Abstract:
A re-hydration supplement composition particularly suitable to counteract dehydration stresses in mature bovine mammals in the form of a pelletized feed supplement is disclosed which includes relatively large fractions of carbohydrates including saccharides, cationic and anionic electrolytes and a minor amount of betaine osmolyte. A process for pelleting is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/913,583, filed Aug. 6, 2004 and claims priority from that application which is also deemed incorporated by reference in its entirety in this application. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    I. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to the treatment of dehydration in large adult domestic animals, particularly mature bovine mammals, caused by environmental stresses to thereby maintain normal nutrient and body fluid balances. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pelletized feed supplement composition and method of making designed for use in feed intended for beef and dairy cattle, for example, to help prevent dehydration during extreme environmental conditions such as extreme heat and high humidity that causes dairy cows and beef cattle to minimize their production of milk or maintain normal body weight; or, prior to shipment, to help prevent dehydration and loss of body fluids when animals do not receive or have feed and water available for their normal consumption during transport. 
         [0005]    II. Related Art 
         [0006]    Re-hydration products such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,347 to Peter H. Franz, an inventor in the present application, have been very effective in reducing losses from dehydration in animals when administered via the drinking water. Animals normally consume drinking water at a rate of about 8-12% of their body weight per day, depending on climatic conditions; and when measured over extended period of time, most animals consume an average volume of about 10% of their body weight in fluids. 
         [0007]    Present accepted drinking water facilities on most livestock farms, for example, operate on a continuous flow basis in which they may store a small amount (3-4) gallons of water. Once these amounts of drinking water are consumed, the free flow or continuous systems automatically refill dispensing containers on a continuous basis to make drinking water available to animals on demand. Animals such as young piglets weighing 10-20 pounds consume 1-2 pounds, or pints, of water on a daily basis over perhaps 6-10 intakes throughout a day or 24-hour period. The continuous flow drinking water delivery systems have developed proportioners that can administer water soluble re-hydration products such as disclosed in the above patent for poultry, swine and calves until they reach a certain size. However, once cattle reach a weight of over 600 pounds, oral re-hydration products such as the formula of the above-mentioned patent are much less effective in preventing dehydration because of difficulties in proportioning for the large total amounts of water consumed on a daily basis by each animal. 
         [0008]    Thus, a dairy or beef animal weighing 1,000 pounds will normally consume about 100 pounds or 12.5 gallons of water per day. These animals consume up to 5 gallons at a single time and most continuous drinking water systems cause the flow to move so quickly that they have difficulty in maintaining the correct concentration of re-hydration products in the water within a normal system pipeline, thereby reducing the potential benefits of such re-hydration products for large animals. In addition, dairy cows and lactating beef cows producing milk need additional supplies of drinking water for milk production. A 1,200 pound cow producing 80 pounds of milk, for example, would need 80 pounds of water for milk production plus 120 pounds of water for normal maintenance or a total of 200 pounds (25 gallons) of water on a daily basis. Many cows produce in excess of even 100 pounds of milk per day so that it can be seen that the required fluid consumption is quite high in these animals. For the above and other reasons, there exists a definite need to supply re-hydration products to such animals on a basis other than via the drinking water. 
         [0009]    Those raising beef and dairy animals have long realized that milk production drops in hot weather and during transport and are in need of an alternative way of re-hydrating those animals to prevent body shrink and dehydration. The re-hydration material of the present invention has been specifically designed to answer this need by providing such a re-hydration material in a pellet form which, when mixed with the feed or fed as a top dress, provides similar re-hydration benefits as seen by the drinking water supplement for small (10-400 pound) animals. 
