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.

A cooling tool (1) for a food or an animal feed extruder (E), the cooling tool has: an inlet end (3) at which extrudate (4) can be led into the cooling tool (1); an outlet end (5) where the cooled extrudate can be discharged; an extrudate flow channel (6) extending from the inlet end to the outlet end; and at least one coolant flow channel (7a, 7b, 7b) connected to the extrudate flow channel in a heat-transmitting manner. In a cross section (X-X) along the primary flow direction (8), the extrudate flow channel is substantially formed as a ring section; and the outer wall (9) of the extrudate flow channel (6) is formed at least from first and second segments (10, 11). The first and second segments are connected to each other by mechanical connection elements (12). The cooling tool is suitable for wet texturing of food and animal feed.

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.

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 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.

High meat content extruded pet foods and methods of preparation thereof, preferably include initial treatment of a high moisture meat slurry to create a dewatered meat fraction and a liquid fraction. The liquid fraction is directed to an extruder, along with typical dry pet food ingredients, in order to create an extruded intermediate. This intermediate is then mixed with the dewatered meat fraction, and the mixture is then extruded and dried to create a final pet food. The methods may be carried out using separate processing systems each including a mixer, an extruder, and a drying assembly, in order to maximize production rates.

The present disclosure relates to methods of making a feed pellet for an animal by agglomerating at least two ingredients in a first apparatus to form a plurality of nuclei and tumbling the plurality of nuclei in a second apparatus and simultaneously providing additional amounts of the at least two ingredients to the second apparatus, thereby forming a plurality of feed pellets for an animal. The present disclosure also relates to associated feed pellets and systems.

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.

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 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.