CA2221934C - Method for making high density combination dry hay and haylage livestock feed - Google Patents
Method for making high density combination dry hay and haylage livestock feed Download PDFInfo
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- CA2221934C CA2221934C CA002221934A CA2221934A CA2221934C CA 2221934 C CA2221934 C CA 2221934C CA 002221934 A CA002221934 A CA 002221934A CA 2221934 A CA2221934 A CA 2221934A CA 2221934 C CA2221934 C CA 2221934C
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23K—FODDER
- A23K40/00—Shaping or working-up of animal feeding-stuffs
- A23K40/20—Shaping or working-up of animal feeding-stuffs by moulding, e.g. making cakes or briquettes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B63/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged
- B65B63/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23N—MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR TREATING HARVESTED FRUIT, VEGETABLES OR FLOWER BULBS IN BULK, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PEELING VEGETABLES OR FRUIT IN BULK; APPARATUS FOR PREPARING ANIMAL FEEDING- STUFFS
- A23N17/00—Apparatus specially adapted for preparing animal feeding-stuffs
- A23N17/007—Apparatus specially adapted for preparing animal feeding-stuffs for mixing feeding-stuff components
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
- A01F15/00—Baling presses for straw, hay or the like
- A01F15/005—Baling presses for straw, hay or the like for conditioning bales, e.g. rebaling
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23K—FODDER
- A23K10/00—Animal feeding-stuffs
- A23K10/10—Animal feeding-stuffs obtained by microbiological or biochemical processes
- A23K10/12—Animal feeding-stuffs obtained by microbiological or biochemical processes by fermentation of natural products, e.g. of vegetable material, animal waste material or biomass
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23K—FODDER
- A23K30/00—Processes specially adapted for preservation of materials in order to produce animal feeding-stuffs
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23K—FODDER
- A23K30/00—Processes specially adapted for preservation of materials in order to produce animal feeding-stuffs
- A23K30/10—Processes specially adapted for preservation of materials in order to produce animal feeding-stuffs of green fodder
- A23K30/15—Processes specially adapted for preservation of materials in order to produce animal feeding-stuffs of green fodder using chemicals or microorganisms for ensilaging
- A23K30/18—Processes specially adapted for preservation of materials in order to produce animal feeding-stuffs of green fodder using chemicals or microorganisms for ensilaging using microorganisms or enzymes
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23K—FODDER
- A23K30/00—Processes specially adapted for preservation of materials in order to produce animal feeding-stuffs
- A23K30/20—Dehydration
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23K—FODDER
- A23K50/00—Feeding-stuffs specially adapted for particular animals
- A23K50/10—Feeding-stuffs specially adapted for particular animals for ruminants
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23K—FODDER
- A23K50/00—Feeding-stuffs specially adapted for particular animals
- A23K50/40—Feeding-stuffs specially adapted for particular animals for carnivorous animals, e.g. cats or dogs
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23K—FODDER
- A23K50/00—Feeding-stuffs specially adapted for particular animals
- A23K50/70—Feeding-stuffs specially adapted for particular animals for birds
- A23K50/75—Feeding-stuffs specially adapted for particular animals for birds for poultry
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23N—MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR TREATING HARVESTED FRUIT, VEGETABLES OR FLOWER BULBS IN BULK, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PEELING VEGETABLES OR FRUIT IN BULK; APPARATUS FOR PREPARING ANIMAL FEEDING- STUFFS
- A23N17/00—Apparatus specially adapted for preparing animal feeding-stuffs
- A23N17/005—Apparatus specially adapted for preparing animal feeding-stuffs for shaping by moulding, extrusion, pressing, e.g. pellet-mills
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
- B65B25/02—Packaging agricultural or horticultural products
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- Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
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- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
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- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
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- Apparatuses For Bulk Treatment Of Fruits And Vegetables And Apparatuses For Preparing Feeds (AREA)
Abstract
A method of making a mixed feed livestock cargo unit suitable for long distance shipping mixes dry fodder with fermented silage in a ratio proportioned to produce a mixed feed product having a net moisture content in the range of from 15% to 40%. The mixed feed product is compressed and then sealed in an airtight bag for shipment. The mixed feed livestock cargo unit has a density in the range of from 500 to 700 kg/m3 and preferably has a weight in the range of from 30 to 50 kilograms.
Description
METHOD FOR MAKING HIGH DENSITY COMBINATION DRY HAY
AND HAYLAGE LIVESTOCK FEED
The present invention pertains to the formulation, packaging and shipping of high density livestock feeds and more particularly to a high density livestock feed comprising fermented fodder, and a method and apparatus for packaging such feed for long distance shipping and handling with minimal spoilage.
Conventionally, livestock fodders have been packaged and stored in a number of different ways. One of the most common is in the form of hay, in which the fodder is cut and sun dried, and then is typically baled. Another common form of livestock feed is silage or haylage, in which feeds such as corn or alfalfa or other hay type crops are cut, chopped and ensiloed in a high moisture condition so as to ferment. Another form of livestock feed is pellets or cubes of fodder that have been finely chopped and extruded -- this form is preserved, stored and shipped in a dry state. Each form of feed has its own advantages and disadvantages.
For long distance shipping, especially overseas, preservability and economical shipability of livestock feed are critical issues. Historically, only dry feeds - hay and cubes or pellets - have met both criteria. Pellets have a relatively high density, and preserve adequately as long as they are kept dry, but are expensive to produce. Baled hay is a somewhat less expensive form of feed, and stores and ships well as long as it is kept dry, but hay is also less dense so its relative shipping cost it higher than for pellets. In the last decade, however, it has become common for hay bales to be double compressed to increase shipping efficiencies. In particular, it has become commonplace to ship double-compressed baled hay from the United States to foreign countries that lack adequate feed production capacity.
In order to be stored as hay, and even more importantly, for long distance shipping, the hay must be thoroughly dried.
Otherwise, the hay can mold, mildew, oxidize and spoil, and can 1 heat and possibly even ignite due to spontaneous combustion. For transoceanic shipping in enclosed cargo containers, the hay should have a moisture content of less than about 12%. Double compressed baled hay typically weighs in the range of 20 to 30 pounds per cubic foot.
Dried hay has several drawbacks. One drawback is that the curing process reduces the feed value of the hay, and the feed value continues to deteriorate gradually over time. Another drawback is that dry hay is not as palatable, nor as digestible, as fresh hay. Pellets and cubes are not any better in this regard.
