# US 11,992,032 B2 · High fat poured feed block > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,032 B2 - Document ID: US11992032B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/689,417 - Filed: 2022-03-08 - Published: 2022-06-16 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-15 - Assignees: Purina Animal Nutrition LLC - Applicants: Purina Animal Nutrition LLC - Inventors: Michael S. Burr; J. Christopher Forcherio; Ronald R. Scott - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992032B2 ## CPC - A23K 20/28: Silicates, e.g. perlites, zeolites or bentonites - A23K 10/26: from waste material, e.g. feathers, bones or skin (A23K10/24 takes precedence) - A23K 10/33: from molasses - A23K 10/38: from distillers' or brewers' waste - A23K 20/158: Fatty acids; Fats; Products containing oils or fats - A23K 20/163: Sugars; Polysaccharides - A23K 20/174: Vitamins - A23K 20/24: Compounds of alkaline earth metals, e.g. magnesium - A23K 20/26: Compounds containing phosphorus - A23K 50/10: for ruminants - A23K 40/20: by moulding, e.g. making cakes or briquettes - Y02P 60/87: Re-use of by-products of food processing for fodder production - A23K: FODDER - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Methods form high fat feed blocks having a total fat content of about 7 wt % to 33 wt %. The blocks are formed by blending a pourable composition having a viscosity of at least 1000 cP at 57° C. with high fat pellets having total fat content of at least 40 wt % based on pellet weight, where the pellets include at least one fat having a melt temperature of greater than 60° C. Also disclosed are feed blocks formed by the methods. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of forming a high fat feed block, the method comprising: pouring an exotherming admixture into a container, the exotherming admixture comprising a sugar-containing component, water, a hardening agent, and high fat pellets, the exotherming admixture at an elevated temperature such that the exotherming admixture is pourable into the container, wherein the exotherming admixture contains a total fat content of about 7 wt % to 33 wt %, and wherein the high fat pellets comprise at least one high melting point fat having a melt temperature equal to or greater than 60° C. (140° F.) such that the high fat pellets remain discrete in the exotherming admixture; and allowing the exotherming admixture to harden into a feed block. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the high fat pellets constitute about 5 wt % to 50 wt % of the exotherming admixture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the high fat pellets have a total fat content of at least 40 wt % based on pellet weight. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the high fat pellets comprise two fat sources. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the two fat sources include the at least one high melting point fat and a second fat, the second fat having a melting point less than that of the at least one high melting point fat. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one high melting point fat is disposed substantially at a surface of the high fat pellets. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the hardening agent comprises one or more hardening agents selected from the group consisting of: magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or ionic salts of magnesium or calcium. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a viscosity of the exotherming admixture before pouring the exotherming admixture into the container. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising dividing the feed block into two or more smaller feed blocks. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the high fat pellets include one or more fats selected from the group consisting of: an animal fat, a vegetable fat, or hydrogenated vegetable fat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the feed block further comprises an intake modifier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the intake modifier is present in the feed block at about 1.0 wt % to 3.5 wt %. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the intake modifier comprises one or more intake modifiers selected from the group consisting of: calcium chloride, a chloride ion, ammonium sulfate, calcium sulfate, salt, sodium hydroxide, diammonium phosphate, fish oil, coconut oil, palm kernel oil, meat meal, chlorinated fat, or acidulated fat. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the exotherming admixture is formed in a batch process, a continuous process, or a semi-continuous process. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising cooling the feed block to a temperature ranging from about −20° C. (−4° F.) to 40° C. (104° F.). ### Claim 16 A method of forming a high fat feed block, the method comprising: combining a sugar-containing component and water to form a premix; admixing high fat pellets with the premix to form an admixture; causing at least one of the premix or the admixture to be heated to an elevated temperature; pouring the admixture at the elevated temperature into a container, wherein the admixture contains a total fat content of about 7 wt % to 33 wt %, and wherein the high fat pellets comprise at least one high melting point fat having a melt temperature equal to or greater than 60° C. (140° F.) such that the high fat pellets remain discrete in the admixture; and allowing the admixture to harden into a feed block within the container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one of the premix or the admixture is caused to be heated by one or more of: inductive heating, infrared heating, microwave heating, or applying a heated water jacket to at least one of the premix or the admixture. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the elevated temperature is between about 40° C. (104° F.) and 60° C. (140° F.). ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising adjusting a viscosity of at least one of the premix or the admixture such that the viscosity of the admixture does not exceed 8000 cP while pouring. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the high fat pellets constitute about 5 wt % to 50 wt % of the admixture.