WO2021254956A1

WO2021254956A1 - Method and device for producing fermented dry feed

Info

Publication number: WO2021254956A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/065950
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronald Scholten
Original assignee: Weda-Dammann & Westerkamp Gmbh
Priority date: 2020-06-17
Filing date: 2021-06-14
Publication date: 2021-12-23
Also published as: DE102020115909A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a dry feed facility (2) comprising one or more storage silos (4) for feed components and a conveyor device (6) for supplying the feed components from the storage silo(s) (4) to a dry feed distributing system (8). The aim of the invention is to provide a dry feed facility which allows a fermented dry feed to be produced and distributed by a dry feed distributing system in a simple manner. This is achieved in that a mixing container (14) is equipped with a spray device (18) which is designed to spray liquid feed additives onto a dry feed material located in the mixing chamber (16), said spray device comprising a spray valve (20) which is oriented towards the mixing chamber (16), and the dry feed facility (2) has a mixing device (26) arranged downstream of the mixing container (14) for mixing the fermented feed component produced in the mixing container (14) with one or more additional dry feed components in order to form a fermented feed.

Description

Method and device for the production of fermented dry feed

The present invention relates to a method for providing dry feed in feed troughs with a dry feed distribution system in an animal stable, where the feed components of the dry feed distribution system are supplied from several storage silos via a conveyor device and the dry feed distribution system supplies the dry feed via a pipeline network equipped with a conveyor system Conveyed feed troughs, with a dry feed material is conveyed with a Fördervor direction from a storage silo into a mixing chamber of a mixing container.

The invention also relates to a dry feeding system with one or more storage silos for feed components, a conveying device for feeding the feed components from the storage silo or silos to a dry feed distribution system which has a pipeline network equipped with a conveyor system suitable for dry fodder, feed troughs to which the dry feed composed of the feed components can be fed in with the dry feed distribution system, and the dry feed system has a mixing container with a mixing chamber connected via a conveying device with at least one storage silo for dry feed materials.

Due to the high demands on stable hygiene and the high effort involved in keeping liquid feeding systems clean, dry feeding systems are predominantly used today in agricultural livestock farms for feeding pigs, poultry, dairy cattle or cattle, for example. The single Technical components and differences between liquid and dry feeding systems are described in the DLG leaflet No. 361, 1st edition as of 7/2010, issued by the DLG eV based in Frankfurt / Germany.

The dry feeding systems have lower demands on stable hygiene and can be kept sufficiently clean with less effort. The dry feeding systems have a simpler technical structure and are therefore cheaper to purchase and easier to operate. Current dry feeding systems also have electronic controls that allow semi or fully automatic operation of the dry feeding systems.

With the dry feeding systems, finished feed can be distributed and dispensed, which is delivered by feed manufacturers and stored ready-mixed in feed silos. The finished feed is then conveyed from the storage silo to the dry feed distribution system via a conveyor device, via which it is then conveyed to the feed troughs. But there are also dry feeding systems in which your own grain mixes are produced every day and distributed for feeding via the dry feed distribution system. Mixing containers with a weighing device are used for this purpose, for example. By weighing the feed components that are fed to the mixing container, preselected recipes of feed mixtures with several feed components can be produced with high accuracy in a manually controlled or a partially or fully automatic operation. In both cases, the dry fodder is conveyed to the feed troughs via a dry fodder distribution system in the stable, which can only convey dry fodder. The distribution of liquid feed or liquid feed components is not possible with these systems, because this reduces the piping system clog and stick. It would also be very difficult to clean the pipeline system provided exclusively for distributing dry fodder.

When dry fodder is mentioned here, what is meant is a fodder which has a dry substance of at least 75% of the total mass of the dry fodder dispensed into the feed troughs. Only such dry fodder can be conveyed away with the known dry fodder distribution systems and the För dertechnik located in the pipeline network without disruption and without any additional considerable cleaning expenditure. This dry feed can be composed of various feed components. Nowadays, dry feed is often a compound feed that can be composed of at least two, but also ten or more individual feeds, to which feed additives such as vitamins, amino acids, trace elements or enzymes can also be added. In addition, technological additives such as preservatives, binders, emulsifiers, antioxidants or silage additives can also be added. The most important feed materials are the various types of grain, followed by the group of oil cakes and meal, as well as by-products from food production. In the following, dry feed components are used for dry compound feed.

For the Fierstellung a dry feed mixture in a dry feeding system, it is known to use a mixing container to which the various feed components of a batch of dry feed to be mixed who are fed. In order to achieve the desired mixing ratio of the individual feed batches, a weighing mixer connected to an electronic control system is used used, in which the individual feed batches fed to the weighing mixer are dosed weight-controlled. The electronic control system can be used to control the conveying devices for the metered supply of dry feed components and the agitating activity of the agitator. In addition, the dispensing device for dispensing a dry feed mixture from the mixing container and the dry feed distribution system can also be controlled by the electronic control.

From the documents DE 101 50758 A1 and DE 202010007723 U1 it is known to design liquid feeding systems for livestock so that the liquid feed produced in the liquid feeding system is subjected to fermentation by means of the addition of a ferment and the intermediate storage of the liquid feed provided with the fermentation before the farm animals eat it. Through fermentation, certain feed components can be changed in such a way that a kind of pre-digestion takes place before the feed is fed to the animals. This has the advantage that an animal needs significantly less energy and strength for digestion with fermented feed and can absorb the nutrients contained in the feed much better. The fermented feed has a positive effect on the intestinal health and the health of the animals as a whole. Loss and diarrhea problems decrease, the coli bacteria and salmonella load in the feed decreases significantly, and fewer antibiotics and other medications have to be administered.