         [0010]    Additionally, in the related art, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,505,968 and 5,728,675 disclose supplements for treating stress associated with transport, holding, management and handling of animals. These supplements may be administered to an animal in solid form. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0176881 discloses a supplement for treating dehydration which, although preferably in the form of a fluid, may be in the form of a premix, a powder, a glomerate, a syrup, a gel, a tablet or a capsule. That supplement includes an amount of betaine, betaine, one or more digestable carbohydrates and one or more minerals. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    By means of the present invention there is provided a re-hydration composition for the treatment of dehydration in large mammals, such as mature bovine animals, preferably administered to the animals in solid form with the feed and, most preferably, it is produced in the form of stable pellets which are added to the feed. The formula includes high energy nutrients in the form of saccharides including both monosaccharides (dextrose and fructose) and disaccharides (sucrose and lactose) and electrolytes to help restore proper osmolarity in the animals. The electrolytes include both cationic and anionic electrolytes. The cations preferably include sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. The anions preferably include chloride, carbonate, phosphate and sulfate. A large fraction of the composition is made up of grain and grain by-products including wheat middlings and cooked cereal fines. Additional ingredients are utilized to enhance taste and also to promote stability and processing of the material into pellets. A complete listing of the ingredients for formulae in accordance with the present invention is shown in Table I. 
         [0012]    Another important aspect of the invention aside from the novel composition of the re-hydration supplement has to do with the pelleting process itself. The pellets are generally produced using a die containing an array of hollow, generally cylindrical die chambers, each chamber being a hollow passage having an inlet and an outlet. The die including the chambers is connected to a source of heat and steam which can be applied to the chambers during the pellet-forming process. Pellet stock in the form of form of pre-mixed dry powder including a feed supplement formula is forced through the die chambers and forms congealed cylindrical pellets in the presence of applied heat and steam. This causes the material to swell significantly. An important aspect of the process of the present invention addresses and solves the problem of expansion and increased friction by enabling developing pellets to expand as they progress in the chambers during the formation process. This is accomplished by increasing the diameter of the chambers between the inlet openings which admit the material to be pelleted and the outlet openings from with the formed pellets are discharged. While this can be a gradual increase in diameter, the preferred configuration includes a rather abrupt increase in the diameter of the chamber about halfway between the inlet and the outlet which, in effect, creates a dual diameter chamber to aid in the pellet formation process. This alleviates long-standing problems associated with excess heat from expansion friction. 
         [0013]    Certain additives are also included in the mix such as lubricants which aid in moving the material through the die and coating materials, which also can be added during the pelleting process, both to preserve the integrity of the materials within the pellet and also to prevent the pellets from sticking to each other and prevent the formation of cubes or clumps in the product. 
         [0014]    The concept of the present invention also includes the concept of a method of treating animals utilizing the re-hydration composition. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0015]    In the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the same: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a pellet mill in accordance with the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2   a  is a schematic representation that depicts a prior art pellet forming die configuration; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2   b  is a schematic representation similar to 
           [0019]      FIG. 2   a  showing one die configuration in accordance with the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3   a  depicts a prior art rigid pellet mill roller retainer; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3   b  depicts a resilient pellet mill roller spring constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4   a  depicts a partial exploded view of a patterned roller assembly in accordance with the invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 4   b  depicts a variety of patterns that can be applied to the roller of  FIG. 4   a.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The detailed description includes a limited number of formulae and several examples describing field trials utilizing the example composition of Table I to re-hydrate or maintain hydration in bovine animals in a plurality of situations. This material is presented by way of explanation and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the inventive concept in any manner. For example, will be appreciated that within the scope of the ranges of Table I, a very large number of successful formulae could be drawn. 
         [0025]    The ingredients in the composition of the re-hydration feed supplement of the invention are illustrated in Table I, below. That table represents a range of ingredients that could successfully be made into pellets. 
         [0026]    One important aspect of the formula involves the system of electrolytes and electrolyte concentration which are broken down in the following tables. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Sodium Chloride &amp; Bicarbonate sources 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Low 
                 High 
                 Example 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Sodium Chloride 
                 1.25% 
                 3.75% 
                 3.15% 
               
