IE49449B1

IE49449B1 - Animal foodstuff

Info

Publication number: IE49449B1
Application number: IE792/80A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Ugine Kuhlmann
Priority date: 1979-04-20
Filing date: 1980-04-18
Publication date: 1985-10-02
Also published as: ZW9080A1; LU82377A1; GB2047066A; MA18651A1; ES490726A0; FR2454275B1; GR67287B; AU5758380A; SE8002901L; AU520991B2; DK164980A; BE882822A; ES8200213A1; FR2454275A1; OA06688A; PT71114A; GB2047066B; NZ193472A; DE3014975C2; DE3014975A1

Abstract

Animal foodstuff in the form of blocks or agglomerates comprising a mixture of the products constituting the foodstuff, and in addition an alkali metal silicate.

Description

This invention relates to animal foodstuff in the form of licking blocks or agglomerates which are particularly suitable for feeding cattle or sheep.

Licking blocks are generally obtained by compress5 ing mixtures of the various components of the foodstuff until sufficient hardness is imparted to the foodstuff by increasing the cohesion between the solid particles of the mixture, and thus promoting exchanges between these particles. Some processes have also been proposed io which make use of binders such as lignosulphonates, clays and propyleneglycols. -Such processes promote the agglomeration of the solid products but do not do away with the need to compress the mixture of food components.

In U.K. Patent Specification No. 2013471, we disclose a process for preparing blocks and agglomerates of animal foodstuffs in which no external pressure or heating with an external heat source is used. In the process a binder based on urea and formaldehyde is introduced into the food mixture, together with a hardener capable of causing rapid cross-linking of the binder at ambient temperature, thus imparting the required degree of hardness to the blocks or agglomerates. This process has proved particularly valuable in the preparation of licking blocxs from essentially inorganic non25 agglomerating materials having no plasticity. The process also enables one to prepare blocks of an integrity which is such that they are capable of being transported over long distances from their place of manufacture to their place of use, and such that they can be used in regions which have a harsh climate.

However, the cost of such licking blocks made of urea and formaldehyde is relatively high. Accordingly there is a need for a binder for use with raw materials which agglomerate relatively easily and have good plasticity and which is more economical and which still enables the preparation of licking blocks of satisfactory quality, without adding calories to the foodstuff and without the need to apply any external compressive force to the mixture when forming the .blocks or agglomerates thereof.

Ve have found that by using an alkali metal silicate as binder to bind the raw materials which are conventionally included in an animal foodstuff an improved binding of the particles of said raw materials is obtained. Moreover, the alkali metal silicate also introduces into the mixture an element which Is particularly necessary for the good nutrition of animals, but does not add calories to the mixture. Furthermore, we have found that blocks or agglomerates of the resultant mixture can be formed without having to use external compressive forces.

According to the present invention there is provided an animal foodstuff in the form of blocks or agglomerates, comprising a mixture of the products constituting the foodstuff, and in addition an alkali metal silicate.

The alkali metal silicate used is generally sodium silicate, owing to the great value of the sodium ion for the metabolism of ruminants. However, other alkali metal silicates, such as potassium silicate, can also be used.

The present invention also provides a process for preparing an animal foodstuff as defined above, which process comprises the steps of mixing together the solid components of the foodstuff, the alkali metal silicate, and optionally those liquid components of the foodstuff having a pH greater than or equal to'7, incorporating any other remaining liquid components and an acidic compound if used, pouring the resultant mixture thus formed into setting moulds, and then removing the set mixture from the moulds.

Preferably the additive used as binder is an alkali metal silicate in the form of an aqueous solution, e.g. 35° Baume. The alkali metal silicate solution is added in a quantity of 5 to 2D parts by weight, preferably 7 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts of the food mixture, depending on the desired results.

The animal foodstuffs according to the invention may be prepared by any conventional method. Generally, the relatively finely divided solid raw materials are first mixed, whereupon the liquid raw materials, including the alkali metal silicate solution is added thereto. A preferred embodiment of the process comprises introducing the alkali metal silicate solution either alone or in admixture with those liquid components having a pH equal to or greater than 7, into the mixture c£ solid raw materials before the other liquid components, then adding the other liquid components, which may or may not be mixed with an acid solution intended to accelerate the hardening of the finished product.

Certain solid components which are soluble, such as urea for example may also be added once they have been dissolved in one of the liquid components such as water or molasses.

If necessary, in order to accelerate hardening it is possible to use chemical compounds which will generate free acidic hydrogen ions. Such compounds are preferably in liquid form, such as inorganic acids, e.g. phosphoric acid or sulphuric acid. The quantity of acid to be used depends on the required rate of hardening, the amount of phosphate or sulphate included in the foodstuff formula and the quantity of binder used. It is particularly advantageous to use phosphoric acid, which introduces additional phosphorus into the composition.