Despite these advantages of fermented liquid feed, it has so far not been possible to design dry feeding systems and methods for feeding animals with dry feed in such a way that fermented dry feed can be distributed with the dry feed distribution systems via the pipeline network. The fermenting feed additives are previously only mixed as liquids with a liquid phase of the liquid feed. For the fermentation of the liquid feed, one common or respective liquid stored starter cultures, enzymes and possibly acids required, which are only effective in liquid form. If starter cultures, enzymes and possibly acids are added dry, the fermentation of the rest of the feed does not work. The liquid feed additives required for sufficient fermentation of the feed could not be mixed evenly into a dry feed in the required amount without falling below the limit value for the remaining dry matter of the finished fermented feed of at least 75%. With a dry substance below 75% of the total feed mass, however, the dry feed tends to clump, stick and harden, so that it can no longer be conveyed with conventional dry feed distribution systems.

It is the object of the present invention to propose a generic method with which it is possible to produce a fermented dry feed in a simple manner, which can be conveyed to the feed troughs in an animal stable with a dry feed distribution system. It is also the object of the invention to provide a dry feeding system with which it is possible to produce fermented dry feed in a simple manner and to share it with a dry distribution system.

The object is achieved for a generic method in that there is a spray device in the Mischbehäl ter, to which liquid feed additives are fed with a conveyor device from one or more storage tanks, the spray device with a spray valve directed into the mixing chamber on the dry feed additives in the mixing chamber Feed material is sprayed, the liquid feed additives with the dry feed material are mixed to a fermented feed component, and the fermented feed component produced in the Mischbehäl ter is mixed in an admixing device downstream of the mixing container with one or more other dry feed components conveyed in the dry feeding system to form a fermented feed.

The object is achieved for a generic dry feeding system in that in the mixing container there is a spray device intended for spraying liquid feed additives onto dry feed materials located in the mixing chamber, with a spray valve directed into the mixing chamber, the dry feeding system has storage tanks for the liquid feed additives, which are connected to the spray device via a conveying device for supplying the liquid feed additives, and the dry feeding system has an admixing device downstream of the mixing container for mixing the fermented feed components produced in the mixing container with one or more other dry feed components to form a fermented feed.

In the conveying path from the storage tanks via the conveying devices to the spray valve of the spray device there are one or more pressure generators, such as one or more pumps, with which the liquid feed additives are pressurized and fed to the spray valve. The liquid feed additives enter the mixing chamber via the spray valve. The liquid jet emerging from the spray valve disintegrates due to the pressure difference between the higher pressure inside the spray device and the lower pressure in the mixing chamber and the resulting turbulent flow in the outlet area into a large number of individual droplets Form spray. With the many droplets in the spray, there is a considerable surface enlargement of the liquid feed additives, which significantly improves their miscibility and reactivity with the dry feed in the mixing chamber without having to use larger amounts of liquid. The exit speed of the liquid feed additives from the spray valve and its contour are selected in such a way that good atomization of the liquid feed additives in the mixing chamber is achieved. The droplet size spectrum generated depends on a large number of influencing variables. Among other things, the pressure difference, the rheological properties of the liquid feed additives and the geometric design of the nozzle of the spray valve play an important role. Of course, more than just one Sprühvor direction and more than just one spray valve can be used to spray liquid feed additives in the mixing chamber.

The liquid feed additives contain starter cultures, enzymes and / or acids. The starter cultures with the bacteria, enzymes and / or acids they contain cause the desired fermentation of the dry feed.

By spraying the liquid feed additives onto a batch of dry feed in the mixing chamber, a particularly fine distribution of the liquid feed additives in the dry feed is achieved. The fine droplets of the spray lie evenly on the surface of the batch of dry feed materials in the mixing chamber.

Due to the uniform distribution of the liquid feed additives on the surface of the batch of dry feed in the mixing container and the simultaneous or subsequent mixing of the batch of dry feed in the mixing chamber with the agitator fermented feed components, the liquid feed additives are well introduced into the deeper layers of the batch. The fermentation process can start immediately in all areas of the batch of dry feed materials. The fermented feed component formed in the mixing chamber is referred to here as fermented because the liquid feed additives are brought into the dry feed and mixed with it and the fermentation of the fermented feed component has started in the mixing chamber. This designation does not say anything about whether the fermentation is also necessarily completed. The complete fermentation of a fermented feed component can take up to 48 hours. However, it is not necessary to wait for this fermentation time completely; it is also possible earlier - in extreme cases even immediately after the end of the mixing process - to mix the fermented feed component with other dry feed components and to convey this feed mixture to the feed troughs via the dry feed distribution system.

