Compacted Feed Blocks Absorbing Liquid for Livestock Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Livestock animals face challenges with water intake during transport due to splashing and reduced availability, and require compact feeding systems that can deliver both nutrients and water effectively, especially during stress or travel.
Innovation Solution
The development of compact feed blocks formed by compressing feed components using a high-pressure press, which can absorb liquid to expand and provide simultaneous feed and water intake, eliminating the need for separate water troughs and reducing space requirements during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If separate water troughs are used for livestock animals during transport, then water availability is provided, but water splashes and spills out due to trailer movements reducing water supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines feed and water into a single integrated block, eliminating the need for separate water troughs. The feed block absorbs and retains water within its structure, delivering both nutrients and hydration through one unified product that does not splash or spill during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed block serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides nutritional feed, delivers water, and eliminates the need for separate water containment systems. This multi-functional design solves the water splashing problem while also consolidating feeding operations.
2Productivity
If livestock animals are provided with hay and grain for feeding during travel, then feeding requirements are met, but large amounts of space are occupied and transport becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple feed components (hay, grain, and other feed materials) into a single compacted feed block. This consolidation maintains all necessary nutritional elements while dramatically reducing the volume and weight, making transport in small trucks feasible.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed components are compacted under high pressure to change their physical state from loose and voluminous to dense and compact. This parameter change in density and volume allows the feed to be transported efficiently while maintaining nutritional content.
3Ease of operation
If livestock animals experience periods of stress such as heat, travel or sickness, then reduced water intake occurs, but this causes dehydration and worsens health conditions
Solution Approach 1:
By combining feed and water into a single block, the patent ensures that livestock animals receive both nutrients and hydration simultaneously. This eliminates the choice between feed and water, ensuring adequate water intake even during stress periods when animals might otherwise reduce water consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The feed blocks effectively provide livestock with both nutrients and water, reducing dehydration risks and space needs during transport, while maintaining structural integrity without bonding agents and allowing for customizable compositions and supplement delivery.
Implementation Method 1
Liquid is introduced to the feed block and the feed block absorbs the liquid to a final weight that is at least 100 percent greater than the initial weight
Data Source
AI summary
A feed block is formed of compacted feed components and includes a moisture level of between about 7 and about 15 percent. Feed blocks have an initial weight, which is substantially free of liquid, and liquid is introduced to the feed block to cause the feed block to absorb liquid. A final resulting weight of the feed block is at least 100 percent greater than the initial weight. The feed block with the absorbed liquid is provided the to the livestock animals for the simultaneous ingestion of feed and liquid. Feed blocks are formed by introducing feed components in a high pressure press and compacting the feed components to form the feed block.