Abstract: The present invention includes extruded livestock feed particles comprising a high level of fat and methods of making these animal feed particles. The particles are palatable and digestible by the livestock animals and lead to an enhanced energy intake by the animals. The particles are also flowable. The method includes the use of a vacuum coater to incorporate the fat into extruded animal feed particles. The present invention also includes methods of feeding dairy cows.

Abstract: The present invention includes extruded livestock feed particles comprising a high level of fat and methods of making these animal feed particles. The particles are palatable and digestible by the livestock animals and lead to an enhanced energy intake by the animals. The particles are also flowable. The method includes the use of a vacuum coater to incorporate the fat into extruded animal feed particles. The present invention also includes methods of feeding dairy cows.

Abstract: Methods of simultaneously forming feed particles of different densities involves extruding a heated feed through an extruder having an extruder die defining a plurality of die openings. A first plurality of the die openings comprises a land length that is at least two times as long compared to a diameter of a respective die opening. A second plurality of the die openings comprises a land length that is equal to or less than a diameter of a respective die opening. Extrusion through the first plurality of the die forms extruded ribbons with a first density, while extrusion through the second plurality of the die openings forms extruded ribbons with a second density that is lower than the first density. The method proceeds by cutting the first and second plurality of extruded ribbons to simultaneously form feed particles of the first and second densities.

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, and gelatin in an amount sufficient to act as a binder when the composition exits the extruder, where the binder has essentially no starch. The present invention also includes extruded food particles that do not use starch as a binder.

Abstract: Methods of simultaneously forming feed particles of different densities involves extruding a heated feed through an extruder having an extruder die defining a plurality of die openings. A first plurality of the die openings comprises a land length that is at least two times as long compared to a diameter of a respective die opening. A second plurality of the die openings comprises a land length that is equal to or less than a diameter of a respective die opening. Extrusion through the first plurality of the die forms extruded ribbons with a first density, while extrusion through the second plurality of the die openings forms extruded ribbons with a second density that is lower than the first density. The method proceeds by cutting the first and second plurality of extruded ribbons to simultaneously form feed particles of the first and second densities.

Abstract: The present invention includes extruded livestock feed particles comprising a high level of fat and methods of making these animal feed particles. The particles are palatable and digestible by the livestock animals and lead to an enhanced energy intake by the animals. The particles are also flowable. The method includes the use of a vacuum coater to incorporate the fat into extruded animal feed particles. The present invention also includes methods of feeding dairy cows.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes bee feed products containing blood meal making the products less susceptible to a beetle infestation, and methods of feeding such products to bees. Feeding methods may involve providing a bee feed product to bees on an ad libitum basis. The bee feed product can be an admixture of a liquid bee feed and an amount of blood meal. The amount of blood meal in the bee feed product may reduce the level of beetle infestation. In embodiments, the bees may increase consumption of the feed product in response to the reduced level of beetle infestation.

Abstract: Methods of simultaneously forming feed particles of different densities involves extruding a heated feed through an extruder having an extruder die defining a plurality of die openings. A first plurality of the die openings comprises a land length that is at least two times as long compared to a diameter of a respective die opening. A second plurality of the die openings comprises a land length that is equal to or less than a diameter of a respective die opening. Extrusion through the first plurality of the die forms extruded ribbons with a first density, while extrusion through the second plurality of the die openings forms extruded ribbons with a second density that is lower than the first density. The method proceeds by cutting the first and second plurality of extruded ribbons to simultaneously form feed particles of the first and second densities.

Abstract: The present invention includes extruded livestock feed particles comprising a high level of fat and methods of making these animal feed particles. The particles are palatable and digestible by the livestock animals and lead to an enhanced energy intake by the animals. The particles are also flowable. The method includes the use of a vacuum coater to incorporate the fat into extruded animal feed particles. The present invention also includes methods of feeding dairy cows.

