Achieving reference via contrast in route descriptions and spatial object identification

Apparatus for discharging predetermined quantities of food for dairy cows and beef cattle, which apparatus comprises a hopper, an elongate flat-sided housing, a conveyor positioned in a conveyor section of the housing, a plurality of separate collector compartments formed in a collector section of the housing, and a plurality of sliding plates joined to a common rod for simultaneously closing and opening a plurality of discharge apertures in the collector compartments.