Fortified sugar beet feed

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for producing an animal feed composition from a crop containing the plant Beta vulgaris or a part thereof, and an animal feed composition produced by the said method. [Solution] The method includes the steps of preparing a crop containing a Beta vulgaris plant or Beta vulgaris species having a dry matter content of more than approximately 18% by mass, chopping the grain, transporting the fragments to a leaching device to produce a fluid and pulp, wherein the pulp contains natural sugars of approximately 15% to approximately 60% by mass of the dry matter of the pulp, removing the pulp from the leaching device, and processing the pulp to form a feed composition.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Beta vulgaris, including sugar beet varieties / plants, has been used as a forage crop in dairy farming for a long time due to its advantageous feeding characteristics. The main advantage was that, since there was no known technology for storing corn in silos, it was historically the only forage available in winter. Thus, the so-called fodder beet was a way to feed livestock from autumn to winter until the next spring when new grass became available again.

[0002] The options currently available to farmers are either (home-grown) fresh / silo-stored Beta vulgaris or ready-made dried and / or pressed sugar beet pulp from sugar factories.

[0003] Background Art Beta-vulgaris is an energy-rich crop that typically has the desired sugar content, but it places a burden on livestock farmers in terms of crop management and post-harvest work. Crop management of beta-vulgaris is more difficult compared to alternative forage crops, such as maize. The main burdens are crop establishment and weed control. Harvesting also requires specific machinery, which is not always available. Depending on harvesting conditions, the roots will have more or less soil (dirty tare) attached, and therefore require either dry or wet washing before being chopped and mixed with other silage crops for storage in silos. Beta-vulgaris roots have a dry matter (DM) content of 18-30% and a very high moisture content, so they may not be able to be stored in silos on their own; therefore, other silage grains usually need to have an average DM content of over 30%, otherwise high-quality silage cannot be obtained. Furthermore, after chopping (24-48 hours later), beet roots release a large amount of leachate (up to 35-40% of their mass). This runoff needs to be captured or absorbed, which is another reason why other silage crops are also needed to store beets in silos. Alternatively, beets could be harvested once a week for use fresh, but this is a laborious and less efficient process. In practice, growers may use small harvesters they own to harvest once a week (to properly store beets in the field), or growers may harvest all beets and store them in clamps (under aerobic conditions). However, this is not possible in all climatic conditions and regions. Thus, the use of fresh beets is always limited to certain limited geographical areas and certain periods of the year. Therefore, one of the advantages enabled by the present invention is to provide a new concept that reduces the burden of crop cultivation for livestock farmers (who typically focus more on animals than crops). Details are provided in the following paragraphs.

[0004] Sugar beet by-products from sugar mills, namely compressed beet pulp and dry pulp, are readily usable as animal feed, but have a low sugar content (typically 1-5% by mass). Fresh sugar beets typically contain about 10-20% by mass of sugar, however, not all of it can be extracted. Wet pulp produced from sugar beets contains about 1% by mass of sugar, while compressed pulp, obtained by mechanically pressing the wet pulp to remove moisture, contains about 1-2% by mass of sugar. Dry pulp, obtained by heat-drying compressed pulp, contains 4-5% by mass of sugar. Some factories produce only compressed pulp, others only dry pulp, and many produce both. This depends on the distance between the sugar mill and the livestock farm.

[0005] Sugar beet by-products are in high demand among dairy farmers because they are easily digestible and rich in pectin. The highly digestible fiber provides animals with more energy and leads to better fermentation, resulting in better rumen health. All of this contributes to higher and more consistent milk production. The very low sugar levels of these beet by-products sometimes lead to the addition of molasses and / or other externally sourced components to the processed pulp after the sugars have been extracted from the pulp.

[0006] There is an ongoing need to improve the quality of feed obtained from sugar beet by-products and produced on a commercial scale for the dairy and other livestock industries. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing an animal feed composition having an optimized nutrient content, including, but not limited to, a high level of natural sugar content, and to provide an animal feed having a high level of natural sugar content.

[0007] wet pulp Wet pulp from sugar beets is produced as a by-product of the sugar production process. After receiving and washing the beets at the plant, they are cut into fine slices (cosets) using a beet slicer or chopper. These cosets are fed into a diffuser and circulated through a backflow of warm water during the leaching stage. The leaching stage results in the production of raw juice, which is further processed downstream to produce sugar and discharged cosets. At the outlet of the leaching, the discharged cosets contain a very small amount of sugar, typically about 1% by mass.

[0008] After leaching, the discharged coset is called wet pulp, containing approximately 5% to 10% DM. The approximate composition of the dry material in the pulp is as follows: sugar (sucrose) 1% to 10%, crude fiber 10% to 20%, pectin 10% to 25%, cellulose 40%, crude protein 8%, and ash 6%.