The fermentation is a mixture of metabolic processes of microorganisms of the introduced starter cultures, chemical reactions that are accelerated in particular by the catalytic effects of the enzymes, and a reduction in the pFI value in the acidic range to harmful organisms kill and facilitate the breakdown of nutrient chains. The feed additives added to the dry feed materials in the mixing container can also be added with water in order to promote the chemical fermentation processes that are possible in the liquid phase in particular. In particular, heated water can be used. The heat from the heated water supports the fermentation. However, the additional water must not be too hot, as the bacteria contained in the starter cultures die off if the temperature is too high. In the mixing chamber, the dry feed materials with the fine spray film are not soaked through, but only moistened to the extent necessary and beneficial for an even distribution of the liquid feed additives in the feed batch in the mixing chamber and for fermentation. In this way, the batch of dry feed materials in the mixing chamber, after mixing with the sprayed droplets of liquid feed additives, still has a dry substance content of 40 - 70% of the finished mixture as a fermented feed component, which corresponds to a moisture content of 60 - 30% of the finished mixture of the fermented feed component corresponds to what has not been known so far from the mixing techniques for liquid feed preparation for a fermented feed.

The batch of dry feed additives sprayed in the mixing chamber with the liquid feed additives is later added as fermented feed components in the dry feeding system in the mixing device downstream of the mixing container in the conveying direction of the feed in a mixing ratio of another batch of dry feed components taken from a storage silo with dry feed components Feed materials are added in a fixed or variable Mischungsver ratio and mixed with it before this mixture is then fed to the livestock as fermented feed. The admixing device can be a further mixing container such as an additional batch mixer or a transfer mixer, which can also be provided with a weighing device, but it is also possible to part of a dry feed material conveyed on a conveyor line with a conveyor screw, for example add amount of the fermented feed component in order to form a fermented feed as a finished feed mixture. In particular, if the dry matter content of the other dry feed component as a batch of dry feed materials is above 75%, it is possible to achieve the dry matter content of at least 75% of the dry feed conveyed into the feed troughs, which is absolutely necessary for a dry feed distribution system. With a dry matter content of at least 75%, the feed mixture containing the fermented feed component can also be conveyed away and distributed as fermented feed from the dry feed distribution system.

The dry feed materials can be cereals, such as wheat, barley, rye and the like. Protein components and fibers such as wheat bran, rapeseed, peas and soy are also among the dry feed materials. Various substances come into consideration for the liquid feed additives. These can be liquid starter cultures of suitable microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria. Starter cultures are special, based on specific properties, selected, reproducible microorganisms that are used in fermentative processes. They can be in pure culture or in controlled mixed cultures. The liquid feed additives can also be liquid enzymes such as phytase, for example, or acids such as formic acid. Of course, these components can also be contained in a mixture in the liquid feed additives.

The liquid feed additives can also be supplemented with water. The liquid feed additives can already be sprayed into the mixing chamber by the spray device as a finished mixture of the individual components. or one or more mixtures of parts of these components are sprayed ver, or there is a separate Sprühvorrich device for each individual component, and the mixing of a non-premixed part or all of the liquid feed additives with one another only takes place in the mixing container. When spraying the individual components of the liquid feed additives, each with their own spray devices, it is easier to spray each component in the mixing container for a batch only in the appropriate amount.

With the option of being able to produce and distribute fermented feed with a dry feeding system and a corresponding process, farms have the option of continuing to use their cost-effective and easy-to-use and maintain existing dry feeding systems. In order to be able to use fermented feed components in an existing dry feeding system, it is sufficient to retrofit a mixing container in an existing dry feeding system, which is allowed to spray liquid feed additive into the mixing chamber in order to then mix it with the dry feed mixture. For this purpose, the mixing container has a spray device with a spray valve directed into a mixing chamber of the mixing container for spraying the liquid feed additive, and the spray device is controlled by the electronic controller.

The dry feed fermented with the liquid feed additive is pre-digested and softer than conventional dry feed, making it easier to digest and more digestible for the animals fed with it. It is less contaminated with germs, the conversion rate of the feed and the feed conversion by the animal are improved, the animals are healthier and the environmental pollution from phosphorus and nitrogen is reduced. According to one embodiment of the invention, the spray device is controlled by the electronic control rule. As a result, the spray device can spray the liquid feed additives according to the size of the batch of dry feed in the mixing chamber, the filling progress, the desired concentration of the liquid feed additives in the fermented feed component and / or the recipe of the fermented feed component in the mixing chamber. The one or more spray devices can also spray the liquid feed additives controlled by the electronic control system at intervals of time with interruptions and / or with different spray strengths. The spray-free intervals can be used by the agitator to stir a spray film of the liquid feed additives, which is present on the surface of the batch of dry feed in the mixing chamber, into deeper layers of the dry feed mixture before a new spray film of the liquid feed additives is applied to the Surface of dry lining is sprayed.

The agitator and the spraying device can be controlled together in a meaningful way by the electronic control system, for example in a certain cycle or in respective intervals and / or in different spray strengths and / or the same or alternating agitation speeds in order to increase the moisture content and the degree of moisture of the dry feed mixture A good fermentation through the stirred-in liquid feed additive to keep it as low as possible.

The electronic control can use sensors to determine the amount of liquid feed additives sprayed, for example by weighing the mixing container. The electronic control can determine the amount of liquid feed additives sprayed, but also according to the measured spray time and spray strength, a comparison of the original with the remaining weight of the storage tank for a respective liquid feed additive, with a flow meter in the supply line to the spray device and / or with other measurements and switch off the spray device when the spray amount specified for a batch of a fermented feed component is complete has been achieved or the attainment of a predetermined maximum moisture value of the fermented feed component has been detected by means of a moisture sensor, and / or when defined intermediate stages of dry feed production and mixing have been reached. The fermented feed component remains dry enough, despite the incorporated liquid feed additives, to be able to be conveyed away with the dry feed distribution system after being mixed with other dry feed components than fermented feed, without any operational disruptions in the lines of the dry feed distribution system.

