Abstract:
An aqueous liquid feed supplement containing superphosphoric acid or ammoniated superphosphoric acid, a water-soluble sulfate and urea is admixed with a solid ruminant feedstuff containing polysaccharides, such as fresh or suncured alfalfa or corn. The mixture is then dehydrated in a rotary dryer with temperatures and retention times closely controlled to remove most of the water but not enough to destroy the valuable natural amino acids, vitamins, and other growth factors. The partially dried supplemented feed material is then made into pellets which have excellent storage properties. Moreover, the pelleted product contains 50 to 90 percent of the total nitrogen in the form of water-insoluble, slow-release nitrogen which can be fed to ruminants with a high degree of safety. The present invention thus provides a practical and economical way of utilizing urea in ruminant feeds while at the same time minimizing its toxic propensities.