Livestock fodders have also commonly been stored in the form of silage, such as chopped corn or sorghum, or haylage, which is wet chopped hay. For convenience hereinafter, this type of feed will be referred to collectively as silage, except where haylage is specified. The storage mechanism for silage is entirely different from that of dried hay. The fodder is ensiloed, that is, it is chopped and packed tightly into a silo or storage pit, plastic bag or other sealable container, and is preserved by fermentation. Silage-type feeds must be stored with a very high moisture content, over 40% and preferably around 60% water.
Fermenting the chopped, wet fodder in an essentially air-free environment forms acids and alcohol which aid in preserving the silage.
Silage has several advantages over dry hay. First, the silage method of preserving the feed maintains a very high proportion of the initial nutrient value of the feed. Moreover, the ensiloed feed maintains a high nutrient content for a long period of time. Second, the silage is very palatable and very digestible by livestock. Because it is moist and tender, cattle can chew silage or haylage easily; the feed is very tasty; and it can be digested easily by cattle. Silage-type fodders are, therefore, a very desirable livestock feed, particularly for dairy and feedlot herds.
Silage-type feeds suffer, however, from two main disadvantages. One disadvantage is that, containing a very high percentage of water, such feeds are very heavy as well as bulky, and therefore uneconomical to transport over any significant distance. The other main disadvantage is that silage can spoil within a matter of hours when exposed to the air.
Some livestock feeders have tried blending silage or haylage with dry hay to improve the quality of the feed.
Because the silage can quickly spoil, however, such blending is generally done where the blended feed product is to be consumed. Heretofore, no techniques have been known for packaging and preserving silage-type feeds for economical shipment.
As a result, notwithstanding the significant advantages of silage-type feeds over dried hay pellets and cubes, all transoceanic exports of livestock feeds known to applicants have been in the form of single or double compressed dry hay bales, or in the form of extruded, essentially dry pellets or cubes of hay or silage.
Accordingly, a need remains for a way to package and ship livestock feed which has more of the advantages of both baled hay and silage and fewer of the disadvantages of each type of livestock feed.
Summary of the Invention One aspect of the invention is A livestock mixed feed product cargo unit suitable for long distance shipping comprising:
a mixed feed product of dry fodder and fermented silage, the fodder and silage being proportioned to produce a mixed feed product having a net moisture content in the range of 15% up to 40%, wherein the mixed feed product is compressed to a density in a range of 500 to 700 kilograms per cubic meter; and means for sealing the compressed mixed feed product to exclude air.
AND HAYLAGE LIVESTOCK FEED
The present invention pertains to the formulation, packaging and shipping of high density livestock feeds and more particularly to a high density livestock feed comprising fermented fodder, and a method and apparatus for packaging such feed for long distance shipping and handling with minimal spoilage.
Conventionally, livestock fodders have been packaged and stored in a number of different ways. One of the most common is in the form of hay, in which the fodder is cut and sun dried, and then is typically baled. Another common form of livestock feed is silage or haylage, in which feeds such as corn or alfalfa or other hay type crops are cut, chopped and ensiloed in a high moisture condition so as to ferment. Another form of livestock feed is pellets or cubes of fodder that have been finely chopped and extruded -- this form is preserved, stored and shipped in a dry state. Each form of feed has its own advantages and disadvantages.
For long distance shipping, especially overseas, preservability and economical shipability of livestock feed are critical issues. Historically, only dry feeds - hay and cubes or pellets - have met both criteria. Pellets have a relatively high density, and preserve adequately as long as they are kept dry, but are expensive to produce. Baled hay is a somewhat less expensive form of feed, and stores and ships well as long as it is kept dry, but hay is also less dense so its relative shipping cost it higher than for pellets. In the last decade, however, it has become common for hay bales to be double compressed to increase shipping efficiencies. In particular, it has become commonplace to ship double-compressed baled hay from the United States to foreign countries that lack adequate feed production capacity.
In order to be stored as hay, and even more importantly, for long distance shipping, the hay must be thoroughly dried.
Otherwise, the hay can mold, mildew, oxidize and spoil, and can 1 heat and possibly even ignite due to spontaneous combustion. For transoceanic shipping in enclosed cargo containers, the hay should have a moisture content of less than about 12%. Double compressed baled hay typically weighs in the range of 20 to 30 pounds per cubic foot.
Dried hay has several drawbacks. One drawback is that the curing process reduces the feed value of the hay, and the feed value continues to deteriorate gradually over time. Another drawback is that dry hay is not as palatable, nor as digestible, as fresh hay. Pellets and cubes are not any better in this regard.
Livestock fodders have also commonly been stored in the form of silage, such as chopped corn or sorghum, or haylage, which is wet chopped hay. For convenience hereinafter, this type of feed will be referred to collectively as silage, except where haylage is specified. The storage mechanism for silage is entirely different from that of dried hay. The fodder is ensiloed, that is, it is chopped and packed tightly into a silo or storage pit, plastic bag or other sealable container, and is preserved by fermentation. Silage-type feeds must be stored with a very high moisture content, over 40% and preferably around 60% water.
Fermenting the chopped, wet fodder in an essentially air-free environment forms acids and alcohol which aid in preserving the silage.
Silage has several advantages over dry hay. First, the silage method of preserving the feed maintains a very high proportion of the initial nutrient value of the feed. Moreover, the ensiloed feed maintains a high nutrient content for a long period of time. Second, the silage is very palatable and very digestible by livestock. Because it is moist and tender, cattle can chew silage or haylage easily; the feed is very tasty; and it can be digested easily by cattle. Silage-type fodders are, therefore, a very desirable livestock feed, particularly for dairy and feedlot herds.
Silage-type feeds suffer, however, from two main disadvantages. One disadvantage is that, containing a very high percentage of water, such feeds are very heavy as well as bulky, and therefore uneconomical to transport over any significant distance. The other main disadvantage is that silage can spoil within a matter of hours when exposed to the air.
Some livestock feeders have tried blending silage or haylage with dry hay to improve the quality of the feed.
Because the silage can quickly spoil, however, such blending is generally done where the blended feed product is to be consumed. Heretofore, no techniques have been known for packaging and preserving silage-type feeds for economical shipment.
As a result, notwithstanding the significant advantages of silage-type feeds over dried hay pellets and cubes, all transoceanic exports of livestock feeds known to applicants have been in the form of single or double compressed dry hay bales, or in the form of extruded, essentially dry pellets or cubes of hay or silage.
Accordingly, a need remains for a way to package and ship livestock feed which has more of the advantages of both baled hay and silage and fewer of the disadvantages of each type of livestock feed.