[0009] Wet pulp has a high cellulose content and other digestible carbohydrates (e.g., hemicellulose and pectin). It has a very low lignin content, resulting in good digestibility and energy value for organic matter, making it superior to corn silage.

[0010] compressed pulp Compressed pulp, obtained by mechanically compressing wet pulp, is supplied either in bulk or in bales. Compressed pulp typically contains about 20% to 30% DM after water removal.

[0011] dry pulp Compressed pulp can be further processed to produce dry pulp, which typically has a DM content of 85% to 95%. Various drying methods can be used to remove water thermally, such as rotary dryers, tray dryers, or belt dryers, direct high-temperature drying using fossil fuels, low-temperature drying using fossil fuels or waste heat, steam drying, and solar drying. Some plants produce only compressed pulp, others only dry pulp, and many produce both. This often depends on supply logistics to livestock farmers.

[0012] Dry pulp is typically sold in pellet form, which is easy to store and can be transported over long distances, and even by sea.

[0013] pectin Sugar beets have a unique fiber composition compared to other crops, particularly their pectin content (typically 10-25% dry matter). Pectin is highly digestible and slowly and continuously broken down in the rumen, providing a long-lasting energy supply.

[0014] If fermentation is slow, the pH of the animal's rumen does not change significantly and remains at approximately pH 6, thereby reducing the risk of acidosis.

[0015] Pectin provides favorable conditions for fiber-degrading microorganisms (which have low acid tolerance). Furthermore, pectin stimulates microbial protein synthesis and lowers milk urea levels. Therefore, pectin is an ideal component of starch or sugar-rich feed due to its fermentation pattern and the resulting synchronization of the rumen. Feeds containing pectin have a positive effect on milk protein based on better rumen fermentation by optimizing rumen function.

[0016] Summary of the Invention This application is summarized as follows:

[0017] One aspect of the present invention provides a method for producing an animal feed composition, i. A step of preparing a crop containing a plant or part thereof of Beta vulgaris having a dry matter content of more than approximately 18% by mass, ii. The step of chopping the grains, iii. A step of transporting the fragments to a leaching apparatus to produce a fluid and pulp, wherein the pulp contains natural sugars in an amount of about 15% to about 60% by mass of the dry material of the pulp. iv. Steps of removing pulp from the leaching device, v. Step of processing pulp to form a feed composition. Includes, Optionally, the process further includes the step of analyzing the crop and measuring the sugar concentration of the crop, preferably after the crop has been cut into pieces. Optionally, after removing the pulp from the leaching device, the pulp is compressed to form compressed pulp, preferably the compressed pulp is dried to form dry pulp, more preferably the dry pulp is pelletized and / or the dry pulp is formed into fragments. Optionally, the process may further include the step of analyzing the pulp to measure its sugar concentration.

[0018] The present invention relates to a method for producing an animal feed composition, comprising the steps of: preparing a Beta vulgaris plant or a crop containing a Beta vulgaris species having a dry matter content of more than about 18% by mass; chopping the grain; transporting the fragments to a leaching device to produce a fluid and pulp, wherein the pulp contains natural sugars of about 15% to about 60% by mass of the dry matter of the pulp; removing the pulp from the leaching device; and processing the pulp to form a feed composition. After removing the pulp from the leaching device, the pulp may be compressed to form compressed pulp. The compressed pulp may be dried to form dry pulp, and the dry pulp may be used directly in the form of fragments, or the dry pulp may be further processed into pellets.

[0019] The method described above may include a step of analyzing the crop to determine its sugar concentration. The sugar concentration of the crop may be measured by spectroscopic analysis. Spectroscopic measurements may be performed by spectroscopic methods selected from the group consisting of infrared spectroscopy, mid-infrared spectroscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, refractive index measurement, polarization measurement, and combinations thereof. The sugar concentration of the crop may be measured after the crop has been finely cut.

[0020] The aforementioned analysis may be used to analyze the pulp to determine the sugar concentration of the pulp, or it may be used instead.

[0021] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an animal feed composition produced by the method described above.

[0022] The present invention further relates to an animal feed composition produced by the method described above. The dry matter content of the feed composition may be about 5 to 95% by mass, or about 30 to 85% by mass. The sugar content of the dry matter of the feed composition may be about 0 to 60% by mass, or about 0 to 30% by mass. The feed composition may further contain a nutritional component which is digestible fiber containing pectin. The ratio of sugar to pectin in the feed composition may be in the range of about 1 to about 100% by mass.

[0023] The present invention further relates to a method for producing fortified milk, comprising feeding an animal feed composition to a dairy-producing animal and then obtaining milk from the animal. The milk from the animal may contain a higher nutrient content compared to milk from an unfeeded animal, and the higher nutrient content is selected from the group consisting of a higher fat content, a higher protein content, and a combination thereof.