The electronic control is equipped with operating software that records and regulates the operational processes of the components of the dry feeding system it controls. With an appropriate configuration of the actuators and sensors connected to it, the electronic control enables in particular a partially or fully automatic operation of the dry feeding system. By means of suitable programming, certain specifications, such as recipes for dry feed mixtures and fermented feed components, quantity specifications for the liquid feed additives, minimum values for the dry matter content, stirring specifications with regard to stirring time, stirring speed and the like, can be individually specified by a user and / or from an external data source such as for example, Fierstellern of the dry feeding system or feed suppliers can be loaded. The fermented feed component produced in the mixing container can be varied as required via the electronic control with regard to the feed ingredients used and the respective mixing proportions of the feed ingredients used, the dry content of the finished fermented feed component and the fermentation time used for the fermentation.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control has a programming in which the amount of liquid feed additives and / or water and / or the mixing ratio of the fermented feed component with the other dry feed component or components in the admixing device is recorded a limit value for the dry matter of the fermented feed transported in the dry feed distribution system is regulated. The electronic control can use sensors that transmit their sensor data to the electronic control, determine the moisture content and indirectly from it the dry matter of the fermented feed component, the other dry feed components and / or the fermented feed that is transported past the moisture sensor . The moisture of the fermented feed can also or alternatively at least approximately be determined by calculation based on the amount of liquid that has been added to the fermented feed component in the mixing container. Depending on the sensor data, the volume flows of the feed components within the dry feeding system and the liquid feed into the mixing chamber can be controlled by the electronic control system in such a way that the fermented feed that is transported to the feed troughs by the dry feed distribution system has a dry matter content of at least 75%. or higher. In this way, the dry matter fraction forms a control variable, the the composition of the proportions of the individual feed components in the fermented feed and the moisture content in the fermented feed component are determined in order not to feed too moist feed into the dry feed distribution system that could clog it.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the mixing chamber, the feed silo (s), the storage tank (s) for storing one or more liquid feed additives, a buffer container and / or one or more conveying devices between the feed silo (s) and the mixing chamber and / or one or more several conveying devices between the storage tanks and the mixing chamber are provided with a fleizung and / or radiation source. Heat helps to accelerate fermentation processes. For the fermentation of dry feed components, temperature windows that are in a range of

lie. It is advantageous if it is possible to keep the temperature in the mixing chamber at a temperature level of about 38 ° C. The reason for this is that the bacteria that support fermentation achieve the highest performance at temperatures around 38 ° C. Flicker or lower temperatures impair the performance and can even lead to the death of the bacteria in the event of greater deviations from the ideal temperature. When controlling the temperature and feeding the individual feed components and controlling the temperature in the mixing chamber, care should therefore be taken to ensure that the quantities of the ingredients that are fed in are not too hot or too cold, at least if there are bacteria in the mixing chamber to remove the temperature of the mixture in the mixing chamber too much from the ideal temperature of 38 ° C. By heating the conveying devices, the dry feed materials can be conveyed into the mixing chamber before being warmed. The fermentation starts faster. If the dry feed materials are warmed up, this also results in a flygienisation of the feed. For example, it is possible in this way to make harmful fleeces harmless by the warming in the dry lining materials. Microwaves or UV light, for example, come into consideration as the radiation source. Irradiation with microwaves can also be used for heating, but also for flygienization, just as irradiation with UV light also serves for flygienization. If one or more conveying devices between the storage tank or tanks and the mixing chamber can be heated, the mixture located in the mixing chamber does not have to be heated as much. The heat input into the mixing chamber can in particular take place by means of industrial water. This is advantageous because it immediately heats the feed mixture located there. The heat supply drove via the diligent water or water vapor and thus the amount of diligent water introduced into the mixing chamber for the purpose of warming can be reduced if the dry feed components are already introduced into the mixing chamber at a temperature that is, for example, in the target corridor between 30 ° C - 45 ° C. As long as there are no bacteria in the mixing chamber, the temperature of the components supplied can also be outside the target corridor.

The warming of the dry feed components can also be used for flygienisation. When the dry feed components are heated, the microorganisms contained therein are damaged or killed, which could impair the fermentation and subsequent digestion of the fermented feed. Flygienization can take place, for example, using radiant heaters that irradiate the dry fodder components on their conveyor line. It can be used alternatively or in addition to a heater and UV light sources and / or microwave transmitters can be arranged in the course of the conveyor line, which support the sanitation.

