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.

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.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for compressing hay such that the hay is suitable for long distance shipping. The hay is texturized by passing the hay through a shredder with an added fog or mist of water. The shredder separates, cuts and bends hay fibers rather than shattering the fibers. Compression of the hay is achieved by feeding the hay through an open ended compression conduit in a peristaltic manner through the use of a hydraulically actuated ram. Increased compression of the hay is achieved by applying transverse pressure to the hay as the hay travels longitudinally through the compression conduit.

Abstract: A compressed hay bale cutting and stacking system includes a compressed bale cutter and a stacker arranged to stack half-cut or quarter-cut bales in multi-tier stacks while maintaining slices of the bales in substantial alignment. The bale cutter is oriented to discharge the half-cut or quarter-cut bales as a unit at a predetermined elevation. The stacker has a table assembly and a pushoff assembly positioned to receive each bale as a unit from the bale cutter and automatically form a stack of at least 2 bale by 2 bale tiers. The table assembly has an elongate first platform movable vertically on the stacker frame between a raised position aligned with the bale cutter discharge to form a first row of bales and a lowered position for receiving a second row of bales, to accumulate a tier of stacked bales while maintaining the bales substantially aligned along their vertical sides.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for compressing hay such that the hay is suitable for long distance shipping. The hay is texturized by passing the hay through a shredder with an added fog or mist of water. The shredder separates, cuts and bends hay fibers rather than shattering the fibers. Compression of the hay is achieved by feeding the hay through an open ended compression conduit in a peristaltic manner through the use of a hydraulically actuated ram. Increased compression of the hay is achieved by applying transverse pressure to the hay as the hay travels longitudinally through the compression conduit.

Abstract: A compressed hay bale cutting and stacking system includes a compressed bale cutter and a stacker arranged to stack half-cut or quarter-cut bales in multi-tier stacks while maintaining slices of the bales in substantial alignment. The bale cutter is oriented to discharge the half-cut or quarter-cut bales as a unit at a predetermined elevation. The stacker has a table assembly and a pushoff assembly positioned to receive each bale as a unit from the bale cutter and automatically form a stack of at least 2 bale by 2 bale tiers. The table assembly has an elongate first platform movable vertically on the stacker frame between a raised position aligned with the bale cutter discharge to form a first row of bales and a lowered position for receiving a second row of bales, to accumulate a tier of stacked bales while maintaining the bales substantially aligned along their vertical sides.

Abstract: A method of making a mixed feed livestock cargo unit suitable for long distance shipping mixes dry fodder with fermented silage in a ratio proportioned to produce a mixed feed product having a net moisture content in the range of approximately 20% up to about 35%. The mixed feed product is compressed in a compression apparatus and then sealed for shipment. The dry fodder in one embodiment has a moisture content of approximately 8% up to about 15% and the fermented silage has a moisture content of approximately 40% up to about 70%. In another embodiment of the invention, the dry fodder a moisture content of approximately 12% and the fermented silage has a moisture content of approximately 60%.

Abstract: A compression apparatus for compressing livestock feed comprises a hopper for receiving the feed; a precompression assembly precompressing the feed; a first compression chamber coupled to the hopper to receive the precompressed feed therefrom; a first ram movable along a longitudinal axis of the first compression chamber and having a first pusher plate for pushing the precompressed feed along the longitudinal axis of the first compression chamber to produce a compressed block of mixed feed product; and a second, reduced volume compression chamber operatively connected to the first compression chamber at a distal end of the first compression chamber for receiving compressed feed pushed from the first compression chamber by the first pusher plate. The first pusher plate defines one side of the second compression chamber when the first ram is fully extended and the second compression chamber has an opening at one end thereof for discharging the compressed feed.

Abstract: A non-palletized unit of cargo comprises multiple substantially identical high-density bales of hay arranged in a stack having vertical peripheral sides and held together exclusively by inwardly directed lateral forces around the peripheral sides of the stack with the force being applied by multiple layers of pre-stretched stretch-wrap extending around the peripheral sides of the stack.