               
                   
                 Sodium Bicarbonate 
                 0.05% 
                 2.50% 
                 0.312% 
               
               
                   
                 Totals 
                 1.30% 
                 6.25% 
                 3.46% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Potassium Chloride, Carbonate and Phosphate sources 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Low 
                 High 
                 Example 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Potassium Chloride 
                 1.25% 
                 7.50% 
                 3.75% 
               
               
                   
                 Potassium Carbonate 
                 0.50% 
                 5.00% 
                 2.50% 
               
               
                   
                 Di Potassium Phosphate 
                 0.025% 
                 0.25% 
                 0.062% 
               
               
                   
                 Totals 
                 1.775% 
                 12.75% 
                 6.30% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Calcium Carbonate and Lactate Sources 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Low 
                 High 
                 Example 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Calcium Carbonate 
                 0.25% 
                 5.00% 
                 1.00% 
               
               
                   
                 Calcium Lactate 
                 0.05% 
                 0.50% 
                 0.16% 
               
               
                   
                 Totals 
                 0.30% 
                 5.50% 
                 1.16% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Phosphate Sources 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Low 
                 High 
                 Example 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Monosodium Phosphate 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Totals 
                 0.05% 
                 0.50% 
                 0.25% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Magnesium Sources 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Low 
                 High 
                 Example 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Magnesium Oxide 
                 0.005% 
                 0.50% 
                 0.009% 
               
               
                   
                 Magnesium Sulfate 
                 0.01% 
                 0.75% 
                 0.345% 
               
               
                   
                 Magnesium Gluconate 
                 -0- 
                 0.25% 
                 0.01% 
               
               
                   
                 Totals 
                 0.105% 
                 1.50% 
                 0.364% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0027]    It will be appreciated that salt (sodium chloride) in high concentration is unpalatable and even at low levels can be used as a tool to limit feed intake when fed as a part of a free choice offering. Levels of 5% salt in a total ration can restrict intake of feed. Sodium Chloride and Sodium Bicarbonate tend to act independently in regard to feed intake restriction. Therefore, when a 3.75% level of salt is used in the re-hydration supplement of the invention it does not restrict or limit feed intake. Even when the two combined sources of Sodium Chloride and Sodium Bicarbonate (3.75% and 2.5%=6.25%) are used in the re-hydration supplement of the invention with most rations containing less than 1% salt, there would be no restriction in feed intake as the total levels of salt in the entire ration would be well below the 5% level that restricts feed intake. The flavoring agents in the re-hydration supplement of the invention and feed intake enhancing ingredients such as sugars, carmel-milk flavors and yeast have shown the re-hydration supplement of the present invention under field conditions to be readily consumed when mixed in feed or used as a top dress. 
         [0028]    The total electrolyte concentrations in the re-hydration supplement of the invention at the low, high and example concentrations are generally as follows: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Low Level 
                 3.53% 
               
               
                   
                 High Level 
                 26.5% 
               
               
                   
                 Example formula 
                 11.54% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0029]    Thus, the pellets of the invention may provide a broad range of electrolyte concentrations, i.e., from about 3.5% to about 27%. A preferred range might have total electrolyte level of from about 8% to about 15%. The electrolytes also include a broad spectrum of ions which preferably includes the eight electrolytes essential essential for re-hydration, namely: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Sodium 
                 Chloride 
                 Magnesium 
                 Calcium 
               
               
                   
                 Potassium 
                 Phosphate 
                 Bicarbonate 
                 Sulfate 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0030]    In addition to providing the eight essential electrolytes as compared to many electrolyte formulae that provide only 2-5 electrolytes, the present pellets derive three electrolytes from different sources such as potassium chloride, potassium carbonate and Dipotassium Phosphate as compared to many formulas which only provide a source of potassium from Potassium Chloride. This wider spectrum of electrolyte sources helps enhance utilization as each source is absorbed or utilized individually at different rates to provide a wider spectrum of absorption. 
       Betaine 
       [0031]    Betaine is important to the formula of the present invention for several reasons. First, betaine is an osmolyte and osmolytes have a role in maintaining normal electrolyte and fluid levels or concentration within the animal&#39;s cells. In addition, osmolytes are present in high levels in the kidneys of the animals. As such, these osmolytes monitor and help control fluid and electrolyte excretion from the kidneys. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE I 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Percent 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Example 
                   
                   
                 Alternative 
               
               
                   
                 Formula 
                 Low 
                 High 
                 Sources 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Wheat Middlings 
                 50.4 
                 25 
                 75 
                 Other Grain 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 By-products, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Soy Hulls 
               
               
                 Dehydrated 
                 5 
                 1.25 
                 25 
                 Other Roughage 
               
               
                 Alfalfa Meal 
                   
                   
                   
                 Products 
               
               
                 Cooked Cereal 
                 10 
                 1.25 
                 25 
                 Bakery 
               
               
                 Fines 
                   
                   
                   
                 By-products 
               
               
                 Citric Acid 
                 3.125 
                 0.5 
                 5 
                 Fumaric, Lactic, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Phosphoric Acid 
               
               
                 Dextrose 
                 8.78125 
                 1 
                 15 
               
               
                 Sucrose 
                 2.5 
                 1 
                 15 
               
               
                 Lactose 
                 2.5 
                 1 
                 15 
               
               
                 Fructose 
                 0.0625 
                 0.05 
                 15 
               
               
                 Sodium Chloride 
                 3.25 
                 1.25 
                 3.75 
               
