IES64138B2 - A method for producing feed - Google Patents

Abstract

A course textured animal feed mixture is prepared by weighing out various dry feed ingredients such as oats, grass nuts, linseed nuts, dry molassed pulp shreds in a weigher mixer 10. The dry mixture 19 thus formed is screened in a screen box 20 and introduced to the top of a first coating box 31. As the coarse textured feed mixture falls through the box 31 a fat or oil such as soya oil is sprayed onto the mixture. Molasses is then sprayed onto the oil/fat coated mixture in a second coating box 40. Flaked maize may be applied to the coarse textured feed mixture, after coating with oil/fat and molasses.

Description

A method for producing feed The invention relates to a method for producing a coarse textured animal feed.

Coarse textured animal feeds are used for feeding calves, horses, deer and the like.

Generally such coarse animal feeds include molasses which not only has nutritional value but also assists in providing a moist and succulent feed with a tacky organoleptically acceptable feel to it. There is however a problem in that the molasses becomes soaked into the feed rapidly and gives a dried out appearance to the feed.

This invention is directed towards providing a method for producing a coarse textured animal feed which will overcome at least some of these difficulties.

According to the invention there is provided a method for 15 producing a coarse textured animal feed comprising the steps of:mixing a number of different dry feed ingredients having different size ranges to form a coarse textured feed mixture; screening the mixture to remove any ingredients having a size of greater than 15mm and less than 1mm; introducing the screened coarse textured feed mixture to the top of a first coating box; and - 2 spraying a food grade coating onto the coarse feed mixture as it is falling through the first coating box.

Preferably the coating is a feed grade oil or fat.

In one embodiment of the invention the coarse feed mixture into the form of a curtain as it enters the first coating box and the oil or fat is sprayed onto the curtain of coarse textured feed.

In one embodiment of the invention the method includes the step of mixing the oil coated coarse animal feed from the first coating box.

Preferably the oil coated coarse animal feed is mixed with excess oil from the first coating box.

Most preferably the oil coated coarse animal feed is mixed in a first mixing screw.

In this case preferably the longitudinal axis of the first mixing screw extends substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the first coating box.

In one embodiment of the invention the food grade oil is selected from one or more of soya oil, linseed oil or rapeseed oil.

The food grade oil may be selected from soya oil, linseed oil and rape seed oil.

In one embodiment of the invention the feed grade coating is a fat which is heated prior to spraying onto the feed mixture. Preferably the fat is an animal fat.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the method includes the steps of: introducing the oil coated coarse feed mixture to the top of a second coating box; and spraying molasses onto the oil coated coarse feed mixture as it is falling through the second coating box.

In this case the method includes the step of directing the coated coarse textured feed mixture into the form of a curtain as it enters the second coating box and the molasses is sprayed onto the curtain of coated coarse textured feed.

In one embodiment of the invention the molasses is applied to the coated feed mixture through a number of spray heads arranged around and along the second coating box.

In a preferred arrangement the method includes the step of mixing the molasses coated coarse animal feed from the second coating box.

In this case the molasses coated coarse animal feed is mixed with excess molasses from the second coating box.

In a preferred arrangement the molasses coated coarse animal feed is mixed in a second mixing screw.

Preferably the longitudinal axis of the second mixing screw extends substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the second coating box.

In one embodiment of the invention the molasses is sprayed onto the . oil coated coarse animal feed at a rate to achieve from 5% to 20% by weight of molasses in the oil and molasses coated coarse animal feed.

Preferably the molasses is a mixture of molasses, oil and fat.

In one embodiment of the invention the method includes the step of applying a finishing feed material to the coarse textured feed mixture, after coating. Preferably the finishing feed material is flaked maize.

