A gate valve unit that can be used with existing animal feeders that have a feed container and aperture in the feed container for allowing the feed to be dispensed. Generally, the feed is gravity fed through the aperture and contacts a spinning feed dispensing member throwing the feed about the animal feeder. The invention includes a plunger-type gate that is solenoid actuated and is closed by one or more return springs. The spinning member and the plunger gate can be actuated together by either a timer or by a wireless command from a remote location.