[0024] The present invention also relates to an animal feed composition comprising from about 5% to about 95% processed beta-bulgaris dry matter, wherein the dry matter comprises from about 0% to about 60% sugar. As used herein, "processed beta-bulgaris dry matter" means dry matter produced by processing the crop through a device, as opposed to feeding fresh or raw unprocessed beta-bulgaris crops directly to animals. The dry matter of the feed composition may comprise from about 0% to about 100% digestible fiber. The digestible fiber may comprise from about 0% to about 100% pectin. The ratio of sugar to pectin in the feed composition may range from about 1 to about 100% by weight. The feed may be used to produce fortified milk by feeding the feed to dairy animals and obtaining milk from the animals. The milk from the animals may comprise a higher nutrient content compared to milk from animals not fed the feed, and the higher nutrient content is selected from the group consisting of a higher fat content, a higher protein content, and combinations thereof.

[0025] The present invention further relates to a system for managing throughput in a production facility for processing sugar-containing crop material, the system comprising a first detector for detecting the dry matter content and sugar content of the crop material, a second detector in communication with a fluid-based leaching apparatus for detecting the processed sugar content of the fluid within the leaching apparatus when the crop material is in the leaching apparatus, the second detector wherein the leaching apparatus has at least a plurality of operating modes, a control device for controlling the operation of the leaching apparatus in each of the operating modes, and a memory and a processor arranged to (i) receive the dry matter content and processed sugar content from the first and second detectors, (ii) compare the dry matter content with the processed sugar content, (iii) generate a comparison value, (iv) determine whether the comparison value meets a threshold-processed sugar yield target, and (v) based on the determination step (iv), transmit a signal to the controller for maintaining or changing the operating mode of the leaching apparatus, the system comprising a memory and a processor arranged to

[0026] A further aspect of the present invention is a system for managing throughput in a production facility for processing sugar-containing crop material, the system comprising a first detection device for detecting the dry matter content and sugar content of the crop material, a second detection device in communication with a fluid-based leaching device for detecting the processed sugar content of the fluid in the leaching device when the crop material is in the leaching device, the second detection device wherein the leaching device has at least a plurality of operating modes, a control device for controlling the operation of the leaching device in each operating mode, and a memory and a processor arranged such that i. receives the dry matter content and the processed sugar content from the first and second detectors, ii. compares the dry matter content with the processed sugar content, iii. generates a comparison value, iv. determines whether the comparison value meets the threshold-processed sugar yield target, and v. based on the determination step (iv), transmits a signal to the controller for maintaining or changing the operating mode of the leaching device A system for managing throughput in a production facility for processing sugar-containing crop material, comprising a memory and a processor arranged as described above.

[0027] In the system, the threshold-processed sugar yield target may be generated by a second processor, the second processor being arranged such that a. receives a mass input indicating the amount of crop material, b. receives the dry matter content and sugar content from the first detection device, and c. determines the threshold-processed sugar yield target based on the input mass and the dry matter content as described above.

[0028] The first detection device in the system may include a measuring device for measuring the sugar content of crop material. The measuring device may measure the sugar content using spectroscopy. Spectroscopic measurement may be performed by a spectroscopy method selected from the group consisting of infrared spectroscopy, mid-infrared spectroscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, refractive index measurement, polarization measurement, and combinations thereof.

[0029] The system may include a third detection device configured to detect proteins, fibers, or other non-sugar components of the pulp produced in the leaching device.

[0030] The system may include a second processor for generating a thresholded sugar yield target. The second processor may be configured to receive a mass input indicating the amount of crop material, receive dry matter content and sugar content from a first detector, and determine a thresholded sugar yield target based on the input mass and dry matter content.

[0031] The attached drawings are shown here, but these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. They are incorporated into this disclosure, form part of it, and illustrate various implementations and embodiments of the disclosed technology, along with explanations of the principles of the disclosed technology. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0032] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows the keys used to define process elements. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a process model for a sugar factory. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the improved sugar factory process model, showing which steps were improved (indicated by numbered circles).

[0033] Detailed explanation In one embodiment of the present invention, reinforced beet pulp is provided.

[0034] In another embodiment of the present invention, the fortified beet pulp according to the present invention is used as animal feed, which may also be known as feed material, feed, raw material, component, by-product and auxiliary product.

[0035] A further embodiment of the present invention involves creating and establishing a sugar-rich animal feed, particularly a dairy alternative, based on partially extracted and undepleted sugar beet coset or other microflakes.

[0036] The product according to the present invention is suitable as feed for beef cattle and dairy cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs and other livestock, as well as poultry.