Summary of the Invention One aspect of the invention is A livestock mixed feed product cargo unit suitable for long distance shipping comprising:
a mixed feed product of dry fodder and fermented silage, the fodder and silage being proportioned to produce a mixed feed product having a net moisture content in the range of 15% up to 40%, wherein the mixed feed product is compressed to a density in a range of 500 to 700 kilograms per cubic meter; and means for sealing the compressed mixed feed product to exclude air.
The net moisture of the livestock cargo unit of the present invention is approximately two and half times the moisture content of dry hay and about half of the usual moisture content of silage.
Proportions of dry hay and silage can be varied to control the net moisture percentage of the blended feed product. Optionally, vitamins, minerals or other nutrients can be added to the blended dry fodder and haylage or silage.
The blended feed product is compressed into fixed volume units, which are packaged in durable airtight bags at a density of approximately 650 kilograms per cubic meter. For each of handling, a preferred size of bag is about 0.07 cubic meter, which contain about 45 kg of blended feed product.
The filled bag is preferably airtight, and is evacuated to remove as much oxygen as possible and thereby avoid oxidation of the feed. Alternatively, any oxygen remaining in the bag at the time of closure can be displaced by flashing back with a suitable inert gas, such as C02 or Nz, or a mixture of inert gases.
A second aspect of the invention is a method for making the foregoing feed product. Accordingly, the present invention also provides a method of making a livestock mixed feed cargo unit suitable for long distance shipping, the method comprising:
fermenting fresh hay to form fermented haylage;
mixing dry hay with said fermented haylage in a ratio proportioned to produce a mixed feed product having a net moisture content in the range of 20% up to about 35%;
providing the mixed feed product to a compression apparatus;
compressing the mixed feed product in the compression apparatus; and sealing the compressed mixed feed product in a container for shipment. These components are mixed for a sufficient time to distribute the moisture content of the silage uniformly throughout the blended mixture. In production quantities in a batch process, this mixing requires a residence time in the mixer in the range of 10 to 20 minutes, typically about 15 minutes.
The feed mixture is then metered to a compression apparatus. The feed is ejected from the compression apparatus into a durable watertight and preferably airtight bag, thereby filling the bag with blended compressed hay/silage a density of about 650 kg/m3. The filled bag is then sealed, discharged and stacked.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for making a livestock mixed feed cargo unit suitable for long distance shipping comprising the steps of:
mixing fermented silage having a higher moisture content with dry fodder having a relatively lower moisture content for a sufficient time to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended product into a plurality of fixed volume units; and sealing each of the fixed volume units of blended product in an airtight bag.
The present invention also provides a method for making a mixed livestock feed suitable for long distance shipping comprising the steps of:
mixing fermented haylage having a higher moisture content with dry hay having a relatively lower moisture content for a 4a sufficient time to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended product to a density in the range of 30 to 45 pounds per cubic foot;
and sealing the blended, compressed product in an airtight package.
The present invention also provides a method for making a mixed livestock feed suitable for long distance shipping comprising the steps of: mixing fermented haylage having a higher moisture content with dry hay having a relatively lower moisture content for at least about ten minutes to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended livestock feed product; and sealing the blended, compressed product in an airtight package.
In a final aspect, the present invention provides a method for making a mixed livestock feed suitable for long distance shipping comprising the steps of mixing fermented haylage having a higher moisture content with dry hay having a relatively lower moisture content to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content uniformly distributed in the mixture; compressing the blended livestock feed product; and sealing the blended, compressed product in an airtight package.
Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a system for blending, compacting and packaging dry hay and silage in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 2 is an elevation view taken along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1.
4b FIG. 3A is a side elevation view of the mixer 22, with interior auger details shown in dashed lines.
FIG. 3B is an end elevation view of the mixer of FIG. 3A, showing the axial arrangement of the augers in dashed lines.
FIG.3C is a perspective view of the mixing chamber of FIG. 3A.
FIG. 3D are side elevation views of the different augers shown in the mixer of FIGS. 3A and 3B.
4c 1 FIG. 4A is a top plan view of the press bagger of the system of FIG. 1 and FIGS 4B-4D show progressive stages of operation of the press bagger.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 4A.
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the process for blending, compacting and packaging dry hay and silage in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of an alternative embodiment of the process for blending, compacting and packaging dry hay and silage.
Detailed Description FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of a system 10 of apparatus for implementing the invention. The system 10 comprises hay/silage infeed and mixing apparatus 12, blended hay/silage flow leveling apparatus 14, and compression apparatus 16, together with interconnecting conveyors.
The mixing apparatus 12 comprises a mixer 20 having two input conveyors, a first conveyor 22 for infeeding dry hay and a second conveyor 24 for infeeding silage or haylage.
Optionally, the second conveyor includes an extruder 26 for reducing the liquid content of the input silage before blending.
The input conveyors 22, 24 are conventional horizontal floor drag-type conveyors. The illustrated mixer is a batch-type mixer supported on a scale 21 for weighing the input proportions of dry hay and silage as the mixer is filled. Alternatively, the mixer can be a continuous-type mixer and the input proportions of dry hay and silage can be metered by metering apparatus associated with the input conveyors.
The preferred form of the mixer 20 is shown in FIGS. 3A-3D.
The mixer includes a mixing chamber 70, better seen in FIG. 3C, having an open top, inwardly tapered side walls 72, 74 and parallel end walls 76, 78. A drive housing 80 is mounted on one end wall. Two upper augers 82, 84 and two lower augers 86, 88 are journaled in the opposite end walls 76, 78. The augers are driven by a drive assembly (not shown) in housing 80. The upper augers 82, 84 are spaced along upper portions of side walls 72, 1 74, respectively, and the lower augers 86, 88 are spaced close together at the bottom of mixing chamber 70. The augers are arranged as shown in FIG. 3D to accommodate the introduction of dry hay and silage from the infeed conveyors and to output mixed feed product from the discharge conveyor.
The mixer 20 has an output which discharges via a first transfer conveyor 28 to leveling apparatus 14 which includes a meter box 30. The transfer conveyor 28 is angled upward to discharge the blended feed product into the meter box 30 from above. The meter box 30 meters the blended feed product out to a second transfer conveyor 32. The second transfer conveyor includes a leveler 34 which levels the flow of mixed feed product before relaying the feed product to the compaction and bagging apparatus 16. The second transfer conveyor is otherwise similar to the first transfer conveyor.
