# US 2014/0155340 A1 · Gel based livestock feed, method of manufacture and use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155340 A1 - Document ID: US20140155340A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/174,593 - Filed: 2014-02-06 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2003-12-02 - Assignees: Purina Animal Nutrition LLC - Applicants: Purina Animal Nutrition LLC - Inventors: Kent J. Lanter; Brenda de Rodas; Bill L. Miller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155340A1 ## CPC - A23K 20/158: Fatty acids; Fats; Products containing oils or fats - A23K 20/163: Sugars; Polysaccharides - A23K 20/24: Compounds of alkaline earth metals, e.g. magnesium - A23K 50/30: for swines - A61P 3/02: Nutrients, e.g. vitamins, minerals - A61P 31/00: Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics - Y10S 426/807: Poultry or ruminant feed - A23K: FODDER - A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A method of making a gel-type livestock feed includes initially forming a feed mixture by mixing feed nutrient components, water, alginate, and a calcium component insoluble in water or a sequestrate to inhibit the calcium component from reacting with the alginate. Once the feed mixture is formed, the calcium component is solubilized or the sequestrates affecting the reactivity between the alginate and the calcium component is removed such that a gel feed is formed that includes a gel matrix containing the feed nutrient components. The gel feed may then be fed to the livestock. In another aspect of the present invention, piglets are weaned by feeding the gel feed for at least seven days directly after weaning. The gel feed may also include protein derived from blood with or without egg protein. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-54. (canceled) ### Claim 55 A method of making a livestock feed for piglets, the method comprising: forming a feed mixture by mixing feed nutrient components comprising at least carbohydrates and fats with water, alginate, a calcium component insoluble in water or a sequestrate to inhibit the calcium component from reacting with the alginate wherein the pH during mixing of the feed nutrient components is about 6.0 or greater; and once the feed mixture is formed, solubilizing the calcium component or removing the sequestrate's effect on the reactivity between the alginate and the calcium component such that a gel feed is formed comprising a gel matrix containing the entire feed mixture feed, wherein the gel feed includes the carbohydrates and fat in an amount sufficient for a required dietary carbohydrate and fat intake for the piglets. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55 further comprising adding an acid or an acidulent to the feed mixture to lower the pH to solubilize the calcium component. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The method of claim 56 wherein the acid comprises citric acid, fumaric acid, propionic acid or any combination thereof. ### Claim 58 (depends on 56) The method of claim 56 wherein sufficient acid or acidulent is added to lower the pH to at least about 4.5 or below. ### Claim 59 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55 wherein the calcium component comprises a calcium salt. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) The method of claim 59 wherein the calcium salt comprises dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, calcium gluconate, calcium iodate, calcium sulfate or any combination thereof. ### Claim 61 (depends on 59) The method of claim 59 wherein the calcium salt becomes soluble and reactive with the alginate at a selected pH and the pH of the feed mixture is lowered to or below the selected pH. ### Claim 62 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55 wherein forming the feed mixture comprises adding antibiotics or chemotherapeutics. ### Claim 63 (depends on 62) The method of claim 62 wherein the antibiotics or chemotherapeutics comprise apramycin, bacitracin methylene disacylate, bacitracic zinc, bambermycins, chlortetracycline, lincomycin, neomycin, oxytetracycline, penicillin, tiamulin, tylosin, virginiamycin, arsanilic acid, carbodox, roxarsone, sulfamethazine, sulfathiazole, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 64 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55 wherein the feed mixture comprises about 25 to 90% water, about 2 to 25% protein, about 3-40% carbohydrate, about 0-10% fat, and less than about 2% fiber. ### Claim 65 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55 wherein at least one nutrient component is a protein derived from blood in the form of blood plasma or blood serum. ### Claim 66 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55, wherein the nutrient components are sufficient for piglets during weaning or immediately after weaning or both. ### Claim 67 A method of feeding piglets, the method comprising: forming a feed mixture by mixing feed nutrient components of at least carbohydrates and fats with water, alginate, a calcium component insoluble in water or a sequestrate to inhibit the calcium component from reacting with the alginate wherein the pH during mixing of the feed nutrient components is about 6.0 or greater; once the feed mixture is formed, solubilizing the calcium component or removing the sequestrate's effect on the reactivity between the alginate and the calcium component such that a gel feed is formed comprising a gel matrix containing the entire feed mixture; and feeding the piglets the gel feed, wherein the gel feed includes the carbohydrates and fat in an amount sufficient for a required dietary carbohydrate and fat intake for the piglets. ### Claim 68 (depends on 67) The method of claim 67 wherein the piglets are fed the gel feed during weaning or immediately after weaning or both. ### Claim 69 (depends on 67) The method of claim 67 wherein the piglets are fed the gel feed for the first 7 to 14 days after weaning. ### Claim 70 A method of making a livestock feed for piglets, the method comprising: forming a feed mixture by mixing feed nutrient components comprising at least carbohydrates and fats with water and a gelling agent that binds with water; and forming a gel matrix containing the entire feed mixture feed, wherein the gel feed comprises carbohydrates and fat in an amount sufficient for a required dietary carbohydrate and fat intake for the piglets. ### Claim 71 (depends on 70) The method of claim 70, wherein the nutrient components are sufficient for piglets during weaning or immediately after weaning or both. ### Claim 72 (depends on 70) The method of claim 70 wherein the nutrient components comprise about 25 to 90% water, about 2 to 25% protein, about 3-40% carbohydrate, about 0-10% fat, and less than about 2% fiber. ### Claim 73 (depends on 70) The method of claim 70 wherein the gelling agent comprises agar, alginate, carrageenan, gum Arabic, ghatti, tragacanth, pectin, guar, Gelan, Carboxy Methylcellulose, locust bean gum, or a combination of two or more thereof. ### Claim 74 A method of feeding livestock animals under stress, the method comprising: forming a feed mixture by mixing feed nutrient components comprising at least carbohydrates and fats with water and a gelling agent that binds with water; and forming a gel matrix containing the entire feed mixture feed, the gel having a soft gel consistency, wherein the gel feed comprises carbohydrates and fat in an amount sufficient for a required dietary carbohydrate and fat intake for the stressed animals.