Feed blocks and methods of making and using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9554585-B2
Application number	US-201213368238-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2012
Priority date	Feb 3, 2012
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of feeding a feed block to one or more livestock animals, comprising:
obtaining a feed block comprising at least one compacted feed component, the at least one compacted feed component comprising ground hay at a level of at least about 50 percent of an initial weight of the feed block, wherein in an initial state, the feed block is substantially free of liquid;
introducing liquid to the feed block during a treatment period such that the feed block absorbs the liquid, the at least one compacted feed component separates and the feed block breaks apart, wherein a final weight of the feed block is at least 100 percent greater than the initial weight; and
providing the feed block with the absorbed liquid to the one or more livestock animals after the treatment period.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises one or more of water and electrolytes.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the final weight of the feed block comprises at least 50 percent liquid.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the final weight of the feed block comprises between about 50 percent and 85 percent liquid.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the initial state, the feed block comprises a moisture level of between about 7 and about 15 percent.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the final weight of the feed block is between about 300 percent and 500 percent greater than the initial weight.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the final weight of the feed block is about 500 percent greater than the initial weight.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the final weight of the feed block comprises a weight of the feed block after absorbing liquid for between about 10 minutes and about 20 minutes.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising topdressing the feed block comprising the absorbed liquid with one or more supplements.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the topdressed supplements comprise one or more of joint supplements, antacids, antibiotics, electrolytes, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment period is from about 10 minutes to about 20 minutes.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment period is up to about 10 minutes.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compacted feed component further comprises one or more of corn, wheat, milo, soybean meal, grain mixtures, molasses, electrolytes, flavorings, supplements or vitamins.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ground hay forms up to 80 percent of the initial weight of the feed block.

Assignees

• Gordon Mary Elizabeth
• Lanter Kent J
• Jerina Michael
• Purina Animal Nutrition Llc

Inventors

• Gordon Mary Elizabeth
• Lanter Kent J
• Jerina Michael

Classifications

• A23K20/163

  Sugars; Polysaccharides · CPC title

• A23K50/30 Primary

  for swines · CPC title

• A23K40/20

  by moulding, e.g. making cakes or briquettes · CPC title

• Y02P60/877

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• A23K20/174

  Vitamins · CPC title