The compression apparatus 16 receives the blended feed product and compresses it into a high density block which is then ejected to a bagging apparatus (not shown). The compression apparatus preferably includes apparatus for compressing the blended feed product in three stages, as shown in FIGS. 4A-4D.
The first or precompression stage 40 includes a gravity feed hopper 40 which receives the blended feed product discharged from the second transfer conveyor and a vertical auger system. The vertical auger system includes a pair of augers 42 positioned along one side of the hopper, providing a receiving space 44 for the blended feed product. The receiving space 44 has a width approximately equal to the diameter of the augers. The augers 42 rotate about parallel vertical axes to feed the hay/silage blend downward into a first hydraulic ram compression chamber 48.
The first compression chamber 48 includes a first hydraulic ram 50 that is oriented to operate in a horizontal direction.
Mounted on an actuation rod 51 of ram 50 is a pusher plate 52.
The chamber 48 and pusher plate 52 have a rectangular cross-sectional shape. When the ram is extended as shown in FIG. 4B, the pusher plate 52 sweeps the feed product laterally from beneath the augers 42 into a second, reduced volume compression chamber 54. This action further compresses the blended feed product. The pusher plate includes a top shield 1 plate 53 extending rearward in chamber 48 to keep the augers from feeding more feed down behind the pusher plate when ram 50 is extended.
The second compression chamber 54 leads to a vestibule (not shown). A second hydraulic ram 56 is mounted at one end of chamber 54, oriented horizontally at a right angle to the first hydraulic ram. This chamber is also rectangular and is swept by a rectangular or square pusher plate 58 mounted on the actuation rod 57 of ram 56. When ram 56 is extended, as shown in FIG. 4C, the compressed feed is moved laterally of the first ram into a bagging chamber 60, further described below. Pusher plate 52 serves to enclose one side of chamber 54 during this compression stage, until the pusher plate 58 is retracted, as shown in FIG. 4D. Then pusher plate 52 is retracted.
The bagging chamber 60 includes a gate mechanism 62 and sealing and evacuation apparatus 64 for evacuating the bag as it is being sealed. The gate mechanism includes a pair of ram-actuated sliding gates 66,68 which, when closed, form a side wall of chamber 48 and an end wall of chamber 54. These gates are opened to permit the compressed feed product to be ejected via bagging chamber 60.
The compressor 16 can include a scale (not shown) and controls responsive to these scales, for controlling the flow rate of material through the system, as well as the final weight of the bagged feed product. These controls also sequence the compression and bagging steps described above.
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the blending, compression and bagging process implemented in the above-described apparatus for making the blended hay/silage feed product of the invention. In a first step 110, dry fodder, typically previously-baled hay, is mixed with silage (and/or haylage) in a ratio proportioned to produce a net moisture content in the mixed feed product that is in the range of from 15% to 40%, preferably from 20% to 35% and more preferably about 30%. The moisture content of the input dry hay can be about 8 % up to about 15 % and the input silage can contain 40%-70% moisture. Preferably, the moisture content of the hay is about 12%, and that of the silage about 60%. At these preferred moisture contents, the mixing ratio 62% dry fodder to _7_ 1 38% silage will yield a mixed feed moisture of about 30%. These components are mixed for a sufficient time to distribute the moisture content of the silage uniformly throughout the blended mixture. In production quantities, this requires a residence time in the mixer in the range of 10 to 20 minutes, typically about 15 minutes.
The feed mixture is then metered into a compression apparatus. The metering step 112 includes a volumetrically constant metering of the blended feed product, which can be gated by a weight measurement indicated at step 114. A scale measures the weight of feed product as it accumulates in the compression apparatus, and turns off the infeed once a predetermined weight is achieved, e.g., about 45 kg.
The compression apparatus is preferably designed to provide a multi-stage compaction of the feed mixture, as described above and as indicated in FIG. 6 by steps 116, 118, 120, but is not so limited in this process. The blended hay/silage feed mixture is input to the compression apparatus at a density of approximately 265 kg/m3 and preferably compressed to a density of 500-700 kg/m3, and most preferably about 650 kg/m3. A packed density of about 650 kg/m3 is preferred since a mixture of hay and haylage having this density substantially fills a standard overseas shipping container at about its weight limit.
In the last stage of compression, shown as step 120, the compressed feed product is compacted into a watertight bag. In the preferred embodiment of the process shown in FIG. 6, this bag is also airtight. The filled bag is vacuum sealed in step 122, and then discharged and stacked in steps 124 and 126.
The filled airtight bag is evacuated in step 122 to remove as much oxygen as possible and thereby avoid oxidation of the feed. Alternatively, any oxygen remaining in the bag at the time of closure can be displaced by flashing back with a suitable inert gas, such as C02 or N2, or a mixture of inert gases. It is found that it may not be necessary to displace oxygen from the bag by evacuating or replacement. The limited amount of oxygen remaining in the bag sealed with a dense mixture of hay and silage is rapidly consumed by the mixture without damage and then _g_ 1 no further spoilage, molding or the like occurs as long as the bag remains undamaged.
Preferably, the cargo units of mixed hay and silage having a moisture content in the range of from 15% to 40% have a weight in the order of 45 kilograms or in the range of from 40 to 50 kilograms. A package of this size can be readily handled manually or with loading and unloading equipment customarily employed at docks and at feedlots where the product is used.
Thus, the airtight bag is much less likely to be damaged in handling.
As an alternative to the compressing and bagging described and illustrated, one may form a blend of hay and silage as described and press the mixture into dense bales which are tied with twine. The dense bales may then be inserted into plastic bags and sealed to avoid spoilage.
Referring to FIG. 7, steps 110 through 120 are identical to the same steps in FIG. 6, except that an airtight bag is not used and is not evacuated before sealing. This alternative embodiment uses a gas permeable bag to contain the compressed blend of forage materials.
After filling, the bag is closed (step 130) and a plurality of the filled closed bags are stacked in a larger airtight shipping container (step 132). The entire container is preferably evacuated in step 134 but, alternatively, the oxygen can be displaced therefrom by an inert gas.
Although it is preferred to package the blend of hay and haylage in plastic bags having a weight up to about 50 kg, appreciably larger sizes may also be used. For example, the mixed feed product may be packaged in bales having a weight of about 500 kg and a size suitable for substantially filling the cross section of a standard container with four stacked bales.
These bales can be contained in larger airtight bags to prevent spoilage of the high moisture content mixture.
