Gel based livestock feed, method of manufacture and use

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.

1 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A livestock feed comprising:
 an alginate based gel matrix including water as a major component and up to about 25 weight percent of protein derived from blood.   
     
     
         46 . The livestock feed of  claim 45 , wherein the protein derived from blood is in the form of blood plasma or blood serum. 
     
     
         47 . The livestock feed of  claim 45 , and further including antibiotics or chemotherapeutics. 
     
     
         48 . The livestock feed of  claim 47 , wherein the antibiotics or chemotherapeutics include apramycin, bacitracin methylene disacylate, bacitracic zinc, bambermycins, chlortetracycline, lincomycin, neomycin, oxytetracycline, penicillin, tiamulin, tylosin, virginiamycin, arsanilic acid, carbodox, roxarsone, sulfamethazine, sulfathiazole, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         49 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The livestock feed of  claim 46 , wherein the protein further comprises egg protein. 
     
     
         56 . The livestock feed of  claim 45 , wherein the protein further comprises egg protein. 
     
     
         57 . A livestock feed, comprising:
 an alginate-based gel matrix;   up to 25 weight percent protein;   up to 40 weight percent of carbohydrates;   up to 10 weight percent of fat;   less than 2 percent fiber; and   between 25 and 90 percent water;   wherein water is the major component of the livestock feed.   
     
     
         58 . The livestock feed of  claim 57 , wherein the protein comprises an animal based protein. 
     
     
         59 . The livestock feed of  claim 58 , wherein the animal based protein comprises one or more of meat meal, bone meal, blood meal, red blood cells, dried porcine solubles, hydrolyzed feather meal, fish meal, dried milk, plasma and serum protein, poultry by-product meal, dried whey, whey protein concentrate and eggs. 
     
     
         60 . The livestock feed of  claim 57 , wherein the protein comprises plant based protein. 
     
     
         61 . The livestock feed of  claim 60 , wherein the plant based protein comprises one or more of alfalfa meal, canola seed meal, rice protein, coconut meal, wheat gluten, potato protein, cotton seed meal, linseed meal, peanut meal, safflower meal, sesame meal, soybean meal, soybean proteins and sunflower meal. 
     
     
         62 . The livestock feed of  claim 57 , wherein the carbohydrate comprises one or more of a flour, starch and a sugar. 
     
     
         63 . The livestock feed of  claim 57 , wherein the fat comprises a blended animal based fat. 
     
     
         64 . The livestock feed of  claim 57 , wherein the fat comprises one or more of poultry fat and tallow. 
     
     
         65 . The livestock feed of  claim 57 , wherein the fat comprises a blended vegetable based fat. 
     
     
         66 . The livestock feed of  claim 57 , wherein the fat comprises one or more of soybean oil, corn oil, canola oil, coconut oil, and olive oil. 
     
     
         67 . The livestock feed of  claim 57 , further comprising one or more vitamin and mineral supplements. 
     
     
         68 . The livestock feed of  claim 57 , further comprising antibiotics or chemotherapeutics. 
     
     
         69 . The livestock feed of  claim 57 , wherein the alginate-based gel matrix is formed of a cold set gel.