The heating can also be controlled automatically by the electronic control and kept in a favorable range so that the heat management forms part of the process control of the fermentation of a dry feed mixture by the electronic control. In order to avoid unnecessary heat losses and to increase the energy efficiency of the dry feeding system, the mixing chamber, the storage tank and / or the conveying device can be provided with suitable thermal insulation.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the mixing chamber has a water connection via which at least 50 ° C. hot water or steam can be introduced into the mixing chamber. By supplying hot water into the mixing chamber, a dry feed mixture can be supplied with the heat that is helpful for promoting the fermentation process. The water can also help mix and distribute the liquid feed additive within the dry feed mixture. The supply of warm water into the mixing chamber and the temperature of the supplied warm water can also be controlled by the electronic control unit. It is advantageous if the hot water or the steam is introduced into the mixing chamber before the liquid feed additives and in particular temperature-sensitive bacteria contained therein are introduced into the mixing chamber. By introducing hot water or steam, the mixture in the mixing chamber can initially be brought to a temperature of 30 ° C - 45 ° C. warms and mixed. It is advantageous if a moisture content of at least 30% is achieved in the mixture, which enables the bacteria to ferment the feed components.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the mixing chamber is hermetically sealed from the ambient air. The fermentation process can take place anaerobically thanks to the airtight seal between the mixing chamber and the ambient air. Since the oxygen from the ambient air is missing during aerobic fermentation and is not supplied to the mixing chamber in any other way, it is possible to reduce the pFI value of the dry feed mixture from a value of> 5.5 at the beginning of the fermentation to below 4.5 at the end of the fermentation, whereby the fermentation process can last up to 48 hours in order to achieve such values. Under aerobic fermentation conditions, high lactic acid contents of, for example, more than 10 g / kg of the mixture can result in the dry feed mixture. If bacteria are used in the liquid feed additive as starter cultures for the fermentation of the dry feed mixture, the positive bacteria can ^{multiply to a population of, for example, more than 10 7} cfu / ml, while the number of coli bacteria and salmonella, for example, increases in the acidic environment significantly reduced in the course of the fermentation. In order to reduce the oxygen content in the mixing chamber, it is possible to gas the mixing chamber with CO2 before and / or after a mixing process in order to displace oxygen from the mixing chamber.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the mixing chamber has a dispensing device for dispensing the fermented feed component, which is designed as a conveying pipe with a motor-driven conveying screw arranged therein. The conveyor pipe with the screw arranged in it forms with a stationary Conveyor screw a kind of closure of the mixing chamber from which parts of a fermented feed component only escape when the conveyor screw is put into operation to convey a batch of dry feed mixture. The fermented feed component is not liquid enough to run out of the mixing chamber under the force of gravity. The screw conveyor is suitable for conveying fermented feed components with a dry matter content above and below 75% from the mixing chamber. A safe removal of differently moist fermented feed components from the mixing chamber is guaranteed. The output device can be controlled in an automatic or semi-automatic mode via the electronic control.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a batch cone mixer is used as the mixing container. A batch cone mixer has a conical mixing chamber with a narrow conical cross-section in the lower area. The mixing chamber widens towards the top. In the mixing chamber, a screw conveyor or some other rotatingly driven mixing unit is arranged, with which the material to be mixed in the mixing chamber is moved, preferably along the axis of the floch. The cone mixer enables good mixing results even with those fermented feed components that are moistened to a certain extent by the added liquid feed additives. Lump formation in the mixing chamber is avoided, as dry or already moistened dry feed material located in the upper area of the mixing chamber slide down into the narrow cone diameter over the inclined surfaces of the side walls, where it is divided up by the mixing screw and taken back up again men, so that there is a continuous circulation of the mix. Self If the added moisture leads to clumping of dry feedstuffs, these are immediately broken up again by the mixing screw or another suitable conveyor system.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the batch cone mixer has a conveyor screw whose shaft is inclined to the central longitudinal axis of the batch cone mixer and which is driven in a circular motion at its upper end in addition to its own rotational movement in the mixing chamber. For the revolving drive, for example, a control arm driven to rotate about the center axis of the batch cone mixer can be used, at the end of which the upper end of the shaft of the screw conveyor is mounted. When the link arm revolves around its circular path, all zones of the mixing chamber, especially those located in the upper enlarged cone area, are reached by the screw conveyor.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the fermented feed component can be conveyed with a conveying device from the output device into a buffer container and from there conveyed to an admixing device via a conveying device. Before the fermented feed component is fed from the mixing container to the admixing device, a buffer container enables the ready-mixed batch of fermented feed components to ferment in the buffer container for a longer desired storage time, for example in a period of 16 to 48 hours. In principle, the mixing chamber is sufficient to provide feed that has been fermented for 24 hours every day. With a buffer tank, however, a fermented feed component can be given more time to ferment the ingredients of the dry feed. Of course, several can also be used Mixing tanks are used, which then act as a buffer tank to allow the mixed amounts of feed to be buffered over longer periods of time. For example, it is possible to give the dry fodder more than 24 hours to ferment before it is conveyed to the dry fodder distribution system and thus to the cattle for feeding. In order to always be able to keep sufficient quantities of the fermented feed component ready when dry feed is fed with a fermented feed component that has been prepared for a longer period of time, several buffer containers can be kept in each case, in each of which a batch of a fermented feed component can mature further before it is fed. The multiple buffer containers can be loaded from the mixing container next to and / or one after the other. For this purpose, the mixing container is connected to the required number of buffer containers via appropriate conveying devices, and the buffer container is connected to the admixing device via conveying devices. The batches of fermented feed components that have been further fermented can then be mixed with other dry feed components via the admixing device before they are conveyed to the connected feed troughs for feeding via the dry feed distribution system. Different compositions of fermented feed components can be kept in the buffer containers, several fermented feed doses can be prepared and temporarily stored in the buffer containers, distributed over a day, or fermented feed components can be stored for several days. As with the Mischbe container, it is also possible to heat the buffer container (s) or to keep it airtight for aerobic fermentation.

