AU768228B2 - Novel flake-shaped food for animals, in particular for aquatic animals - Google Patents

Description

P/00/01i1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A DIVISIONAL PATENT

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: TETRA WERKE DR. RER. NAT. ULRICH BAENSCH GMBH Actual Inventors: Hubert Kuirzinger, Jeankamp 8, D-49324 Melle, Germany; I-ve Nanqffafin Rudolf Teseh, e/c Cbdeeke AC6,- -Patentwescn, NMccswalda11cz 4, D 79909 Freibttg,- -Germ~any; Hartmaut Schmidt, Schauenroth 28, D-49 124 Georgsmarienhuitte, Germany; Dietmar Kuhlmann, Niedernwohrener Stra~e 19, D-3 1655 Stadthagen, Germany; Rudiger Heine, Kienebrinkstra~e 30, D-49525 Lengerich, Germany Address for Service: CALLINAN LAWRIE, 711 High Street, Kew, Victoria 3101, Australia Invention Title: NOVEL FLAKE-SHAPED FOOD FOR ANIMALS, IN PARTICULAR FOR AQUATIC ANIMALS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to US:- 19/1 1/010P12409kf, 1 -1- NOVEL FLAKE-SHAPED FOOD FOR ANIMALS. IN PARTICULAR FOR AQUATIC ANIMALS Description The present invention is concerned with novel flake feeds for aquatic animals, especially fish, shrimps and invertebrates, in fresh and sea water and is also concerned with a process for the production thereof.

This application is a patent of addition application to 56589/98.

The production of cereal flakes, for example of rolled oats, for human nutrition with the help of a flaking process is known. Cereal flakes are products of hulling which are preponderantly produced from oats, wheat, rye, barley, millet and rice. For the production of rolled oats, whole grains, as well as groats, are converted into a formable, elastic structure by hydrothermal treatment. The damped material is applied uniformly to a flaking cylinder mill, the pressure of which can be regulated hydraulically. A differentiation is made between large leaf flakes (flakes from the whole grain) with about mm rolling-out thickness and small leaf flakes (flakes from groats) with 0.3 mm rolling-out thickness.

Flake feeds are also known for the nutrition of warm and cold water ornamental fish in fresh and sea water. At present, flake fees for fish are characterised in that they are produced with drum driers. Drum drying is a process for the drying of raw material mixtures which are made liquid to pasty by the addition of water. At the moment, it represents the state of the art and is generally available. Therefore, flake feed for ornamental fish from different manufacturers scarcely differ superficially.

In the case of the production of flake feeds for ornamental fish, an internally ooooo S heated roller is impinged against uniformly by means of an application device over the whole length of the roller with a previously pasted, viscous raw material mixture (moisture 25 content of the paste about 75%) which, in the case of rotation, the roller takes with it as a thin film on the surface of the roller. During the rotary movement, the water evaporates, which requires a high supply of energy. The dried product is removed with a moisture content of about 2 to 5% by means of knives as a flake strip from the surface of the roller.

The final moisture content, which plays an important part for the technical properties, especially the brittleness of the feed flakes, as well as for the acceptance thereof, can only S"be adjusted within narrow limits in the case of this process. The thickness of the flake strip produced according to the above-mentioned process is about 0,15 mm, depending upon the raw materials used, and cannot be varied very much. The steam temperature for beating S the roller is 120 to 165*C. Therefore, heat-labile raw materials, for example enzymes and 08/I 0/03,atl 2409.speci, I "lll-L1-41 L- l.lil ll~ ilCI ~VI~IIYlll;liUIII* ~tii ~liiii~i~ii~Riiu: ~-iir\L- niri r ii~u rir~VI ili~iliiiiiir ~C.lh-ll Yiir ITilrimiri ri.i-liii*ii-uyriii) .lirT rny. iii*l.iir~*;F~n~niil. Eml~(.;L WaYILIII1Y iil~i-U/iliii* li~ l*~v~unrili~i(~ii~-~u~-, r~urr;r;Pi~r;~irl~rr -2probiotics, cannot be used. After the production process, a comminution of the cohering flake strip takes place to give a saleable flake feed which consists of individual flakes of differing sizes which are characterised by an uneven form and which find use for the nutrition of aquatic animals, especially of ornamental fish.

The object of the present invention is the development of novel flake feeds, especially for aquatic animals, for example fish, shrimps and invertebrates, which can be used in fresh and sea water and especially for warm and cold water ornamental fish in aquaria and garden ponds which for the user, differ comprehensively from the products previously on the market with regard to thickness, brittleness, consistency and/or external form or by the use of hitherto not usable, heat-labile raw materials.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that, by means of a special production process, the rolling out of individually formed bodies, preferably produced with an extruder, for example a double-screw extruder or expander, such feed flakes can be produced. Without additional working steps, this process provides uniformly shaped flakes with a variable thickness of from 50 ptnm to 500 R~m. Due to the possibility of a variation of the flake form, of the flake thickness and of the flake moisture content, as well as due to the possibility of using heat-labile raw materials, the flakes so produced possess substantially better properties than the flake fees at present known.