Abstract: Methods of simultaneously forming feed particles of different densities involves extruding a heated feed through an extruder having an extruder die defining a plurality of die openings. A first plurality of the die openings comprises a land length that is at least two times as long compared to a diameter of a respective die opening. A second plurality of the die openings comprises a land length that is equal to or less than a diameter of a respective die opening. Extrusion through the first plurality of the die forms extruded ribbons with a first density, while extrusion through the second plurality of the die openings forms extruded ribbons with a second density that is lower than the first density. The method proceeds by cutting the first and second plurality of extruded ribbons to simultaneously form feed particles of the first and second densities.

Abstract: Methods of simultaneously forming feed particles of different densities involves extruding a heated feed through an extruder having an extruder die defining a plurality of die openings. A first plurality of the die openings comprises a land length that is at least two times as long compared to a diameter of a respective die opening. A second plurality of the die openings comprises a land length that is equal to or less than a diameter of a respective die opening. Extrusion through the first plurality of the die forms extruded ribbons with a first density, while extrusion through the second plurality of the die openings forms extruded ribbons with a second density that is lower than the first density. The method proceeds by cutting the first and second plurality of extruded ribbons to simultaneously form feed particles of the first and second densities.

Abstract: Methods of simultaneously forming feed particles of different densities involves extruding a heated feed through an extruder having an extruder die defining a plurality of die openings. A first plurality of the die openings comprises a land length that is at least two times as long compared to a diameter of a respective die opening. A second plurality of the die openings comprises a land length that is equal to or less than a diameter of a respective die opening. Extrusion through the first plurality of the die forms extruded ribbons with a first density, while extrusion through the second plurality of the die openings forms extruded ribbons with a second density that is lower than the first density. The method proceeds by cutting the first and second plurality of extruded ribbons to simultaneously form feed particles of the first and second densities.

Abstract: A feed block is formed of compacted feed components and includes a moisture level of between about 7 and about 15 percent. Feed blocks have an initial weight, which is substantially free of liquid, and liquid is introduced to the feed block to cause the feed block to absorb liquid. A final resulting weight of the feed block is at least 100 percent greater than the initial weight. The feed block with the absorbed liquid is provided the to the livestock animals for the simultaneous ingestion of feed and liquid. Feed blocks are formed by introducing feed components in a high pressure press and compacting the feed components to form the feed block.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are ruminant feed compositions that include between 0.3% and 1.5% citric acid based on the total weight of the composition. Also disclosed herein is a method of attracting wild or semi-tame Cervidae employing a ruminant feed composition or attractant composition including between 0.3 wt % and 1.5 wt % citric acid based on the total weight of the composition. Also disclosed are edible paste compositions, edible foam compositions, and edible paste foam compositions for ruminants including between 0.3 wt % and 1.5 wt % citric acid based on the total weight of the composition.

Abstract: A feed product for animals foams and expands when blended with an activator. The feed product is a liquid or a paste. The foaming can be carried out using a variety of foaming agents. A disclosed foaming feed composition includes water, one or more food components, and a reactive combination that reacts to form a gas, wherein the reactive combination including a first reactive component and a second reactive component. Methods of forming and using the foaming feed compositions are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a paste feed composition comprising a food component, a viscosifier, and water, wherein the viscosity of the composition is at least 10,000 centipoise between 20° C. and 50° C. In some embodiments the viscosity of the composition varies less than about 50% between 20° C. and 50° C. Also described herein are articles including the paste feed composition and methods of making the composition. Also disclosed herein is a method of establishing a pattern of returning behavior in a wild or semi-wild ruminant mammal of the family Cervidae using the paste feed composition.

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: 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: The present invention includes a method for improving milk production in a ruminant. An amount of ruminally digestible starch in relation to the dry matter of a feed is manipulated to include a first selected ratio of ruminally digestible starch in relation to the dry matter of the feed which is fed to the ruminant during a first time interval after parturition. After the first time interval, the amount of ruminally digestible starch component in the dry matter of the feed is adjusted to a second ratio, lower than the first ratio, and fed to the ruminant.

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.