US 2004/0169097 A1 · Method and apparatus for improving palatability and digestability of baled feed

Abstract

A method of improving the palatability and digestability of bales of forage materials comprises carrying a quantity of a molasses based liquid feed supplement in a container mounted on a bale shredder; shredding the bales in the bale shredder and discharging a stream of shredded bale material through a discharge opening in the bale shredder; and spraying the molasses based liquid feed supplement into the stream of shredded bale material as it is discharged and prior to the stream landing on the ground such that the molasses based liquid feed supplement mixes with the shredded bale material and adheres to the shredded bale material. A modified bale shredder and a kit to retrofit existing bale shredders are also provided.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method of improving the palatability and digestability of bales of forage materials, the method comprising:

carrying a quantity of a molasses based liquid feed supplement in a container mounted on a bale shredder;
shredding the bales in the bale shredder and discharging a stream of shredded bale material through a discharge opening in the bale shredder;
spraying the molasses based liquid feed supplement into the stream of shredded bale material as it is discharged and prior to the stream landing on the ground such that the molasses based liquid feed supplement mixes with the shredded bale material and adheres to the shredded bale material.

A kit for use with a bale shredder to improve the palatability and digestability of bales of forage materials by mixing a molasses based liquid feed supplement with shredded bale material as it is discharged from a discharge opening on the bale shredder, the kit comprising:

a container adapted for mounting on the bale shredder for carrying a quantity of the molasses based liquid feed supplement;
a nozzle adapted for mounting in proximity to the discharge opening such that liquid sprayed from the nozzle is directed into the stream of shredded bale material;
a pump operative to pump the molasses based liquid feed supplement from the container through a conduit to the nozzle such that the molasses based liquid feed supplement is sprayed into the stream of shredded bale material as it is discharged and prior to the stream landing on the ground such that the molasses based liquid feed supplement mixes with the shredded bale material and adheres to the shredded bale material.

An apparatus to improve the palatability and digestability of bales of forage materials by mixing a molasses based liquid feed supplement with shredded bale material, the apparatus comprising:

a bale shredder operative to shred bales and discharge a stream of shredded bale material from a discharge opening on one side of the bale shredder;
a container mounted on the bale shredder for carrying a quantity of the molasses based liquid feed supplement;
a nozzle mounted in proximity to a front end of the discharge opening such that liquid sprayed from the nozzle is directed rearward and into the stream of shredded bale material;
a pump operative to pump the molasses based liquid feed supplement from the container through a conduit to the nozzle such that the molasses based liquid feed supplement is sprayed into the stream of shredded bale material as it is discharged and prior to the stream landing on the ground such that the molasses based liquid feed supplement mixes with the shredded bale material and adheres to the shredded bale material.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for improving palatability and digestability of baled feed

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for improving palatability and digestability of baled feed

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18