GB2271708A

GB2271708A - Horse feed

Info

Publication number: GB2271708A
Application number: GB9321462A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sarah Gillian Roberts
Original assignee: BURGESS ENDEAVOUR PLC
Current assignee: BURGESS ENDEAVOUR PLC
Priority date: 1992-10-20
Filing date: 1993-10-18
Publication date: 1994-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 2013-10-18
Also published as: GB2271708B; GB9321462D0

Abstract

A softenable nugget for use as a horse feed, which includes at least about 35% by weight in total of cereal, having an aperture extending through from one side to its opposite side. The nugget is generally rounded in cross-section when viewed along the axis defined by the aperture. The nugget can be made extruding a mix, which comprises at least about 35% by weight barley and at least about 50% by weight in total of cereal, through a die around a member which is located relative to the die such that the extrudate has a bore extending along its length.

Description

HORSE FEED The present invention relates to a softenable nugget for use as a horse feed, and to a method of making horse feed.

Horse feed is commonly prepared in the form of nuggets (sometimes also referred to as nuts, nutlets, cobs and pellets) which are generally intended to be softened by soaking in liquid, especially water. The nuggets are formed from a mix with a significant proportion of a starch component, for example with a high cereal content of which a significant portion can provided by wheat or barley. For example, a horse feed might comprise about 90% by weight barley, or about 40% by weight barley, 25% by weight wheat and 15% by weight soya beans. Other components which can be added to the mix including for example molasses, linseed oil and nutrients such as minerals, vitamins and trace elements. The process by which nuggets are made generally includes a step in which the starch in the mix is gelatinised, which results in hardening of the nugget.

Horses are recognised as being fussy as to the way in which their feed is prepared. It has been found that many horses can be sensitive to the ingredients of the mix from which nuggets are formed, the size and density of the nuggets, and the extent to which they soften as a result of the soaking process. In particular, horses can like their nuggets to be relatively large, so that there is a large surface area from which they can sense tastes and aromas of the nuggets. However, because the chewing action of a horse involves lateral relative movement of the jaws, rather than vertical movement, horses can frequently reject nugget food which is not sufficiently soft.

It has been found that the problem of rejection of nuggets because of hardness is particularly great in the case of large nuggets.

It has been suggested that the requirement of horses to be supplied with nuggets having a particularly desired softness and size might be related to the nature of the chewing action of a horse. This action is to be distinguished from that of carnivorous animals, such as cats and dogs.

The present invention provides softenable nuggets, which have an aperture extending through them from one side to the opposite side.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides a softenable nugget for use as a horse feed, which includes at least about 35% by weight in total of cereal, having an aperture extending through from one side to its opposite side.

The nugget provided by the present invention has the advantage that it can be made in sizes which are large enough to be palatable to a horse, while also being capable of softening as a result of a soaking process, the softening taking place over a period of time which is comparable to that used conventionally when horse feed nuggets are soaked. It has been found that the nuggets provided by the present invention, when soaked in this way, are more palatable when provided to horses.

It is believed that the increased palatability of the nuggets arises from the presence of the aperture extending through the nuggets, which gives rise to a texture which is appealing to the horse, after the nuggets have been soaked in a fluid to cause them to soften. It has also been found that the invention allows nuggets to be made in relatively large sizes in order to maximise aromas and tastes of the nuggets, without sacrificing to an unacceptable degree the ability of the nuggets to soften quickly when soaked in water.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making a horse feed, comprising extruding a mix, which comprises at least about 35% by weight barley and at least about 50% by weight in total of cereal, through a die around a member which is located relative to the die such that the extrudate has a bore extending along its length.

The nuggets provided by the present invention can be rounded in cross-section when viewed along the axis defined by the aperture. This can be achieved by using a die which is appropriately rounded, for example circular. The nuggets can have other shapes in cross-section, for example rectangular, diamond-shape and triangular, by selection of an appropriate die.

A die can have formed in it a number of die openings, having at least two differing shapes, to make nuggets with a range of configurations. For example, the die might have more than one of circular, elliptical, square, rectangular, diamond-shaped, and star-shaped openings. In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of making of making animal feed nuggets, comprising extruding a mix for the nuggets through a die, the die having a plurality of openings in it, there being openings in the die having at least two different shapes. The nuggets made by this method are believed to especially suitable for consumption by a number of animals, including especially horses.

