Partial calcification of free fatty acid mixtures, livestock feed compositions including them, and methods of making same
The present invention includes a nutritional supplement composition that may be used for livestock and the like, as well as to a livestock feed mixture containing same. Also included are methods of preparing the nutritional supplement composition, the livestock feed mixture, as well as methods of providing nutrition to livestock and the like. The livestock feed composition comprises: (a) a solid particulate livestock feed material and (b) a solidified particulate mixture of (i) free fatty acid and (ii) a calcium salt of a fatty acid, the calcium salt of a fatty acid being present in a molar ratio amount in the range of from about 25% to about 55% of the amount of the free fatty acid. The preferred mixture is a solid having an onset melt point of between about 140 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit, and a hardness of from about 5 to about 15 Shore A units at 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
1. A method of producing a partially calcified free fatty acid mixture, the method comprising the steps: preparing a molten mixture of: an amount of a free fatty acid; and an amount of a calcium-containing material comprising a calcium containing basic compound adapted to form a calcium salt of the fatty acid, the calcium-containing material being present in an amount in the range of from about 25% to about 55% of the amount of a free fatty acid based upon the theoretical requirement to accomplish total neutralization of all of the fatty acid; and maintaining the mixture at sufficient temperature and for sufficient amount of time so as to form a mixture of free fatty acid and partially calcium neutralized free fatty acid having an onset melt point of from 170° F. to 205° F.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the free fatty acid comprises tallow, non-tallow fatty acids, or a mixture thereof.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the free fatty acid comprises a non-tallow fatty acid comprising a fatty acid from palm oil, soy oil, fish oil, linseed oil, or flax oil.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the mixture is maintained at a temperature in the range of from about 240° F. to about 260° F.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the mixture is rendered to a solid form by a prilling process.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the mixture is rendered to a solid form by a flaking process.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the mixture has a hardness of at least about 15 shore A units at 170° F.