[0037] Cosets of cut beets are used in industrial sugar extraction processes. Cosets are generally defined as long, thin strips of sliced ​​beets. The quality of cosets can be measured, or may be measured, by the silica number, which is the length of 100g of fresh coset in meters. Cosets are a special form that enhances and facilitates the sugar extraction process. While some variation is acceptable, within the natural range of variation in processed sugar beets, cosets are fairly consistent in size and quality across different factories. Sizes may vary slightly, but are generally similar across different factories. In the sugar industry, it is common to slice cosets. These are optimized to provide a large surface area for extraction, combined with the mechanical strength needed to press and remove water. Typical silica numbers in commercial production systems may range from approximately 7 to 20.

[0038] However, the form of sugar beet used in the production of feed according to the present invention is not limited to coset. Other forms of cut sugar beet include slices, mince, shreds, etc. One aspect of the present invention is to provide a sugar-rich animal feed substitute that is easy to use, highly nutritious, highly palatable, improves milk quality, and can be produced on a commercial scale.

[0039] Milk quality refers to the improved / enhanced content of milk solids, such as fat and protein. Feed products rich in natural sugars, such as the fortified beet feed described herein, provide animals with the nutritional and dietary support necessary to produce higher quality milk. The nutritional profile of the feed is primarily based on sugars, providing energy content as a substitute for starch. Both are carbohydrates and may be used by animals as energy sources to produce milk or gain weight, but they are different and complementary. Animals need both energy sources. Fiber is also an important element of the feed to ensure stable intestinal or rumen health. Beet pectin is highly digestible and supports the overall health of animals. The feed of the present invention offers ease of use. As an example, dairy farmers can put the ready-to-use fresh product directly into a TMR mixer (TMR: total mixed ration) to adjust the daily ratio for feeding to cows or storing in a silo. "TMR" means a well-mixed, complete dairy diet. TMR is properly prepared using a mixer wagon. Often, farmers use only the name "Unifeed" as the name of the mixing machine. Therefore, farmers are relieved of the burden of cultivating beta-vulgaris, a highly technical crop that requires meticulous attention to detail and is more difficult to cultivate than maize or other alternative crops. Since crop management of beta-vulgaris is more complex than that of alternative crops like maize, harvesting and post-harvest operations are also far more complex. Ultimately, farmers will have easier access to sugar-rich feed products by using the fortified beet feed of the present invention.

[0040] In one embodiment of the present invention, the amount of pectin is in the range of 0 to 100% by mass of the reinforcing pulp.

[0041] In another embodiment of the present invention, the amount of sugar (sucrose and other sugars) is in the range of 4 to 18% by mass of the fortified beet feed in the crushed pulp and about 4 to 50% by mass of the dry pulp.

[0042] The present invention further provides a new market segment for value-added animal feed products, which offers the flexibility to process sugar beets into different products to optimize resource utilization, improve yield, and respond to changing market demands, harvest quality, or storage conditions. One aspect of the present invention involves introducing a new type of sugar beet feed product instead of extracting sugar from sugar beets at typical levels, the sugar beet feed product having an increased natural sugar content retained in the crushed pulp in the range of 4 to 18% by mass. This fortified pulp is distributed to customers through existing formats and distribution channels.

[0043] A typical sugar beet extraction process is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 provides the key to the various operations in the process, and Figure 2 shows the relationships between the various operations in a conventional process. Referring to Figure 2, the following definitions apply: Definition of the production stage: Sugar harvesting - Before slicing, the beets outside the field are washed and transported to the sugar factory. Slicer - Slice the washed beets into pieces for extraction. Extraction - Extracting sugars (and non-sugars) from cosset. Pulp compression - After leaching, the pulp is mechanically compressed to remove water. Purification - Removes impurities other than sugar from the juice before evaporation. Evaporation - Removes water from the juice before crystallization. Crystallization and centrifugation - extracting sugar from juice Definition of product output: 1. Soil and stone 2. Compressed pulp • Fiber from beets • Approximately 5% of the yield is obtained from sliced ​​beets (i.e., 50 kg of compressed pulp is obtained from 1 ton of beets). · Approximately 25% dry matter by mass · Approximately 2% sugar by mass • By drying them, dried beet pulp can be produced with a much higher dry material content of >85% by mass. 3. Factory lime • Calcium carbonate containing impurities removed from fruit juice 4. Crystalline sugar • Pure sucrose • Sliced ​​beets account for approximately 15% of the total production (i.e., 150 kg of sugar is obtained from 1 ton of beets). 5. Molasses Sugar syrup, from which sugar is no longer economically produced. • Approximately 10% of the sugar in beets ends up as molasses. Definition of intermediate products: 1. Clean beets - beets from which dirt, stones, and weeds have been removed. 2. Cosset - Sliced ​​beets optimized for surface area (for leaching) and mechanical strength (for pulp pressing). 3. Depleted Cosset - Cosset from which sugars and some non-sugars have been extracted. 4. Extracted Cosset - Cosset from which sugars and some non-sugars have been partially extracted. 5. Fresh Juice - A diluted alcoholic beverage containing sugar (approximately 14% w / w) and non-sugar impurities (2% w / w). 6. Dilute juice - diluted sugar with impurities removed 7. Concentrated Juice - A concentrated sugar syrup (approximately 23% water) from which impurities and water have been removed.

