METHOD FOR CONDITIONING ANIMAL FEED
A method for making pelleted animal feed and the product made by the method, comprising: preparing a composition containing a) 10-90 wt. % of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of acetic, propionic, butyric and mixtures thereof, b) I-90 wt. % of ethoxylated castor oil surfactant having an HLB from 4 to 18 and a molar ratio of 1 molecule of castor oil to 1-200 molecules of ethylene oxide, c) 0-20 wt. % of antimicrobial terpenes, or essential oils; adding water to prepare a heat-treating composition, and applying an effective amount of said heat-treating composition to an animal feed, with sufficient heating to pelletize or extrude the feed.
1 . A method for making pelleted animal feed, comprising:
preparing a stock composition containing
a) 10-90 wt %. of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of acetic, propionic, butyric and mixtures thereof,
b) 1-90 wt. % of ethoxylated castor oil surfactant having an HLB from 4 to 18 and a molar ratio of 1 molecule of castor oil to 1-200 molecules of ethylene oxide,
c) 0-20 wt. % of antimicrobial terpenes, or essential oils;
adding water to prepare a heat-treating composition and applying an effective amount of said heat-treating composition to an animal feed, with sufficient heating to pelletize or extrude the feed.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said heat-treating composition is applied to the animal feed as an about 5 to 20 wt. % mixture in water.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat-treating composition is applied to the animal feed in an amount of 0.25 to 10 wt. % based on the weight of the feed.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein component a) is 20-70 wt. %, component b) is 0.5-20 wt. %, component c) is 0.1-5 wt %, based on the weight of said stock composition.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein energy consumption is improved at least 15% compared to a control sample treated with water.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein pellet moisture is improved at least 0.4% compared to a control sample treated with water.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein percent fines is improved at least 10% compared to a control sample treated with water.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the treated feed has a bacterial load less than 10000 cfu/g.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the treated feed has a mold load less than 10000 cfu/g
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a) contains acetic acid.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a) contains propionic acid.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a) contains butyric acid.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the acids of a) are unbuffered.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein b) contains a second surfactant which is a non-ionic surfactant.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein b) contains a second surfactant which is a non-ionic surfactant selected from polysorbates and polyoxyethylenes.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein c) contains terpenes selected from the group consisting of allyl disulfide, thymol, citral, eugenol, carvacrol, limonene or carvone, or mixtures thereof.
17 . A pelleted animal feed made by a process comprising:
preparing a stock composition containing
a) 10-90 wt %. of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of acetic, propionic, butyric and mixtures thereof,
b) 1-90 wt. % of ethoxylated castor oil surfactant having an HLB from 4 to 18,
c) 0-20 wt. % of antimicrobial terpenes, or essential oils;
adding water to prepare a heat-treating composition, and
applying an effective amount of said heat-treating composition to an animal feed, with sufficient heating to pelletize or extrude the feed.
18 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , wherein said heat-treating composition is applied to the animal feed as an about 5 to 20 wt. % mixture in water.
19 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , wherein the heat-treating composition is applied in an amount of 0.25 to 20 wt. % based on the weight of the animal feed.
20 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , wherein component a) is 20-70 wt. %, component b) is 0.5-20 wt. %, component c) is 0.1-5 wt %, based on the weight of said stock composition.
21 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , wherein energy consumption was improved at least 15% compared to a control sample treated with water.
22 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , wherein pellet moisture is improved at least 0.4% compared to a control sample treated with water.
23 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , wherein percent fines is improved at least 10% compared to a control sample treated with water.
24 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , which has a bacterial load less than 10000 cfu/g.
25 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , which has a mold load less than 10000 cfu/g.
26 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , wherein a) contains acetic acid.
27 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , wherein a) contains propionic acid.
28 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , wherein a) contains butyric acid.
29 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , wherein the acids of a) are unbuffered.
30 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , wherein b) contains a second surfactant which is a non-ionic surfactant.
31 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , wherein b) contains a second surfactant which is a non-ionic surfactant selected from polysorbates and polyoxyethylenes.
32 . The pelleted feed of claim 17 , wherein c) contains terpenes selected from the group consisting of allyl disulfide, thymol, citral, eugenol, carvacrol, limonene or carvone, or mixtures thereof.