Abstract: A non-palletized unit of cargo is formed of multiple bales of hay bound together as a unit by an elongated sheet of a polymer film pre-stretched and wrapped in multiple layers around and in direct engagement with the peripheral sides of the bales so that it can be handled by direct engagement of the bottom surface thereof by the tines of a forklift truck, includes attaching member attached to at least one of the plurality of bales and extending from a side thereof for towing the unit of cargo laterally for positioning it for unloading from a cargo space.

Abstract: A method of unitizing a cargo of multiple substantially identical high density hay bales into multiple non-palletized units capable of being handled by a forklift truck or the like and fitted into shipping containers and utility vehicle cargo spaces comprises the steps of selecting a plurality of substantially identical high density bales of hay, arranging the plurality of bales of hay into selected size stacks of at least one layer of multiple horizontal rows, and wrapping multiple layers of an elongated continuous sheet of pre-stretched polymeric film having a memory horizontally around the plurality of bales of hay.

Abstract: A non-palletized unit of cargo is formed of multiple bales of hay bound together as a unit by an elongated sheet of a polymer film pre-stretched and wrapped in multiple layers around and in direct engagement with the peripheral sides of the bales so that it can be handled by direct engagement of the bottom surface thereof by the tines of a forklift truck, includes an attaching member attached to at least one of the plurality of bales and extending from a side thereof for towing the unit of cargo laterally for positioning it for unloading from cargo space.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading non-palletized units of cargo from cargo containers without docking facilities comprising an elongated mounting bracket for detachable attachment to a bottom door frame of a cargo container, and having a plurality of mounting studs extending outwardly therefrom, a pair of support rails having sockets at one end for receiving and detachably attaching to the mounting studs, and upstanding support legs at the other end for supporting the rails in a horizontal position, and a towing link for attachment at one end to a cargo unit to be pulled onto said rails and attachable at the other end to towing apparatus for towing the cargo unit onto said rails.

Abstract: A method of unitizing a cargo of multiple substantially identical high density hay bales into a multiple non-palletized units capable of being handled by a forklift truck or the like and fitted into shipping containers and utility vehicle cargo spaces comprises the steps of selecting a plurality of substantially identical high density bales of hay, arranging the plurality of bales of hay into selected size stacks of at least one layer of multiple horizontal rows, and wrapping multiple layers of an elongated continuous sheet of pre-stretched polymeric film having a memory horizontally around the plurality of bales of hay.

Abstract: A non-palletized unit of cargo of multiple substantially identical high density bales of hay capable of being handled by a forklift truck or the like without a pallet comprises a plurality of substantially identical high density bales of hay, arranged into at least one layer of multiple horizontal rows, and bound together as a unit solely by multiple layers of an elongated continuous sheet of pre-stretched polymeric film having a memory wrapped horizontally around the periphery of the bales of hay.

Abstract: A method of unitizing a cargo of multiple substantially identical high density hay bales into a non-palletized unit capable of being handled by a fork lift truck or the like comprises the steps of selecting a plurality of substantially identical high density bales of hay, arranging the plurality of bales of hay into at least one layer of multiple horizontal rows, and wrapping multiple layers of an elongated continuous sheet of pre-stretched polymeric film having a memory horizontally around the plurality of bales of hay.

Abstract: A hay bale recompacting system comprises an elongated compression chamber having a generally rectangular cross-section defined by top, bottom, and end walls, an inlet end and an outlet end, an inlet opening at the inlet end in one side of the chamber, an outlet at the outlet end in the other side of the chamber, a ram at the inlet end of the chamber for compressing bales therein, an indexing apparatus for weighing a charge to be introduced into the compressor, a ram for moving a selected amount of a bale into the chamber, a strapping chamber at the outlet disposed at right angle to the compression chamber for receiving compressed bales, an extruder ram for extruding bales from the compression chamber into and from the strapping chamber, and strapping units associated with the strapping chamber for strapping bales in the strapping chamber.