The invention also provides coarse textured animal feed whenever produced by a method of the invention.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Fig 1 is a block diagram of a portion of a method for producing a coarse textured animal feed according to the invention; Fig 2 is a side elevational view of apparatus used in the method of the invention; and Fig 3 is an end view of the apparatus of Fig 2.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Fig 1 various dry feed ingredients such as oats, grass nuts, linseed nuts, dry molassed pulp shreds (DMP), flaked wheat, pellets, flaked barley, distillers grain gluten are stored in various storage areas or hoppers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 respectively. To prepare a coarse textured feed mixture according to a recipe such as outlined in the examples below, the dry feed ingredients are delivered into a weigher mixer 10 which has load cells 11 to monitor the weight of feed ingredients added. The various dry ingredients are all of different sizes such as: Average size grass nuts 6mm . linseed squares 3mm x 8mm x 8mm dry molassed pulp sheds 1 to 4mm flaked barley 4mm x 1mm pellets 3.5mm distillers grain gluten 5 to 6mm oats 4mm x 1mm They are mixed in the mixer 10 to form a coarse textured mixture 19 which is discharged into an under hopper 15. From the hopper 15 the mixture is delivered along a conveyor 16, metal is removed by a magnet 17, and the dry mixture 19 is delivered to a bucket elevator 18 for delivery to a screen deck 20. The screen deck 20 has a first upper screen 21 for removing any oversize pieces 23 above 15mm, preferably above about 8mm, and a second screen 24 which has a screen aperture width of 1 to 2mm to remove dust-like particles 25. Feed material that does not pass through the second screen 24 is delivered to a hopper 27.

Referring particularly to Figs 2 and 3 there is illustrated a coating and mixing apparatus used in the method of the invention. The coarse textured feed mixture from the hopper 27 is delivered by an eight inch diameter screw discharge 30 to a first coating box 31 through which the textured animal feed falls. As the animal feed falls through the first coating box 31 it is directed by baffles into the form of a curtain onto which is sprayed a feed grade oil, particularly soya oil. The spray is developed by at least one atomizer 32. The soya oil is sprayed onto the animal feed at a rate to typically achieve from 0.5% to 2% by weight of oil in the oil coated coarse animal feed.

The oil coated coarse animal feed which has fallen through the first coating box 31 is then mixed in a first screw mixer 35 of ten inch diameter which extends substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the first coating box 31. Excess oil from the first spray box 31 is also collected and delivered into the first mixing screw 35 for mixing with the oil coated coarse animal feed.

The apparatus also includes a second coating box 40 and the oil coated coarse feed mixture is introduced to the top of the second box 40 and falls through the box 40. As the mixture falls through the second box 40 molasses is sprayed onto the oil coated coarse feed mixture through nozzles 42 which are spaced vertically and peripherally around the box 40. The oil coated coarse textured feed mixture is directed by baffles to form a curtain onto which the molasses is sprayed. The molasses coated coarse animal feed from the second coating box 40 is delivered to a second mixing screw 45 which extends substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the second coating box 40. The molasses is sprayed onto the oil coated coarse animal feed at a rate to achieve typically from 5% to 20% by weight of molasses in the oil and molasses coated coarse animal feed.

Excess molasses from the second coating box 40 is delivered into the mixing screw 45 for mixing with the molasses and oil coated animal feed.

The coated textured coarse animal feed is then delivered by a conveyor 50 to a hopper 51 for weighing 52, and bagging 53.

A finishing material, in this case comprising flaked maize is applied along a line 58 to the coated textured coarse animal feed on the conveyor 50. The conveyor 50 has a perforated belting so that any dust particles will pass through and are delivered away along a line 59. It will be noted that to avoid breaking up of the feed mixture by excessive handling the conveyor 50 extends into the hopper 51 and discharges into the hopper 51 through bottom outlet apertures.

By spraying an oil or fat onto the outside of the coarse feed mixture an impervious coat is formed around the mixture which not only receives molasses but also prevents the molasses from being absorbed or soaked into the mixture. In this way a mixture having a tacky consistency with succulent mouth feel properties is achieved. Because the molasses is applied to an already coated product the moistness and tackiness will prevail up to three months after manufacture.

The facility to spray an oil or fat for coating the coarse textured feed also leads to the possibility of adding further oil or fat in this way to increase the energy value of the feed. The amount of oil applied may be readily controlled by adjusting the oil atomiser(s). Similarly the amount of molasses applied may be controlled by the number and/or arrangement of the atomizers used and/or by adjustment of the atomiser(s).

It will be appreciated that any suitable oil and/or fat may be applied to the coarse textured mixture. In the case of a fat, the fat may be heated, for example by heating the atomiser(s) prior to spraying. The fat may be an animal fat.

