Abstract: A method of improving the health of a first group of young monogastric mammals, the first group of young monogastric mammals nursing from a first lactating monogastric mammal during a pre-weaning period, the method including feeding the first lactating monogastric mammal an effective amount of an animal feed during the pre-weaning period, and feeding the first lactating monogastric mammal an effective amount of sugar alcohol during the pre-weaning period.

Abstract: The animal feed of the present invention is a soft extruded nugget with a chewy, moist interior. These nuggets have a high moisture content and preservatives. The animal feed also has a long shelf life given the high moisture content. The animal feed of this invention is provided to young animals after weaning from a liquid diet.

Abstract: An animal feed such as a milk replacer includes a soluble fiber and a sugar alcohol. The milk replacer enhances weight gain, starter intake and reduces weaning time. The method of feeding the animal includes feeding a mixture of a soluble fiber and sugar alcohol. The animal feed may be used as a method of weaning young ruminants such as calves.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide sugar alcohol to heat stressed ruminants to improve performance. During periods of high temperature or humidity, heat stressed ruminants may exhibit decreased dry matter intake, and in response, an effective amount of sugar alcohol such as sorbitol may be provided in the ruminant diet to cause performance to increase, which may include increased milk yield, improved feed efficiency or both compared to heat stressed dairy cattle without sugar alcohol in the diet.

Abstract: Young animals such as calves may be fed milk replacers containing soy having been preserved through treatment with acid-producing bacteria that reduces a pH of the milk replacer through microbial digestion of sugars present in soy to thereby produce a fermented milk replacer. The milk replacer is edible for at least 48 hours and its digestibility in the young animals is increased due to the microbial digestion of sugars in the soy that are otherwise indigestible in the gut of the young animals. The fermented milk replacers may be ingested by young animals in group settings. In addition, the milk replacers containing soy may be treated with enzymes adapted to hydrolyze complex indigestible carbohydrates within the milk replacer, potassium sorbate or both. Feeding systems incorporating these fermented milk replacers may result in increased gain and increased dry matter intake without negatively affecting animal health.

Abstract: Consumable feed products and vegetation are delivered to animals using a single container in which the container holds the feed product and is used to deliver the feed and which includes ungerminated seeds embedded in the container body. The seeds are caused to germinate and produce vegetation from the container body, and the germinated seeds and/or vegetation is fed to the animal. Multiple containers may be used simultaneously so that while the consumable feed product from one container is used to feed an animal, another container may be used to grow vegetation or deliver vegetation to the animal. Confined birds such as poultry and chicks may benefit from ingesting feed and vegetation produced from such containers.

Abstract: A method of managing dehydration in an animal includes administering a first electrolyte solution having an SID range at or below 25 mEq/l. After administering the first electrolyte solution, the animal's health condition is observed to determine the effect of the first solution. If the animal's health condition has not sufficiently improved, a second solution comprising the first electrolyte solution supplemented with a second electrolyte supplement is administered to the animal wherein the second electrolyte supplement raises the SID of the second solution to at least 50 mEq/l.

Abstract: A method of producing a food product such as a colored veined cheese product includes providing a cheese curd to which a flavorant is added. The cheese curd and the flavorant are worked into a homogenous mixture. A colored vein mimetic is added to the homogeneous mixture in an amount for a time sufficient to produce the colored veins within the cheese product such that the cheese product has a flavor and an appearance of a naturally veined cheese.

Abstract: A method of managing dehydration in an animal includes administering a first electrolyte solution having an SID range at or below 25 mEq/l. After administering the first electrolyte solution, the animal's health condition is observed to determine the effect of the first solution. If the animal's health condition has not sufficiently improved, a second solution comprising the first electrolyte solution supplemented with a second electrolyte supplement is administered to the animal wherein the second electrolyte supplement raises the SID of the second solution to at least 50 mEq/l.

Abstract: A method of making a gel-type livestock feed includes initially forming a feed mixture by mixing feed nutrient components, water, alginate, and a calcium component insoluble in water or a sequestrate to inhibit the calcium component from reacting with the alginate. Once the feed mixture is formed, the calcium component is solubilized or the sequestrates affecting the reactivity between the alginate and the calcium component is removed such that a gel feed is formed that includes a gel matrix containing the feed nutrient components. The gel feed may then be fed to the livestock. In another aspect of the present invention, piglets are weaned by feeding the gel feed for at least seven days directly after weaning. The gel feed may also include protein derived from blood with or without egg protein.