The invention solves a number of problems in the prior art. It provides a very palatable, digestible and nutritious blended feed product. The haylage or silage moistens the dry fodder to make it more palatable and digestible, and contributes a high nutrient value to the blended product. The _g_ 1 dry fodder reduces the moisture content of the overall blend of feed product, and increases the overall net feed content on a per gross ton basis well above that provided by conventional haylage or silage. At 650 kg/m3 and 30% moisture content, the total dry matter content per cubic foot rivals that of the dense, double compressed hay, making it economical to ship as well as a more desirable feed product. Airtignt packaging the blended feed product in a highly compacted condition, with a relatively high moisture content contributed by the silage, and little, if any, residual oxygen, minimizes oxidation and avoids spoilage and heating of the feed product.
An important advantage of the invention is that it retains a relatively long-fiber length in the feed product. In contrast, cubing dry hay reduces the fiber length of the hay to under 10 cm.
Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles.
Proportions of dry hay and silage can be varied to control the net moisture percentage of the blended feed product. Optionally, vitamins, minerals or other nutrients can be added to the blended dry fodder and haylage or silage.
The blended feed product is compressed into fixed volume units, which are packaged in durable airtight bags at a density of approximately 650 kilograms per cubic meter. For each of handling, a preferred size of bag is about 0.07 cubic meter, which contain about 45 kg of blended feed product.
The filled bag is preferably airtight, and is evacuated to remove as much oxygen as possible and thereby avoid oxidation of the feed. Alternatively, any oxygen remaining in the bag at the time of closure can be displaced by flashing back with a suitable inert gas, such as C02 or Nz, or a mixture of inert gases.
A second aspect of the invention is a method for making the foregoing feed product. Accordingly, the present invention also provides a method of making a livestock mixed feed cargo unit suitable for long distance shipping, the method comprising:
fermenting fresh hay to form fermented haylage;
mixing dry hay with said fermented haylage in a ratio proportioned to produce a mixed feed product having a net moisture content in the range of 20% up to about 35%;
providing the mixed feed product to a compression apparatus;
compressing the mixed feed product in the compression apparatus; and sealing the compressed mixed feed product in a container for shipment. These components are mixed for a sufficient time to distribute the moisture content of the silage uniformly throughout the blended mixture. In production quantities in a batch process, this mixing requires a residence time in the mixer in the range of 10 to 20 minutes, typically about 15 minutes.
The feed mixture is then metered to a compression apparatus. The feed is ejected from the compression apparatus into a durable watertight and preferably airtight bag, thereby filling the bag with blended compressed hay/silage a density of about 650 kg/m3. The filled bag is then sealed, discharged and stacked.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for making a livestock mixed feed cargo unit suitable for long distance shipping comprising the steps of:
mixing fermented silage having a higher moisture content with dry fodder having a relatively lower moisture content for a sufficient time to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended product into a plurality of fixed volume units; and sealing each of the fixed volume units of blended product in an airtight bag.
The present invention also provides a method for making a mixed livestock feed suitable for long distance shipping comprising the steps of:
mixing fermented haylage having a higher moisture content with dry hay having a relatively lower moisture content for a 4a sufficient time to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended product to a density in the range of 30 to 45 pounds per cubic foot;
and sealing the blended, compressed product in an airtight package.
The present invention also provides a method for making a mixed livestock feed suitable for long distance shipping comprising the steps of: mixing fermented haylage having a higher moisture content with dry hay having a relatively lower moisture content for at least about ten minutes to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended livestock feed product; and sealing the blended, compressed product in an airtight package.
In a final aspect, the present invention provides a method for making a mixed livestock feed suitable for long distance shipping comprising the steps of mixing fermented haylage having a higher moisture content with dry hay having a relatively lower moisture content to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content uniformly distributed in the mixture; compressing the blended livestock feed product; and sealing the blended, compressed product in an airtight package.
Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a system for blending, compacting and packaging dry hay and silage in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 2 is an elevation view taken along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1.
4b FIG. 3A is a side elevation view of the mixer 22, with interior auger details shown in dashed lines.
FIG. 3B is an end elevation view of the mixer of FIG. 3A, showing the axial arrangement of the augers in dashed lines.
FIG.3C is a perspective view of the mixing chamber of FIG. 3A.
FIG. 3D are side elevation views of the different augers shown in the mixer of FIGS. 3A and 3B.
4c 1 FIG. 4A is a top plan view of the press bagger of the system of FIG. 1 and FIGS 4B-4D show progressive stages of operation of the press bagger.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 4A.
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the process for blending, compacting and packaging dry hay and silage in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of an alternative embodiment of the process for blending, compacting and packaging dry hay and silage.
Detailed Description FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of a system 10 of apparatus for implementing the invention. The system 10 comprises hay/silage infeed and mixing apparatus 12, blended hay/silage flow leveling apparatus 14, and compression apparatus 16, together with interconnecting conveyors.
The mixing apparatus 12 comprises a mixer 20 having two input conveyors, a first conveyor 22 for infeeding dry hay and a second conveyor 24 for infeeding silage or haylage.
Optionally, the second conveyor includes an extruder 26 for reducing the liquid content of the input silage before blending.
The input conveyors 22, 24 are conventional horizontal floor drag-type conveyors. The illustrated mixer is a batch-type mixer supported on a scale 21 for weighing the input proportions of dry hay and silage as the mixer is filled. Alternatively, the mixer can be a continuous-type mixer and the input proportions of dry hay and silage can be metered by metering apparatus associated with the input conveyors.
The preferred form of the mixer 20 is shown in FIGS. 3A-3D.
The mixer includes a mixing chamber 70, better seen in FIG. 3C, having an open top, inwardly tapered side walls 72, 74 and parallel end walls 76, 78. A drive housing 80 is mounted on one end wall. Two upper augers 82, 84 and two lower augers 86, 88 are journaled in the opposite end walls 76, 78. The augers are driven by a drive assembly (not shown) in housing 80. The upper augers 82, 84 are spaced along upper portions of side walls 72, 1 74, respectively, and the lower augers 86, 88 are spaced close together at the bottom of mixing chamber 70. The augers are arranged as shown in FIG. 3D to accommodate the introduction of dry hay and silage from the infeed conveyors and to output mixed feed product from the discharge conveyor.
The mixer 20 has an output which discharges via a first transfer conveyor 28 to leveling apparatus 14 which includes a meter box 30. The transfer conveyor 28 is angled upward to discharge the blended feed product into the meter box 30 from above. The meter box 30 meters the blended feed product out to a second transfer conveyor 32. The second transfer conveyor includes a leveler 34 which levels the flow of mixed feed product before relaying the feed product to the compaction and bagging apparatus 16. The second transfer conveyor is otherwise similar to the first transfer conveyor.
