Extruded ruminant fodder comprising fibrous plant material and gelatinizable binder

Claim 2

A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A RUMINANT ANIMAL FODDER IN A SINGLE PIECE OF PROCESSING EQUIPMENT WHICH COMPRISES INTRODUCING INTO THE PROCESSING CHAMBER OF AN EXTRUDER TYPE DEVICE:

Claim 3

FIBROUS PLANT MATERIAL SUITABLE AS ROUGHAGE FOR A RUMINANT ANIMAL, AND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALFALFA, CLOVER, GRASSES, WATER HYACINTH, CEREAL PLANTS, LOW GROWING LEAFY PLANTS, PLANTS RESIDUES FROM FARMING, LEAVES FROM LARGE WOODY TREES, AQUATIC LEAFY PLANTS, CORN STALKS, ENSILAGE, REGULAR MANURE AND PAUNCH MANURE; AND

Claim 4

FIBROUS PLANT MATERIAL SUITABLE AS ROUGHAGE FOR A RUMINANT ANIMAL, AND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALFALFA, CLOVER, GRASSES, WATER HYACINTH, CEREAL PLANTS, LOW GROWING LEAFY PLANTS, PLANTS RESIDUES FROM FARMING, LEAVES FROM LARGE WOODY TREES, AQUATIC LEAFY PLANTS, CORN STALKS, ENSILAGE, REGULAR MANURE AND PAUNCH MANURE; AND

Claim 5

A GELATINIZABLE BINDER SELECTED FROM THE GROOUP CONSISTING OF: A. A STARCHY MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF TAPIOCA, WHEAT, WHEAT FLOUR, DEGERMINATED WHEAT FLOUR, CORN, CORN FLOUR, DEGERMINATED CORN FLOUR, OATS, BARLEY, POTATOES, CEREAL SEEDS, CEREAL TUBERS, CEREAL GRAIN, RAW WHOLE CORN, WHOLE GRAIN SORGHUM, HOMINY FEED, WHEAT RED DOG, AND STARCHES AND MODIFIED STARCHES DERIVED FROM SUCH STARCHY MATERIALS; B. PROTENACEOUS MATERIALS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSITING OF GLUTENS, PROTENS IN CEREAL GRAINS, OIL SEEDS PLANT LEAVES AND STEMS, MILK PRODUCT PROTEINS, PROTEINACEOUS RESIDUES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS SUCH AS HIDE GLUE AND FLAKE FLUE, AND PROTEINS AND MODIFIED PROTEINS DERIVED FROM SUCH PROTEINACEOUS MATERIALS; AND C. MINERALS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SILICATES, BENTONITE AND KAOLIN, SAID BINDER BEING INTRODUCED IN ITS NON-GELATINIZED CONDITION AND IN AN AMOUNT REPRESENTING FROM ABOUT 3 TO 50 WEIGHT PERCENT OF THE MIXTURE OF PLANT MATERIAL AND BINDER ON A DRY BASIS, THE RESULTING MIXTURE CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF FIBROUS PLANT MATERIAL AND GELATINIZABLE BINDER, SAID MIXTURE CONTAINING AT LEAST ABOUT 50 WEIGHT PERCENT OF FIBROUS PLANT MATERIAL AND HAVING A MOISTURE CONTENT OF ABOUT 20 TO 75 PERCENT AND, WITHOUT INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL MOISTURE INTO SAID CHAMBER, SUBJECTING THE MIXTURE OF PLANT MATERIAL AND BINDER TO A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN ABOUT 100* AND 230*F. AND A PRESSURE BETWEEN ABOUT 50 AND 1,500 P.S.I. IN THE CHAMBER, WITHOUT PERMITTING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE MIXTURE TO RISE ABOVE ABOUT 230*F. IN THE CHAMBER, TO GELATINIZE THE BINDER IN THE CHAMBER IN THE PRESENCE OF THE FIBROUS PLANT MATERIAL AND MIX THE PLANT MATERIAL WITH THE GELATINIZED BINDER TO FORM AN EXTRUDABLE FLUID MASS WITHIN THE CHAMBER, AND EXTRUDING THE FLUID MASS TO FROM THE FODDER, WITHOUT FLASHING TO VAPOR SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF THE LIQUID ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FLUID MASS, THEREBY PRODUCING A FODDER PRODUCT WHICH IS IN A SUBSTANTIALLY NON-EXPANDED CONDITION.

