An on-demand animal feed apparatus is provided comprising a receiving chamber, base tube and actuator. The receiving chamber comprises an upper section to connect to a feed supply, a lower section, and an intermediate section disposed between the upper and lower sections. A base tube is connected to the lower section of the receiving chamber and cooperates with the receiving chamber to define the feed reservoir. A lower portion of the base tube defines a discharge opening for dispensing animal feed. An actuator is disposed at least partially within the base tube and is configured to raise and lower in an axial direction in response to movement by an animal, thereby allowing the transfer of animal feed from the feed reservoir through the discharge opening. The lower section of the receiving chamber defines a relief area for the temporary displacement of animal feed when the actuator is raised or lowered.