According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one further liquid source is connected to the spray device or there is a second spray device in the mixing chamber with one directed into the mixing chamber of the mixing container Spray valve arranged for spraying a further liquid. The further liquid source can be a tank in which liquid dry feed additives are stored, for example preservatives and / or food supplements that are to be added to the feed component. However, it can also be a connection for a cleaning agent, which can be used, for example, to clean the mixing chamber with the spray device as required when there is no feed component in the mixing chamber. Simple water can be used as a cleaning agent, for example, but the spray device can also be used to spray FI2O2, O3 or any other acids alone or in addition. The further liquid can be added to the feed component when the liquid feed additive has been completely mixed into the feed component, or it is added to the feed component during the mixing process, or it is alternately or overlapped with the liquid feed additive in the feed component at intervals Mixing container sprayed. As with the liquid feed additive, the supply of further liquid can be controlled via the electronic control.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control is connected to at least one pFI value sensor, which is arranged in the mixing chamber, in a buffer container and / or in a conveying device, and the electronic control triggers a processing routine when one of pFI value transmitted to a p Fl value sensor exceeds or falls below a programmed limit value. Reaching a lower limit value for the pFI value can thus indicate that the mixing chamber no longer needs to be supplied with any further acid as a liquid feed additive. The electronic Then control the valve for feeding the acid into the mixing chamber. On the other hand, a pH value measured by the sensor in the mixing chamber that exceeds a limit value can indicate that the mixture in the mixing chamber is still too basic and acid has to be passed into the mixing chamber to prevent the pH value being too high to reduce. Accordingly, the electronic control will open the valve to supply an acid as a feed additive. Likewise, a pH value sensor located in a buffer container can measure an acid value for the fermented feed component located therein, which indicates to the electronic control that the fermentation has ended or should be ended in order to avoid an excessively high acid value of the fermented feed. If the pH value measured in the buffer container exceeds an upper limit value, the electronic control can issue a warning signal and stop mixing with other feed components, as it is possible that the fermented feed component is not suitable for feeding to the livestock. If a limit value for the pH value is exceeded or not reached, depending on where the pH value was measured and in which process stage the respective feed component is at this location, different suitable processing routines of the electronic control can be triggered.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control is connected to a weighing device of the mixing container, the admixing device and / or one or more buffer containers, the electronic control has a programming with which the quantities of dry feed components, liquid feed additives, the fermented feed component and / or the dry feed mixture can be compared with the target quantities, and the electronic control stops the feed via the program tion of the dry feed components, the liquid feed additives, the fermented feed component and / or the dry feed mixture in the mixing container, the admixing device and / or one or more buffer containers if the weighed amount corresponds to the target amount. By weighing the respective feed components, it is possible to produce precise mixing ratios of the respective components with one another, which correspond to a given recipe.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control is connected to a weighing device of the mixing container and / or one or more buffer containers Feed component can be determined, and the electronic control system triggers a processing routine if a detected weight loss exceeds an absolute or relative limit value. The background for the measurement of a weight loss of a batch of the fermented feed component is the fact that increased amounts of CO2 gas are formed from a batch of a fermented feed component through the fermentation if this batch is not suitable for feeding. If the weighing device is sufficiently accurate with a resolution of, for example, +/- 100 g accuracy, the normal loss of substance of, for example, 0.2% during fermentation due to outgassing of CO2 is already recognizable, and this is all the more true for a higher loss of substance by C02 gas. As a processing routine, the electronic control can output a warning signal that warns against feeding this batch, or the mixing of this batch with other feed components is blocked by the electronic control. Alternatively or in addition, CO2 sensors can be installed at suitable points in the dry feeding system such as vents, pressure relief valves and / or pumps, via which the C02 formation during the fermentation of a batch of a fermented feed component can be controlled by the electronic control.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the admixing of the fermented feed component into the dry feed component in the admixing device is preceded by a drying device. Should the fermented feed component have too high a moisture content, it is possible in the drying device to reduce the moisture level in the fermented feed component.

Further features of the invention emerge from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. All of the features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures can be used not only in the specified combination, but also in other combinations or on their own.

Exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to an embodiment example in the accompanying FIG.

In Fig. 1, a dry feeding system 2 with two storage silos 4 for dry feed terkomponenten is shown. With a conveying device 6, the dry feed components are conveyed from the storage silos 4 to a dry feed distribution system 8, which has a pipeline network 10 equipped with a conveyor system. The dry feed distribution system 8 conveys the dry feed composed of the feed components to the feed troughs 12. The dry feeding system 2 has a mixing container 14 with a mixing chamber 16, which is connected via a conveying device 6 to at least one storage silo 4 for dry feed materials. In the mixing container 14 there is a spray device 18 with a spray valve 20 directed into the mixing chamber 16, with which liquid feed additives can be sprayed onto dry feed materials located in the mixing chamber 16. The dry feeding system 2 has storage tanks 22a-22c for the liquid feed additives. The storage tanks 22a-22c are connected to the spray device 18 via a conveying device 24 for supplying the liquid feed additives. The dry feeding system 2 also has an admixing device 26 arranged downstream of the mixing container 14 for mixing the fermented feed components produced in the mixing container 14 with one or more other dry feed components to form a fermented feed. The fermented feed component produced in the mixing container 14 is added to one or more other dry feed components conveyed in the dry feeding system 2 to form a fermented feed in an admixing device 26 downstream of the mixing container 14.