Claim 6

A GELATINIZABLE BINDER SELECTED FROM THE GROOUP CONSISTING OF: A. A STARCHY MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF TAPIOCA, WHEAT, WHEAT FLOUR, DEGERMINATED WHEAT FLOUR, CORN, CORN FLOUR, DEGERMINATED CORN FLOUR, OATS, BARLEY, POTATOES, CEREAL SEEDS, CEREAL TUBERS, CEREAL GRAIN, RAW WHOLE CORN, WHOLE GRAIN SORGHUM, HOMINY FEED, WHEAT RED DOG, AND STARCHES AND MODIFIED STARCHES DERIVED FROM SUCH STARCHY MATERIALS; B. PROTENACEOUS MATERIALS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSITING OF GLUTENS, PROTENS IN CEREAL GRAINS, OIL SEEDS PLANT LEAVES AND STEMS, MILK PRODUCT PROTEINS, PROTEINACEOUS RESIDUES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS SUCH AS HIDE GLUE AND FLAKE FLUE, AND PROTEINS AND MODIFIED PROTEINS DERIVED FROM SUCH PROTEINACEOUS MATERIALS; AND C. MINERALS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SILICATES, BENTONITE AND KAOLIN, SAID BINDER BEING INTRODUCED IN ITS NON-GELATINIZED CONDITION AND IN AN AMOUNT REPRESENTING FROM ABOUT 3 TO 50 WEIGHT PERCENT OF THE MIXTURE OF PLANT MATERIAL AND BINDER ON A DRY BASIS, THE RESULTING MIXTURE CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF FIBROUS PLANT MATERIAL AND GELATINIZABLE BINDER, SAID MIXTURE CONTAINING AT LEAST ABOUT 50 WEIGHT PERCENT OF FIBROUS PLANT MATERIAL AND HAVING A MOISTURE CONTENT OF ABOUT 20 TO 75 PERCENT AND, WITHOUT INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL MOISTURE INTO SAID CHAMBER, SUBJECTING THE MIXTURE OF PLANT MATERIAL AND BINDER TO A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN ABOUT 100* AND 230*F. AND A PRESSURE BETWEEN ABOUT 50 AND 1,500 P.S.I. IN THE CHAMBER, WITHOUT PERMITTING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE MIXTURE TO RISE ABOVE ABOUT 230*F. IN THE CHAMBER, TO GELATINIZE THE BINDER IN THE CHAMBER IN THE PRESENCE OF THE FIBROUS PLANT MATERIAL AND MIX THE PLANT MATERIAL WITH THE GELATINIZED BINDER TO FORM AN EXTRUDABLE FLUID MASS WITHIN THE CHAMBER, AND EXTRUDING THE FLUID MASS TO FROM THE FODDER, WITHOUT FLASHING TO VAPOR SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF THE LIQUID ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FLUID MASS, THEREBY PRODUCING A FODDER PRODUCT WHICH IS IN A SUBSTANTIALLY NON-EXPANDED CONDITION.

Claim 7

a gelatinizable binder selected from the group consisting of: a. a starchy material selected from the group consisting of tapioca, wheat, wheat flour, degerminated wheat flour, corn, corn flour, degerminated corn flour, oats, barley, potatoes, cereal seeds, cereal tubers, cereal grain, raw whole corn, whole grain sorghum, hominy feed, wheat red dog, and starches and modified starches derived from such starchy materials; b. proteinaceous materials selected from the group consisting of glutens, proteins in cereal grains, oil seeds, plant leaves and stems, milk product proteins, proteinaceous residues of plants and animals such as hide glue and flake glue, and proteins and modified proteins derived from such proteinaceous materials; and c. minerals selected from the group consisting of silicates, bentonite and kaolin; said binder being introduced in its non-gelatinized condition and in an amount representing from about 3 to 50 weight percent of the mixture of plant material and binder on a dry basis, the resulting mixture consisting essentially of fibrous plant material and gelatinizable binder, said mixture containing at least about 50 weight percent of fibrous plant material and having a moisture content of about 20 to 75 percent and, without introducing additional moisture into said chamber, subjecting the mixture of plant material and binder to a temperature between about 100* and 230* F. and a pressure between about 50 and 1,500 p.s.i. in the chamber, without permitting the temperature of the mixture to rise above about 230* F. in the chamber, to gelatinize the binder in the chamber in the presence of the fibrous plant material and mix the plant material with the gelatinized binder to form an extrudable fluid mass within the chamber, and extruding the fluid mass to form the fodder, without flashing to vapor substantial amounts of the liquid associated with said fluid mass, thereby producing a fodder product which is in a substantially non-expanded condition.