               
                 Potassium 
                 3.25 
                 1.25 
                 7.5 
               
               
                 Chloride 
               
               
                 Potassium 
                 2.5 
                 0.5 
                 5 
               
               
                 Carbonate 
               
               
                 Tricalcium 
                 3 
                 0.1 
                 12 
               
               
                 Phosphate (Milk 
               
               
                 Calcium) 
               
               
                 Calcium Carbonate 
                 1 
                 0.25 
                 5 
               
               
                 Molasses 
                 0.75 
                 0.5 
                 5 
               
               
                 Animal Fat 
                 1 
                 0.5 
                 2.5 
                 Vegetable Oil 
               
               
                 Sodium 
                 0.3125 
                 0.05 
                 2.5 
               
               
                 Bicarbonate 
               
               
                 Betaine 
                 0.1 
                 0.05 
                 0.5 
               
               
                 Calcium Silicate 
                 0.5 
                 0.25 
                 2.5 
               
               
                 (Flow Agent) 
               
               
                 Pellet Binder 
                 0.15 
                 0.05 
                 2.5 
               
               
                 Calcium Lactate 
                 0.03125 
                 0.15 
                 0.5 
                 Calcium Chloride 
               
               
                 Dipotassium 
                 0.00625 
                 0.005 
                 0.5 
                 Mono Dicalcium 
               
               
                 Phosphate 
                   
                   
                   
                 Phosphate 
               
               
                 Monosodium 
                 0.00625 
                 0.005 
                 0.5 
               
               
                 Phosphate 
               
               
                 Magnesium 
                 0.13 
                 0.025 
                 0.75 
               
               
                 Sulfate, 9.8% 
               
               
                 Magnesium 
                 0.01 
                 0 
                 0.25 
                 Magnesium 
               
               
                 Gluconate 
                   
                   
                   
                 Proteinate 
               
               
                 Glycine 
                 0.0625 
                 0.025 
                 0.1 
               
               
                 L-Lysine HCL 
                 0.03125 
                 0.0125 
                 0.2 
               
               
                 DL-Methionine 
                 0.03125 
                 0.0125 
                 0.2 
               
               
                 Live Yeast 
                 0.25 
                 0.05 
                 0.75 
                 Yeast Culture 
               
               
                 
                   Aspergillus 
                 
                 0.05 
                 0.0125 
                 0.15 
               
               
                 Fermentation 
               
               
                 Extract 
               
               
                 
                   Bacillis 
                 
                 0.01 
                 0.005 
                 0.1 
               
               
                 
                   Liceniformis 
                 
               
               
                 Microbial 
               
               
                 Zinc Proteinate 
                 0.033375 
                 0.01 
                 0.1 
                 Zinc Sulfate, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Zinc Oxide 
               
               
                 Vitamin Premix 
                 0.316 
                 0.05 
                 0.5 
               
               
                 Milk Flavor, Dry 
                 0.0625 
                 0.0125 
                 0.25 
               
               
                 Caramel Flavor, 
                 0.05 
                 0.0125 
                 0.0625 
               
               
                 liquid 
               
               
                 High Intensity 
                 0.025 
                 0.005 
                 0.1 
               
               
                 Artificial 
                   
               
               
                 Sweetener 
                   
               
               
                 Total % 
                 100 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       EXAMPLE 1 
       [0032]    TRIAL I RESULTS—In a trial with 230 Heifers (first lactation females) during a period of hot-humid weather in the summer of 2003, these Heifers demonstrated a higher level of milk production when fed hydration feed supplement formula similar to that in Table I, but without a milk calcium improvement. In the four day hot weather period from July 19-22 these Heifers averaged a daily milk production of 72.65 lbs. When the feed supplement was added to their diet or ration during the 7 day period from July 23-30, the Heifers averaged 73.86 lbs. of daily milk production. When the feed supplement was removed from their diets or rations from July 31 through August 5 th , the milk production of the Heifers dropped to 69.93 lbs. for the 6-day period of time. 
         [0033]    Recap Trial I Results—
       4-day pre-trial milk production . . . 72.65 lbs.   7-day trial period milk production . . . 73.86 lbs.   6-day post trial average milk production . . . 69.93 lbs.       
 