EXAMPLE 1 A batch of coarse animal feed, particularly for feeding to calves before and after weaning was prepared from the following: Weight % Grass Nuts Linseed Squares Dry Molassed Pulp Shreds (DMP) Flaked Wheat Concentrate Pellets Distillers Grain Gluten Soya Oil Oil, Fat and Molasses Mix* Flaked Maize All the ingredients except the soya oil, molasses mix and flaked maize were weighed out to provide a dry textured feed mixture. The soya oil was then applied to the mixture as described above. The molasses mixture was applied and finally the feed mixture was coated with flaked maize. [*sold under the Trade Name MOLSHINE by Premier Molasses] The calf feed thus prepared has the following typical analysis: Protein Oil Fibre Ash Moisture Avoparcin Vitamin A 17% 4% 7.5% 8.5% % 20mg/kg 12000 Iu/Kg Vitamin D3 Vitamin E 2000 Iu/Kg Alphatocopherol Selenium Iu/Kg 0.35mg/kg EXAMPLE 2 A batch coarse animal feed, particularly for feeding to working horses as a complementary feedstuff was prepared from the following: Oats Concentrate Pellets Flaked Wheat Flaked Barley Soya Oil Oil, Fat and Molasses Mix* Flaked Maize Weight % The oats, pellets, wheat and barley were weighed out to provide a dry textured feed mixture. The soya oil was then applied, followed by the oil, fat and molasses mixture. Finally, the feed mixture was coated with flaked maize. [*sold under the Trade Name MOLSHINE by Premier Molasses] The horse feed thus prepared has the following typical analysis: Protein Oil Fibre Ash Moisture Copper 13% 4% 6% 7.5% % 15mg/kg Selenium 0.2 ppm Vitamin A 12000 Iu/Kg Vitamin D3 2000 Iu/Kg Vitamin E - Alphatocopherol 100 Iu/Kg It will be appreciated that while the invention has been described with reference to a process for preparing coarse textured calf and horse feeds it has also applications in producing other coarse textured feed for other animals such as sheep, deer, pigs etc.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in detail.

Claims (5)

1. A method for producing a coarse textured animal feed comprising the steps of:mixing a number of different dry feed ingredients having different size ranges to form a coarse textured feed mixture; screening the mixture to remove any ingredients having a size of greater than 15mm and less than 1mm; introducing the screened coarse textured feed mixture to the top of a first coating box; and spraying a food grade coating onto the coarse feed mixture as it is falling through the first coating box.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the coating is a feed grade oil or fat, preferably the method includes the step of directing the screened coarse textured feed mixture into the form of a curtain as it enters the first coating box and the oil or fat is sprayed onto the curtain of coarse textured feed, preferably the method includes the step of mixing the oil coated coarse animal feed from the first coating box, preferably the oil coated coarse animal feed is mixed with excess oil from the first coating box, preferably the oil coated coarse animal feed is mixed in a first mixing screw, preferably the longitudinal axis of the first mixing screw extends substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the first coating box, preferably the food grade oil is sprayed onto the coarse animal feed at a rate to achieve from 0.25% to 2% by weight of oil in the oil coated coarse animal feed, preferably the food grade oil 1 is selected from one or more of soya oil, linseed oil or rapeseed oil, alternatively the feed grade coating is a fat which is heated prior to spraying onto the feed mixture, preferably the fat is an animal fat. ft

3. A method as claimed in any preceding claim including the steps of: introducing the oil coated coarse feed mixture to the top of a second coating box; and spraying molasses onto the oil coated coarse feed mixture as it is falling through the second coating box, preferably the method includes the step of directing the coated coarse textured feed mixture into the form of a curtain as it enters the second coating box and the molasses is sprayed onto the curtain of coated coarse textured feed, preferably the molasses is applied to the coated feed mixture through a number of spray heads arranged around and along the second coating box, preferably the method includes the step of mixing the molasses coated coarse animal feed from the second coating £ box, preferably the molasses coated coarse animal feed is mixed with excess molasses from the second coating box, preferably the molasses coated coarse animal feed is mixed in a second mixing screw, preferably the longitudinal axis of the second mixing screw extends substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the second coating box, preferably the molasses is sprayed onto the oil coated coarse animal feed at a rate to achieve 5 from 5% to 20% by weight of molasses in the oil and molasses coated coarse animal feed, preferably the molasses is a mixture of molasses, oil and fat.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim 10 including the step of applying a finishing feed material to the coarse textured feed mixture, after coating, preferably the finishing feed material is flaked maize.

5. Coarse textured animal feed whenever prepared by 15 a method as claimed in any preceding claim.