[0044] The present invention provides a method or industrial process for producing fortified beet pulp via partial extraction of sugars from cosset, as shown in Figure 3. Figure 3 illustrates the changes from the conventional process resulting from the process of the present invention. The numbers in Figure 3 indicate the following changes from the conventional process: 1. A decrease in extract during leaching leads to the following: • Increase in total tons of leached coset relative to pulp crushing • Increase in total tons of sugars and non-sugars in the leached coset 2. Increase in leached coset and sugar content: • Remove water from fresh juice • Increase the sugar content and yield of compressed pulp (fortified pulp) 3. A decrease in extract during leaching leads to the following: • Decreased flow rate of fresh juice • Low-sugar fresh juice 4. The reduced amount of fresh juice and non-sugar content leads to the following: • Reduction in the amount of lime used for refining and the production volume of factory lime products. • Reduced flow rate of diluted juice 5. The reduced amount of diluted juice and non-sugar content leads to the following: • Reduction in water evaporation • Lower energy input 6. A decrease in extract during leaching leads to the following: • Fewer sugars are sent for refining, evaporation, and crystallization = Sugar production decreases. • A decrease in non-sugars sent for refining, evaporation, and crystallization means a decrease in molasses production.

[0045] It should be noted that the above assumptions apply to a fixed amount of beets entering the plant. Within the scope of the present invention, it is possible to increase the amount of beets entering the plant to supply the same amount of sugar production, but to increase the amount of crushed pulp produced. This increase does not require additional investment in leaching, refining, or evaporation capacity. Ultimately, as the amount of beets entering the plant increases, it is expected that the refining and evaporation operations will benefit from a reduction in non-sugars and water.

[0046] As described above, this process involves extraction or leaching in a conventional sugar extraction apparatus, and sugar-containing juice is obtained from cossets by a combination of leaching and cell membrane dialysis or disruption. This process is well known to those skilled in the art and is described in Beet-Sugar Technology (2nd edition, January 1, 1971, by RAMcGinnis). Cossets are transported into the apparatus, and water is added to promote the leaching of sugars from the cossets. Upon operation of the apparatus, the cossets release sugar-containing components into the water, which is called "leached juice," "raw juice," or simply "juice." The ratio of the mass of sugar-containing juice drawn from the extraction apparatus to the mass of cossets introduced into the apparatus is called the "diffuser draft" or simply "draft." As the draft increases, it is necessary to introduce additional water into the process. In a typical sugar production process, the draft may range from 100% to 150%, in other words, the mass of sugar-containing juice is typically at least equal to, or greater than, the mass of cossets transported into the extraction apparatus.

[0047] The leaching apparatus operates at high temperatures to accelerate the extraction / leaching process. Sugar extraction is carried out at temperatures above 50°C to achieve denaturation of cell structures, thereby releasing sugars into the juice during the extraction / leaching process. In conventional processes, the preferred operating temperature to promote cell denaturation is above 70°C.

[0048] To produce the animal feed composition of the present invention, it has been discovered that feed with an increased level of retained natural sugar content can be manufactured on a commercial scale. As used herein, “natural sugar content” refers to the sugar content in the beet pulp after leaching that was not extracted and / or subsequently returned to the pulp in the form of molasses or from other external sources. The increased natural sugar content obtained by partial extraction of sugar from sugar beets is beneficial as feed because it provides high levels of nutrients in the feed without the need for supplementation, thereby reducing costs and improving the operational efficiency of livestock producers. While not intended to be bound by theory, partial extraction of sugar resulting in “leached cosset” compared to “exhausted cosset” (where almost all sugar has been extracted) is considered to have several important advantages in the process: • The residence time of the coset in the leaching machine may be shortened, which means a potential increase in processing volume and / or a decrease in the amount of fresh water (so-called draft) supplied to the leaching machine, and a reduction in the amount of water that needs to evaporate in the later stages of the process; A decrease in the amount extracted during leaching leads to an increase in the total tons of leached cosset to pulp crushing (wet pulp) and an increase in the total tons of sugars and non-sugars in the leached cosset (wet pulp); • Increased leaching coset and sugar content means a decrease in the flow rate of the raw juice, a decrease in water and non-sugars in the raw juice, and an increase in the sugar content and yield of the compressed pulp (fortified compressed pulp products); • A decrease in the flow rate of raw juice and the amount of non-sugars means a reduction in the amount of impurities to be removed, a decrease in the amount of lime added for purification, and a decrease in the flow rate of diluted juice into the evaporation process; • Reducing the flow rate of diluted juice and non-sugared juices means less water evaporates (which directly results in reductions in energy input, emissions, and costs).