Claim 8

a gelatinizable binder selected from the group consisting of: a. a starchy material selected from the group consisting of tapioca, wheat, wheat flour, degerminated wheat flour, corn, corn flour, degerminated corn flour, oats, barley, potatoes, cereal seeds, cereal tubers, cereal grain, raw whole corn, whole grain sorghum, hominy feed, wheat red dog, and starches and modified starches derived from such starchy materials; b. proteinaceous materials selected from the group consisting of glutens, proteins in cereal grains, oil seeds, plant leaves and stems, milk product proteins, proteinaceous residues of plants and animals such as hide glue and flake glue, and proteins and modified proteins derived from such proteinaceous materials; and c. minerals selected from the group consisting of silicates, bentonite and kaolin; said binder being introduced in its non-gelatinized condition and in an amount representing from about 3 to 50 weight percent of the mixture of plant material and binder on a dry basis, the resulting mixture consisting essentially of fibrous plant material and gelatinizable binder, said mixture containing at least about 50 weight percent of fibrous plant material and having a moisture content of about 20 to 75 percent and, without introducing additional moisture into said chamber, subjecting the mixture of plant material and binder to a temperature between about 100* and 230* F. and a pressure between about 50 and 1,500 p.s.i. in the chamber, without permitting the temperature of the mixture to rise above about 230* F. in the chamber, to gelatinize the binder in the chamber in the presence of the fibrous plant material and mix the plant material with the gelatinized binder to form an extrudable fluid mass within the chamber, and extruding the fluid mass to form the fodder, without flashing to vapor substantial amounts of the liquid associated with said fluid mass, thereby producing a fodder product which is in a substantially non-expanded condition.

Claim 9

a starchy gelatinizable binder selected from the group consisting of tapioca, wheat, wheat flour, degerminated wheat flour, corn, corn flour, degerminated corn flour, oats, barley, potatoes, cereal seeds, cereal tubers, cereal grain, raw whole corn, whole grain sorghum, hominy feed, wheat red dog, and starches and modified starches derived from such starchy materials; said binder constituting from about 3 to 50 weight percent of the mixture of fibrous plant material and binder on a dry basis, the resulting mixture consisting essentially of fibrous plant material and gelatinizable binder, said mixture containing at least about 50 weight percent of fibrous plant material and having a moisture content of from about 20 to 75 percent, and treating the mixture of fibrous plant material and binder in the extruder type device at temperatures between about 100* and 230* F., and pressures between about 50 and 1,500 p.s.i., without permitting the temperature to rise above about 230* F. in the extruder, to gelatinize the binder in the presence of the fibrous plant material and mix the fibrous plant material with the gelatinized binder to form in said chamber a fluid mass, and extruding the fluid mass, without flashing to vapor substantial amounts of the liquid associated with said fluid mass, thereby producing a fodder product which is in a substantially non-expanded condition.

Claim 10

a starchy gelatinizable binder selected from the group consisting of tapioca, wheat, wheat flour, degerminated wheat flour, corn, corn flour, degerminated corn flour, oats, barley, potatoes, cereal seeds, cereal tubers, cereal grain, raw whole corn, whole grain sorghum, hominy feed, wheat red dog, and starches and modified starches derived from such starchy materials; said binder constituting from about 3 to 50 weight percent of the mixture of fibrous plant material and binder on a dry basis, the resulting mixture consisting essentially of fibrous plant material and gelatinizable binder, said mixture containing at least about 50 weight percent of fibrous plant material and having a moisture content of from about 20 to 75 percent, and treating the mixture of fibrous plant material and binder in the extruder type device at temperatures between about 100* and 230* F., and pressures between about 50 and 1,500 p.s.i., without permitting the temperature to rise above about 230* F. in the extruder, to gelatinize the binder in the presence of the fibrous plant material and mix the fibrous plant material with the gelatinized binder to form in said chamber a fluid mass, and extruding the fluid mass, without flashing to vapor substantial amounts of the liquid associated with said fluid mass, thereby producing a fodder product which is in a substantially non-expanded condition.

