Setting degree of maceration based on forage nutritive values

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11758926-B2
Application number	US-202016934584-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2020
Priority date	Jul 21, 2020
Publication date	Sep 19, 2023
Grant date	Sep 19, 2023

Abstract

A method of preparing a feed ration for an animal includes storing a cut crop material in an accumulation having an oxygen barrier. The cut crop material is fermented within the accumulation to form a silage material. A nutritive value of the silage material is determined with a nutrition sensor. A desired amount of maceration of the silage material is determined based on the determined nutritive value of the silage material. The silage material is then macerated with a mechanical macerator to achieve the desired amount of maceration. The macerated silage material is then combined with other feed materials to define the feed ration, and may then be fed to the animal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of preparing a feed ration for an animal, the method comprising:
determining a nutritive value of a silage material with a nutrition sensor positioned relative to a macerating mechanism of a mechanical macerator;
determining a desired amount of maceration of the silage material based on the determined nutritive value of the silage material; and
macerating the silage material with the mechanical macerator to achieve the desired amount of maceration.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 , further comprising mixing the silage material macerated to the desired amount of maceration with other feed materials to form the feed ration for the animal.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein macerating the silage material includes high intensity crop processing of the silage material resulting in cell wall rupture and the release of intracellular solubles of the silage material.

4. The method set forth in claim 1 , further comprising sensing an actual amount of maceration of the silage material achieved by the mechanical macerator with a macerator sensor.

5. The method set forth in claim 4 , further comprising comparing the actual amount of maceration of the silage material to the desired amount of maceration of the silage material with a ration controller to determine if the actual amount of maceration of the silage material is within a defined range of the desired amount of maceration of the silage material, or if the actual amount of maceration of the silage material is not within the defined range of the desired amount of maceration of the silage material.

6. The method set forth in claim 5 , further comprising adjusting the mechanical macerator, when the actual amount of maceration of the silage material is not within the defined range of the desired amount of maceration of the silage material.

7. The method set forth in claim 6 , wherein adjusting the mechanical macerator includes adjusting a time of maceration of the silage material until the desired amount of maceration is achieved.

8. The method set forth in claim 6 , wherein the mechanical macerator includes a first processor roll and a second processor roll spaced apart from each other to define a roll gap therebetween, and wherein the step of adjusting the mechanical macerator includes moving one of the first processor roll and the second processor roll relative to the other of the first processor roll and the second processor roll to adjust the roll gap therebetween.

9. The method set forth in claim 6 , wherein the mechanical macerator includes a first processor roll and a second processor roll each rotated at a respective rotational speed to define a differential roll speed therebetween, and wherein the step of adjusting the mechanical macerator includes adjusting the respective rotation speed of one of the first processor roll and the second processor roll relative to the other of the first processor roll and the second processor roll to adjust the differential roll speed therebetween.

10. The method set forth in claim 1 , further comprising feeding the silage material to an animal after macerating the silage material.

11. The method set forth in claim 1 , further comprising storing a cut crop material in an accumulation having an oxygen barrier.

12. The method set forth in claim 11 , wherein the oxygen barrier is a plastic covering operable to block transfer of oxygen therethrough.

13. The method set forth in claim 11 , further comprising fermenting the cut crop material within the accumulation to form the silage material.

14. A mechanical macerator for macerating silage material, the mechanical macerator comprising:
a macerating mechanism operable to macerate the silage material;
a nutrition sensor positioned relative to the macerating mechanism and operable to sense nutritive levels of the silage material;
a ration controller coupled to the nutrition sensor, and including a processor and a memory having a ration algorithm stored thereon, wherein the processor is operable to execute the ration algorithm to:
receive data from the nutrition sensor indicating the nutritive levels of the silage material;
determine a desired amount of maceration of the silage material based on the nutritive levels of the silage material;
control the macerating mechanism to achieve the desired amount of maceration of the silage material.

15. The mechanical macerator set forth in claim 14 , further comprising a macerator sensor coupled to the ration controller, wherein the macerator sensor is operable to sense an actual amount of maceration achieved by the macerating mechanism.

16. The mechanical macerator set forth in claim 15 , wherein the processor is operable to execute the ration algorithm to receive data from the macerator sensor indicating an actual amount of maceration achieved by the macerating mechanism.

17. The mechanical macerator set forth in claim 16 , wherein the processor is operable to execute the ration algorithm to adjust the macerating mechanism when the actual amount of maceration of the silage material is not within a defined range of the desired amount of maceration of the silage material.

18. The mechanical macerator set forth in claim 16 , wherein the macerating mechanism includes a first processor roll and a second processor roll arranged in parallel with each other to define a roll gap therebetween, with each of the first processor roll and the second processor roll operable to rotate at a respective rotational speed to define a differential roll speed therebetween, wherein the first processor roll and the second processor roll are operable to receive silage material through an inlet of the roll gap, macerate the silage material as the silage passes through the roll gap with the first processor roll and the second processor roll rotating at their respective rotational speed, and discharge the silage material through an outlet of the roll gap.

19. The mechanical macerator set forth in claim 18 , wherein the processor is operable to execute the ration algorithm to adjust the roll gap and the respective rotational speed of the first processor roll and the second processor roll when the actual amount of maceration of the silage material is not within a defined range of the desired amount of maceration of the silage material.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Kraus Timothy J

Classifications

• Y02P60/87

  Re-use of by-products of food processing for fodder production · CPC title

• A23N17/02 Primary

  Fodder mashers (household implements for mashing potatoes or other foodstuffs A47J19/04) · CPC title

• A23K30/15 Primary

  using chemicals or microorganisms for ensilaging · CPC title

• A23K10/30

  from material of plant origin, e.g. roots, seeds or hay; from material of fungal origin, e.g. mushrooms (obtained by microbiological or biochemical processes, e.g. using yeasts or enzymes, A23K10/10) · CPC title

• A23K10/10

  obtained by microbiological or biochemical processes (using chemicals or microorganisms for ensilaging of green fodder A23K30/15) · CPC title