The aperture in the nugget can have the same shape as the nugget itself when viewed in cross-section. However, the shape of a nugget can differ from that of the aperture in it, if desired.

Preferably, the value of the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the nugget, viewed along the axis defined by the aperture, to the cross-sectional area of the aperture, is greater than about 4. More preferably, the value of this ratio is greater than about 6, especially greater than about 8.

Preferably, the value of the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the nugget, viewed along the axis defined by the aperture, to the cross-sectional area of the aperture, is less than about 20. More preferably, the value of the ratio is less than about 15, especially less than about 12.

Preferably, the thickness of the material of the nugget, measured from the outside surface of the nugget to the surface of the nugget which defines the aperture, is less than about 8 mm. More preferably, the said wall thickness is less than about 6 mm.

Preferably, the transverse dimension of the nugget in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis defined by the aperture, is at least about 8 mm. More preferably, the transverse dimension is greater than about 10 mm. For these purposes, the relevant dimension is approximately equal to the diameter of a circle which can be fitted within boundary of the nugget when viewed in cross-section, excluding any localised indentations, cracks, depressions or hollows.

Preferably, the transverse dimension of the nugget, measured in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis defined by the aperture, is less than about 40 mm. More preferably, the transverse dimension is greater than about 25 mm. For these purposes, the relevant dimension is approximately equal to the diameter of a circle in which the nugget can be fitted when viewed in cross-section, excluding any localised protrusion or bump.

It has been found that, by selecting the configuration of the nugget, and of the aperture extending through the nugget, within these limits, nuggets can be prepared which are particularly acceptable to horses, and which can be subjected to a soaking process in an acceptable period of time.

The mix from which horse feed is made, according to the technique of the present invention, includes at least about 35% by weight in total of cereal, preferably at least about 50%, especially at least about 75%. Of this, at least about 35% by weight of the total weight of the mix can be provided by barley, and in some situations at least about 65%. Other cereals can be included in the mix, together with the barley, providing the total weight of cereal. For example, other cereals which might be included in the mix include wheat, maize, oats, sorghum and vegetable products such as beans, especially soya beans.

Other ingredients of the mix can include, for example, linseed oil, molasses, limestone derivatives, and vitamin, trace element and mineral nutritional additives.

Preferably, the mix used to make nuggets in accordance with the present invention includes molasses in an amount of at least 2.5% by weight, for example at least about 3.5% by weight, of the mix.

The mix used to make nuggets in accordance with the present invention will preferably contain less than about 6% by weight of animal-derived protein matter. It is particularly preferred that the mix less than 3% by weight, especially no, or substantially no, animal-derived protein matter.

The method of the invention can include a step of cutting the extrudate into pieces. The extrudate will commonly be cut across the extrusion axis, generally approximately perpendicular to that axis. The cutting step results in the production of nuggets from the extrudate.

Preferably, the method of the invention includes the step of drying the extrudate so that its moisture content is less than about 18%. More preferably, the drying step results in the moisture content of less than about 15%, especially less than about 12%. The drying of the extruder can be achieved for example by exposure of the extrudate to a stream of a drying medium, for example a stream of air.

The extrudate may be dried by exposing it to heat, for example in an oven, or by exposing it to a stream of heated drying medium such as heated air.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a flow diagram showing steps in the method of making nuggets in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an end view of a die for use in an extruder for making horse feed in accordance with the present invention; and Figures 3a and 3b are end and side elevations respectively of a nugget.

Referring to the drawings, and to the flow diagram of Figure 1, raw materials from which a mix for a nugget can be made are supplied from silos 2 to a mixing device 4 via appropriate measuring devices 6, which will generally be weighing devices.

The mix is supplied from the mixing device 4 into an extruder.

Water and steam are added to the mix, in the mixing device 4 or in the extruder 8 or both. Generally, steam and water are supplied to the mix while in the extruder.

Under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure (for example about 1500C and 10.3 x 105 Pa) a moisture content of about 30% by weight can be attained, and starch in the cereal of the mix is caused to gelatinise.

