Soft moist extruded animal feed
AssigneePurina Animal Nutrition LLC
InventorsKent J. Lanter, Brenda de Rodas, Randel H. Raub, Mary Elizabeth Gordon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The animal feed of the present invention is a soft extruded nugget with a chewy, moist interior. These nuggets have a high moisture content and preservatives. The animal feed also has a long shelf life given the high moisture content. The animal feed of this invention is provided to young animals after weaning from a liquid diet.
Claims24
An extruded animal feed composition comprising a mixture of starch, protein and one or more preservatives, the animal feed forming a pliable nugget including a moisture content of greater than 12 percent and up to about 20 percent and between about 0.25 weight percent and about 8 weight percent of the one or more preservatives, wherein the pliable nugget is free of a sugar coating.
A method of making an animal feed composition comprising:
- preparing a blend comprising starch, protein and at least about 0.25 percent by weight preservatives;
- forming a pliable animal feed nugget by extruding the blend through a restricted orifice;
- and
- drying the pliable nugget wherein the moisture content of the pliable nugget is greater than 12 percent and up to about 20 percent by weight, wherein the pliable nugget is free of a sugar coating.
A method of feeding a young animal at an onset of weaning comprising providing a young animal extruded animal feed, wherein the animal feed comprises a mixture of starch, protein and preservatives in a pliable nugget, the pliable nugget including between about 0.25 percent by weight and about 8.0 percent by weight of the preservatives and greater than 12.0 percent by weight and up to about 20 percent by weight moisture,
- wherein the pliable nugget is free of a sugar coating,
- wherein the pliable nugget is provided at the onset of weaning, and wherein the pliable nugget is effective to at least one of increase average daily weight gain of the young animal or increase average daily feed intake of the young animal.
A method of weaning a mammal comprising feeding the young animal extruded animal feed, the feed comprising a mixture of starch, protein and preservatives in a pliable nugget, the pliable nugget including between about 0.25 percent by weight and about 8 percent by weight of the preservatives and at least 12 percent by weight and up to about 20 percent by weight moisture,
- wherein the pliable nugget is free of a sugar coating, and
- wherein the pliable nugget is effective to at least one of increase average daily weight gain of the young animal or increase average daily feed intake of the young animal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.