The invention relates to compositions for use as silage inoculants comprising a yeast strain, one or more bacterial stains, and a suitable carrier. The invention also relates to methods of improving livestock animal silage and meat and milk performance of a livestock animal.

The present invention relates to improved formulations of propandiol mononitrate and derivatives thereof as well as to the production of such formulations.

The present invention relates to improved formulations of propandiol mononitrate and derivatives thereof as well as to the production of such formulations.

Methods of preventing or decreasing PEDv and/or Salmonella bacteria in animal feed, feed ingredients, and pet food are provided. The methods utilize generally safe chemical mitigants, such as medium chain fatty acids, essential oils, and sodium bisulfate. The chemical mitigants are introduced to the feed or feed ingredients at inclusion rates selected so as to prevent or decrease PEDv and/or Salmonella bacteria in the animal feed, feed ingredients, or pet food. The methods are particularly suitable for use in post-processing treatment of animal feed, feed ingredients, or pet food that will be transported and stored for multiple days or weeks.

Methods of preventing or decreasing PEDv and/or Salmonella bacteria in animal feed, feed ingredients, and pet food are provided. The methods utilize generally safe chemical mitigants, such as medium chain fatty acids, essential oils, and sodium bisulfate. The chemical mitigants are introduced to the feed or feed ingredients at inclusion rates selected so as to prevent or decrease PEDv and/or Salmonella bacteria in the animal feed, feed ingredients, or pet food. The methods are particularly suitable for use in post-processing treatment of animal feed, feed ingredients, or pet food that will be transported and stored for multiple days or weeks.

Methods of making coated pet food kibble and the kibble product by coating kibble with a composition that include at least one of: (i) lecithin and chicken fat; (ii) lecithin, a glycerol monoester of a fatty acid, a sugar monoester of a fatty acid, and chicken fat; (iii) lecithin, N.sup.(C.sub.8-C.sub.18) acyl arginine alkyl (C.sub.1-C.sub.8) ester, and chicken fat; or (iv) N.sup.(C.sub.8-C.sub.18) acyl arginine alkyl (C.sub.1-C.sub.8) ester-thymol and chicken fat. When the pet food kibble coated with a composition as described above, exhibits amounts of Salmonella sp. that are reduced by about 99%. This reduction is effective for at least 60 days post coating when compared to pet food kibble coated with a composition lacking one of (i)-(iv). The compositions are also used in a method for treating raw beef or poultry prior to grinding where the ground meat exhibits amounts of Salmonella sp. that are reduced by about 99%.

Methods of making coated pet food kibble and the kibble product by coating kibble with a composition that include at least one of: (i) lecithin and chicken fat; (ii) lecithin, a glycerol monoester of a fatty acid, a sugar monoester of a fatty acid, and chicken fat; (iii) lecithin, N.sup.(C.sub.8-C.sub.18) acyl arginine alkyl (C.sub.1-C.sub.8) ester, and chicken fat; or (iv) N.sup.(C.sub.8-C.sub.18) acyl arginine alkyl (C.sub.1-C.sub.8) ester-thymol and chicken fat. When the pet food kibble coated with a composition as described above, exhibits amounts of Salmonella sp. that are reduced by about 99%. This reduction is effective for at least 60 days post coating when compared to pet food kibble coated with a composition lacking one of (i)-(iv). The compositions are also used in a method for treating raw beef or poultry prior to grinding where the ground meat exhibits amounts of Salmonella sp. that are reduced by about 99%.

Methods of producing a bag for a feed product involve providing a multi-layered substrate, which includes one or more polymers. The method also involves extruding a polymer film onto a surface of the substrate to form an elongated sheet. The polymer film can include a mold inhibitor. The method further involves slicing the elongated sheet into smaller, individual sheets and joining pairs of the individual sheets together along a periphery thereof to form the bag configured to receive the feed product. The polymer film can line the inner surface of the finished bag.

Extrusion processes for the production of retort-stable feed products comprise forming a mixture of feed ingredients and subjecting the mixture to specific mechanical energy (SME) and specific thermal energy (STE) inputs to achieve low SME/STE ratios, followed by retorting of the extruded products. The extrusion system (20) includes a preconditioner (22), extruder (24), and a two-stage drying assembly (26/28). The extruded products may be retorted directly from the extruder or after partial or complete drying thereof.

Extrusion processes for the production of retort-stable feed products comprise forming a mixture of feed ingredients and subjecting the mixture to specific mechanical energy (SME) and specific thermal energy (STE) inputs to achieve low SME/STE ratios, followed by retorting of the extruded products. The extrusion system (20) includes a preconditioner (22), extruder (24), and a two-stage drying assembly (26/28). The extruded products may be retorted directly from the extruder or after partial or complete drying thereof.