Apparatus for injection of fluid into an extruder is provided, including a static mixer section with a pipe assembly coupled with the static mixer outlet and leading to the extruder barrel; the pipe assembly outlet and barrel injection opening have diameters less than the maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing. The invention greatly simplifies the fluid injection apparatus used with extruders, while giving more efficient absorption of thermal energy with a minimum of environmental contamination, and the ability to inject multiple streams into the extruder.

An edible pet chew 114 has a first casing 10 of plant base material and a second protein 12 of flavored material for example jerky that is wrapped with the first sheet to form alternating layers in the edible pet chew.

Systems and methods for processing cattle ears into pet treats by high-pressure processing are provided. The cattle ears are covered with a liquid, such as water, and exposed to high hydrostatic pressures for about one minute. The high hydrostatic pressures remove hair and implants from the cattle ears while preserving the texture and consistency of the ears, which are appealing to dogs and other pets.

An extruder (20) is specifically designed for the production of animal feed products (e.g., aquatic feeds) containing substantial quantities of low-cost fibrous materials, such as rice byproducts, at high production rates. The extruder (20) includes an elongated barrel (22) with a screw assembly (24) within the barrel and an endmost extrusion die assembly (34). The screw assembly (24) includes an inlet screw assembly (42) and a processing screw assembly (44). The assembly (44) includes screw components (50-56) of differential pitch to present a long pitch inlet section (64) and a tight pitch discharge section (68). Materials passing through the screw assembly (24) are successively subjected to high levels of steam injection (STE) followed by high levels of friction and shear (SME), so that the STE/SME ratio is at least about 6/1.

Apparatus (20) for injection of fluid into extrusion system components such as a preconditioner (24) or extruder (100) is provided, preferably as a composite assembly including a fluid injection valve (52) and an interconnected static mixer section (54). Alternately, use may be made of the fluid injection valve (52) or static mixer section (54) alone. The invention greatly simplifies the fluid injection apparatus used in extrusion systems, while giving more efficient absorption of thermal energy with a minimum of environmental contamination, and the ability to inject multiple streams into the extrusion systems.

Variable-scale, modular, easily manufacturable, energy efficient, reliable, and computer operated Insect Production Superstructure Systems (IPSS) may be used to produce insects for human and animal consumption, and for the extraction and use of lipids for applications involving medicine, nanotechnology, consumer products, and chemical production with minimal water, feedstock, and environmental impact. An IPSS may comprise modules including feedstock mixing, enhanced feedstock splitting, insect feeding, insect breeding, insect collection, insect grinding, pathogen removal, multifunctional flour mixing, and lipid extraction. An IPSS may be configured to be constructed out of a plurality of containerized modules.

A pressure device has a rifled barrel, a rifled end cap, a section clamped to the barrel, a circular flange welded to a threaded male pipe connection, a plate with holes or a cone, a female cap receiving the plate and aligning the holes to the rifling in the barrel, and the flange threadily engaging the cap, securing the plate. The rifled barrel provides shearing, increased pressure, and higher temperatures upon the passing crop residue. The increased surface area of the rifling grooves increases temperature and pressure between the crop residue and the barrel wall. The rifling, when misaligned, creates a pressure chamber that further breaks down the molecules in the crop residue. The crop residue then enters a popper device. The pressure in the popper device forces the crop residue through the holes of plate or around an encased cone, relieving excess pressure and producing a nutritional animal feed.

A process to remove the glucosinolates of oilseed meals, such as Brassica carinata oilseed meals, is provided. In one embodiment, exogenous myrosinase is used to convert the glucosinolates to volatile isothiocyanate compounds, which can then be removed under conditions of mild heat and negative pressure. In another embodiment, heat and pressure are used to remove glucosinolates from Brassica carinata oilseed. The processed meals may contain less than 80% of their starting levels of glucosinolates and may be suitable for use in various applications, including as animal feeds.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for producing fermented soybean meal, which produces fermented soybean meal for monogastric animals and ruminant selectively or together. An apparatus for producing fermented soybean meal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a solid-liquid separating part, which mixes raw material soybean meal and an extraction solvent and extracts the soybean meal, and separately produces a remaining soybean meal and a soybean meal extract; a lactic acid bacteria culturing part, which produces the lactic acid bacteria by putting inoculum into the soybean meal extract, and supplies the lactic acid bacteria to the solid-liquid separating part; a solid substrate fermenting part, which is selectively supplied with and mixes at least two of the remaining soybean meal supplied from the solid-liquid separating part, the raw material soybean meal supplied through bypass, and lactic acid bacteria supplied from the lactic acid bacteria culturing part to produce a mixed material, and solid-substrate ferments the mixed material to produce primary solid substrate fermented soybean meal; and a drier, which dries the primary solid substrate fermented soybean meal supplied from the solid substrate fermenting part to produce secondary solid substrate fermented soybean meal.

Feed mixer for shredding and mixing feed, in particular fibrous plant material, comprising a mixing container for receiving feed, wherein the mixing container has a base and a wall extending upwardly from the base, wherein the mixing container comprises a mixing auger arranged to be rotatable in the mixing container, wherein the mixing auger comprises at least one cutting knife, wherein the at least one cutting knife comprises a plurality of segments, wherein the plurality of segments each comprises a blade edge, and wherein the segments are spaced from one another by recesses.