The compression apparatus 16 receives the blended feed product and compresses it into a high density block which is then ejected to a bagging apparatus (not shown). The compression apparatus preferably includes apparatus for compressing the blended feed product in three stages, as shown in FIGS. 4A-4D.
The first or precompression stage 40 includes a gravity feed hopper 40 which receives the blended feed product discharged from the second transfer conveyor and a vertical auger system. The vertical auger system includes a pair of augers 42 positioned along one side of the hopper, providing a receiving space 44 for the blended feed product. The receiving space 44 has a width approximately equal to the diameter of the augers. The augers 42 rotate about parallel vertical axes to feed the hay/silage blend downward into a first hydraulic ram compression chamber 48.
The first compression chamber 48 includes a first hydraulic ram 50 that is oriented to operate in a horizontal direction.
Mounted on an actuation rod 51 of ram 50 is a pusher plate 52.
The chamber 48 and pusher plate 52 have a rectangular cross-sectional shape. When the ram is extended as shown in FIG. 4B, the pusher plate 52 sweeps the feed product laterally from beneath the augers 42 into a second, reduced volume compression chamber 54. This action further compresses the blended feed product. The pusher plate includes a top shield 1 plate 53 extending rearward in chamber 48 to keep the augers from feeding more feed down behind the pusher plate when ram 50 is extended.
The second compression chamber 54 leads to a vestibule (not shown). A second hydraulic ram 56 is mounted at one end of chamber 54, oriented horizontally at a right angle to the first hydraulic ram. This chamber is also rectangular and is swept by a rectangular or square pusher plate 58 mounted on the actuation rod 57 of ram 56. When ram 56 is extended, as shown in FIG. 4C, the compressed feed is moved laterally of the first ram into a bagging chamber 60, further described below. Pusher plate 52 serves to enclose one side of chamber 54 during this compression stage, until the pusher plate 58 is retracted, as shown in FIG. 4D. Then pusher plate 52 is retracted.
The bagging chamber 60 includes a gate mechanism 62 and sealing and evacuation apparatus 64 for evacuating the bag as it is being sealed. The gate mechanism includes a pair of ram-actuated sliding gates 66,68 which, when closed, form a side wall of chamber 48 and an end wall of chamber 54. These gates are opened to permit the compressed feed product to be ejected via bagging chamber 60.
The compressor 16 can include a scale (not shown) and controls responsive to these scales, for controlling the flow rate of material through the system, as well as the final weight of the bagged feed product. These controls also sequence the compression and bagging steps described above.
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the blending, compression and bagging process implemented in the above-described apparatus for making the blended hay/silage feed product of the invention. In a first step 110, dry fodder, typically previously-baled hay, is mixed with silage (and/or haylage) in a ratio proportioned to produce a net moisture content in the mixed feed product that is in the range of from 15% to 40%, preferably from 20% to 35% and more preferably about 30%. The moisture content of the input dry hay can be about 8 % up to about 15 % and the input silage can contain 40%-70% moisture. Preferably, the moisture content of the hay is about 12%, and that of the silage about 60%. At these preferred moisture contents, the mixing ratio 62% dry fodder to _7_ 1 38% silage will yield a mixed feed moisture of about 30%. These components are mixed for a sufficient time to distribute the moisture content of the silage uniformly throughout the blended mixture. In production quantities, this requires a residence time in the mixer in the range of 10 to 20 minutes, typically about 15 minutes.
The feed mixture is then metered into a compression apparatus. The metering step 112 includes a volumetrically constant metering of the blended feed product, which can be gated by a weight measurement indicated at step 114. A scale measures the weight of feed product as it accumulates in the compression apparatus, and turns off the infeed once a predetermined weight is achieved, e.g., about 45 kg.
The compression apparatus is preferably designed to provide a multi-stage compaction of the feed mixture, as described above and as indicated in FIG. 6 by steps 116, 118, 120, but is not so limited in this process. The blended hay/silage feed mixture is input to the compression apparatus at a density of approximately 265 kg/m3 and preferably compressed to a density of 500-700 kg/m3, and most preferably about 650 kg/m3. A packed density of about 650 kg/m3 is preferred since a mixture of hay and haylage having this density substantially fills a standard overseas shipping container at about its weight limit.
In the last stage of compression, shown as step 120, the compressed feed product is compacted into a watertight bag. In the preferred embodiment of the process shown in FIG. 6, this bag is also airtight. The filled bag is vacuum sealed in step 122, and then discharged and stacked in steps 124 and 126.
The filled airtight bag is evacuated in step 122 to remove as much oxygen as possible and thereby avoid oxidation of the feed. Alternatively, any oxygen remaining in the bag at the time of closure can be displaced by flashing back with a suitable inert gas, such as C02 or N2, or a mixture of inert gases. It is found that it may not be necessary to displace oxygen from the bag by evacuating or replacement. The limited amount of oxygen remaining in the bag sealed with a dense mixture of hay and silage is rapidly consumed by the mixture without damage and then _g_ 1 no further spoilage, molding or the like occurs as long as the bag remains undamaged.
Preferably, the cargo units of mixed hay and silage having a moisture content in the range of from 15% to 40% have a weight in the order of 45 kilograms or in the range of from 40 to 50 kilograms. A package of this size can be readily handled manually or with loading and unloading equipment customarily employed at docks and at feedlots where the product is used.
Thus, the airtight bag is much less likely to be damaged in handling.
As an alternative to the compressing and bagging described and illustrated, one may form a blend of hay and silage as described and press the mixture into dense bales which are tied with twine. The dense bales may then be inserted into plastic bags and sealed to avoid spoilage.
Referring to FIG. 7, steps 110 through 120 are identical to the same steps in FIG. 6, except that an airtight bag is not used and is not evacuated before sealing. This alternative embodiment uses a gas permeable bag to contain the compressed blend of forage materials.
After filling, the bag is closed (step 130) and a plurality of the filled closed bags are stacked in a larger airtight shipping container (step 132). The entire container is preferably evacuated in step 134 but, alternatively, the oxygen can be displaced therefrom by an inert gas.
Although it is preferred to package the blend of hay and haylage in plastic bags having a weight up to about 50 kg, appreciably larger sizes may also be used. For example, the mixed feed product may be packaged in bales having a weight of about 500 kg and a size suitable for substantially filling the cross section of a standard container with four stacked bales.