Abstract: Milk replacers include a fat component in which least about 10 percent of the total fat content is formed of medium chain triglycerides. Young animals consuming the milk replacer ingest the medium chain triglycerides at a rate of at least about 13.5 grams per head per day and exhibit improved animal performance. The milk replacers with the modified fatty acid profiles may include a reduced level of fat and protein compared to traditional milk replacers without negatively affecting performance of young animals, and may even enhance performance of the young animals. These milk replacers may be produced by adding the medium chain triglycerides during milk replacer formulation, and at least about 9 grams of medium chain triglycerides are provided per pound of milk replacer.

Abstract: Aquaculture feeds include a combination of proteinaceous vegetable material and proteinaceous fish material. The vegetable and fish materials are combined with additives such as alcohol and reducing agents and heated at elevated temperatures to release oil and nutrients from the fish material. At least a portion of the oil is absorbed into the proteinaceous vegetable material to form a proteinaceous product from the mixture. Alcohol is removed from the mixture to form the aquaculture feed with enhanced protein digestibility and solubility. The aquaculture feed may include up to about 50 percent proteinaceous vegetable material and up to about 50 percent proteinaceous fish material. Aquaculture species ingesting diets of the aquaculture feed experience improvements in weight gain, protein conversion efficiency, and feed efficiency compared to aquaculture species ingesting diets of fishmeal alone or soy flake produced according to traditional methods.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide sugar alcohol to heat stressed ruminants to improve performance. During periods of high temperature or humidity, heat stressed ruminants may exhibit decreased dry matter intake, and in response, an effective amount of sugar alcohol such as sorbitol may be provided in the ruminant diet to cause performance to increase, which may include increased milk yield, improved feed efficiency or both compared to heat stressed dairy cattle without sugar alcohol in the diet.

Abstract: A method of feeding a ruminant that entails providing a feed that comprises sugar alcohol and at least one additional feed component, where the feed is free of rumen-protected fatty acid or comprises less than 10 weight percent rumen-protected fatty acid, based on the total weight of the feed and further entails orally supplying the feed to the ruminant during a pre-partum period when the ruminant is pregnant, where the ruminant ingests the feed and sugar alcohol during the pre-partum period.

Abstract: A feed block is formed of compacted feed components with a coating of oils or fats that causes the compacted feed components to separate and the feed block to break apart during liquid absorption making the feed block accessible to the animals. Feed blocks have an initial weight that is substantially free of liquid. Liquid is then introduced to the feed block to cause the feed block to absorb liquid and break apart. After a treatment period during which liquid is absorbed into the feed block, a final resulting weight of the feed block is at least 100 percent greater than the initial weight. The feed block with the broken apart feed components and absorbed liquid is provided the to the animals for the simultaneous ingestion of feed and liquid. Feed blocks are formed by introducing feed components coated with the oils or fats in a high pressure press and compacting the coated feed components to form the feed block.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide sugar alcohol to heat stressed ruminants to improve performance. During periods of high temperature or humidity, heat stressed ruminants may exhibit decreased dry matter intake, and in response, an effective amount of sugar alcohol such as sorbitol may be provided in the ruminant diet to cause performance to increase, which may include increased milk yield, improved feed efficiency or both compared to heat stressed dairy cattle without sugar alcohol in the diet.

Abstract: A method of improving the health of a first group of young monogastric mammals, the first group of young monogastric mammals nursing from a first lactating monogastric mammal during a pre-weaning period, the method including feeding the first lactating monogastric mammal an effective amount of an animal feed during the pre-weaning period, and feeding the first lactating monogastric mammal an effective amount of sugar alcohol during the pre-weaning period.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods for producing an extruded food particle by extruding through an extruder having a screw within a barrel, a composition containing nutritional food components, essentially no starch and a gum in an amount sufficient to act as a binder once the composition exits the extruder. The present invention also includes extruded food particles that do not use starch as a binder.

Abstract: A method of feeding a ruminant that entails providing a feed that comprises sugar alcohol and at least one additional feed component, where the feed is free of rumen-protected fatty acid or comprises less than 10 weight percent rumen-protected fatty acid, based on the total weight of the feed and further entails orally supplying the feed to the ruminant during a pre-partum period when the ruminant is pregnant, where the ruminant ingests the feed and sugar alcohol during the pre-partum period.