The hardening of the mixtures according to the invention occurs progressively, thus permitting greater flexibility when the mixture Is distributed in the moulds used for forming the blocks. The hardening of the mass of feed block in the moulds is either immediate or else may take several hours or more, depending on the composition of the mixture used for the preparation of the foodstuff. The hardness obtained is never excess49449 ively great, and this ensures that the animals can consume the blocks satisfactorily by licking.

The licking blocks according to the invention may be of any desired shape and size, depending on the mould used.

The solid constituents used in the production of the block may be mineral salts, sources of nonproteinaceous nitrogen, or organic compounds of synthetic or natural origin. In order to be used advantageously according to the present process, compounds of natural origin such as cellulose-residues, fruit pulp·or other vegetable matter should be. finely ground·. . 'Furthermore, materials likely to be the cause of variations in volume during the process for preparing the blocks according . to the invention should not be used as raw materials.

This applies , for example, to ground straw and bran when used in amounts of more than 10%.

It may be advantageous to add a bactericidal or germicidal compound such as propionic acid, in an amount of from 0.5 to 5 parts per 100 parts of mixture, to the products according to the invention should they contain organic constituents of natural origin.

Apart from the various components mentioned above, the blocks and agglomerates according to the invention may also, if necessary, contain other adjuvants such as acetates, propionates and butyrates; alcohols, waxes, certain pesticides such as anthelmintics, antimeteorism substances, methane inhibitors, growth activators or 49448 regulators, vitamins, provitamins and medicinal substances.

The following Examples illustrate the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1 kg of citrus pulp, 5 kg of calcium carbonate, kg of calcined magnesia and 5 kg of sodium chloride are mixed for 3 minutes in a mixer. Then 16 kg of 35°Be'z sodium silicate are added and mixed for 3 minutes. Finally, 10 kg of molasses and 15 kg of phosphoric acid containing 48% Ρ2θ5 added .and mixed for 5 minutes. Hie mixture ia.poured into moulds and compacted with a pestle. The mixture can be removed from the moulds immediately.

The blocks obtained contain 3-92% phosphorus, 3·58% calcium, 3.48% sodium, 2.22% magnesium, based on dry matter. The hardness is determined by measuring the diameter of the imprint left in the block by the point of a sharpened steel cone held at 90° and subjected to a constant force equal to 1,600 decaNewtons. The imprint obtained is 1-3 mm in diameter.

EXAMPLE 2 The method of Example 1 is used to mix together and mould the following components; - 45 kg of citrus pulp - 5 kg of calcium carbonate - 3 kg of calcined magnesia - 5 kg of sodium chloride - 7 kg of 35°Be sodium silicate - 19 kg of sugar molasses - 15 kg of phosphoric acid containing 48% - 1 kg of an oligo elements/vitamins complex of the following composition: 53% of 7 HgO zinc sulphate 35% of 1 HgO manganese sulphate 8% of 5 HgO copper sulphate 0.1% of 7 HgO cobalt sulphate 0.05% of potassium iodide and 3.85% of a vitamin complex containing: 300,000 International Units, of vitamin A, 60,000 International Units of vitamin and International Units of vitamin E per gram of vitamin complex.

The blocks obtained from this mixture contain 3.95% phosphorus, 3.68% calcium, 2.90% sodium and 2.24% magnesium, based on the dry matter. The aqueous solution of one part of block in 100 parts of water has a pH of 7. The hardness test as described in Example 1 gives an imprint 25 millimetres in diameter.

EXAMPLE 3 The method of Example 1 is used to mix and mould the following components, in which potassium silicate is used instead of sodium silicate:- 44 kg of citrus pulp - 5 kg of calcium carbonate - 3 kg of calcined magnesia - 6 kg of sodium chloride - 5 kg of urea - 10 kg of 30°Be potassium silicate - 15 kg of phosphoric acid containing 48% - 1 kg of propionic acid - 10 kg of sugar molasses - 1 kg of an oligo elements/vitamins complex of the following composition: 53% of 7 HgO zinc sulphate % of 1 HgO manganese sulphate 8% of 5 copper sulphate 0.1% of 7 HgO cohalt sulphate 0.05% of potassium iodide and 3.85% of a vitamin complex containing : 500,000 International Units of vitamin A, 60,000 International Units of vitamin and International Units of vitamin S per gram of vitamin complex.

The urea may be added either in admixture with the powdered solid components or in solution with the molasses and phosphoric acid, as desired. The blocks obtained from this mixture contain 21.7% of Total Nitrogenous Matter, 3.94% phosphorus, 3.61% calcium, 2.92% sodium, 0.92% potassium and 2.24% magnesium, based on the dry matter. The hardness test as described in Example 1 gives an imprint 12 millimetres in diameter.

EXAMPLE 4 kg of monodicalcium phosphate sold by us under the trade mark MONODIPHOS and containing 20% by weight of phosphorus and 20% by weight of calcium are mixed with 10 kg of calcium carbonate, 5 kg of calcined magnesia and 10 kg of sodium chloride for 3 minutes.

