Maceration Sensor Feedback for Feed Ration Nutritive Value Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feed ration formulations based on the nutritive values of unprocessed forages become less accurate when the forages are macerated, as maceration increases digestibility and nutrient absorption, altering the effective nutritive value.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine the initial nutritive value of a forage material, macerate it using a mechanical macerator, and then correct the initial nutritive value based on the actual amount of maceration, using a ration controller to define a corrected nutritive value and adjust the feed ration formulation accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If forage material is macerated to increase digestibility and nutrient absorption, then animal production increases, but the accuracy of existing ration formulations becomes less accurate
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses maceration sensors to detect the actual degree of maceration and feeds this information back to the ration controller, which then adjusts the ration formulation to maintain accuracy despite variations in maceration intensity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters used for ration formulation from standard nutritive values to corrected nutritive values that account for the actual degree of maceration, thereby maintaining formulation accuracy under varying maceration conditions
2Quantity of substance
If the degree of maceration varies, then nutrient absorption increases, but the consistency of ration formulation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Maceration sensors continuously monitor the degree of maceration and provide feedback to the ration controller, which adjusts formulation parameters in real-time to maintain consistency despite variations in maceration intensity
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static ration formulations based on fixed nutritive values to dynamic formulations that automatically adjust based on real-time maceration measurements, ensuring consistent nutritional delivery despite process variations
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
This approach ensures that the feed ration formulation accurately reflects the increased digestibility and nutrient absorption of macerated forages, leading to improved animal nutrition and production outcomes for a given volume of forage.
Implementation Method 1
macerating is a highly intensive mechanical crop conditioning process in which the physical structure of plant stems are broken down and split into numerals pieces while the leaves and upper stem segments are crushed and pureed
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of preparing a feed ration (22) for an animal (24) includes determining an initial nutritive value of a forage material (26), and then macerating the forage material (26) with a mechanical macerator (30). An actual amount of maceration of the forage material (26) achieved by the mechanical macerator (30) is then determined with a macerator sensor (50). The initial nutritive value may then be corrected to define a corrected nutritive value that accounts for the change in digestibility of the forage material (26) caused by maceration. A formulation for the feed ration (22) may then be defined or determined based on the corrected nutritive value of the forage material (26).