[0049] In one embodiment, the reinforced compressed pulp product according to the present invention has the characteristics listed in Table 1 compared to the product of conventional sugar beet processing.

[0050] [Table 1]

[0051] All percentages expressed herein are on a mass basis and are identified as % or %(w / w) unless otherwise indicated. The dry matter content of a crop is specifically referred to as "DM" and includes the non-moisture content of the crop. The term "sugars" refers to sucrose, saccharose, and other nutritional sugars present in the crop. "Non-sugar components" include fiber and protein present in the crop. The present invention has the following motivations and resulting advantages: Farmers can utilize a new source of high-energy, natural sugar-based raw material products. Sugar-rich feed for dairy livestock has been proven to increase milk solids, and dairy manufacturers pay farmers a premium based on milk solids. Sugar mills can open up a new “premium” raw material market segment.

[0052] The new type of raw material is easy for livestock farmers to use and further maximizes the benefits of sugar beet feed. Scientific experiments show that feeding with silo-stored or fresh beets results in a significant improvement in milk quality, particularly in terms of fat content. This invention provides livestock farmers with a fortified sugar beet raw material that has improved nutritional content and is easier to use compared to conventional beta-vulgaris-based raw material products.

[0053] At the same time, the present invention provides sugar mills or other processing facilities with a range of swing capabilities to mitigate variability and respond quickly to changing market needs. Swing capability means that the same asset can "swing" its process to different products (i.e., adjust leaching conditions to produce more or less sugar and / or fortified beet pulp) to tap into higher-value markets. Different regions have different swing capability options. Examples of swing capability include the Brazilian sugar industry and their acclaimed swing capabilities for ethanol and / or sugar production.

[0054] According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the amount of sugar beets entering the factory while maintaining the same sugar production, but with an increased production of fortified compressed pulp. This increase does not require investment in leaching, refining, or evaporation capacity. On the other hand, even with an increased amount of beets entering the factory, the benefits of refining and evaporation due to the reduction of non-sugars and water are still obtained. The increased input of sugar beets means that the factory can always operate efficiently, as it can maintain sugar production and increase the production of animal raw materials.

[0055] Another aspect of the present invention enables sugar mills or other processing facilities to use beta-vulgaris plants or parts thereof, or beta-vulgaris varieties or parts thereof, having varying levels of sugar and impurity content. As used herein, “impurities” and “multiple impurities” refer to non-sugar nutrients present in the crop. For example, some varieties may have a desired DM content or sugar content while containing higher levels of impurities, such as non-sugar nutrients, crude protein, or other components, compared to varieties with lower levels of impurities. Such varieties can be processed according to the present invention to produce high-protein feed, which may help increase the nutritional content of milk produced by animals consuming the feed. This aspect of the present invention enables the use of a wider range of beta-vulgaris varieties that can produce protein nutrients, which may be non-GMO proteins, in fortification raw materials for use in the dairy industry and other industries.

[0056] Examples Example 1 In Example 1, the same amount of sugar beet was processed using both a conventional production system ("current leaching model") and the system according to the present invention ("reinforced pulp leaching model"). The data is summarized in Tables 2a and 2b. The input, output, and product for each model are listed.

[0057] [Table 2-1] [Table 2-2]

[0058] Example 2 In Example 2, the amount of sugar beet added to the reinforced pulp leaching model system according to the present invention was increased compared to the conventional production system. The data is shown in Tables 3a and 3b.

[0059] [Table 3-1] [Table 3-2]

[0060] Example 3 Based on Examples 1 and 2, a commercial-scale process model was developed, and the expected results from this model are summarized in the table below.

[0061] [Table 4-1] [Table 4-2] [Table 4-3]

[0062] These models predicted that the amount of natural sugar content that can be retained in beet pulp using the method of the present invention could be increased by more than four times relative to the dry material compared to conventional sugar production methods. For example, in a control model, natural sugar accounted for approximately 4.5% of the dry material in the crushed pulp, while in a fortified pulp model using the same amount of beet raw material, natural sugar accounted for almost 20% of the dry material in the crushed pulp. Increasing the amount of starting beet material similarly increased the amount of natural sugar in the dry material to a level of more than 25%. Therefore, these data support the conclusion that fortified pulp feed containing high levels of natural sugar from beet sources can be produced on a commercial scale using conventional sugar production lines.

