The invention refers to a method of preparing of a silage good having improved quality, to an ensiling process employing the method or the silage good, and an apparatus of preparing of a silage good having improved quality.

Lipid-depleted insect compositions are described and include protein, chitin, bacteria, fungi, and various ranges of calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, ash, manganese, iron, zinc, water, bulk density, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and protein, wherein the composition is derived from Orthoptera order of insects, or the composition is not derived from Orthoptera order of insects. Lipid extraction methods are described which include use of a use of a first immiscible liquid and a second immiscible liquid. Compositions including insect eggs, feedstocks, and breeding materials are described.

A circular integrated ecological breeding and planting system including a plurality of units capable of growing vegetables, producing worms, breeding and raising chickens, and growing seaweed is provided to collectively construct a simplified simulated food. It not only unifies the lower and upper ecological food chains, but also minimizes pollution and undesirable waste. The system is particularly suitable for enclosed and intensive production within a single enclosed building to greatly reduce the production cost. This proposed eco-agricultural model has applications beyond its current configuration and can be applied to grow other plants, and to breed and raise other animals in the future.

In one aspect, a method for compressing crop material for ensilage may include monitoring, with a computing device, a location of a work vehicle within a silage heap as the work vehicle traverses a layer of crop material within the silage heap. The method may also include determining, with the computing device, a current density of the layer of crop material as the work vehicle traverses the layer of crop material. Furthermore, the method may include controlling, with the computing device, an operation of the work vehicle based on the monitored location and the determined current density such that the work vehicle compresses the layer of crop material.

A feed mixer and liner therefor. The feed mixer including: a container formed from two side walls, two end walls, wherein the end walls have a slope and curvature and are connected to the side walls to form an auger well, and a base connected with the side walls and end walls at a lower end thereof; and a liner configured to have a truncated conical shape that matches the slope and curvature of the end walls and fits within the auger well such that: a bottom of the liner contacts the base and has a diameter similar to a diameter of the path of the auger at the base; and a top of the liner contacts with the end walls and side walls. The auger well may include two auger wells and the liner may include two truncated conical shapes fitting in each of the two auger wells.

High thermal transfer, hollow core extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) include elongated hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) equipped with helical fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) along the lengths thereof. The fighting (132, 134, 194) may also be of hollow construction which communicates with the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192). Structure (88, 90) is provided for delivery of heat exchange media (e.g., steam) into the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) and the hollow fighting (132, 134, 194). The fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) also includes a forward, reverse pitch section (64, 162, 216). The extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) are designed to be used as complemental pairs as a part of twin screw processing devices (20), and are designed to impart high levels of thermal energy into materials being processed in the devices (20), without adding additional moisture.

A pet food supplemental coating method for coating pet foods with supplemental powders includes placing the supplemental powder in a container, placing the pet food product in a basket assembly and thereafter positioning the basket assembly into the container. A lid is positioned on the container to close the container and the container shaken to coat the pet food with the supplemental powder. The lid is removed from the container such that the basket assembly and pet food therein can be removed from the container.

A pet food supplemental coating method for coating pet foods with supplemental powders includes placing the supplemental powder in a container, placing the pet food product in a basket assembly and thereafter positioning the basket assembly into the container. A lid is positioned on the container to close the container and the container shaken to coat the pet food with the supplemental powder. The lid is removed from the container such that the basket assembly and pet food therein can be removed from the container.

Described herein are methods and systems for preparing a plurality of compositions on a commercial scale, without interruption.

A system according to various embodiments can include a source for supplying a material to be treated, an extruder, at least two screws, and a drive coupled to the screws for axially rotating the screws. The extruder includes an inlet for receiving the material, which is fed therein in a controlled manner. The screws are provided within the housing of the extruder. The screws have a plurality of compression and release stages that create mechanical heat which is directly applied to the material to change the mechanical properties of the material thereby facilitating a conversion of a physical state of the material from a non-compactable state to a compactable state as the screws rotate and move the material longitudinally along the screws to produce a final product, for example, a feed tub for use as an animal feed.