Then 10 kg of 35°Bez sodium silicate are added and mixed for 3 minutes. Then 20 kg of molasses and 2 kg of water are added and mixed for 4 minutes, and lastly 5 kg of 95% sulphuric acid is added, which is mixed for about 1 minute. The mixture thus obtained is poured into moulds and compacted with a pestle. The mixture can be removed from the moulds immediately.

The resultant blocks contained 9.11% phosphorus, 13-80% calcium, 5.09% sodium and 3.43% magnesium, based on the dry matter. The bulk density is 1.52 g per cm^. The hardness test as described in Example 1 gives an imprint 9 millimetres in diameter.

EXAMPLE 5 The method of Example 4, is used to mix and mould the following components; - 40 kg of Monodiphos - 10 kg of calcium carbonate - 12 kg of calcined magnesia - 10 kg of sodium chloride - 10 kg of 35°Be sodium silicate - 13 kg of sugar molasses - 5 kg of 95% sulphuric acid.

Between adding the molasses and adding the sulphuric acid, 8 kg of water are introduced per 100 parts Π - 49449 of the final mixture. A block obtained from this mixture contains 8.93% phosphorus, 15.48% calcium, 4.99% sodium and 8.07% magnesium, based on the dry matter. Its bulk density is 1.48 g per cnA The hardness test as described in Example 1 gives an imprint 5 millimetres in diameter. The aqueous solution of one part of block in 100 parts of water has a pH of 9.5 · EXAMPLE 6 The method of Example 4 is used to mix and mould the following components; - 50 kg of Monodiphos - 15 kg of calcium carbonate - 4 kg of calcined magnesia - 21 kg of urea - 5 kg of sodium chloride ? - 10 kg of 55 Be sodium silicate - 10 kg of sugar molasses - 5 kg of 95% sulphuric acid.

The final mixture has the appearance of an extremely pasty liquid. It should be left to dry for several hours before being removed from the moulds. It contains 68% Total Nitrogenous Matter, 6.54% phosphorus, 15.34% calcium, 2.77% sodium and 2.67% magnesium, based on the dry matter.

EXAMPLE 7 The method of Example 1 is used to mix and mould the following components; - 40 kg of cereal regrindings - 5 kg of calcium carbonate - 3 kg of calcined magnesia - 10 kg of sodium chloride - 5 % urea - 10% of 35°Bez sodium silicate - 11.5% of sugar molasses - 15% of phosphoric acid containing 48% ?2θ5 - 0.5% of propionic acid.

The urea may be added either in admixture with the powdered solid components or in solution with the molasses and phosphoric acid.

A block obtained from this mixture has the following composition: 26.6% Total Nitrogenous Matter, 4.37% phosphorus, 2.70% calcium, 5.57% sodium, 2.25% magnesium, based on the dry matter. The hardness test as described in Example 1 gives an imprint 20 millimetres in diameter.

EXAMPLE 8 The method of Example 1 is used to mix and mould the following components, which do not include molasses: - 45 kg of citrus pulp - 5 kg of calcium carbonate - 3 kg of calcined magnesia - 19 kg of sodium chloride - 10 kg of 35°Be sodium silicate - 15 kg of phosphoric acid containing 48% PgO^ At the end of the mixing operation, 3 parts of 49448 water are added per 100 parts of the final mixture, A block obtained from this mixture has the following composition: 3.95% phosphorus, 3.53% calcium, 9·94% sodium and 2.24% magnesium, based on the dry matter.

The hardness test as described in Example 1 gives an imprint 9 millimetres in diameter. The aqueous solution of one part of a block in 100 parts of water has a pH of 7.2.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Animal foodstuff in the form of blocks or agglomerates, comprising a mixture of the products constituting the foodstuff, and in addition an alkali metal silicate.

2. An animal foodstuff according to Claim 1, wherein 5 the alkali metal silicate is sodiun silicate.

3. An animal foodstuff according to Claim 1 or 2, which further comprises an acidic compound which generates free hydrogen ions.

4. An animal_ foodstuff according to Claim 3, wherein 10 the compound which will generate hydrogen ions is phosphoric acid.

5. An animal foodstuff according to Claim 1 substantially as described in any one of the foregoing Examples 1 to 8.

6. A process for producing an animal foodstuff 15 according to one of the preceding claims, which process comprises ~he steps of mixing together the solid components of the foodstuff, the alkali metal silicate, and optionally those liquid components of the foodstuff having a pH greater than or equal to 7, and incorporating 20 any other remaining liquid components and an acidic compound if used, pouring the resultant mixture thus 49448 formed into setting moulds, and then removing the set mixture from the moulds.

7. A process according to Claim 6, wherein the alkali metal silicate is added as an aqueous solution, and is 5 added in an amount of from 5 to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the foodstuff.

8. A process according to Claim 7, wherein the alkali metal silicate solution is added in an amount of from 7 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the 10 foodstuff.

9. A process according to Claim 6, substantially as described in any one of the foregoing Examples 1 to 8.

10. An animal foodstuff according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 when prepared by a process as claimed in

11. 15 any one of Claims 6 to 9.