These bales can be contained in larger airtight bags to prevent spoilage of the high moisture content mixture.
The invention solves a number of problems in the prior art. It provides a very palatable, digestible and nutritious blended feed product. The haylage or silage moistens the dry fodder to make it more palatable and digestible, and contributes a high nutrient value to the blended product. The _g_ 1 dry fodder reduces the moisture content of the overall blend of feed product, and increases the overall net feed content on a per gross ton basis well above that provided by conventional haylage or silage. At 650 kg/m3 and 30% moisture content, the total dry matter content per cubic foot rivals that of the dense, double compressed hay, making it economical to ship as well as a more desirable feed product. Airtignt packaging the blended feed product in a highly compacted condition, with a relatively high moisture content contributed by the silage, and little, if any, residual oxygen, minimizes oxidation and avoids spoilage and heating of the feed product.
An important advantage of the invention is that it retains a relatively long-fiber length in the feed product. In contrast, cubing dry hay reduces the fiber length of the hay to under 10 cm.
Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles.
Claims (34)
1. A method of making a livestock mixed feed cargo unit suitable for long distance shipping, the method comprising:
fermenting fresh hay to form fermented haylage;
mixing dry hay with said fermented haylage in a ratio proportioned to produce a mixed feed product having a net moisture content in the range of 20% up to about 35%;
providing the mixed feed product to a compression apparatus;
compressing the mixed feed product in the compression apparatus; and sealing the compressed mixed feed product in a container for shipment.
fermenting fresh hay to form fermented haylage;
mixing dry hay with said fermented haylage in a ratio proportioned to produce a mixed feed product having a net moisture content in the range of 20% up to about 35%;
providing the mixed feed product to a compression apparatus;
compressing the mixed feed product in the compression apparatus; and sealing the compressed mixed feed product in a container for shipment.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing the mixed feed product to a compression apparatus includes metering the mixed feed product to the compression apparatus so as to provide a volumetrically constant supply of mixed feed product to the compression apparatus.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the step of providing the mixed feed product to a compression apparatus further includes detecting the weight of the mixed feed product and ceasing to provide further mixed feed product to the compression apparatus once a predetermined weight of mixed feed product is detected.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of compressing the mixed feed product in the compression apparatus includes compressing the mixed feed product to a density of 30 up to about 45 pounds per cubic foot.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of compressing the mixed feed product in the compression apparatus includes:
precompressing the mixed feed product;
compressing the mixed feed product along a first axis; and compressing the mixed feed product along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.
precompressing the mixed feed product;
compressing the mixed feed product along a first axis; and compressing the mixed feed product along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of sealing the compressed mixed feed product for shipment includes:
compacting the compressed mixed feed product into an airtight bag; and vacuum sealing the airtight bag.
compacting the compressed mixed feed product into an airtight bag; and vacuum sealing the airtight bag.
7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the step of vacuum sealing the airtight bag includes flashing back the airtight bag with an inert gas.
8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of sealing the compressed mixed feed product for shipment includes:
compacting the compressed mixed feed product into a gas permeable bag;
closing the gas permeable bag;
stacking a plurality of the closed gas permeable bags in an airtight shipping container;
closing the airtight shipping container; and evacuating the oxygen from the airtight shipping container.
compacting the compressed mixed feed product into a gas permeable bag;
closing the gas permeable bag;
stacking a plurality of the closed gas permeable bags in an airtight shipping container;
closing the airtight shipping container; and evacuating the oxygen from the airtight shipping container.
9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the step of evacuating the oxygen includes flashing back the airtight shipping container with an inert gas.
10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the dry hay has a moisture content of 8% up to about 15% and the fermented haylage has a moisture content of 40% up to about 70%.
11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the dry hay has a moisture content of about 12% and the fermented haylage has a moisture content of about 60%.
12. A method according to claim 1 in which the sealing step includes displacing oxygen from the container.
13. A method for making a livestock mixed feed cargo unit suitable for long distance shipping comprising the steps of:
mixing fermented silage having a higher moisture content with dry fodder having a relatively lower moisture content for a sufficient time to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended product into a plurality of fixed volume units; and sealing each of the fixed volume units of blended product in an airtight bag.
mixing fermented silage having a higher moisture content with dry fodder having a relatively lower moisture content for a sufficient time to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended product into a plurality of fixed volume units; and sealing each of the fixed volume units of blended product in an airtight bag.
14. A method according to claim 13 wherein each fixed volume unit has a weight of about one hundred pounds.
15. A method according to claim 13 wherein each fixed volume unit has a volume of about 2.5 cubic feet.
16. A method according to claim 13 comprising compressing the blended product to a density in the range of 30 to 45 pounds per cubic foot.
17. A method according to claim 13 comprising mixing the silage and the dry fodder for a time in the range of 10 to 20 minutes.
18. A method according to claim 13 comprising removing oxygen from the blended product before sealing the bag.
19. A method according to claim 13 wherein sufficient amounts of the silage and the dry fodder are mixed to produce a moisture content in the range of 20 to 35% in the blended product.
20. A method according to claim 13 wherein the silage comprises haylage and the dry fodder comprises dry hay.
21. A method for making a mixed livestock feed suitable for long distance shipping comprising the steps of:
mixing fermented haylage having a higher moisture content with dry hay having a relatively lower moisture content for a sufficient time to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended product to a density in the range of 30 to 45 pounds per cubic foot;
and sealing the blended, compressed product in an airtight package.
mixing fermented haylage having a higher moisture content with dry hay having a relatively lower moisture content for a sufficient time to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended product to a density in the range of 30 to 45 pounds per cubic foot;
and sealing the blended, compressed product in an airtight package.
22. A method according to claim 21 comprising compressing the blended product to a density of 40 pounds per cubic foot.
23. A method according to claim 21 wherein sufficient haylage and dry hay are mixed to produce a moisture content in the range of 20 to 35% in the blended product.
24. A method according to claim 21 wherein the airtight package has a volume of about 2.5 cubic feet.
25. A method for making a mixed livestock feed suitable for long distance shipping comprising the steps of:
mixing fermented haylage having a higher moisture content with dry hay having a relatively lower moisture content for at least about ten minutes to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended livestock feed product;
and sealing the blended, compressed product in an airtight package.
mixing fermented haylage having a higher moisture content with dry hay having a relatively lower moisture content for at least about ten minutes to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended livestock feed product;
and sealing the blended, compressed product in an airtight package.
26. A method according to claim 25 comprising compressing the blended product to a density in the range of 30 to 45 pounds per cubic foot.