We have now found improved properties as flake food for fish and aquatic invertebrate when thickness and water content are within narrow defined ranges.

The present invention provides flake feed for fish, shrimps and aquatic invertebrates comprising flakes of a uniform form made by the steps of: directly producing individually formed bodies of definite size from a raw material; and rolling out the so formed bodies of definite size to give individual flakes with a uniform size and a predetermined thickness of from 50 to 500 gim, and a water content of from 6 to 12%, with the proviso that the raw material does not include materials which promote disintegration of the flakes in water.

.*30 The special production process comprises the following process steps. Preferably by means of an extruder, for example a double-screw extruder, formed bodies (water content about 40% or less) are produced of such dimensions that, in the case of subsequent rolling out thereof in an appropriate cylinder mill, individual flakes are produced with a variable thickness of from 50 [tnm to 500 pRm and a diameter of from 1 to 100 mmn. The O8/ 1 /03,at 12409. speci,2 -3distance between the rollers of a flaking device having two rotating rollers determines the thickness of the flakes. In the case of the production of the formed bodies, the temperature can be reduced to 70*C. These flakes can then be subjected to drying and/or cooling to the desired end water content.

The production process according to the present invention permits the industrial production of feed flakes with improved fuinctional and physical properties which could not be achieved with the previously known processes for the production of flake feeds by the drying of a raw material slurry on drum driers: Uniform flake form: there can be produced uniformly shaped, for example round, oval, corrugated, heart- or fish-shaped flakes or otherwise uniformly geometrically formed flakes; Uniform flake size: by means of the directed production of formed bodies of definite size with subsequent rolling out, flakes can be produced in uniform size of from 1 to 100 mm; Improved mechanical properties: by means of the specific adjustment of the water content, the flake stability is increased. The proportion of small flakes (broken pieces) is thereby reduced, for example in the case of the production of flake mixtures, which leads to a reduction of the bulk density or of the package filling weight. Additional working steps, for example sieving off of the broken pieces, can be omitted; Improved flake consistency, production of soft flakes: by adjustment of a water content of 4 to 12%, it is possible to produce extremely soft and elastic flakes which are better taken up by the fish; Specific adjustment of the floating and sinking behaviour: the adjustment of the roller distance in the case of the rolling-out process determines the flake thickness. Thinner :25 flakes than the ones at present known show an improved floating and sinking behaviour. Thicker flakes possess an increased speed of sinking. Thus, a mixture of flakes of different thickness leads to a product which is equally optimal for all fish, regardless of whether they preferably feed from the surface, from the middle water or from the bottom; 30 Ability to produce multicoloured individual flakes: by means of the flaking of multicoloured formed bodies, flakes can be produced which have two or more colours; Introduction or protection of temperature-sensitive substances: the low process temperatures of the novel process 70*C makes possible the use of raw materials which, because of their temperature lability, could not previously be used: 08/ 1 /03,at 12409. speci, 3 S natural odorifereous and flavouring materials, as well as natural colouring materials: improve the attractiveness and acceptance of the flakes; active enzymes: improve the bioavailability of the nutrient materials: such a feed reduces the pollution of the water caused by the feed and contributes to an ecological optimisation of the water quality; 0 living bacteria and yeasts: can be used as digestion regulators (probiotics): in this way, an improved weight development of the fish can be achieved in the case of the same feed consumption; 0 addition of promotors, for example growth and spawn promotors for the improvement of growth and for increasing the spawning readiness; 0 the breakdown rates of value-determining raw material components (vitamins, colour strengtheners) are reduced by the low process temperatures; the safety additives used for this purpose can be reduced, which leads to cost savings.

Furthermore, the energy costs for the drying of the flake feed to the desired end moisture content are considerably lower than in the case of production processes according to the prior art which depend upon the drum drying of a raw material slurry, which usually has an initial water content of> 60%, since in the case of the process according to the present invention, the initial moisture content of the formed bodies is 40% water. Thus, the novel production process according to the present invention offers considerable advantages in comparison with the prior art not only with regard to the properties of the flake feed to be produced therewith but also with regard to the energy costs necessary for the production.

•This invention will be further described by reference to the following examples which are illustrative of preferred embodiments.

25 Example 1 Feed Flakes of a Thickness of 0.08 and 0.2 mm 370 kg dried fish and fish components, 160 kg corn, 150 kg plant protein extract, 140 kg yeast, 80 kg crustacean and mollusc material, 50 kg oil and fat, 10 kg algae, 15 kg saccharose, 15 kg milk and milk derivatives, and 10 kg of a vitamin and mineral mix with dyestuffs are thoroughly milled, sieved and mixed to obtain a uniform powder mixture ready for extrusion.

The mixture was extruded in a double-screw extruder with an output of 71 kg/h.