       EXAMPLE 2 
       [0037]    In a trial using 108 mature cows, responses to the feed supplement of Example I during a period of hot weather were as follows: 
         [0038]    Daily milk production of these 108 cows from June 10 th  through June 15 th  (6 days) with near normal temperatures averaged 96.1 lbs. Their average daily milk production dropped to 90 lbs. during the on-set of hot weather (90° F.+ or 32° C.+) from June 16 th  through June 18 th  (3 days). When the feed supplement was added to their diets-rations for 6 days from June 19 th  to June 25 th  their average daily milk production returned to 96.6 lbs. 
         [0039]    Recap Trial 2 Results—
       4 day milk production prior to hot weather average daily milk production . . . 96.1 lbs.   2 day average daily milk production with on-set of hot weather . . . 90 lbs.   6 day average daily milk production during hot weather with the feed supplement of the invention in ration . . . 96.6 lbs.       
 
       EXAMPLE 3 
       [0043]    This was a trial on a dairy farm in which the owner monitored milk production by weighing milk production on Thursday of each week. During a 3 week period of hot weather in June 2003 the responses to the food supplement of the invention were recorded a follows: 
         [0044]    Recap Trial 3 Results—
       June 12 Thursday weighing for week of June 8-14 when cows DID NOT receive feed supplement . . . 94.5 lbs. daily production   June 19 Thursday weighing for week of June 15-21 when cows WERE fed the feed supplement . . . 97.3 lbs. daily production   June 21 Thursday weighing for week of June 22-28 when cows were NOT fed the feed supplement . . . 95.6 lbs. daily production       
 
       EXAMPLE 4 
       [0048]      
         [0000]                                              TABLE II                       Control Cattle   Supplement-fed Cattle                                    Number of Animals   215   222       Average Weight Leaving   1233.04 lbs.   1224.68 lbs.       Feed Lot       Weight at Slaughter Plant   1193.35 lbs.   1191.35 lbs.       Shrink Lost in Route to   39.69 lbs. or 3.32% of   33.33 lbs. or 2.79% of       Slaughter Plant   body weight   body weight                    
As can be seen from the above, the supplement-fed cattle weighed 8.36 pounds less initially, but they lost 6.36 pounds less in body weight prior to slaughter.
 