27. A method for making a mixed livestock feed suitable for long distance shipping comprising the steps of:
mixing fermented haylage having a higher moisture content with dry hay having a relatively lower moisture content to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content uniformly distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended livestock feed product;
and sealing the blended, compressed product in an airtight package.
mixing fermented haylage having a higher moisture content with dry hay having a relatively lower moisture content to produce a blended product having an intermediate moisture content uniformly distributed in the mixture;
compressing the blended livestock feed product;
and sealing the blended, compressed product in an airtight package.
28. A method according to claim 27 comprising compressing the blended product to a density in the range of 30 to 45 pounds per cubic foot.
29. A method according to claim 27 wherein sufficient haylage and dry hay are mixed to produce a moisture content in the range of 20 to 35% in the blended product.
30. A method according to claim 27 wherein the airtight package has a volume of about 2.5 cubic feet.
31. A livestock mixed feed product cargo unit suitable for long distance shipping comprising:
a mixed feed product of dry fodder and fermented silage, the fodder and silage being proportioned to produce a mixed feed product having a net moisture content in the range of 15% up to 40%, wherein the mixed feed product is compressed to a density in a range of 500 to 700 kilograms per cubic meter; and means for sealing the compressed mixed feed product to exclude air.
a mixed feed product of dry fodder and fermented silage, the fodder and silage being proportioned to produce a mixed feed product having a net moisture content in the range of 15% up to 40%, wherein the mixed feed product is compressed to a density in a range of 500 to 700 kilograms per cubic meter; and means for sealing the compressed mixed feed product to exclude air.
32. A livestock mixed feed product cargo unit according to claim 31 wherein the means for sealing the compressed mixed feed product includes a sealed airtight bag.
33. A livestock mixed feed product cargo unit according to claim 31 having a weight in the range of from 40 to 50 kilograms.
34. A livestock mixed feed product cargo unit according to any one of claims 31, 32 or 33 wherein the dry fodder comprises hay and the fermented silage comprises haylage.
Priority Applications (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP9321504A JP2966383B2 (en) | 1997-11-21 | 1997-11-21 | Mixed feed livestock loading unit |
| CA002221934A CA2221934C (en) | 1997-11-21 | 1997-11-24 | Method for making high density combination dry hay and haylage livestock feed |
| AU45356/97A AU690503B1 (en) | 1997-11-21 | 1997-11-24 | Method for making high density combination dry hay and haylage livestock feed |
| CN97126002A CN1217891A (en) | 1997-11-21 | 1997-11-24 | High density combination dry hay and haylage livestock feed |
| KR1019970062465A KR100264812B1 (en) | 1997-11-21 | 1997-11-24 | High density combination dry hay and haylage livestock feed |
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP9321504A JP2966383B2 (en) | 1997-11-21 | 1997-11-21 | Mixed feed livestock loading unit |
| CA002221934A CA2221934C (en) | 1997-11-21 | 1997-11-24 | Method for making high density combination dry hay and haylage livestock feed |
| AU45356/97A AU690503B1 (en) | 1997-11-21 | 1997-11-24 | Method for making high density combination dry hay and haylage livestock feed |
| CN97126002A CN1217891A (en) | 1997-11-21 | 1997-11-24 | High density combination dry hay and haylage livestock feed |
| KR1019970062465A KR100264812B1 (en) | 1997-11-21 | 1997-11-24 | High density combination dry hay and haylage livestock feed |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2221934A1 CA2221934A1 (en) | 1999-05-24 |
| CA2221934C true CA2221934C (en) | 2002-02-12 |
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Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002221934A Expired - Fee Related CA2221934C (en) | 1997-11-21 | 1997-11-24 | Method for making high density combination dry hay and haylage livestock feed |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP2966383B2 (en) |
| KR (1) | KR100264812B1 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1217891A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU690503B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2221934C (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KR100416157B1 (en) * | 2001-12-29 | 2004-01-24 | 권칠성 | The corn silage with pineapple and the producing method of thereof |
| FR2944190A1 (en) * | 2009-04-09 | 2010-10-15 | Hubert Thirouin | VEGETABLE BASED FOOD COMPOSITION FOR ANIMALS |
| CN102318729B (en) * | 2011-07-29 | 2014-02-26 | 林善斌 | Method and equipment for preparing low-moisture silage |
| CN103798555A (en) * | 2013-07-23 | 2014-05-21 | 济南润旺生物科技有限公司 | Ensilage grass storage method |
| CN105775265B (en) * | 2016-05-26 | 2018-02-16 | 福建省三明杰锐机械自动化有限公司 | A kind of automatic compressing-packing machine of the bio-matrix of convenient and efficient |
| CN107223997A (en) * | 2017-06-30 | 2017-10-03 | 浙江省德清县鸿利饲料有限公司 | Feed manufacturing streamline |
| CN112657399B (en) * | 2020-12-01 | 2022-11-29 | 江苏康世源药业有限公司 | Clap powder mixing arrangement of covering formula hollow stalk forage |
| CN113558262B (en) * | 2021-07-24 | 2022-05-13 | 山东双鹤机械制造股份有限公司 | Environment-friendly straw feed manufacturing equipment |
| CN113876005A (en) * | 2021-11-04 | 2022-01-04 | 浙江海洋大学 | Aquaculture bait processing device and using method thereof |
| CN115868315B (en) * | 2023-01-04 | 2023-05-23 | 九方泰禾国际重工(青岛)股份有限公司 | Self-propelled wheat silage harvester |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3584428A (en) * | 1966-11-08 | 1971-06-15 | David C Falk | Method and apparatus for processing silage and the like |
| US3818955A (en) * | 1972-08-28 | 1974-06-25 | J Kline | Apparatus and method for harvesting forage |
-
1997
- 1997-11-21 JP JP9321504A patent/JP2966383B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-11-24 KR KR1019970062465A patent/KR100264812B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1997-11-24 CN CN97126002A patent/CN1217891A/en active Pending
- 1997-11-24 AU AU45356/97A patent/AU690503B1/en not_active Ceased
- 1997-11-24 CA CA002221934A patent/CA2221934C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2221934A1 (en) | 1999-05-24 |
| AU690503B1 (en) | 1998-04-23 |
| KR19990041807A (en) | 1999-06-15 |
| JP2966383B2 (en) | 1999-10-25 |
| KR100264812B1 (en) | 2000-10-02 |
| JPH11168957A (en) | 1999-06-29 |
| CN1217891A (en) | 1999-06-02 |
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