Mineral feed supplement

Abstract

A mineral supplement is described herein that has a high mineral/nitrogen content and is capable of being formed as a pellet. The mineral supplement may comprise a hydrophobic component that includes a lubricant and a high melting point substance which may facilitate forming the mineral supplement as a pellet.

1 . A pelleted mineral supplement comprising: 
 at least about 50 wt. % of a combination of a mineral source and a non-protein nitrogen source; and    a hydrophobic component having a melting point of at least about 45° C.    
   
   
       2 . The mineral supplement of  claim 1  wherein the non-protein nitrogen source comprises urea.  
   
   
       3 . The mineral supplement of  claim 1  wherein the mineral supplement comprises at least about 2 wt. % of the non-protein nitrogen source.  
   
   
       4 . The mineral supplement of  claim 1  wherein the mineral supplement comprises at least about 70 wt. % of the combination of the mineral source and the non-protein nitrogen source.  
   
   
       5 . The mineral supplement of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophobic component has a melting point of at least about 55° C.  
   
   
       6 . The mineral supplement of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophobic component includes hydrogenated vegetable oil, animal fat, or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The mineral supplement of  claim 1  wherein the mineral supplement includes at least about 2 wt. % of the hydrophobic component.  
   
   
       8 . The mineral supplement of  claim 1  wherein the mineral source comprises a calcium source and sodium chloride.  
   
   
       9 . The mineral supplement of  claim 1  wherein the mineral supplement comprises about 30 to 85 wt. % of the mineral source, about 2 to 50 wt. % of the non-protein nitrogen source, and about 2 to 10 wt. % of the hydrophobic component.  
   
   
       10 . The mineral supplement of  claim 1  comprising at least about 0.5 wt. % of a high melting hydrophobic substance having a melting point of at least about 55° C.  
   
   
       11 . The mineral supplement of  claim 10  wherein the high melting hydrophobic substance has a melting point of at least about 60° C.  
   
   
       12 . The mineral supplement of  claim 10  wherein the high melting hydrophobic substance includes hydrogenated vegetable oil, saturated fatty acid, or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The mineral supplement of  claim 1  further comprising a filler in an amount no more than about 20 wt. %.  
   
   
       14 . A pelleted mineral supplement comprising: 
 at least about 50 wt. % of a combination of a mineral source and urea; and    a hydrophobic component.    
   
   
       15 . The mineral supplement of  claim 14  wherein the mineral supplement comprises at least about 2 wt. % urea.  
   
   
       16 . The mineral supplement of  claim 14  wherein the mineral supplement comprises at least about 70 wt. % of the mineral source and urea combination.  
   
   
       17 . The mineral supplement of  claim 14  wherein the hydrophobic component includes a high melting hydrophobic substance having a melting point of at least about 55° C.  
   
   
       18 . The mineral supplement of  claim 14  wherein the mineral supplement includes about 1 to 10 wt. % of the hydrophobic component.  
   
   
       19 . A method of producing a pelleted mineral supplement comprising: 
 forming a supplement blend including a hydrophobic component and at least about 50 wt. % of a combination of a mineral source and a non-protein nitrogen source;    wherein the hydrophobic component includes a high melting hydrophobic substance having a melting point of at least about 55° C.; and    forcing the supplement blend through an orifice to form a compressed blend.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  comprising dividing the compressed blend into segments.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the supplement blend comprises at least about 0.5 wt. % of the high melting hydrophobic substance and at least about 70 wt. % of the combination of the mineral source and the non-protein nitrogen source.  
   
   
       22 . A pelleted mineral supplement comprising: 
 at least about 50 wt. % of a combination of a mineral source and optionally a non-protein nitrogen source; and    at least about 0.5 wt. % of a high melting hydrophobic substance having a melting point of at least about 55° C.    
   
   
       23 . The mineral supplement of  claim 22  wherein the mineral supplement comprises at least about 70 wt. % of the mineral source and optional non-protein nitrogen source combination.  
   
   
       24 . The mineral supplement of  claim 22  wherein the high melting hydrophobic substance has a melting point of at least about 60° C.  
   
   
       25 . The mineral supplement of  claim 22  wherein the mineral supplement comprises about 2 to 10 wt. % of a hydrophobic component, the hydrophobic component including a lubricant and the high melting hydrophobic substance.  
   
   
       26 . The mineral supplement of  claim 22  wherein the mineral supplement comprises about 1 to 5 wt. % of a high melting hydrophobic substance.  
   
   
       27 . The mineral supplement of  claim 22  further comprising the non-protein nitrogen source, wherein the non-protein nitrogen source comprises urea, an inorganic ammonium salt, or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       28 . The mineral supplement of  claim 22  further comprising the non-protein nitrogen source, wherein the non-protein nitrogen source comprises urea, uric acid, biuret, an ammonium salt, or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       29 . The mineral supplement of  claim 22  further comprising sugar.  
   
   
       30 . The mineral supplement of  claim 22  further comprising sodium acetate trihydrate.