Claim 11

the gelatinized binder is selected from the group consisting of: a. a starchy material selected from the group consisting of tapioca, wheat, wheat flour, degerminated wheat flour, corn, corn flour, degerminated corn flour, oats, barley, potatoes, cereal seeds, cereal tubers, cereal grain, raw whole corn, whole grain sorghum, hominy feed, wheat red dog, and starches and modified starches derived from such starchy materials; b. proteinaceous materials selected from the group consisting of glutens, proteins in cereal grains, oil seeds, plant leaves and stems, milk product proteins, proteinaceous residues of plants and animals such as hide glue and flake glue, and proteins and modified proteins derived from such proteinaceous materials; and c. minerals selected from the group consisting of silicates, bentonite and kaolin; said binder present in an amount representing from about 3 to 50 weight percent of the mixture of plant material and binder on a dry basis, the fodder containing at least about 50 weight percent of fibrous plant material, and further characterized by being in a substantially non-expanded condition and having a bulk density of about 4 to 30 pounds per cubic foot.

Claim 12

the gelatinized binder is selected from the group consisting of: a. a starchy material selected from the group consisting of tapioca, wheat, wheat flour, degerminated wheat flour, corn, corn flour, degerminated corn flour, oats, barley, potatoes, cereal seeds, cereal tubers, cereal grain, raw whole corn, whole grain sorghum, hominy feed, wheat red dog, and starches and modified starches derived from such starchy materials; b. proteinaceous materials selected from the group consisting of glutens, proteins in cereal grains, oil seeds, plant leaves and stems, milk product proteins, proteinaceous residues of plants and animals such as hide glue and flake glue, and proteins and modified proteins derived from such proteinaceous materials; and c. minerals selected from the group consisting of silicates, bentonite and kaolin; said binder present in an amount representing from about 3 to 50 weight percent of the mixture of plant material and binder on a dry basis, the fodder containing at least about 50 weight percent of fibrous plant material, and further characterized by being in a substantially non-expanded condition and having a bulk density of about 4 to 30 pounds per cubic foot.

Claim 13

The process of claim 1 wherein said moisture content is between about 25 and 60 percent, the temperature is between about 140* and 200*F., and the pressure is between about 200 and 800 p.s.i.

Claim 14

a gelatinizable binder selected form the group consisting of: a. a starchy material selected from the group consisting of tapioca, wheat, wheat flour, degerminated wheat flour, corn, corn flour, degerminated corn flour, oats, barley, potatoes, cereal seeds, cereal tubers, cereal grain, raw whole corn, whole grain sorghum, hominy feed, wheat red dog, and starches and modified starches derived from such starchy materials; b. proteinaceous materials selected from the group consisting of glutens, proteins in cereal grains, oil seeds, plant leaves and stems, milk product proteins, proteinaceous residues of plants and animals such as hide glue and flake glue, and proteins and modified proteins derived from such proteinaceOus materials; and c. minerals selected from the group consisting of silicates, bentonite and kaolin; said binder being introduced in its non-gelatinized condition and in an amount representing from about 3 to 50 weight percent of the mixture of plant material and binder on a dry basis, the resulting mixture consisting essentially of fibrous plant material and gelatinizable binder, said mixture containing at least about 50 weight percent of fibrous plant material, injecting moisture into said chamber from a source external to the chamber to raise the moisture level of said mixture to between about 20 and 75 percent, treating the moistened mixture at temperatures of about 100* to 230* F. and pressures of about 50 to 1,500 p.s.i., without permitting the temperature to rise above about 230* F. in the chamber, to gelatinize the binder in the chamber in the presence of the fibrous plant material and mix the fibrous plant material with the gelatinized binder to form a fluid mass within the chamber, and extruding the fluid mass to form the animal fodder, without flashing to vapor substantial amounts of the liquid associated with said fluid mass, thereby producing a fodder product which is in a substantially non-expanded condition.

Claim 15

a gelatinizable binder selected form the group consisting of: a. a starchy material selected from the group consisting of tapioca, wheat, wheat flour, degerminated wheat flour, corn, corn flour, degerminated corn flour, oats, barley, potatoes, cereal seeds, cereal tubers, cereal grain, raw whole corn, whole grain sorghum, hominy feed, wheat red dog, and starches and modified starches derived from such starchy materials; b. proteinaceous materials selected from the group consisting of glutens, proteins in cereal grains, oil seeds, plant leaves and stems, milk product proteins, proteinaceous residues of plants and animals such as hide glue and flake glue, and proteins and modified proteins derived from such proteinaceOus materials; and c. minerals selected from the group consisting of silicates, bentonite and kaolin; said binder being introduced in its non-gelatinized condition and in an amount representing from about 3 to 50 weight percent of the mixture of plant material and binder on a dry basis, the resulting mixture consisting essentially of fibrous plant material and gelatinizable binder, said mixture containing at least about 50 weight percent of fibrous plant material, injecting moisture into said chamber from a source external to the chamber to raise the moisture level of said mixture to between about 20 and 75 percent, treating the moistened mixture at temperatures of about 100* to 230* F. and pressures of about 50 to 1,500 p.s.i., without permitting the temperature to rise above about 230* F. in the chamber, to gelatinize the binder in the chamber in the presence of the fibrous plant material and mix the fibrous plant material with the gelatinized binder to form a fluid mass within the chamber, and extruding the fluid mass to form the animal fodder, without flashing to vapor substantial amounts of the liquid associated with said fluid mass, thereby producing a fodder product which is in a substantially non-expanded condition.

Claim 16

the gelatinized binder is selected from the group consisting of: a. a starchy material selected from the group consisting of tapioca, wheat, wheat flour, degerminated wheat flour, corn, corn flour, degerminated corn flour, oats, barley, potatoes, cereal seeds, cereal tubers, cereal grain, raw whole corn, whole grain sorghum, hominy feed, wheat red dog, and starches and modified starches derived from such starchy materials; b. proteinaceous materials selected from the group consisting of glutens, proteins in cereal grains, oil seeds, plant leaves and stems, milk product proteins, proteinaceous residues of plants and animals such as hide glue and flake glue, and proteins and modified proteins derived from such proteinaceous materials; and c. minerals selected from the group consisting of silicates, bentonite and kaolin; the fodder containing at least about 50 weight percent of said fibrous plant material, and further characterized by being in a substantially non-expanded condition and having a bulk density of about 8 to 12 pounds per cubic foot.

Claim 17

the gelatinized binder is selected from the group consisting of: a. a starchy material selected from the group consisting of tapioca, wheat, wheat flour, degerminated wheat flour, corn, corn flour, degerminated corn flour, oats, barley, potatoes, cereal seeds, cereal tubers, cereal grain, raw whole corn, whole grain sorghum, hominy feed, wheat red dog, and starches and modified starches derived from such starchy materials; b. proteinaceous materials selected from the group consisting of glutens, proteins in cereal grains, oil seeds, plant leaves and stems, milk product proteins, proteinaceous residues of plants and animals such as hide glue and flake glue, and proteins and modified proteins derived from such proteinaceous materials; and c. minerals selected from the group consisting of silicates, bentonite and kaolin; the fodder containing at least about 50 weight percent of said fibrous plant material, and further characterized by being in a substantially non-expanded condition and having a bulk density of about 8 to 12 pounds per cubic foot.

Claim 18

a gelatinizable binder selected from the group consisting of: a. a starchy material selected from The group consisting of tapioca, wheat, wheat flour, degerminated wheat flour, corn, corn flour, degerminated corn flour, oats, barley, potatoes, cereal seeds, cereal tubers, cereal grain, raw whole corn, whole grain sorghum, hominy feed, wheat red dog, and starches and modified starches derived from such starchy materials; b. proteinaceous materials selected from the group consisting of glutens, proteins in cereal grains, oil seeds, plant leaves and stems, milk product proteins, proteinaceous residues of plants and animals such as hide glue and flake glue, and proteins and modified proteins derived from such proteinaceous materials; and c. minerals selected from the group consisting of silicates, bentonite and kaolin; the binder being in a substantially non-gelatinized condition and present in an amount representing about 3 to 50 weight percent of the mixture of plant material and binder on a dry basis, the resulting mixture consisting essentially of fibrous plant material binder, said mixture containing at least about 50 weight percent of said fibrous plant material and having a moisture content of about 20 to 75 percent, and subjecting the mixture to a temperature of about 100* to 230* F. and a pressure of about 50 to 1,500 p.s.i., without permitting the temperature of the mixture to rise above about 230* F., to gelatinize the binder in the presence of the fibrous plant material and mix the plant material with the gelatinized binder to form a fluid, shapeable mass, and shaping said mass to form the animal fodder, without flashing to vapor substantial amounts of the liquid associated with said fluid mass, thereby producing a fodder which is in a substantially non-expanded condition.

Claim 19

a gelatinizable binder selected from the group consisting of: a. a starchy material selected from The group consisting of tapioca, wheat, wheat flour, degerminated wheat flour, corn, corn flour, degerminated corn flour, oats, barley, potatoes, cereal seeds, cereal tubers, cereal grain, raw whole corn, whole grain sorghum, hominy feed, wheat red dog, and starches and modified starches derived from such starchy materials; b. proteinaceous materials selected from the group consisting of glutens, proteins in cereal grains, oil seeds, plant leaves and stems, milk product proteins, proteinaceous residues of plants and animals such as hide glue and flake glue, and proteins and modified proteins derived from such proteinaceous materials; and c. minerals selected from the group consisting of silicates, bentonite and kaolin; the binder being in a substantially non-gelatinized condition and present in an amount representing about 3 to 50 weight percent of the mixture of plant material and binder on a dry basis, the resulting mixture consisting essentially of fibrous plant material binder, said mixture containing at least about 50 weight percent of said fibrous plant material and having a moisture content of about 20 to 75 percent, and subjecting the mixture to a temperature of about 100* to 230* F. and a pressure of about 50 to 1,500 p.s.i., without permitting the temperature of the mixture to rise above about 230* F., to gelatinize the binder in the presence of the fibrous plant material and mix the plant material with the gelatinized binder to form a fluid, shapeable mass, and shaping said mass to form the animal fodder, without flashing to vapor substantial amounts of the liquid associated with said fluid mass, thereby producing a fodder which is in a substantially non-expanded condition.

Claim 20

The process of claim 1 wherein the binder is a starchy material.

Claim 21

A process for producing a ruminant animal fodder in a single piece of processing equipment which comprises introducing into the processing chamber of an extruder type device:

Claim 22

A process for producing a ruminant animal fodder in a single piece of processing equipment which comprises introducing into the processing chamber of an extruder type device:

Claim 23

The process of claim 4 wherein the binder is a starchy material.

Claim 24

A process for producing a ruminant animal fodder in a single piece of processing equipment which comprises introducing into an extruder type device:

Claim 25

A process for producing a ruminant animal fodder in a single piece of processing equipment which comprises introducing into an extruder type device:

Claim 26

The process of claim 6 wherein the temperature is about 140* to 200* F. and the pressure is about 200 to 800 p.s.i.

Claim 27

The process of claim 6 wherein the moisture content of the blend is about 45 to 70 percent.

Claim 28

A particulate, chewable, ruminant animal fodder consisting essentially of a fibrous plant material and a gelatinized binder wherein the fibrous plant material is held together by the gelatinized binder and wherein:

Claim 29

A particulate, chewable, ruminant animal fodder consisting essentially of a fibrous plant material and a gelatinized binder wherein the fibrous plant material is held together by the gelatinized binder and wherein:

Claim 30

The fodder of claim 9 wherein the fibrous plant material is selected from the group consisting of alfalfa and water hyacinth plants, and wherein the binder is a starchy material.

Claim 31

A particulate, chewable, ruminant animal fodder consisting essentially of a fibrous plant material and from about 3 to 50 percent on a dry basis of a gelatinized binder wherein the fibrous plant material is held together by the gelatinized binder, and wherein:

Claim 32

A particulate, chewable, ruminant animal fodder consisting essentially of a fibrous plant material and from about 3 to 50 percent on a dry basis of a gelatinized binder wherein the fibrous plant material is held together by the gelatinized binder, and wherein:

Claim 33

The fodder of claim 11 wherein the fibrous plant material is selected from the group consisting of alfalfa and water hyacinth plants, and wherein the binder is a starchy material.

Claim 34

A process for producing a ruminant animal fodder in a single piece of processing equipment which comprises bringing together in a processing chamber thereof:

Claim 35

A process for producing a ruminant animal fodder in a single piece of processing equipment which comprises bringing together in a processing chamber thereof:

Claim 36

The process of claim 13 wherein the fibrous plant material and binder are mixed in the processing chamber of an extruder type device.

Claim 37

The process of claim 13 wherein the temperature is about 140* to 200* F. and the pressure is about 200 to 800 p.s.i.

Claim 38

The process of claim 13 wherein the binder is a cereal grain.

Claim 39

The process of claim 13 wherein the moisture content of the mixture is about 25 to 70 percent.

Claim 40

The process of claim 13 wherein the moisture content of the mixture is about 45 to 75 percent.

Claim 41

The process of claim 13 wherein the temperature is about 140* to 200* F., the pressure is about 200 to 800 p.s.i., the moisture content of the mixture is about 45 to 70 percent, and the binder is a starchy material.

Claim 42

The process of claim 13 wherein the fibrous plant material is alfalfa, the temperature is about 140* to 200* F., and the moisture content of the blend is about 45 to 70 percent.