The spray device 18 is controlled by the electronic control 30. The electronic controller 30 has a programming in which the amount of liquid feed additives and / or water and / or the mixing ratio of the fermented feed component with the other dry feed component (s) in the admixing device 26 according to a limit value for the The dry matter of the fermented feed conveyed in the dry feed distribution system 8 is regulated. In the exemplary embodiment, a conveying device 6 is provided with a heater 32 between the storage silos 4 and the mixing chamber 16. In addition, a radiation source can be provided there in addition to the heater 32. Another heater 32 is shown on the buffer container 46. Other components of the dry feed distribution system 2 can also be provided with a heater 32 and / or a radiation source. The heater 32 is preferably steered by the electronic controller 30.

The mixing chamber 16 has a water connection 34 via which at least 50 ° C. hot water or steam can be introduced into the mixing chamber 16.

The ready-mixed fermented feed component is conveyed away from the mixing chamber 16 via the output device 36. This has a conveyor pipe 38 with a motor-driven screw conveyor 40 arranged therein. From there, the fermented feed component can be conveyed to an admixing device 26 via a conveying device 28.

As a mixing container 14, a batch cone mixer 42 is used in the exemplary embodiment. The batch cone mixer 42 has a screw conveyor 44, the shaft of which is inclined to the central longitudinal axis of the batch cone mixer 42 and which, in addition to its own rotational movement in the mixing chamber 16, is driven in a circular motion by an agitator 52, as indicated by the arrows drawn in the mixing container 14. The spray device 18 is controlled by the electronic control 30. In the exemplary embodiment, the electronic control 30 is also connected to at least one pH value sensor 48, which is arranged in the mixing chamber 16 in the exemplary embodiment. The electronic control 30 triggers a processing routine when a pH value transmitted by a sensor 48 exceeds or falls below a programmed limit value.

In the exemplary embodiment, the electronic controller 30 is connected to a weighing device 50 of the mixing container 14. In a departure from the exemplary embodiment, the admixing device 26 and / or one or more buffer containers 46 can also be equipped with a weighing device 50. The electronic control 30 has a programming with which the quantities of the dry feed components, the liquid feed additives and / or the fermented feed components weighed by the weighing device 50 are compared with target quantities.

The electronic control 30 stops the supply of dry feed components and the liquid feed additives into the mixing container 14 via the program when the weighed amount corresponds to the target amount. In the same way, the electronic control can also stop the delivery of the fermented feed component and / or the dry feed mixture into the admixing device 26 and / or one or more buffer containers 46 when the respective target quantities are reached there.

The embodiment described above is only used to explain the invention. The exemplary embodiment can be modified in a manner that appears pertinent to the person skilled in the art in order to adapt it to a specific application. List of reference symbols

2 dry feeding system

4 storage silo for dry feed materials

6 conveyor

8 dry feed distribution system

10 pipeline network

12 feeding trough

14 mixing tanks

16 mixing chamber

18 Spray device

20 spray valve

22 storage tanks for liquid feed additives

24 conveyor

26 Admixing device

28 conveyor

30 electronic control

32 bracing

34 Water connection

36 Output device

38 delivery pipe

40 screw conveyor

42 batch cone mixers

44 screw conveyor

46 buffer tank

48 pH value sensor

50 Weighing device

52 agitator

Claims

1. Dry feeding system (2) with one or more storage silos (4) for feed components, a conveyor device (6) for feeding the feed components from the storage silo or silos (4) to a dry feed distribution system (8), which has a pipeline network equipped with conveyor technology ( 10), feed troughs (12) to which the dry feed composed of the feed components can be fed with the dry feed distribution system (8), and the dry feed system (2) is connected to at least one storage silo (4) for dry feed materials via a conveyor device (6) Mixing container (14) with a mixing chamber (16), characterized in that in the mixing container (14) a spraying device (18) intended for spraying liquid feed additives onto dry feed materials located in the mixing chamber (16) came with a mixer mer (16) directed spray valve (20) is available, the dry feeding system (2) storage tanks (22) for the liquid feed additives, which are connected to the spray device (18) via a conveying device (24) for supplying the liquid feed additives, and the dry feeding system (2) has an admixing device (26) arranged downstream of the mixing container (14) for mixing the in the mixing container ( 14) produced fermented feed component with one or more other dry feed components to a fermented feed.

2. Dry feeding system (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spray device (18) is controlled by the electronic control (30).

3. Dry feeding system (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the electronic control (30) has a programming in which the dem Mixing container (14) amount of liquid feed additives and / o the water and / or the mixing ratio of the fermented feed component with the further dry feed component (s) in the admixing device (26) according to a limit value for the dry matter of the conveyed in the dry feed distribution system (8) fermented feed is regulated.

4. Dry feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixing chamber (16), the feed silo (s) (4), the storage tank (s) (22) for storing one or more liquid feed additives, a buffer container (46) and / or one or more conveyor devices (6) between the feed silo or silos (4) and the mixing chamber (16) and / or the one or more conveyor devices (24) between the storage tanks (22) and the mixing chamber (16) with a Fleizung (32) and / or radiation source are provided.

5. Dry feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixing chamber (16) has a water connection (34) via which at least 50 ° C hot water or steam can be introduced into the mixing chamber (16).

