a system and method having a plurality of antennas located at selected spaced intervals along an elongate feed or drinking trough . each animal , to be monitored , is equipped with a passive transponder having a unique identification code . an electronic control system transmits an electronic signal sequentially to each one of the plurality of antennas such that each activated antenna emits a signal and , any passive transponder sufficiently adjacent to the activated antenna , receives the signal and generates a return electronic signal which is sent to the activated antenna . a computer , coupled to the plurality of antennas , receives a return signal from the passive transponder and generates preliminary results concerning an animal behavior which effects animal consumption activity . finally , a modification factor , incorporated in the computer , modifies the preliminary results to generate a final result that predicts , with an acceptable level of predictability , the animal behavior which affects the consumption activity to be monitored .