Sows kept outdoors are traditionally fed a compound diet, in the form of a-large biscuit, which is spread on the ground over a wide area to try to minimise bullying. They can be kept in several separate groups, divided by electric fencing, each group containing sows at a similar stage of pregnancy. The use of a computer controlled feeder would allow the sows to be kept as one dynamic group and allow food intake to be controlled on an individual or group basis. Also, normal pelleted food can be used in such a machine. Bulky feeds are playing an increasing role in the diet of outdoor sows, and it was decided to investigate the use of an electronically controlled feeder to supply a compound feed to balance grazed fodder beet.