Liquid starch-urea ruminant feed and method of preparing same

A method of preparing a liquid starch-NPN ruminant feed supplement comprising the steps of:

• preparing a substantially NPN-free aqueous slurry comprising water and a solids fraction which includes a quantity of an edible, substantially ungelatinized starch-bearing feed material,
• said slurry comprising from about 30% to 90% by weight free water, and correspondingly a solids fraction of from about 10% to 70% by weight;
• directing a stream of said slurry to a reaction zone;
• subjecting said slurry to elevated pressures ranging from about 1 to 200 psig and to heating to a temperature of from about 215.degree. to 388.degree. F. in said zone for gelatinizing from about 50 to 100% of said starch-bearing feed material in said slurry;
• passing said slurry out of said treatment zone while the slurry remains substantially NPN-free;
• and
• adding a quantity of an NPN source to said slurry to yield a feed product,
• the ratio of starch-bearing feed material to nitrogen from said NPN source ranging from about 4:0.45 to 1:1.80.