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Animal-activated feeding systems and methods. The systems include a self-sealing valve assembly that, responsive to activation of a feed-flow activation member by an animal, selectively delivers a flow of the liquid feed to a vessel for consumption by the animal. The valve body further includes a va

Animal-activated feeding systems and methods. The systems include a self-sealing valve assembly that, responsive to activation of a feed-flow activation member by an animal, selectively delivers a flow of the liquid feed to a vessel for consumption by the animal. The valve body further includes a valve member, which is configured to selectively obstruct the feed flow path, and a feed-flow activation member coupled to the valve member. The feed-flow activation member and valve member are selectively positionable between at least a sealed position and a range of activated positions. The valve assembly may include a buoyant activation restriction member adapted to restrict at least further or subsequent activation of the valve assembly responsive to the level of liquid feed in the vessel. The valve assembly may be configured to dispense the feed in a confined stream and/or in a generally horizontal or lateral direction into the vessel.

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1. An animal-activated feeding system for dispensing a liquid feed to a vessel, the feeding system comprising: a self-sealing valve assembly adapted to deliver a flow of the liquid feed and further adapted to be selectively configured between at least a sealed configuration and a dispensing configur

1. An animal-activated feeding system for dispensing a liquid feed to a vessel, the feeding system comprising: a self-sealing valve assembly adapted to deliver a flow of the liquid feed and further adapted to be selectively configured between at least a sealed configuration and a dispensing configuration, wherein the valve assembly is biased to the sealed configuration and comprises: a valve body defining a feed flow path including an outlet flow path, wherein the valve body comprises an outlet defining the outlet flow path and configured to dispense the feed into the vessel;a valve member configured to selectively obstruct the feed flow path; anda feed-flow activation member coupled to the valve member, upwardly extending generally away from the valve body, and configured to be selectively positioned between a sealed position and a range of activated positions, wherein in the sealed configuration of the valve assembly, the activation member is positioned in the sealed position to prevent the flow of liquid feed from passing the valve member, wherein in the dispensing configuration of the valve assembly, the activation member is positioned within the range of activated positions to permit the flow of liquid feed to pass the valve member, and further wherein the feed-flow activation member has a central axis; andwherein the outlet flow path has a central axis within a plane generally perpendicular to the central axis of the activation member when the activation member is in the sealed position, and further wherein the outlet is adapted to dispense the feed in a discrete stream into the vessel. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve body includes a plurality of spaced-apart outlets, and further wherein each outlet defines an outlet flow path and is configured to dispense feed into the vessel. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the activation member is adapted to be pivoted between the sealed and activated positions. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the activation member includes a portion that projects from the valve body, and further wherein the portion has an elongate, cylindrical configuration. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the central axis of the outlet flow path intersects the central axis of the activation member when the activation member is in the sealed position. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the central axis of the outlet flow path is generally offset from, and does not intersect, the central axis of the activation member when the activation member is in the sealed position. 7. The system of claim 6, in combination with a vessel to which the valve assembly is coupled, wherein the vessel includes a sidewall with an interior surface, and further wherein the outlet is adapted to direct the flow of feed at the interior surface at a generally non-normal angle. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the outlet flow path is generally arcuate. 9. The system of claim 8, in combination with a vessel to which the valve assembly is coupled, wherein the vessel includes a sidewall with an interior surface, and further wherein the outlet flow path is adapted to direct the flow of feed at the interior surface at a generally non-normal angle. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve body further comprises: an upper cavity through which the activation member extends, andan outlet cavity through which the activation member extends, adjacent the outlet, and proximal to the valve member from the upper cavity; andwherein the valve assembly further comprises a sealing mechanism adapted to restrict the flow of feed from passing from the outlet cavity to the upper cavity. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the activation member includes a peripheral surface, wherein the upper cavity includes a lower surface proximal to the valve member and a peripheral surface, wherein the sealing mechanism includes a lower seal and an upper seal, wherein the lower seal engages the lower surface of the upper cavity and includes an inside peripheral surface generally surrounding and conforming to the peripheral surface of the activation member, wherein the lower seal is configured to permit actuation of the activation member into the range of activated positions, wherein the upper seal is distal to the valve member from the lower seal, and includes an outside peripheral surface generally conforming to the peripheral surface of the upper cavity, and further wherein the upper seal is configured to permit actuation of the activation member into the range of activated positions. 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a restriction member adapted to be selectively installed and removed by a user, and further adapted to restrict actuation of the activation member. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the range of activation positions includes a first range and a second range, wherein in the second range, the activation member is configured to allow greater feed flow than in the first range, and further wherein the restriction member is adapted to restrict activation of the activation member to within the first range. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein in the second range, the activation member is adapted to be pivoted a greater distance away from the sealed position than in the first range. 15. The system of claim 12, wherein the restriction member is further adapted to selectively prevent actuation of the activation member by an animal. 16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a feeder guard coupled to the valve body and configured to limit actuation of the activation member by an animal. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve body further comprises an inlet configured to receive the feed from a feed source; andwherein the valve assembly further includes a check valve adapted to generally prevent the flow of feed from passing through the inlet toward the feed source. 18. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a buoyant activation restriction mechanism slidingly coupled relative to the activation member, and configured to be selectively positioned, in response to a level of the feed within the vessel, between a range of neutral positions and a range of engagement positions, wherein in the range of neutral positions, the restriction mechanism is adapted to permit activation of the activation member, wherein in the range of engagement positions, the restriction mechanism is distal to the valve member from the range of neutral positions and is adapted to restrict activation of the activation member, and further wherein the restriction mechanism is configured to be urged away from the valve member and toward the range of engagement positions in response to higher levels of feed in the vessel. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the valve body includes a float chamber through which the activation member extends, wherein the float chamber is adapted to retain the buoyant activation restriction mechanism, and further wherein the float chamber includes an upper narrowed portion, distal to the valve member, with a peripheral surface adapted to engage the restriction mechanism when the restriction mechanism is within the range of engagement positions. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the valve body further includes a conduit adapted to permit feed to enter and exit the float chamber, from and to the vessel, as the feed level rises and lowers within the vessel. 21. An animal-activated feeding system for dispensing a liquid feed to a vessel, the feeding system comprising: a self-sealing valve assembly adapted to deliver a flow of the liquid feed and further adapted to be selectively configured between at least a sealed configuration and a dispensing configuration, wherein the valve assembly is biased to the sealed configuration and comprises: a valve body defining a feed flow path including an outlet flow path, wherein the valve body comprises an outlet defining the outlet flow path and configured to dispense the feed into the vessel;a valve member configured to selectively obstruct the feed flow path; anda feed-flow activation member coupled to the valve member, upwardly extending generally away from the valve body, and configured to be selectively positioned between a sealed position and a range of activated positions, wherein in the sealed configuration of the valve assembly, the activation member is positioned in the sealed position to prevent the flow of liquid feed from passing the valve member, and further wherein in the dispensing configuration of the valve assembly, the activation member is positioned within the range of activated positions to permit the flow of liquid feed to pass the valve member; anda buoyant activation restriction mechanism slidingly coupled relative to the activation member, and configured to be selectively positioned, in response to a level of the 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the valve body includes a float chamber through which the activation member extends, wherein the float chamber is adapted to retain the buoyant activation restriction mechanism, and further wherein the float chamber includes an upper narrowed portion, distal to the valve member, with a peripheral surface adapted to engage the restriction mechanism when the restriction mechanism is within the range of engagement positions. 23. A laterally-ejecting fluid flow control system, the system comprising: a nipple housing comprising: a means for accepting fluid comprising a hole and configured to accept fluid along a substantially vertically oriented locus; anda means for ejecting fluid comprising at least one laterally facing hole extending through the nipple housing and configured to laterally eject fluid to a vessel generally without a substantial upward or downward component;a rod means positioned for providing fluid to the vessel such that the rod means projects substantially vertically upward out of the nipple housing, the rod means comprising: a first portion with substantially one diameter over the majority of its length; anda second portion with a substantially abrupt larger diameter near a lower region of the rod means configured to generally obstruct a fluid flow path, wherein the rod means is configured so that if forced to assume other than a nominal vertical orientation, the second portion permits the flow path to open and allow source fluid to flow past the second portion. 24. The system of claim 23, wherein the nipple housing further includes an annular space configured to accumulate fluid when the vessel accumulates fluid, and further wherein the system further includes a float positioned within the annular space and slidingly coupled to the first portion of the rod means and configured to rise with the fluid and restrict rod means motion and to lower with the fluid and allow rod means motion. feed within the vessel, between a range of neutral positions and a range of engagement positions, wherein in the range of neutral positions, the restriction mechanism is adapted to permit activation of the activation member, wherein in the range of engagement positions, the restriction mechanism is distal to the valve member from the range of neutral positions and is adapted to restrict activation of the activation member, and further wherein the restriction mechanism is configured to be urged away from the valve member and toward the range of engagement positions in response to higher levels of feed in the vessel.