Feed handling activities in cattle feedlots—such as feed leveling, reconditioning, and the removal of feed refusals along the trough—remain largely manual in many developing countries, resulting in high labor demand and inconsistent feed availability. This study aimed to design, develop, and evaluate an integrated machine capable of leveling feed, conditioning refused feed, and collecting feed refusals. The machine was developed using trough-geometry data (550–650 mm) and feed-residue properties (particle size, bulk density, terminal velocity), integrating a shovel–dual-brush unit with pneumatic suction. A prototype was subsequently fabricated and tested under practical feedlot conditions using various trough widths and operating speeds. Performance evaluation included feed-pile geometry, distribution uniformity, suction efficiency, suction capacity, and fuel consumption. The leveling mechanism significantly improved feed distribution uniformity, reducing the coefficient of variation for feed-pile height and feed mass by up to 67% and 73%, respectively. During conditioning, the machine increased feed-pile height by 8–10 cm and reduced pile width by 6–13 cm. The suction system maintained high efficiency (94–97%) with an average capacity of 14.1 ± 0.8 kg·min−1. Fuel consumption ranged from 0.54 L·h−1 during leveling to 1.30 L·h−1 during suction. Overall, the machine offers a practical solution for improving feed shaping, uniformity, and residue removal.
Hermawan et al. (2026) studied this question.