Abstract: A weather resistant mineral feed in the form of free-flowing granules is produced in a series of steps comprising (1) mixing a liquid binder with a relatively coarse granular feed ingredient to form damp binder coated granules, (2) while damp, the binder-coated granules are mixed with a trace mineral base mix, (3) the granules with their outer layers of trace minerals are mixed with substances which impart water-resistant sheaths thereto, and (4) dusting powder is applied to complete the formation of the trace mineral premix granules. The premix granules are mixed with coarse granular macromineral feed ingredients, iron oxide and a water-resistant coating solution to form weather-resistant mineral feed granules. The water-resistant sheathes are formed by mixing the product of step (2) with a fatty acid and depositing thereon a metal oxide with which it reacts.

Abstract: Coated animal feed agglomerates such as pellets are made starting with uncoated agglomerates or pellets that may be formed of easily agglomerated or pelleted ingredients but which may be lacking in desirable nutritional or other ingredients. A binder such as a viscous aqueous gel is coated onto the uncoated agglomerates or pellets. Thereafter, the damp binder coated agglomerates or pellets are dusted with a powder containing ingredients having a substantial lactose content which usually are not amenable to being extruded. After the dusting powder has been applied, the coated and dusted pellets undergo a curing step before they are dried and cooled.

Abstract: Coated animal feed agglomerates such as pellets are made starting with uncoated agglomerates or pellets that may be formed of easily agglomerated or pelleted ingredients but which may be lacking in desirable nutritional or other ingredients. A binder such as a viscous aqueous gel is coated onto the uncoated agglomerates or pellets. Thereafter, the damp binder coated agglomerates or pellets are dusted with a powder containing ingredients which usually are not amenable to being extruded. After the dusting powder has been applied the coated and dusted pellets are dried and cooled.

Abstract: An animal feeder for individual animal self-regulated release of free flowing particulate animal feed (e.g. meal or pellets) from an elevated feed supply hopper into a subjacent feed trough. The hopper has a feed outlet in the form of a slot extending longitudinally between opposite sides of the feeder and with its width defined between the bottom edge of an inclined hopper wall and the hopper rear wall. The slot is normally closed by a plurality of tubular segments or rings resting in end-to-end elongated tube-forming relationship on the upper side of the slot. A rod (solid or hollow) rests loosely within the tubular segments and extends from one end segment to the opposite end segment. A horizontal segment restraining member or bar is mounted above the segments which limits excessive lifting of the segments.

Abstract: A system for comfortably concentrating in individual stalls a group of elongated four-legged animals which as a group have generally the same length and breadth, particularly, gestating sows. The system comprises at least one row of stalls or compartments arranged side-by-side. Each adjoining pair of the stalls share a common vertical divider or partition one end of which is stationary or fixed with the remainder being pivotally attached so as to be swingable from side to side. Preferably, the extent of swinging is limited by a length of chain. The width of each stall measured between adjacent stationary ends of the dividers is sufficient to comfortably accommodate the breadth of the animals either standing or lying but insufficient to accommodate their lengths. The length of each stall is sufficient to comfortably accommodate the lengths of the animals either standing or lying.

Abstract: Process for the production of technical grade biuret, readily in a form suitable for use as animal feed, by the controlled pyrolysis of urea in two stages, the first stage involving the partial pyrolysis of urea at a temperature above the melting point of urea to produce a first stage intermediate reaction product containing from about 20% to about 60% urea, and not more than about 25% cyanuric acid by weight, such reaction product being then cooled and comminuted, the comminuted product then being subjected, in solid form and in the absence of a liquid carrier, to a temperature at or slightly below the softening point of the solid particulate (suitable at a temperature of from about 100.degree. C. to about 140.degree. C.) with forced air circulation through the comminuted product for a sufficient time to lower its urea content by partial sublimation of the urea and partial further reaction thereof to biuret with only minimal further conversion of urea to cyanuric acid.

Abstract: Preparation of a composition particularly suitable for use as feedstock in the production of animal feed grade biuret by solid state pyrolyzation thereof in a recirculating oven, which composition comprises from about 37% to about 25% urea, from about 45% to about 60% biuret, and from about 3% to about 20% cyanuric acid, by weight, such preparation involving sparging air or other non-reactive gas through a urea charge at a temperature of from about 145.degree. C. to about 165.degree. C. and at a rate of between about two to about ten cu. ft. of gas/hr/lb of urea for a period of at least four hours, then cooling and comminuting the product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for arranging bags in layers with the sewn end of each bag in each layer facing inwardly of the layer and for depositing each layer on a pallet. Some bags are turned 180.degree. and some bags are turned 90.degree. while the bags are being conveyed to a marshalling station where the bags are gathered sequentially in groups. The first two groups are sequentially moved onto a plate to form a layer of bags having a predetermined pattern. Then, the plate is moved over a pallet and the layer is wiped off the plate over the pallet while the plate is retracted. The next two groups are arranged in a layer having a different pattern and deposited over the pallet in like manner. These steps are repeated several times to quickly deposit eight layers on the pallet with adjacent layers having interlocking patterns. Preferably, 90.degree.