Animal feed blocks and methods and systems for their production

Abstract

Low moisture feed blocks deliver supplemental nutrients to animals and are free or substantially free of molasses by using concentrated separator by-product as a molasses replacement. A premixture of concentrated separator by-product and added sugar may be pH-adjusted and concentrated to a high solids content. The premixture may be combined with dry components to form an admixture that is poured into a vessel and allowed to naturally cool and harden into the supplemental feed block.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An animal feed block, comprising:
 concentrated separator by-product, wherein the concentrated separator by-product accounts for more of the animal feed block than any other component on a dry matter basis;   sugar; and   dry components,   wherein a pH of the animal feed block is about 7.0 to 11.0, and   wherein moisture accounts for about 2 to about 5 wt % of the animal feed block.   
     
     
         2 . The animal feed block of  claim 1 , wherein molasses accounts for less than 30 wt % of the animal feed block. 
     
     
         3 . The animal feed block of  claim 1 , wherein the animal feed block is substantially free of molasses. 
     
     
         4 . The animal feed block of  claim 1 , wherein the animal feed block is free of molasses. 
     
     
         5 . The animal feed block of  claim 1 , wherein the concentrated separator by-product accounts for about 45 to about 60 wt % of the animal feed block on a dry matter basis. 
     
     
         6 . The animal feed block of  claim 1 , wherein the sugar accounts for about 10 to about 30 wt % of the animal feed block on a dry matter basis. 
     
     
         7 . The animal feed block of  claim 1 , wherein the sugar accounts for up to about 15 wt % of the animal feed block on a dry matter basis. 
     
     
         8 . The animal feed block of  claim 1 , wherein the sugar includes at least one non-reducing sugar. 
     
     
         9 . The animal feed block of  claim 1 , further including one or more of sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium oxide, sodium hydrogen carbonate, or beet filtrate. 
     
     
         10 . The animal feed block of  claim 1 , further including at least one of one or more sugar alcohols, clay, or one or more feed nuggets. 
     
     
         11 . An animal feed block, comprising:
 concentrated separator by-product present at about 45 to about 60 wt % of the animal feed block on a dry matter basis;   at least one non-reducing sugar; and   dry components,   wherein a pH of the animal feed block is about 7.0 to 11.0, and   wherein the animal feed block is substantially free of molasses.   
     
     
         12 . The animal feed block of  claim 11 , wherein the animal feed block is free of molasses. 
     
     
         13 . The animal feed block of  claim 11 , wherein the concentrated separator by-product is present at a greater amount in the animal feed block than any other component on a dry matter basis. 
     
     
         14 . The animal feed block of  claim 11 , wherein the concentrated separator by-product includes about 16 to 20 wt % crude protein, less than 1 wt % fat, about 70 to 78 wt % organic matter, about 60 to 70 wt % total digestible nutrients, and about 40 to 45 wt % sugars on a dry matter basis. 
     
     
         15 . The animal feed block of  claim 11 , wherein protein and non-protein nitrogen sources are present at about 10 to 40 wt % on a dry matter basis. 
     
     
         16 . The animal feed block of  claim 11 , wherein fat is present at about 2 to 15 wt % on a dry matter basis. 
     
     
         17 . The animal feed block of  claim 11 , wherein moisture is present at about 2 to about 5 wt % of the animal feed block. 
     
     
         18 . The animal feed block of  claim 11 , wherein the sugar is present at about 5 to about 30 wt % of the animal feed block on a dry matter basis. 
     
     
         19 . The animal feed block of  claim 11 , further including one or more of sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium oxide, sodium hydrogen carbonate, or beet filtrate. 
     
     
         20 . The animal feed block of  claim 11 , further including at least one of one or more sugar alcohols, clay, or one or more feed nuggets.