Universal Feeders are saliva-controlled lick feeders — a smarter way to supplement sheep and cattle. Instead of letting stock gorge on grain, they meter out small, frequent rations that each animal regulates itself. The result is healthier rumen function, less wasted feed, and far less labour. Here’s how it works.

The problem with traditional supplement feeding

Feeding grain or pellets daily — or every second day — lets animals gorge. That rapid intake causes a sharp drop in rumen pH, tipping stock into acidosis. This acidic environment harms the rumen’s microbial ecosystem, the very microbes that break down pasture into usable nutrients. Recovering from acidosis can take up to 24 hours, and during that window the animal can’t use pasture efficiently. The knock-on effects are more supplement required, poorer feed conversion, and lower farm profitability.

How a saliva lick feeder works

Universal Feeders use the animal’s own saliva to regulate intake. As stock lick the feeder, saliva dissolves the supplement so it can be consumed. After roughly five minutes of licking, the animal’s saliva production is depleted — and consumption naturally stops until saliva is replenished. This built-in limit means animals take small, frequent rations across the day, exactly as the rumen prefers, rather than one big gorge.

Why “little and often” is better

Small, frequent feeding keeps rumen pH stable and the microbial population healthy, so stock get the most out of both their supplement and their pasture. It also spreads intake evenly across the mob — every animal gets fair access, so dominant animals can’t overconsume and shy or subordinate animals aren’t left short. That same controlled access makes the feeders ideal for creep feeding, letting young stock reach supplement while keeping adults out.

The benefits at a glance

• Controlled daily intake — a consistent, balanced diet that prevents overconsumption and digestive upsets.
• Feeding time set by the animal — a natural, self-paced feeding pattern that reduces stress.
• Reduced labour — set the rate and let the feeder do the work, day after day.
• Less waste — controlled delivery minimises spillage and keeps the feed area cleaner.
• Adjustable feeding rates — dial the rate to suit the age, stage and nutritional needs of your stock.

Original vs Ultimate Series

Every Universal Feeder works on the same saliva-controlled principle. The Ultimate Series takes it further with a patent-pending, one-adjuster design:

• Longer lifespan — removing the corrosion-prone bottom adjuster (where saliva, rain and dirt collect) means the feeder lasts longer and costs less to replace.
• More precise adjustment — galvanised threaded ratchets deliver finer, more even feed-rate changes than the older cage-nut system.
• Safer for stock — fewer sharp edges in the feed area, plus a removable reinforced shelter that protects both livestock and the adjustment components.
• Easier to clean — a swing-away tongue restrictor (just two pins each side) opens the feed area for quick cleaning and prevents build-up.
• Easier low feed rates — the restrictor design frees up grain-tray width, making the very low rates needed in drought or maintenance feeding simple to achieve.

Choose the right feeder for your operation

Universal Feeders are designed by the Clarke family in Goomalling, WA. Explore the Lick Feeders range or get in touch to find the right feeder for your sheep and cattle.