusters wide so stock can easily access the feed. This encourages intake and helps establish the feeder as a consistent feed source.
Once stock are regularly coming to the feeder, the Adjusters can be gradually closed to control intake, and higher-starch feeds can be introduced as required.
No. The Adjuster Guards are manufactured with all burrs removed and are powder coated for a smooth finish. There have been no cases of animals cutting their tongues when using the feeders.
No. The Adjuster Guard is secured with spring clips at each end of the trough, keeping it firmly in place during use.
A simple method is to add a food-safe blue dye to the feed. This colours the faces of animals that are actively feeding, making it easy to identify which animals are and are not consuming the supplement within a day. Animals that are not feeding can then be managed separately.
Many farmers also observe that with Advantage Feeders, trough space is rarely crowded, feeding behaviour is less frantic, and animals move freely between grazing and the feeder—indicating more even access across the group.
While Advantage Feeders dye may not be available in all regions, a good alternative is Brilliant Blue FCF, a widely used food-grade dye found in products such as ice cream and beverages.
Yes. Advantage Feeders are designed and reinforced to handle all types of livestock, including cattle, sheep, and goats. The feeder height can be adjusted on certain models to suit the size of the animal, ensuring comfortable and effective feeding.
The bars on the Tray Hay Feeders have 300 mm / 12 inch gaps. They are generally safe for cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, but should not be used with bulls.
For bull use, Advantage Feeders offers a “bull kit” that reduces the gap size and helps prevent animals from getting their heads stuck.
Advantage Feeders was developed in Australia and is now used by livestock producers in Canada and around the world.
Advantage Feeders are distributed in Canada by Huber Ag Equipment, based on a working farm in Alberta where the feeders are used with cattle, sheep and goats.
Feeders can be collected directly from the farm, shipped to designated pickup locations, or delivered directly to your operation depending on location.
Our range includes controlled grain and pellet feeders for cattle, sheep and goats, along with creep-feeding and hay-feeding solutions designed to help producers improve feed efficiency, pasture utilization and livestock performance.
Advancing Ruminant Production
Help livestock farmers double meat production with the same level of inputs
Through continual research and development, we strive to provide livestock farmers with the world’s best controlled feeding products, knowledge and systems that allow them to achieve the highest return on investment
