Distiller grain production device

Abstract

In various embodiments, a device for producing a high density compact livestock feed from a loose granular material according to various embodiment can include a source for supplying a loose granular material to be treated and moving the treated material through a series of successive treatment zones. Rotatable screws are provided within an extruder to compress and transport the treated material a die. The treated material is pressed through the die while a two-dimensional cross-section compression is applied to the treated material. In various embodiments, the high density compact livestock feed is produced having a high protein content, a high fat content, high shipping durability, high quality, and high nutritional value, without the addition of additives.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An animal feed product having a dual-strength compact body comprising:
 an inner component; and   an outer component surrounding the inner component and having a hardness greater than a hardness of the inner component;   wherein the inner component comprises a composition formed by extruding loose granular dried distiller grains through an extruder having one or more rotating screws to change a physical property of the loose granular dried distiller grains to a modulus state, and then compressing the dried distiller grains through a die;   wherein the outer component is formed concurrently with the compression of the dried distiller grains through the die to produce the dual-strength compact body; and   wherein the dual-strength compact body has sufficient density to withstand being augured one or more times while remaining substantially intact.   
     
     
         2 . An animal feed product according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a moisture content of the dual-strength compact body is less than or equal to approximately 15 percent by weight;   a protein content of the dual-strength compact body is within 5 percent of a protein content by weight of the loose granular dried distiller grain, before addition of any nutritional supplements; and   a fat content of the dual-strength compact body is within 5 percent of a fat content by weight of the loose granular dried distiller grain, before addition of any binders or fillers.   
     
     
         3 . An animal feed product according to  claim 2 , wherein the moisture content of the dual-strength compact body is approximately 10 to approximately 15 percent by weight. 
     
     
         4 . An animal feed product according to  claim 2 , wherein the protein content of the dual-strength compact body is approximately the same as the protein content by weight of the loose granular dried distiller grain, before addition of any nutritional supplements. 
     
     
         5 . An animal feed product according to  claim 2 , wherein the fat content of the dual-strength compact body is approximately the same as the fat content by weight of the loose granular dried distiller grain, before addition of any binders or fillers. 
     
     
         6 . An animal feed product according to  claim 1 , wherein the dual-strength compact body has sufficient density to withstand being augured two or more times while remaining substantially intact. 
     
     
         7 . An animal feed product according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the die has a circular die orifice; and   the dual-strength compact body has a circular cross-section.   
     
     
         8 . An animal feed product consisting essentially of pelletized dried distiller grain, the pelletized dried distiller grain comprising:
 a moisture content;   a protein content; and   a fat content;   wherein the pelletized dried distiller grain consists essentially of loose granular dried distiller grains which have been extruded in an extruder having one or more rotating screws to force the dried distiller grain through a die under heat and pressure, and thereafter through a compression refrigeration system, so that
 the moisture content of the pelletized dried distiller grain is less than or equal to approximately 15 percent by weight, 
 the protein content of the pelletized dried distiller grain is within 5 percent of a protein content by weight of the loose granular dried distiller grain, before addition of any nutritional supplements, 
 the fat content of the pelletized dried distiller grain is within 5 percent of a fat content by weight of the loose granular dried distiller grain, before addition of any binders or fillers; and 
   wherein the pelletized dried distiller grain has sufficient density to withstand being augured one or more times while remaining substantially intact.   
     
     
         9 . An animal feed product according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the die has a circular die orifice; and   the pelletized dried distiller grain has a circular cross-section.   
     
     
         10 . An animal feed product according to  claim 9 , wherein the pelletized dried distiller grain has a diameter of approximately ¾ inch. 
     
     
         11 . An animal feed product according to  claim 8 , wherein the pressure applied during extrusion through the die is greater than approximately 2,000 psi. 
     
     
         12 . An animal feed product according to  claim 8 , wherein the moisture content of the pelletized dried distiller grain is approximately 10 to approximately 15 percent by weight. 
     
     
         13 . An animal feed product according to  claim 8 , wherein the protein content of the pelletized dried distiller grain is approximately the same as the protein content by weight of the loose granular dried distiller grain, before addition of any nutritional supplements. 
     
     
         14 . An animal feed product according to  claim 8 , wherein the fat content of the pelletized dried distiller grain is approximately the same as the fat content by weight of the loose granular dried distiller grain, before addition of any binders or fillers. 
     
     
         15 . An animal feed product according to  claim 8 , wherein the pelletized dried distiller grain has sufficient density to withstand being augured two or more times while remaining substantially intact. 
     
     
         16 . An animal feed product consisting essentially of a dense compact dried distiller grain, the dense compact dried distiller grain comprising:
 a moisture content;   a protein content; and   a fat content;   wherein the dense compact dried distiller grain consists essentially of loose granular dried distiller grains which have been extruded in an extruder having one or more rotating screws to force the dried distiller grain through a die under heat and pressure, and thereafter through a compression refrigeration system, so that
 the moisture content of the dense compact dried distiller grain is less than or equal to approximately 15 percent by weight, 
 the protein content of the dense compact dried distiller grain is within 5 percent of a protein content by weight of the loose granular dried distiller grain, before addition of any nutritional supplements, 
 the fat content of the dense compact dried distiller grain is within 5 percent of a fat content by weight of the loose granular dried distiller grain, before addition of any binders or fillers. 
   
     
     
         17 . An animal feed product according to  claim 16 , wherein the pressure applied during extrusion through the die is greater than approximately 2,000 psi. 
     
     
         18 . An animal feed product according to  claim 16 , wherein the moisture content of the dense compact dried distiller grain is approximately 10 to approximately 15 percent by weight. 
     
     
         19 . An animal feed product according to  claim 16 , wherein the protein content of the dense compact dried distiller grain is approximately the same as the protein content by weight of the loose granular dried distiller grain, before addition of any nutritional supplements. 
     
     
         20 . An animal feed product according to  claim 16 , wherein the fat content of the dense compact dried distiller grain is approximately the same as the fat content by weight of the loose granular dried distiller grain, before addition of any binders or fillers.