[0063] Example 4 To further investigate useful operational parameters for the commercial production of fortified pulp for animal feed, specific variables were tested in a commercial production line, and the results were summarized in Table IV.

[0064] In each test, a set amount of sliced ​​beet cosets was supplied to a conventional commercial-scale sugar production leaching apparatus, such as a conventional continuous countercurrent extractor. Examples of such extractors include, but are not limited to, DDS leaching or column leaching. Water was supplied in an amount sufficient for the apparatus to function properly and, in each specific case, in an amount that would achieve the draft percentage targets listed in the table below.

[0065] [Table 5-1] [Table 5-2] [Table 5-3] [Table 5-4] [Table 5-5] [Table 5-6] [Table 5-7]

[0066] The data generated from each test is summarized in the following table.

[0067] [Table 6]

[0068] From this data, we can draw attention to many observations regarding the process of the present invention.

[0069] As mentioned above, in conventional processes, the draft is preferably more than 100% of the mass of the coset supplied to the leaching unit. However, unexpectedly, it has been found that operation with a leaching unit draft of less than 100% resulted in a high natural sugar content in the compressed pulp, making it possible to produce pulp suitable for use as animal feed on a commercial scale. The range of reduced draft may be about 75% to about 100%, including about 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, and 100%.

[0070] In one embodiment, a reduction in leaching draft from approximately 104% to approximately 96% resulted in beet pulp with a 68% higher natural sugar content in the pressed pulp after extraction.

[0071] In another embodiment, while conventionally higher temperatures are preferred in the leaching apparatus to promote the denaturation of cellular structures that lead to sugar release, it has been unexpectedly found that operating at lower temperatures provides sufficient energy to produce pulp from the beet source within the leaching apparatus while simultaneously maintaining a higher natural sugar content in the beet pulp. For example, operation at leaching temperatures in the range of approximately 55°C to approximately 75°C (including approximately 55°C, 56°C, 57°C, 58°C, 59°C, 60°C, 61°C, 61°C, 63°C, 64°C, 65°C, 66°C, 67°C, 68°C, 69°C, 70°C, 71°C, 72°C, 73°C, 74°C, and 75°C) results in achieving a desired natural sugar content in the beet pulp.

[0072] In another embodiment, a decrease in the leaching temperature from 72°C to 64°C resulted in beet pulp with a 72% higher natural sugar content in the pressed pulp after extraction.

[0073] The combination of lowering the leaching temperature and reducing the leaching draft produced a synergistic effect, resulting in an unexpected increase in the natural sugar content of the pressed pulp. For example, lowering the leaching temperature from approximately 72°C to approximately 69°C and the draft from approximately 104% to approximately 80% resulted in a 138% increase in the natural sugar content of the pressed pulp after extraction.

[0074] Another operational parameter that can be controlled to achieve a higher natural sugar content in beet pulp is the sylin number, which indicates the thickness of the beet coset. It was unexpectedly discovered that cosets with a lower sylin number (i.e., thicker) than conventional cosets are suitable or preferred for use in the method of the present invention to provide the desired natural sugar content in the manufactured feed. Typical sylin numbers in conventional processes range from about 7 to about 20. It was found that lower sylin numbers in the range of about 1 to about 6 (including 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) are suitable for achieving the desired result of retaining a higher natural sugar content in the pulp compared to conventional processes.

[0075] In another embodiment, reducing the sylin value from 6.6 to 3.3 increased the natural sugar content in the extracted beet pulp by 75%.

[0076] As mentioned above, the retention time or system processing volume is another operating parameter that is influenced by at least three of the above parameters. In conventional processes, the residence time in the leaching apparatus is about 60 minutes in a horizontal leaching machine or about 120 minutes in a vertical leaching machine. It was unexpectedly discovered that the retention time according to the present invention may be in the range of about 20 to 55 minutes in a horizontal leaching machine or 60 to 110 minutes in a vertical leaching machine, depending on the factors described above.

[0077] From the above, it can be seen that the operating temperature of the fume hood and leaching machine affects the natural sugar content that can be retained in the beet pulp after processing in the leaching device. In some embodiments, the sugar content may be in the range of about 5% by mass to about 45% by mass of the dry material, preferably about 10% by mass to about 45% by mass of the dry material, and more preferably about 20% by mass to about 45% by mass of the dry material. The process for achieving these natural sugar content levels can be further optimized synergistically by further adjusting the syrin value and retention time, as will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

[0078] While several possible embodiments have been described above, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. These exemplary embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention, but are selected and described to illustrate the principles of the invention so that others skilled in the art can carry it out. Indeed, various modifications of the invention beyond those described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above description. Such modifications are intended to be included in the appended claims. The present invention is captured in particular by any combination of one or more of the above embodiments and the other descriptions and / or embodiments.

