Feed blocks and methods of making and using same
AssigneePurina Animal Nutrition LLC
InventorsMary Elizabeth Gordon, Kent J. Lanter, Michael Jerina
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A feed block is formed of compacted feed components and includes a moisture level of between about 7 and about 15 percent. Feed blocks have an initial weight, which is substantially free of liquid, and liquid is introduced to the feed block to cause the feed block to absorb liquid. A final resulting weight of the feed block is at least 100 percent greater than the initial weight. The feed block with the absorbed liquid is provided the to the livestock animals for the simultaneous ingestion of feed and liquid. Feed blocks are formed by introducing feed components in a high pressure press and compacting the feed components to form the feed block.
Claims20
A feed block formed of compacted feed components, the feed block comprising:
- at least one compacted feed component for livestock animals;
- wherein the feed block comprises a moisture level of between about 7 and about 15 percent.
A method of feeding a feed block to livestock animals, comprising:
- providing a feed block comprising at least one compacted feed component, wherein in an initial state, the feed block comprises an initial weight and is substantially free of liquid;
- introducing liquid to the feed block such that the feed block absorbs the liquid and a final weight of the feed block is at least 100 percent greater than the initial weight;
- providing the feed block with the absorbed liquid to the livestock animals.
A method of making a feed block, comprising:
- introducing at least one feed component in a high pressure press, the at least one feed component comprising an initial volume;
- and
- compacting the at least one feed component using the high pressure press to form the feed block;
- wherein the feed block comprises a volume that is less than the initial volume due to the high pressure press compacting the at least one feed component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.