6. Dry feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixing chamber (16) is sealed airtight from the ambient air.

7. Dry feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixing chamber (16) has an output device (36) for outputting the fermented feed component, which acts as a conveyor pipe (38) is formed with a motor-driven screw conveyor (40) arranged therein.

8. Dry feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a batch cone mixer (42) is used as the mixing container (14).

9. Dry feeding system (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the batch cone mixer (42) has a screw conveyor (44), the shaft of which is inclined to the central longitudinal axis of the batch cone mixer (42) and which at its upper end in addition to its own rotational movement in the mixing chamber (16) is driven in a circular movement.

10. Dry feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fermented feed component can be conveyed with a conveying device (38) from the output device (36) into a buffer container (46) and from there via a conveying device (28) an admixing device (26) can be fed.

11. Dry feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one further liquid source is connected to the spray device (18) or in the mixing chamber (16) a second spray device (18) with one in the mixing chamber (16) of the Mixing container (14) directed spray valve (20) is arranged for spraying a further liquid.

12. Dry feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the electronic control (30) is connected to at least one pH value sensor (48) which is in the mixing chamber (16), in egg nem buffer container (46) and / or in a conveying device (6, 24, 28), and the electronic control (30) triggers a processing routine when a pH value transmitted by a sensor (48) exceeds or falls below a programmed limit value .

13. Dry feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 12, characterized in that the electronic control (30) with a weighing device (50) of the mixing container (14), the admixing device (26) and / o the one or more buffer containers (46) is connected, the electronic control (30) has a programming with which the quantities of the dry feed components, the liquid feed additives, the fermented feed components and / or the dry feed mixture weighed by the weighing device (50) are compared with target quantities and the Electronic control (30) via the program stops the supply of dry feed components, liquid feed additives, fermented feed components and / or dry feed mixture into the mixing container (14), the admixing device (26) and / or one or more buffer containers (46) if the weighed amount corresponds to the target amount.

14. Dry feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 13, characterized in that the electronic control (30) has a programming with which over a time interval the weight loss of a in the mixing container (14) or the buffer container (46) current batch of a fermented feed component can be determined, and the electronic control (30) triggers a processing routine when a detected weight loss exceeds an absolute or relative limit value.

15. Mixing container (14) for installation in a dry feeding system (2) with a motor-driven agitator (52) controlled by an electronic controller (30) for mixing dry feed components, a dispensing device (36) for dispensing a dry feed mixture from the mixing container ( 14) in a dry feed distribution system (8), characterized in that the mixing container (14) has a spray device (18) with a spray valve (20) directed into a mixing chamber (16) of the mixing container (14) for spraying the liquid feed additive, and the The spray device (18) is controlled by the electronic control (30).

16. Mixing container (14) according to claim 15, characterized in that the mixing container (14) is connected via at least one conveying device (24) to at least one storage tank (22) for storing a liquid feed additive.

17. Mixing container (14) according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the mixing chamber (16) of the mixing container (14), the storage tank (22) for supplying the liquid feed additive and / or a conveying device (24) between the storage tank (22) and the mixing chamber (16) are provided with a fleece (32).

18. Mixing container (14) according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the mixing chamber (16) is hermetically sealed from the ambient air.

19. Mixing container (14) according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that a batch cone mixer (42) is used as the mixing container (14).

20. A method for providing dry feed in feed troughs (12) with a dry feed distribution system (8) in an animal stable, the feed components of the dry feed distribution system (8) being supplied from several storage silos (4) via a conveyor (6) and the dry feed distribution system (8 ) the dry fodder is conveyed to the fodder troughs (12) via a pipeline network (10) equipped with a conveyor system, a conveying device (6) conveying a dry fodder material from a storage silo (4) into a mixing chamber (16) of a mixing container (14) Is changed, characterized in that a Sprühvorrich device (18) is present in the mixing container (14), which is fed with a conveying device (24) from one or more storage tanks (22) ren liquid feed additives, the spray device (18) with a in the mixing chamber (16) directed spray valve (20) liquid feed additives on the dry in the mixing chamber (16) A feed material is sprayed, the liquid feed additives are mixed with the dry feed material to form a fermented feed component, and the fermented feed component produced in the mixing container (14) is placed in an admixing device (26) downstream of the mixing container (14) in one or more other in the dry feeding system (2 ) conveyed dry feed components is added to form a fermented feed.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the liquid feed additives contain starter cultures, enzymes and / or acids.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the spray device (18) is controlled by the electronic control (30).

23. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the method is carried out with a dry feeding system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 14 or with a mixing container (14) according to one of claims 15 to 19.

24. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that the fermentation takes place in a temperature window of 30 ° C - 45 ° C.

25. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that the pH value of the dry feed mixture is reduced by mixing with the liquid feed additive from a value> 5.5 to a value <4.5.

26. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 25, characterized in that the lactic acid content in the dry feed mixture is> 10 g / kg after a 24-hour fermentation.

27. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 26, characterized in that the value of the positive bacteria in the dry feed mixture after mixing with the liquid feed additive is> 10 ⁷ cfu / ml.

28. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 27, characterized in that the dry matter content in the dry feed after mixing with the liquid feed additive is> 40%.

29. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 28, characterized in that the admixing of the fermented feed component into the dry feed component in the admixing device (26) is preceded by a drying device.