Ruminant Bolus with Binder for Forestomach Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-energy feeds used in modern cattle farming disrupt the natural forestomach functions of ruminants, leading to over-acidification, reduced appetite, and health issues due to low crude fiber content, and existing boluses face issues with stability and coating complications during ingestion.
Innovation Solution
A bolus is developed by mixing crude fiber with a binder to stabilize and connect its components, ensuring physiological crude fiber levels, preventing uncontrolled swelling, and maintaining structural integrity during ingestion, without a coating, thus simplifying production and reducing the risk of components entering the trachea.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coating is applied to the bolus to protect components during ingestion, then the reliability of the bolus is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material consisting of crude fiber components bound together with a binder substance to form a single integrated bolus structure. This eliminates the need for separate coating layers while maintaining structural integrity during ingestion, as the binder provides internal cohesion throughout the bolus matrix.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the protective function previously achieved by external coatings into the internal structure of the bolus itself. The binder substance is mixed throughout the crude fiber components during manufacturing, creating an integrated structure where protection and structural integrity are achieved simultaneously without additional coating steps.
2Ease of manufacture
If the bolus is made without a coating to simplify production, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the risk of components spreading uncontrolled during ingestion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite material system where crude fiber components are embedded within a binder matrix. This composite structure provides internal binding that prevents component dispersion during ingestion while maintaining a simple single-step manufacturing process without requiring external coating applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the crude fiber components by introducing a binder substance that alters their cohesion and structural stability. This allows the bolus to maintain its integrity during ingestion through controlled molecular interactions between the binder and fiber components, eliminating the need for protective coatings.
3Reliability
If crude fiber is used to restore natural digestive processes, then the animal health benefit is improved, but the mechanical irritation of inflamed forestomach lining increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality modification by treating the crude fiber components with a binder substance that creates a smoother, more uniform surface texture. This localized modification reduces mechanical irritation to the inflamed forestomach lining while preserving the digestive-restoring properties of the crude fiber, allowing beneficial effects without harmful irritation.
Solution Approach 2:
The binder substance acts as an intermediary between the crude fiber components and the forestomach lining. It modifies the surface characteristics of the crude fiber to reduce mechanical irritation while maintaining the structural integrity and digestive-restoring functionality of the fiber, thereby mediating the interaction between the bolus and the inflamed tissue.
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 bolus stabilizes feed intake, maintains structural integrity during ingestion, and ensures effective delivery of crude fiber to the forestomach, reducing the risk of complications and promoting animal health by maintaining a stable pH and stimulating appetite.
Implementation Method 1
The parts of the raw fiber are connected to one another as part of the mixture of raw fiber and the at least one binder due to the at least one binder
Implementation Method 2
Crude fiber, particularly in the form of stalks, stimulates the forestomach by creating mechanical stimuli on the walls of the forestomach
Implementation Method 3
A bolus jacket is proposed in DE 10 2009 015 558 B4 for covering the bolus. It is proposed that the bolus shell consists of water-soluble materials
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a bolus (1) for administration to a forestomach of a ruminant, the bolus comprising a mixture of raw fibers (2) and at least one binding agent (3).