Claims

1. A method for producing an animal feed composition, a. A step of preparing a crop containing a plant of Beta vulgaris or a part thereof having a dry matter content of more than approximately 18% by mass, b. The step of chopping the grain into smaller pieces. c. A step of transporting the fragments to a leaching apparatus to produce a fluid and pulp, wherein the pulp contains natural sugars in an amount of about 15% to about 60% by mass of the dry material of the pulp. d. The step of removing the pulp from the leaching device, e. Step of processing pulp to form a feed composition. Includes, Optionally, the process may further include the step of analyzing the crop to measure its sugar concentration, preferably after the crop has been cut into pieces. Optionally, after removing the pulp from the leaching device, the pulp is compressed to form compressed pulp, preferably the compressed pulp is dried to form dry pulp, more preferably the dry pulp is pelletized and / or the dry pulp is formed into fragments. A method for producing an animal feed composition, optionally further comprising the step of analyzing the pulp to measure the sugar concentration of the pulp.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sugar concentration of crops and / or pulp is determined by spectroscopic measurement, preferably by a spectroscopic method selected from the group consisting of infrared spectroscopy, mid-infrared spectroscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, refractive index measurement, polarization measurement, and combinations thereof.

3. An animal feed composition prepared by the method described in claim 1 or 2.

4. The feed composition according to claim 3, wherein the dry matter content of the feed composition is about 5 to 95% by mass, or the dry matter content of the feed composition is about 30 to 85% by mass.

5. The feed composition according to claim 3, wherein the sugar content of the feed composition is about 0 to 60% by mass, or the sugar content of the feed composition is about 0 to 30% by mass.

6. The feed composition according to claim 3, further comprising nutritional components, preferably comprising digestible fiber, and more preferably comprising pectin.

7. A method for producing fortified milk, comprising feeding a dairy-producing animal the feed composition described in claim 3, and then obtaining milk from the animal, wherein the milk from the animal preferably contains a higher nutrient content compared to milk from an animal that has not been fed, and the higher nutrient content is selected from the group consisting of a higher fat content, a higher protein content, and combinations thereof.

8. An animal feed composition comprising about 5% to about 95% of processed beta-vulgaris dry matter, wherein the dry matter comprises about 0% to about 60% sugar, and preferably further comprises about 0% to about 100% by mass of digestible fiber.

9. The feed composition according to claim 8, wherein the digestible fiber contains about 0% to about 100% by mass of pectin, and preferably the ratio of pectin to sugar in the feed composition is in the range of about 1% to about 100% by mass.

10. A method for producing fortified milk, comprising feeding a dairy-producing animal the feed composition described in claim 8 and obtaining milk from the animal, wherein the milk from the animal preferably contains a higher nutrient content compared to milk from an animal that has not been fed, and the higher nutrient content is selected from the group consisting of a higher fat content, a higher protein content, and combinations thereof.

11. A system for managing the processing volume at a production facility for processing sugar-containing crop materials, a. A first detection device for detecting the dry substance content and sugar content of crop materials. b. A second detection device that communicates with a fluid-based leaching device to detect the treated sugar content of the fluid in the leaching device when crop material is in the leaching device, wherein the leaching device has at least a plurality of operating modes. c. A control device that controls the operation of the leaching device in each operating mode, and d. Memory and processor, i. The content of the dried substance and the content of the processed sugar are received from the first and second detectors. ii. Compare the content of dried material with the content of processed sugars. iii. Generate comparison values, iv. Determine whether the comparison value meets the target of thresholded sugar yield, and v. Memory and processor arranged to send signals to the controller to maintain or change the operating mode of the leaching device based on the decision step (iv). A system for managing the processing volume in a production facility for processing sugar-containing crop materials, including [specific material].

12. The target of the thresholded sugar yield is generated by a second processor, preferably by the second processor, a. Receive the mass input amount indicating the quantity of crop material. b. Receive the dry substance content and sugar content from the first detection device, and c. Determine the target sugar yield after threshold treatment based on the input volume and dry matter content. The system according to claim 11, arranged in such manner.

13. The system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the first detection device includes a measuring device for measuring the raw sugar content of crop material, preferably the measuring device measures the raw sugar content using spectroscopy.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the spectroscopic measurement is performed by a spectroscopic method selected from the group consisting of infrared spectroscopy, mid-infrared spectroscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, refractive index measurement, polarization measurement, and combinations thereof.

15. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a third detection device that communicates with a leaching device for detecting the crude protein content of pulp formed from crop material within the leaching device.

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