Composition of Livestock Feed and Method of Manufacturing the Same

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for optimizing dry matter intake in a feed composition for livestock comprising the following steps:
 measuring out a first weight of dry alfalfa and a first weight of corn silage;   blending the first weight of dry alfalfa with the first weight of corn silage to result in a first blend having a weight percent of dry alfalfa ranging from 50 percent to 72 percent and a weight percent of corn silage ranging from 28 percent to 50 percent;   metering the first blend to a high-density hay press;   pressing the first blend in the high-density hay press into a bale; and   packaging sealing the bale in a silage-grade plastic wrap resulting in a wrapped and airtight sealed bale, wherein a volume of carbon dioxide is generated during a fermentation process and captured within the wrapped and airtight sealed bale.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  including the further step of storing the wrapped and airtight sealed bale for a period ranging from ten to seventeen days. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  including the further step of loading the wrapped and airtight sealed bale into a sea container. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the bale has a density ranging from 25 to 33 lbs. per cubic foot. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the fermented feed composition has a dry matter composition ranging from 60 percent to 72 percent. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the fermented feed composition has a dry matter ranging from 60 percent to 72 percent without requiring any rehydration. 
     
     
         7 . A blended feed composition for livestock comprising:
 50 to 72 percent by weight a dry alfalfa wherein the dry alfalfa comprises a combination of texturized leaves and texturized stems;   28 to 50 percent by weight a corn silage wherein the corn silage comprises a plurality of opened and softened corn grains;   wherein the blended feed composition has a density of 25 to 30 pounds per cubic foot and a moisture content of less than 35 percent.   
     
     
         8 . The feed composition of  claim 7  wherein the blended feed composition is pressed into a bale. 
     
     
         9 . The feed composition of  claim 8  wherein the bale is wrapped in a silage-grade plastic wrap. 
     
     
         10 . The feed composition of  claim 8  wherein the bale is bagged. 
     
     
         11 . The feed composition of  claim 8  wherein the bale is bagged and vacuum sealed. 
     
     
         12 . A compressed and baled feed composition for livestock having a dry matter ranging from 60 percent to 70 percent prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
 providing a dry alfalfa having a moisture content ranging from 8 to 20 percent;   providing a corn silage having an initial moisture content ranging from 50 to 75 percent;   blending the dry alfalfa with the corn silage to result in a first blend having a weight percent of dry alfalfa ranging from 50 to 72 percent and a weight percent of corn silage ranging from 28 to 50 percent;   metering the first blend to a high-density hay press;   pressing the first blend in the high-density hay press into a bale having a density of ranging from 25 to 30 pounds per square foot;   sealing the bale in a silage-grade plastic wrap resulting in a wrapped and airtight sealed bale wherein a volume of carbon dioxide is generated during a fermentation process and captured within the wrapped and airtight sealed bale; and   storing the wrapped and airtight sealed bale for a period ranging from ten to seventeen days.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  comprising the further step of sleeving the bale discharged from the high-density hay press. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the wrapped and airtight sealed bale has a moisture content less than thirty-five percent. 
     
     
         15 . A method of initiating a fermentation process in a feed composition for livestock comprising the following steps:
 providing a first amount of dry alfalfa having a moisture content ranging from 8 to 20 percent;   providing a first amount of corn silage having a moisture content ranging from 50 to 75 percent;   blending the first weight of the dry alfalfa with the first weight of the corn silage to result in a first blend having a weight percent of dry alfalfa ranging from 50 to 72 percent and a weight percent of corn silage ranging from 28 to 50 percent;   metering the first blend to a high-density hay press;   pressing the first blend into a bale;   sealing the bale in a silage-grade plastic wrap resulting in a wrapped and airtight sealed bale; and   storing the wrapped and airtight sealed bale for a period ranging from ten to seventeen days to allow completion of the fermentation process.   
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the wrapped bale has a moisture content less than 35 percent. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the bale has a density ranging from 25 to 35 pounds per square foot.