GB2520490A

GB2520490A - Foodstuff for horses and manufacture thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2520490A
Application number: GB1320464.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Margaret Mary Donnelly; Ruth Mccombe
Original assignee: EQUILIBRIUM PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: EQUILIBRIUM PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2013-11-20
Filing date: 2013-11-20
Publication date: 2015-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2033-11-20
Also published as: GB201320464D0; GB2520490B

Abstract

A foodstuff for horses comprises a block of compressed forage and includes a uniformly distributed powder which is a homogeneous mixture of mineral supplements and powdered natural plant components. A method of making the foodstuff comprises forming a substantially homogeneous mixture of powdered mineral supplements and powdered natural plant components, adding said mixture uniformly to forage and compressing the admixed forage into a block of substantially greater weight than 100 grams. The powdered natural plant component preferably comprises at least one of rosehips, hawthorn leaves, nettles, red clover, dandelion, chamomile, vervain, hops, boswellia, fenugreek, garlic and cleavers or other herbage and fruits. Blending a mixture of powdered vitamin and mineral nutrients to form a homogeneous premix increases the percentage accuracy of the additives incorporated into the block.

Description

FOODSTUFF FOR HORSES AND MANUFACTURE THEREOF

This invention relates to foodstuffs for horses and also a method of making such foodstuffs.

It is known to compress a mixture of hay or other dried forage to form blocks for use as foodstuff for animals -typically 250g -1kg blocks for guinea pigs/rabbits. 1.0 - 1.5kg blocks for horses. Additional nutrients and herbs are known to be added to such compressed blocks in two step production process -nutrients are added in one step and herbs or plant components added in a second production step. Adding nutrients and herbs/plant components in this two-step process adds to production costs and manufacturing complexity. It also makes it more difficult to ensure that the added ingredients are evenly spread through the blocks and in the correct dosage proportions According to one aspect of the invention, a method of making a foodstuff suitable for horses comprises of blending a mixture of powdered vitamin and mineral nutrients with powdered natural plant components to form a substantially homogenous premix that can be added to the dry forage in a one step production process thereby reducing production costs and complexity, increasing the % accuracy of the additives incorporated into the block and ensuring better distribution of the premix additive throughout the block. The accuracy of the premix dosage and its dispersal through the block is ensured by the premix's powdered format which is easier to weigh through automotive means and its small particle consistency means that it spreads more evenly.

The block preferably has a weight in the range from 0.5 kg to 1.5 kg.

The natural plant components are selected to add flavour and variety but also to have some therapeutic benefit. They preferably comprise at least one of rosehips, hawthorn leaves, nettles, red clover, dandelion, chamomile, vervain, hops, boswellia, fenugreek, garlic and cleavers or other herbage and fruits.

The mineral supplements may comprise one or more of vitamins A, C, D and E, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, nicotinic acid, folic acid, biotin and vitamin 812.

According to another aspect of the invention a foodstuff suitable for horses comprises a block of compressed forage which includes a substantially uniformly distributed powder which is a homogeneous mixture of mineral supplements and powdered natural plant components.

The powdered natural plant components preferably include at least one of rosehips, hawthorn leaves, nettles, red clover, dandelion, chamomile, vervain, hops, boswellia, fenugreek, garlic and cleavers or other herbage and fruits.

The accompanying Figure 1 illustrates schematically the method of making the improved foodstuff There are several preferred components of a foodstuff according to the invention.

The principal component is dried forage 10, which may comprise grass, particularly Timothy grass, legumes or cereals. A minor component 11 comprises mineral and/or vitamin supplements in powdered form. This component may comprise vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, C, Bi (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin) and B6 (pyridoxine). It may also comprise one or more of pantothenic acid, nicotinic acid, folic acid, biotin and vitamin B12. It may also include the trace minerals copper, zinc, manganese, selenium and iodine. The mineral and/or vitamin component may be a proprietary mixture. Such mixtures are available in powdered form.

Another important minor component 12 comprises one or more natural plant components such as fruit, leaves and herbs. These provide flavour and variety and have some therapeutic effects, They preferably includes one or more or all of rosehips, hawthorn leaves1 nettles, red clover, dandelion, chamomile, vervain, hops, boswellia, fenugreek, garlic and cleavers or other herbage and fruits.

As shown in Figure 1 the natural plant components 12 are converted to a powdered form 13 by any suitable method. The powdered components are admixed to form a substantially homogenous mixture 14. This mixture is added to the dried forage 10 (stage 15). The compressed block is formed by pressure, no additives are used to form the block. It is also important that the minor components be evenly distributed throughout the fibrous matrix.

The mixture of forage and the minor components is then, at stage 16, compressed (by a method already known per se) into a block. In contrast to previous usage the size of the block is preferably much greater than 100 grams. It may have a weight between 0.5 kg and 1.5 kg, preferably about 1 kg. The block may be of any suitable shape, cubic, oblong etc, provided that it is of sufficient size that at least initially it cannot be swallowed whole by a horse.

One or more blocks may be disposed, preferably loosely, in an air-tight sealed bag of suitable polymeric material. It may be a resealable bag of the general form employed for humans' foodstuffs.

Claims

Claims 1. A method of making a foodstuff suitable for horses comprising forming a substantially homogeneous mixture of powdered mineral supplements and powdered natural plant components, adding said mixture substantially uniformly to forage and compressing the admixed forage into a block of substantially greater weight than 100 grams.
2. A method according to claim 1 in which the block has a weight in the range from 0.5 kg to 1.5 kg.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 in which the natural plant components comprises at least one of rosehips, hawthorn leaves, nettles, red clover, dandelion, chamomile, vervain, hops, boswellia, fenugreek, garlic and cleavers or other herbage and fruits.
4 A method according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the mineral supplements comprises one or more of vitamins A, C, D and E, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, nicotinic acid, folic acid, biotin and vitamin B12, and any one or more of copper, zinc, manganese, selenium and iodine.
A foodstuff made by the method according to any of claims 1 o 4.
6. A foodstuff suitable for horses comprising a block of compressed forage which includes a substantially uniformly distributed powder which is a homogeneous mixture of mineral supplements and powdered natural plant components.
7 A foodstuff according to claim 6 in which the powdered natural plant components include at least one of rosehips, hawthorn leaves, nettles, red clover, dandelion, chamomile, vervain, hops, boswellia, fenugreek, garlic and cleavers or other herbage and fruits.
8. A foodstuff according to claim 6 or 7 in which the mineral supplements comprise one or more of vitamins A, C, D and E, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, nicotinic acid, folic acid biotin and vitamin B12, and any one or more of copper, zinc, manganese, selenium and iodine.
9. A foodstuff according to any of claims 6 to 8 in which the block has a weight between 0.5 kg and 1.5 kg.

10, A foodstuff according to any of claims 6 to 9 in which the block is disposed in an air-tight re-sealable bag.