Method for processing feed grain for dairy animals

Abstract

Method of producing a feedstuff for a dairy animal that potentiates milk production. The method includes a multi-stage process having one stage in which a feed grain for dairy animals is heat-treated for a period of time at a temperature above 90 degrees Celsius. The grain is processed for another period of time that includes disrupting the prolamin/protein bonds which produces a hydrophilic, vitreous feedstuff having a starch and protein matrix composed at least partially by prolamin. The feed grain is heat-treated for a first period of time, of which at least 200 seconds is maintained above 90 degrees Celsius, and thereafter the feed grain is processed in a second stage by applying sufficient processing to disrupt the prolamin/protein bonds and thereby producing a hydrophilic, vitreous, feedstuff comprising a starch and protein matrix composed of at least three percent prolamin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a feedstuff for a dairy animal that potentiates milk production, the method comprising:
 a multi-stage process comprising one stage in which a feed grain for dairy animals is heat-treated for a period of time at a temperature above 90 degrees Celsius and the grain is processed for another period of time that comprises disrupting the prolamin/protein bonds and thereby producing a hydrophilic, vitreous feedstuff comprising a starch and protein matrix composed at least partially by prolamin.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stage in which the feed grain is heat-treated for a period of time at a temperature above 90 degrees Celsius is at least 100 seconds. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stage in which the feed grain is heat-treated for a period of time at a temperature above 90 degrees Celsius is at least 200 seconds. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature at which the feed grain is heat-treated for a period of time at a temperature above 90 degrees Celsius is at least 100 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature at which the feed grain is heat-treated for a period of time at a temperature above 90 degrees Celsius is at least 150 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature at which the feed grain is heat-treated for a period of time at a temperature above 90 degrees Celsius is at least 200 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the starch and protein matrix comprises at least three percent prolamin. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the starch and protein matrix comprises at least five percent prolamin. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a first stage in which the feed grain is heat-treated for a first period of time, of which at least 200 seconds is maintained above 90 degrees Celsius, and thereafter the feed grain is processed in a second stage by applying sufficient processing to disrupt the prolamin/protein bonds and thereby producing a hydrophilic, vitreous, feedstuff comprising a starch and protein matrix composed of at least three percent prolamin. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising extruding the feed grain in a second stage by applying sufficient shear pressure to disrupt the prolamin/protein bonds and thereby producing an extruded hydrophilic, low-vitreous, gelatinous feedstuff comprising a starch and protein matrix composed at least partially of prolamin. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feed grain comprises at least one of wheat, barley, rye, corn, sorghum and oats. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the feed grain having a vitreousness of at least 66% prior to being heat-treated. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, in a first stage of the multi-stage process, the feed grain is heat-treated for a period of at least 1200 seconds. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, in a first stage of the multi-stage process, the feed grain is heat-treated for at least a 200 second period during which the heat treatment is maintained above 90 degrees Celsius and that 200 second period is the last 200 seconds of the at least 1200 second long first stage of heat treatment. 
     
     
         15 . A method of potentiating milk production in a dairy animal comprising:
 obtaining hydrophilic, vitreous feedstuff manufactured by a multi-stage process comprising one stage in which a feed grain for dairy animals is heat-treated for a period of time at a temperature above 90 degrees Celsius and the grain is processed for another period of time that comprises disrupting the prolamin/protein bonds and thereby producing the hydrophilic, vitreous feedstuff comprising a starch and protein matrix composed at least partially by prolamin; and   feeding the hydrophilic, vitreous feedstuff comprising a starch and protein matrix composed at least partially by prolamin to a ruminant animal.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising retaining a portion of the feedstuff within the rumen of the animal for at least a twenty-four hour period such that during the first twenty-four hours of that period, at least seventy-five percent of the starch content of the rumen-retained portion of the fed feedstuff is digested. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising increasing the uptake of starch granules in  Entodinia  sp. rumen protozoa whereby higher propagation rates, lysis and delivery to the animal's small intestine of high quality essential amino acids is affected. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising at least a doubling of the likelihood of conception of a ruminant animal fed the feedstuff during periods of heat stress when ambient temperatures exceed one-hundred degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the feed grain having a vitreousness of at least 66% prior to being heat-treated.