The extruder 8 is provided with a die 10 consisting of a number of circular openings, each having a diameter of 15 mm. Each opening has associated with it a rod, located centrally with respect to the opening. Pressure applied to the mix in the extruder causes the mix to be extruded from the die. The extrudate has a bore extending along its length, arising from the rod located in each of the dies. The extrudate is cut by means of a blade, approximately perpendicular to the axis of extrusion.

The cut extrudate is passed from the extruder to a drying device 12, in which the moisture content is reduce to less than about 12% by weight. The cut dried nuggets are then weighed at a weighing station 14 and packed for distribution.

Figure 2 shows an appropriate die for use on the extruder 8 shown in Figure 1. The die has a number of circular openings 20, each having associated with it a rod 22 located centrally with respect to its respective opening.

Nuggets with different configurations can be made using dies with appropriately shaped apertures formed therein. A die can have apertures with varying configurations, to make nuggets with varying cross-sections if desired, and this has been found to have particular appeal to animals in some situations.

Figures 3a and 3b show nuggets made using the technique of the present invention. The nugget 30 has an essentially annular configuration, with an aperture 32 extending through it from one side to the other side.

The invention will now be described with reference to two examples of appropriate mixes for horse feed, which can be made into horse feed nuggets by the technique of the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Raw Material Wheat 25.0 Barley 40.0 Soya beans 15.0 Molasses 5.0 Dicalcium phosphate 0.5 Limestone 0.5 Linseed oil 1.5 Vitamins & minerals 2.5 Wheat feed 10.0 TOTAL 100.0 EXAMPLE 2

Raw Material Barley 91.9 Molasses 3.5 Limestone flour 2.0 Linseed oil 2.0 Mould inhibitor 0.1 Vitamins & minerals 0.5 TOTAL 100.0 Nuggets were made from the mixture referred to above as Example 2, with apertures extending through them and without. The nuggets of both sets were approximately circular when viewed in cross-section, with an external diameter of about 14 mm. The thickness of the nuggets was about 8 mm. The apertures in the apertured nuggets were approximately circular, with a diameter of about 4 mm.

The two sets of nuggets were soaked in constant quantities of water at different temperatures in measured quantities of 1 kg, until they were determined to be soft. This was determined by applying finger pressure. The softening times in minutes were found to be as follows:

TEMPERATURE C HOLES PRESENT NO HOLES PRESENT 14 4.4 1520 30 3.2 1330 40 2.6 1170 50 2.4 1140 60 2.2 990 70 2.1 630 80 1.8 305 90 1.5 72 100 1.3 20

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A softenable nugget for use as a horse feed, which includes at least about 35% by weight in total of cereal, having an aperture extending through from one side to its opposite side.
2. A softenable nugget as claimed in claim 1, which is generally rounded in cross-section when viewed along the axis defined by the aperture.
3. A softenable nugget as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the value of the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the nugget, viewed along the axis defined by the aperture, to the cross-sectional area of the aperture, is greater than about 4.
4. A softenable nugget as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the value of the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the nugget, viewed along the axis defined by the aperture, to the cross-sectional area of the aperture, is less than about 20.
5. A softenable nugget as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the thickness of the material of the nugget, measured from the outside surface of the nugget to the surface of the nugget which defines the aperture, is less than about 8 mm.
6. A softenable nugget as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the transverse dimension of the nugget in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis defined by the aperture, is at least about 8 mm.
7. A softenable nugget as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the transverse dimension of the nugget, measured in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis defined by the aperture, is less than about 40 mm.
8. A method of making a horse feed, comprising extruding a mix, which comprises at least about 35% by weight barley and at least about 50% by weight in total of cereal, through a die around a member which is located relative to the die such that the extrudate has a bore extending along its length.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8, which includes a step of cutting the extrudate into pieces.
10. A method as claimed in claim 8 or 9, which includes the step of drying the extrudate so that its moisture content is less than about 18%.
11. A softenable nugget as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the Figures 1 to 3.
12. A method of making a horse feed as claimed in claim 8, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of Figures 1 to 3 or Examples 1 or 2.