Consumption-regulated feed block with low moisture shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feed blocks for animals lack precision in controlling the consumption of feed supplements and mineral supplements, with issues such as uneven distribution and palatability affecting the desired ratio and consumption rate.
Innovation Solution
A consumption-regulated feed block design featuring a mass of controlled feed material integrated with a low moisture block intake control matrix, which forms consumption control pockets to regulate the ingestion of the controlled feed material by requiring animals to lick the low moisture block material to access the controlled feed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If feed supplements are provided in compressed block or chemical block form, then the supplements can be delivered in block form, but the precision in limiting consumption is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The feed block is segmented into an outer shell made of highly palatable low moisture block material and an inner core containing the feed supplement in compressed or chemical block form. This segmentation allows the outer shell to control consumption rate while the inner core provides the concentrated supplement, achieving precise consumption control without requiring the entire block to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention embeds the inner core of feed supplement material within the outer shell of low moisture block material, creating a nested structure. The inner core is surrounded and protected by the outer shell, which animals must consume first to access the supplement. This nesting arrangement enables consumption regulation while maintaining a relatively simple overall block structure.
2Quantity of substance
If the percentage of controlled feed material in the block is increased, then more feed supplement is available, but overconsumption may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The outer shell of low moisture block material serves as an intermediary between the animal and the inner core feed supplement. This intermediary layer is highly palatable and must be consumed first, which naturally limits and regulates the rate at which animals can access and consume the feed supplement in the inner core, preventing overconsumption while maintaining high supplement availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer shell requires preliminary consumption before animals can access the inner core feed supplement. This preliminary action of consuming the shell material first creates a natural consumption barrier that regulates access to the supplement, allowing high concentrations of feed material to be included without risk of overconsumption.
3Quantity of substance
If different supplements are provided in separate blocks, then consumption of each can be controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple supplement delivery functions into a single integrated block structure. The outer shell and inner core work together as one unified feed block, combining the consumption-regulating function of the shell with the supplement-delivery function of the core. This merging eliminates the need for separate blocks while maintaining consumption control precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A consumption-regulated feed block for controlled consumption of animal feed, comprises a mass of controlled feed material, the consumption of which is to be controlled, in compressed block, chemical block or hybrid block form; and an intake control matrix of low moisture block material positioned in the controlled feed material and forming consumption control pockets to regulate consumption of the controlled feed material by requiring an animal to consume by licking portions of low moisture block material in order to consume controlled feed material in an adjacent consumption control pocket.