Water was added in an amount of 19 kg/h. The rotation speed of the twin-screws was 380 08/10/03,at12409.speci,4 r/minute. The barrels of the extruder were heated to 70'C. The extrudate was cut to uniform tablet sized flat round pellets with a diameter of 2 mm and a thickness of 1,5 mm.

The pellets obtained were fed to a calender keeping them on their flat side while being introduced between the two counter-rotating rollers rotating with a speed of 140 r/minute at a temperature of 50*C. The roller distance was 0.08 mm. The round flakes obtained had a diameter of 8,5 mim and a thickness of 0,08 mm. The final water content after drying at was 8% by weight.

Example 2 In the same way as in Example 1, flakes with a fish-shaped form having a length of 30 mm and a thickness of 0,2 mm were prepared.

Example 3 Feed Flakes of a Thickness of 0.12 and 0.25 mm 320 kg dried fish and fish components, 150 kg corn, 160 kg plant protein extract, 100 kg yeast, 90 kg crustacean and mollusc material, 140 kg oil and fat, 15 kg algae, 15 kg milk and milk derivatives and 10 kg of a vitamin and mineral mix with dyestuffs are thoroughly milled, sieved and mixed to obtain a uniform powder mixture ready for extrusion.

The mixture was extruded in a double-screw extruder with an output of 69 kg/h.

Water was added in an amount of 15 kg/h. The rotation speed of the twin-screws was 3 r/minute. The barrels of the extruder were heated to 80*C. The extrudate was cut to uniform heart-shaped flat pellets with a diameter of 2,6 mm and a thickness of 1,6 mm.

The pellets obtained were fed to a calender keeping them on their flat side while being introduced between the two counter-rotating rollers rotating with a speed of 130 r/minute at a temperature of 50*C. The roller distance was 0. 12 mm. The heart-shaped flakes obtained had a diameter of 8-10 mm and a thickness of 0,12 mm. The final water content after drying at 75*C was 8% by weight.

Example 4 In the same way as in Example 3, square-shaped flakes with a diameter of 80 mm and a thickness of 0,25 mm were prepared.

.30 Example Feed Flakes of a Thickness of 0.3 5 and 0. 1 mm 160 kg dried fish and fish components, 350 kg corn, 120 kg plant protein extract, 110 kg yeast, 80 kg crustacean and mollusc material, 160 kg oil and fat, 10 kg algae and 08/10/03, at 12409. w-_4 1-1-11 1 .1 -6kg of a vitamin and mineral mix with dyestuffs are thoroughly milled, sieved and mixed to obtain a uniform powder mixture ready for extrusion.

The mixture was extruded in a double-screw extruder with an output of 70 kg/h.

Water was added in an amount of 21,5 kg/h. The rotation speed of the twin-screws was 450 r/minute. The barrels of the extruder were heated to 800C. The extrudate was cut to uniform round flat pellets with a diameter of 3 mm and a thickness of 2 mm. The pellets obtained were fed to a calender keeping them on their flat side while being introduced between the two counter-rotating rollers rotating with a speed of 120 r/minute at a temperature of 50 0 C. The roller distance was 0.35 mm. The round flakes obtained had a diameter of 12 mm and a thickness of 0,35 mm. The final water content after drying at was 8% by weight.

Example 6 In the same way as in Example 5, oval flakes with a diameter of 12/15 mm and a thickness of 0,1 mm were prepared.

The flakes as prepared in Examples 1 to 6 were then evaluated as feed for fish and found to not disintegrate after addition to water and before consumption and to be satisfactory fish food.

"Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature, integer, step, component or group thereof.

S: 08/10/03,at 12409.speci,6 08IO03at249.pei,

Claims (6)

1. Flake feed for fish, shrimps and aquatic invertebrates comprising flakes of a uniform form made by the steps of: directly producing individually formed bodies of definite size from a raw material; and rolling out the so formed bodies of definite size to give individual flakes with a uniform size and a predetermined thickness of from 50 to 500 ptm, and a water content of from 6 to 12%, with the proviso that the raw material does not include materials which promote disintegration of the flakes in water.

2. Flake feed for fish, shrimps and aquatic invertebrates according to claim 1, wherein said individual flakes have a diameter of from 1 to 100 mm.

3. Flake feed for fish, shrimps and aquatic invertebrates according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the flakes contain animal and vegetable materials.

4. Flake feed for fish, shrimps and aquatic invertebrates according to claim 3, wherein the flakes contain temperature-sensitive substances selected from odoriferous and flavouring materials, colouring materials, enzymes, promotors, probiotics, vitamins and colour strengtheners.

Flake feed for fish, shrimps and aquatic invertebrates according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the individual flakes have a round, oval, corrugated, heart- or fish- shaped form or some other uniform geometrical shape.

6. Flake feed as defined in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples. 25 DATED this 8 th day of October, 2003 TETRA WERKE DR. RER. NAT. ULRICH BAENSCH GmbH By their Patent Attorneys; CALLINAN LAWRIE o *o *oooe* 10/10/03,at12409.speci,7 m~na~