Pet chews including a first component and a second component are described. In embodiments the first component is or includes fibrous connective tissue (e.g., ligament, tendon, or sclera tissue), and the second component includes internal organ tissue (e.g., urinary bladder tissue). Methods of making such chews are also described.

System for the production of animal feed and/or food products, comprising static treatments such as storage, heating, drying, cooling, etc., dynamic treatments such as cleaning, blending, grinding etc., and transport operations. The system comprises a housing and/or framework with vertically stacked, each horizontally extending treatment layers, of which the static treatment layers, arranged for the predominantly static treatment of raw materials and/or intermediates, and the dynamic treatment layers, arranged for intermediate transport and the predominantly dynamic treatment of raw materials and/or intermediates, alternating each other vertically. The static treatment layers comprise static treatment modules for performing predominantly static treatments. The dynamic treatment layers are provided with mobile treatment modules for performing predominantly dynamic treatments, wherein the mobile treatment modules are displaced in the horizontal direction between the docking locations during the treatment of the material. Furthermore, a vertical cleaning channel is provided and the housing is tower-shaped.

System for the production of animal feed and/or food products, comprising static treatments such as storage, heating, drying, cooling, etc., dynamic treatments such as cleaning, blending, grinding etc., and transport operations. The system comprises a housing and/or framework with vertically stacked, each horizontally extending treatment layers, of which the static treatment layers, arranged for the predominantly static treatment of raw materials and/or intermediates, and the dynamic treatment layers, arranged for intermediate transport and the predominantly dynamic treatment of raw materials and/or intermediates, alternating each other vertically. The static treatment layers comprise static treatment modules for performing predominantly static treatments. The dynamic treatment layers are provided with mobile treatment modules for performing predominantly dynamic treatments, wherein the mobile treatment modules are displaced in the horizontal direction between the docking locations during the treatment of the material. Furthermore, a vertical cleaning channel is provided and the housing is tower-shaped.

An apparatus is configured to apply a treatment agent to an agricultural byproduct. The apparatus includes a fragmenting chamber where the agricultural byproduct is fragmented into particles. An initial amount of a treatment agent is applied to the byproduct in the fragmenting chamber. Particles of a desired size flow through a screen from the fragmenting chamber to a recovery zone. A second amount of the treatment agent is applied to the particles in the recovery zone. A regulator regulates the amount of the treatment agent applied to the particles in the fragmenting chamber and the amount of treatment agent applied in the in the recovery zone. The regulation may be based on one or more feedback mechanisms.

Described herein are chewable articles intended to be provided to animals for purposes including dental cleaning, breath freshening, nutrition, administration to the animal of beneficial agents, satisfaction of the animal's urge to chew, and general enjoyment by the animal. Also disclosed are apparatus and methods for making such chewable articles, the methods including the use of a processing aid to lubricate the article-forming apparatus, such as extruders, portioners, and molds, and to reduce the power requirements of such apparatus in the forming process.

The invention relates to a method of producing a foamed meat product, comprising the steps of: feeding a pumpable raw material containing comminuted meat or fish and strand-like connective tissue components to a dispersing apparatus with a chamber with a cylindrical rotor arranged therein, which is provided, on its circumference, with a number of cavities to create cavitation, feeding a gas to the dispersing apparatus and operating the dispersing apparatus while creating cavitation and dispersing the gas supplied, in the process of which the sinews or ligaments are passed through the chamber, and creating a foamed meat or fish product containing strand-like connective tissue components, which can be sterilised.

The invention relates to a method for producing blocks of an aqueous gel, comprising: a step of forming a compound by mixing: i. an aqueous substrate; and ii. the gelling agent,a step of drawing off the compound;a step of in-line cooling of the compound so as to bring it below a second temperature at which it gels;a step of transferring to a distribution line;a step of cutting the gelled compound into blocks at the outlet of the distribution line; anda step of distributing the blocks of gel into a farming container immediately after the gel is cut into blocks. Such a method allows blocks of gel to be produced continuously and as required in the context of rearing livestock, in particular rearing insects. The invention also relates to a corresponding device.

High Specific Mechanical Energy extruder screw assemblies (14, 88, 98) and complete extruders (10, 86, 96) are provided, which include wide-flight intermediate screw sections (104) having axial flight widths greater than the flight widths of the inlet and outlet screw sections (102, 106) on opposite sides of the intermediate sections (104). The intermediate sections (104) provide increased friction and shear serving to enhance the SMEs imparted to comestible food materials during processing thereof.

High Specific Mechanical Energy extruder screw assemblies (14, 88, 98) and complete extruders (10, 86, 96) are provided, which include wide-flight intermediate screw sections (104) having axial flight widths greater than the flight widths of the inlet and outlet screw sections (102, 106) on opposite sides of the intermediate sections (104). The intermediate sections (104) provide increased friction and shear serving to enhance the SMEs imparted to comestible food materials during processing thereof.

An appliance for preparing animal feed, includes a housing, a mixing chamber designed to receive a portion of dehydrated feed and a liquid portion, mobile mixer arranged in the mixing chamber, a consumption chamber, wherein the mixing chamber is removable from the preparation appliance, wherein the mixing chamber, once mounted on the preparation appliance: is rotatable in order to pass from a position mixing the feed ration to a position dispensing the feed ration, and has a gripping portion which protrudes from the housing.