An apparatus for and method of steam treatment of fodder, for example animal fodder which is typically in baled form. The purpose of steam treating is to kill mesophilic and thermophilic mould spores that are either attached to the fodder or detach when disturbed and become airborne. These airborne particles are associated with respiratory problems, infections and allergies to livestock as well as humans. The apparatus for steam treating fodder comprises at least one steam distribution manifold, which has a plurality of lances adapted to penetrate a bale of fodder so that steam is supplied to the interior volume of the fodder.

The present invention refers to an animal feed additive effective as broad-spectrum preservative, said feed additive comprises as active ingredients propionic acid, glyceryl propionates, hexanoic acid and optionally minor amounts of an alkali metal salt and/or a C7-C12 fatty acid. The present invention also refers to the use of said animal feed additive as a mould and/or yeast inhibitor and to the use of said animal feed additive as an inhibitor of aerobic bacteria. In a further aspect, the present invention refers to the use of said animal feed additive to protect an animal feed from aerobic deterioration.

The present invention relates to a multi-layer film comprising at least three layers, with two outer layers, and one core layer, wherein: the core layer comprises an ethylene copolymer comprising 1-octene and having a density between >0.910 g/cm.sup.3 and 0.925 g/cm.sup.3, wherein further the first outer layer comprises an ethylene homopolymer having a density of between >0.915 g/cm.sup.3 and 0.930 g/cm.sup.3, wherein further the second outer layer comprises and optional first ethylene copolymer and a second ethylene copolymer having a density of between 0.850 g/cm.sup.3 and <0.890 g/cm.sup.3. Such film demonstrates improved cling properties and further provides benefits in that a.o. migration of components from this film during storage and use at elevated temperatures is reduced.

The present invention is directed to methods for increasing the quality of crop plant silage that are consumed by milk and meat-producing animals. The methods involve the following steps: 1) treating plants with a gibberellin; 2) producing silage from the plants treated according to step 1); and 3) feeding silage produced according to step 2) to milk and/or meat-producing animals. Applicants' methods result in higher quality meat from the meat-producing animals and increased milk from the milk-producing animals.

The present invention is directed to methods for increasing the quality of crop plant silage that are consumed by milk and meat-producing animals. The methods involve the following steps: 1) treating plants with a gibberellin; 2) producing silage from the plants treated according to step 1); and 3) feeding silage produced according to step 2) to milk and/or meat-producing animals. Applicants' methods result in higher quality meat from the meat-producing animals and increased milk from the milk-producing animals.

The invention consists of an animal feed formulation based on tropical legumes and grasses with a high protein content, said formulation comprising, inter alia, a combination of grains, a first protein source, forage, a second protein source, a third protein source and a fourth mineral source. One of the protein sources can comprise Canavalia Canavalia ensiformis. The animal feed formulation can also include a forage legume of the Stylosanthes genus. In addition, the animal feed formulation can include a tropical fodder of the Brachiaria or Panicum genera. The synergistic combination of forage legumes and tropical fodder results in a balanced feed with a high concentration of tropical raw materials, which is easy to produce and affordable. Similarly, the invention also comprises a method for producing the feed in pellet form, based on the formulation described above, from which the anti-nutritional factors derived from Canavalia Canavalia ensiformis have been eliminated.

The invention consists of an animal feed formulation based on tropical legumes and grasses with a high protein content, said formulation comprising, inter alia, a combination of grains, a first protein source, forage, a second protein source, a third protein source and a fourth mineral source. One of the protein sources can comprise Canavalia Canavalia ensiformis. The animal feed formulation can also include a forage legume of the Stylosanthes genus. In addition, the animal feed formulation can include a tropical fodder of the Brachiaria or Panicum genera. The synergistic combination of forage legumes and tropical fodder results in a balanced feed with a high concentration of tropical raw materials, which is easy to produce and affordable. Similarly, the invention also comprises a method for producing the feed in pellet form, based on the formulation described above, from which the anti-nutritional factors derived from Canavalia Canavalia ensiformis have been eliminated.

An apparatus for and method of steam treatment of fodder, for example animal fodder which is typically in baled form. The purpose of steam treating is to kill mesophilic and thermophilic mould spores that are either attached to the fodder or detach when disturbed and become airborne. These airborne particles are associated with respiratory problems, infections and allergies to livestock as well as humans. The apparatus for steam treating fodder comprises at least one steam distribution manifold, which has a plurality of lances adapted to penetrate a bale of fodder so that steam is supplied to the interior volume of the fodder.

An apparatus for and method of steam treatment of fodder, for example animal fodder which is typically in baled form. The purpose of steam treating is to kill mesophilic and thermophilic mould spores that are either attached to the fodder or detach when disturbed and become airborne. These airborne particles are associated with respiratory problems, infections and allergies to livestock as well as humans. The apparatus for steam treating fodder comprises at least one steam distribution manifold, which has a plurality of lances adapted to penetrate a bale of fodder so that steam is supplied to the interior volume of the fodder.

The present invention provides an apparatus for steaming animal fodder comprising a body defining a chamber in which the animal fodder may be placed. The body comprises an upper part and a lower part configured to be placed together to form the chamber. The apparatus further comprises a conduit configured to carry steam to an aperture configured to allow the steam to pass into the chamber. The body is formed from an expanded polymer foam.