Composition of Livestock Feed and Method of Manufacturing the Same

Abstract

A feed product for livestock is made up of alfalfa and corn silage, each having a specified moisture content. The alfalfa and corn silage are blended and baled to achieve a moisture content of approximately 30 percent and a dry matter intake of approximately 70 percent without requiring any rehydration.

Claims

1. A process for optimizing dry matter intake in a feed composition for livestock comprising the following steps: measuring out a first weight of dry alfalfa and a first weight of corn silage; blending the first weight of dry alfalfa with the first weight of corn silage to result in a first blend having a weight percent of dry alfalfa ranging from 50 percent to 72 percent and a weight percent of corn silage ranging from 28 percent to 50 percent; metering the first blend to a high-density hay press; pressing the first blend in the high-density hay press into a bale; and packaging sealing the bale in a silage-grade plastic wrap resulting in a wrapped and airtight sealed bale, wherein a volume of carbon dioxide is generated during a fermentation process and captured within the wrapped and airtight sealed bale.

2. The process of claim 1 including the further step of storing the wrapped and airtight sealed bale for a period ranging from ten to seventeen days.

3. The process of claim 1 including the further step of loading the wrapped and airtight sealed bale into a sea container.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the bale has a density ranging from 25 to 33 lbs. per cubic foot.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the fermented feed composition has a dry matter composition ranging from 60 percent to 72 percent.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the fermented feed composition has a dry matter ranging from 60 percent to 72 percent without requiring any rehydration.

7. A blended feed composition for livestock comprising: 50 to 72 percent by weight a dry alfalfa wherein the dry alfalfa comprises a combination of texturized leaves and texturized stems; 28 to 50 percent by weight a corn silage wherein the corn silage comprises a plurality of opened and softened corn grains; wherein the blended feed composition has a density of 25 to 30 pounds per cubic foot and a moisture content of less than 35 percent.

8. The feed composition of claim 7 wherein the blended feed composition is pressed into a bale.

9. The feed composition of claim 8 wherein the bale is wrapped in a silage-grade plastic wrap.

10. The feed composition of claim 8 wherein the bale is bagged.

11. The feed composition of claim 8 wherein the bale is bagged and vacuum sealed.

12. A compressed and baled feed composition for livestock having a dry matter ranging from 60 percent to 70 percent prepared by a process comprising the steps of: providing a dry alfalfa having a moisture content ranging from 8 to 20 percent; providing a corn silage having an initial moisture content ranging from 50 to 75 percent; blending the dry alfalfa with the corn silage to result in a first blend having a weight percent of dry alfalfa ranging from 50 to 72 percent and a weight percent of corn silage ranging from 28 to 50 percent; metering the first blend to a high-density hay press; pressing the first blend in the high-density hay press into a bale having a density of ranging from 25 to 30 pounds per square foot; sealing the bale in a silage-grade plastic wrap resulting in a wrapped and airtight sealed bale wherein a volume of carbon dioxide is generated during a fermentation process and captured within the wrapped and airtight sealed bale; and storing the wrapped and airtight sealed bale for a period ranging from ten to seventeen days.

13. The process of claim 12 comprising the further step of sleeving the bale discharged from the high-density hay press.

14. The process of claim 12 wherein the wrapped and airtight sealed bale has a moisture content less than thirty-five percent.

15. A method of initiating a fermentation process in a feed composition for livestock comprising the following steps: providing a first amount of dry alfalfa having a moisture content ranging from 8 to 20 percent; providing a first amount of corn silage having a moisture content ranging from 50 to 75 percent; blending the first weight of the dry alfalfa with the first weight of the corn silage to result in a first blend having a weight percent of dry alfalfa ranging from 50 to 72 percent and a weight percent of corn silage ranging from 28 to 50 percent; metering the first blend to a high-density hay press; pressing the first blend into a bale; sealing the bale in a silage-grade plastic wrap resulting in a wrapped and airtight sealed bale; and storing the wrapped and airtight sealed bale for a period ranging from ten to seventeen days to allow completion of the fermentation process.

16. The process of claim 15 wherein the wrapped bale has a moisture content less than 35 percent.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the bale has a density ranging from 25 to 35 pounds per square foot.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The disclosed process for optimizing dry matter intake in a feed composition for livestock utilizes the following steps: (1) measuring out a first weight of dry alfalfa and a first weight of corn silage; (2) blending the first weight of dry alfalfa with the first weight of corn silage to result in a first blend having a weight percent of dry alfalfa ranging from fifty percent to seventy-two percent and a weight percent of corn silage ranging from twenty-eight percent to fifty percent; (3) metering the first blend to a high density hay press, such as an extrusion press; (4) pressing the first blend in the high hay press into a bale; (5) consolidating the bale to maintain its bale configuration; (6) discharging the bale and sealing it in a silage-grade plastic wrap resulting in a wrapped and airtight bale; and (7) storing the wrapped and sealed bale for a period ranging from 10 to 17 days resulting in a fermented haylage. Consolidation of the bale may be achieved by sleeving the bale, binding it with straps, twine, wire, etc., or by utilizing a vacuum consolidation process.

[0019] The above process produces a compressed and baled feed composition for livestock comprising: (1) fifty to seventy-two percent by weight dry alfalfa having an initial moisture content ranging from eight to twenty percent; (2) twenty-eight to fifty percent by weight corn silage having an initial moisture content ranging from fifty to seventy-five percent; (3) a density ranging from twenty-five to thirty-five pounds per cubic foot; (4) a finalized moisture content of less than thirty-five percent; and (5) a dry matter intake of approximately sixty-five percent.

[0020] The process for producing embodiments of a compressed and baled feed composition for livestock having a dry matter of approximately sixty-five percent may also be described as having the following steps: (1) providing a dry alfalfa having a moisture content ranging from eight to twenty percent; (2) providing a corn silage having an initial moisture content ranging from fifty to seventy-five percent; (3) blending the dry alfalfa with the corn silage to result in a first blend having a weight percent of dry alfalfa ranging from fifty percent to seventy percent and a weight percent of corn silage ranging from thirty percent to fifty percent; (4) metering the first blend to a high-density hay press; (5) pressing the first blend in the high density hay press into a bale having a density of approximately thirty pounds per square foot; (6) consolidating the bale; (7) sealing the bale in a silage-grade plastic wrap resulting in a wrapped bale; and (8) storing the wrapped bale for a period ranging from 10 to 17 days.

[0021] Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: