Milk replacer and method of feeding

Claim 1

An improved, shelf-stable, flowable liquid milk replacer concentrate of non-heat denatured milk whey protein, sugar, and fat or oil, said concentrate for monogastric animals comprising about 10 to about 45 percent sugars, including about 10 percent to about 35 percent lactose or its monosaccharide hydrolysis products plus up to about 35 percent additional monosaccharides or disaccharides or mixture thereof; about 10 percent to about 16 percent proteins, of which at least about 60 percent are non-heat denatured milk serum proteins; about 1 percent to about 25 percent fat or oil; an emulsifier in an amount sufficient to emulsify the fat or oil in the concentrate, said fat or oil being emulsified in said concentrate; said milk replacer concentrate having a total solids content of from about 50 percent to about 75 percent, a viscosity of between about 100 and about 5000 centipoises, a pH between about 4.0 and about 7.0 and a water acitvity of between about 0.7 and about 0.87, said concentrate providing a complete nutrient source for monogastric animals, whereby it may be fed to animals subsequent to dilution with water to an appropriate consistency.

Claim 10

A method for preparing an improved flowable liquid milk replacer concentrate of non-heat denatured milk whey protein, sugar and fat or oil for monogastric animals, the method comprising mixing a non-heat denatured milk protein concentrate, sugar and fat or oil with water in amounts sufficient to provide total solids of between about 50 to about 75 percent, about 10 to about 45 percent sugars, including about 10 to about 35 percent lactose or its monosaccharide hydrolysis products plus up to about 35 percent additional monosaccharides or disaccharides or mixture thereof, about 10 to about 16 percent protein, about 1 to about 25 percent fat or oil, and emulsifier in an amount sufficient to emulsify said fat or oil; mixing said ingredients to provide a uniform mixture and emulsifying the said ingredients to provide a liquid concentrate having a viscosity of between 100 and 5000 centipoises, a pH between about 4.0 and about 7.0, and a water activity of between about 0.7 and about 0.87, said concentrate being prepared at temperatures below about 175° Fahrenheit (79.4° C.) so as not to heat denature said protein, thereby providing a complete nutrient composition for said monogastric animals in liquid form which is fed to said monogastric animals subsequent to dilution with water to an appropriate consistency.

Claim 11

A method for preparing an improved flowable liquid milk replacer concentrate of non-heat denatured milk whey protein, sugar and fat or oil for monogastric animals, the method comprising mixing a non-heat denatured milk protein concentrate, sugar and fat or oil with water in amounts sufficient to provide total solids of between about 50 to about 75 percent, about 10 to about 45 percent sugars, including about 10 to about 35 percent lactose or its monosaccharide hydrolysis products plus up to about 35 percent additional monosaccharides or disaccharides or mixture thereof, about 10 to about 16 percent protein, about 1 to about 25 percent fat or oil, and emulsifier in an amount sufficient to emulsify said fat or oil; mixing said ingredients to provide a uniform mixture and emulsifying the said ingredients to provide a liquid concentrate having a viscosity of between 100 and 5000 centipoises, a pH between about 4.0 and about 7.0, and a water activity of between about 0.7 and about 0.87, said concentrate being prepared at temperatures below about 175° Fahrenheit (79.4° C.) so as not to heat denature said protein, thereby providing a complete nutrient composition for said monogastric animals in liquid form which is fed to said monogastric animals subsequent to dilution with water to an appropriate consistency.