Provided is a water absorption treatment material and a method for manufacturing the same, according to which separation of a coating layer portion is not likely to occur. A water absorption treatment material includes a granular core portion and a coating layer portion. A recessed portion is formed on the surface of the granular core portion. The recessed portion is intentionally formed on the surface of the granular core portion. The coating layer portion is provided so as to cover the surface of the granular core portion. A portion of the coating layer portion enter the recessed portion.

Provided herein are compositions useful for improving conditions in animal housing. In some embodiments, the compositions may include, in combination: a) an organic acid; b) an organic terpene; and optionally, c) a strong mineral acid. In some embodiments, the composition has a pH of from 2 to 5, or from 2.5 to 4, or from 3 to 3.5. Also provided are processes for the control of ammonia and microbes in animal housing, which may include applying a composition as taught herein to at least a portion of the house, e.g., to the bedding of the house, whereby said applying steps result in the control of ammonia and/or microbes in the animal housing.

A method of producing animal litter including bentonite which includes a step of forming, from a starting material for animal litter containing bentonite, a starting mixture that contains 10 to 60 mass % of granules that remain on an 8.0 mm-aperture sieve and 40 to 90 mass % of granules that pass through an 8.0 mm-aperture sieve, a step of conveying the starting mixture on a path of conveyance, a step of loading the starting mixture that has been conveyed on the path of conveyance into a granulator capable of pulverizing and granulation, pulverizing at least the granules remaining on the 8.0 mm-aperture sieve while forming a granulated product, and a step of drying the granulated product.

A multicomponent granular absorbent blend formed of at least a plurality of components with at least one of the components formed of smectite-containing, preferably bentonite-containing, absorbent granules, and at least one other of its components formed of absorbent granules comprised of an extrudate. Such an extruded-containing absorbent granule component can be a component formed of extruded pellets covered with an outer absorbent coating preferably composed of smectite, more preferably bentonite, and/or can be a component formed of extruded pellets used without any such smectite, preferably bentonite, outer coating producing uncoated absorbent granules which also are dust-adhering thereby reducing airborne dust in the multicomponent blend. Such a component composed of uncoated dust-adhering absorbent granules can be formed of extruded splayed pellets having at least one lobe and/or fibrillated tendrils enhancing both absorption and dust pickup in the multicomponent blend.

A standardized nesting material for use in laboratory environments for rodents includes a latrining substrate, and at least one bale unit formed to include a fibrous scaffolding material, and an insulating material. The bale units are of standardized size and can be packaged and sterilized to provide improved wellbeing of the animals; reduced feed and labor costs; and improved scientific quality of the studies conducted on the animals.

An excrement-treating material has a core part, and a surface layer bonded to the core part by utilizing the adhesion ability of a water-absorbable polymer in the surface layer without using an adhesive. The excrement-treating material suitably exerts the water absorbability and water transport ability inherent to the surface layer. The excrement-treating material is constituted by incorporating pulverized water-absorbable polymer particles of 20 μm to 50 μm, and adding water to the surface of the core part after granulation to noncontinuously form a highly-wet part; reacting a water content in the highly-wet part and the pulverized water-absorbable polymer to noncontinuously form an adhering part; and bonding the surface layer to the core part through the adhering part. Upon absorption of excreted urine, permeation of the urine into the core part is accelerated in a part other than the adhering part.

A method for the treatment, control, minimization, and/or prevention of bovine mastitis including the step of introducing animal bedding into a stall of a cow, wherein the animal bedding includes at least one solvent, and a lignocellulosic fiber, wherein the lignocellulosic fiber has been processed by ruminant digestion and anaerobic digestion.

A pet carrier assembly, including: an upper cage housing; and a lower litter pan coupled to the upper cage housing; wherein the lower litter pan is detachable from the upper cage housing and includes a removable waste grate disposed in a bottom portion thereof. The upper cage housing includes a hinged door structure operable for providing access to an interior portion of the upper cage housing. The upper cage housing includes one or more window grates or arrays of holes operable for providing ventilation to an interior portion of the upper cage housing. The pet carrier assembly also includes one or more coupling mechanisms for coupling the lower litter pan to the upper cage housing. Optionally, the pet carrier assembly further includes a moisture absorbent material disposed between the removable waste grate and a bottom of the lower litter pan.

A method of making absorbent granules can include mixing activated carbon with a liquid and a binder to form a slurry; applying the slurry to particles of absorbent core material to at least partially coat the particles of the core material with a first distinct layer containing the activated carbon; and applying a clumping agent to the first distinct layer to at least partially coat the first distinct layer with a second distinct layer containing the clumping agent. The absorbent granules can be used as a deodorizer and/or a pet litter, and each of the absorbent granules can include an absorbent core, a first distinct layer containing activated carbon, and a second distinct layer containing a clumping agent such that the first distinct layer is between an outer surface of the absorbent core and an inner surface of the second distinct layer.

The invention relates to a malodor counteractancy or counteracting (MOC) method that resorts to the use of specific malodor counteracting (MOC) mixtures of fragrance ingredients. More particularly, the invention relates to new MOC compositions capable of neutralizing or masking in an efficient manner malodors of a large variety of such as body or as malodors, kitchen malodors, toilet and bathroom malodors, and tobacco malodor. The novel MOC compositions of the invention contain at least one nitrite material in combination with another fragrance material and can be used in any finished consumer products such as air fresheners, kitchen or toilet/bathroom cleaning or freshening products, textile treatment products and products for application on the human skin or hair, or on animal fur, litter containers or cages.