         [0049]    In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, it will be recognized that it was extremely difficult for the inventors to perfect a method to manufacture a stable pellet form including the re-hydration formula of the invention that could be mixed with feed or fed as a top dress to animals in need. It will be appreciated that it is difficult to process products containing sugars, electrolytes and other water-soluble carriers into pellets without denaturing of the product which makes it unfit for animal consumption. Forcing meals or powders containing such a formula as that of the present invention through conventional pelleting machines results in congealing and caramelizing of the sugars and electrolytes and often produces solid chunks or small blocks of the material. This is clearly unacceptable. 
         [0050]    After a long struggle with these problems, a process has been discovered which enables successful pelleting of meals and powders of the class containing a formula such as that of the present re-hydration feed supplement. In accordance with the process of the invention, meals or powders containing the formula of the invention can be combined with minor amounts of lubricants and/or coating materials and be forced through a die containing many cylindrical chambers which are also provided with heat and steam. This enables the initial formation of cylindrical pellets which form and hold the ingredients in cylindrical form. These can range in diameter from about 2 mm up to approximately 18-20 mm. A properly formed pellet will stay together in a congealed state so as be not to hard for consumption or too soft and brittle to crumble into fines. The process succeeds even though the preferred formula of the invention contains four sugars, electrolytes and other nutrients that, when exposed to heat, friction and steam, are easily denatured, caramelized and rendered useless. 
         [0051]    A schematic representation of a pellet mill is seen generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The mill includes a vessel having a toroidal or donut-shaped die ring  12 . A pair of spaced roller assemblies  14 ,  16  are held against the inner surface  18  of die ring  12  by a pair of resilient roller springs  20  and  22 , respectively. The roller assemblies are designed to rotate about off-center or eccentric shaft assemblies, respectively represented by reference characters  24  and  26 . As best seen in  FIG. 3   b , the resilient roller springs are identical and, for example, spring  20  includes a compression spring section  28  and a solid length or bolt section  30 . This construction contrasts with the prior art solid bolt design shown in  FIG. 3   a  at  32 . A central shaft is shown at  36 . The die ring  12  further contains an array of internal pellet dies spaced about the circumference of the ring  12  as at  50 , which are described in greater detail with regard to  FIG. 2   b.    
         [0052]    The prior art die configuration, shown generally at  40  in  FIG. 2   a , includes an array of cylindrical chambers chambers  42  having flared inlets  44  but otherwise being of a single constant diameter. Note that the single diameter cylindrical chambers  42  do not allow for the expansion of a pellet during the pelleting process. This makes the processing of the pellets extremely difficult inasmuch as the ingredients essential for re-hydration tend to expand during pelleting and therefore these high energy electrolyte and intake enhancing ingredients tend to burn, caramelize and become unusable for the purpose intended utilizing the die pictured in  FIG. 2   a . After a great deal of experimentation and work with the pelletizing process, it was discovered that pellet-forming cylindrical chambers having provision for expansion during the formation of the pellet could produce successful and acceptable pellet products. Such a concept has been found to enable the production of a high quality acceptable pellet that is not too soft or crumbly, and is not too hard or overheated during processing. 
         [0053]      FIG. 2   b  depicts a schematic representation similar to that shown in  FIG. 2   a  of one die configuration in accordance with the invention. The die configuration shown generally at  50  includes a plurality of cylindrical chambers  52  having flared inlets as at  54  and including sections or segments of different diameters, including a first or initial segment  56 , second segment  58  of a larger diameter and a third section  60  of a still larger diameter. Pressurized feed material to be urged into the die  50  is shown at  62 . Note that the three chamber segments  56 ,  58  and  60 , which make up the pellet-forming cylindrical die chambers  52  of increasing diameter, allow the pellets to expand in size while passing through the die chamber segments. A multi-step increasing die diameter sizing along the cylindrical chambers allows a pellet to expand as it forms and passes through the canal thereby compensating for increased friction and overheating due to increased pressure prevalent in earlier die configurations. Thus, it has been found that die chambers having a plurality of segments of increasing diameter in the direction of pellet formation greatly reduce and even eliminate burning, caramelization and other unacceptable results in the pelleting process for the rehydration supplement of the invention. 
         [0054]    The production of uniform pellets further requires that the materials processed in the various cylindrical chambers throughout the die need to undergo similar heating to produce uniform results. For this to occur, compensation is required. For example, if the array of cylindrical chambers in a die are configured in rows of ten and receive heat from steam outside of the die, the heat is transmitted toward the middle or center from the outside; and, as the steam penetrates the die approaching the center, it drops in temperature and looses transferable heat. 
         [0055]    This phenomenon may be compensated in the design of the die. For example, as shown in the illustration of  FIG. 2 , the relative lengths of the segments of the three-segment chambers may be varied in order to produce more uniform heating of the product. In this regard, a typical row of ten cylindrical chambers having a nominal length of 2.25 inches (57.2 mm) might be configured as follows:
       The four outside chambers with greatest heat exposure are constructed with length/diameter sizes as follows:
           first inch (25.4 mm) of chamber length has an 11/64 inch (4.37 mm) diameter   second ¾ inch (19.1 mm) of chamber length has a 12/64 inch (4.76 mm) diameter   third ½ inch (12.7 mm) of chamber length has a 13/64 inch (5.16 mm) diameter   
           The four intermediate placed chamber lengths/diameters with intermediate heat exposure have the following chamber lengths/diameters:
           first 1 and ¼ inch (31.75 mm) of chamber length has an 11/64 inch (4.37 mm) diameter   second ½ inch (12.7 mm) of chamber length has a 12/64 inch (4.76 mm) diameter   third ½ inch (12.7 mm) of chamber length has a 13/64 inch (5.16 mm) diameter   
           The two interior or center placed chambers with the least heat exposure transmitted from the outside have the following lengths/diameters:
           first 1 and ½ inch of chamber length has an 11/64 inch (4.37 mm) diameter   second ½ inch (12.7 mm) of chamber length has a 12/64 inch (4.76 mm) diameter   third ¼ inch (6.35 mm) of chamber length has a 13/64 inch (5.16 mm) diameter   
               
 
         [0068]    The above construction enables additional heat buildup in interior chambers. The die is preferably fabricated from an alloy softer than steel or metals used in conventional dies. As indicated, in accordance with an aspect of the process of the present invention, the canals or die chambers in the die are made to expand in size from the inlet to the outlet to accommodate the expansion of the material as it encounters heat and steam. This expansion is varied based on the position of a given chamber in the die to make heat buildup more uniform throughout the die. In the preferred embodiments, the expansion of the canals or die chambers is preferably in is preferably in the form of a rather abrupt increase in diameter. 
         [0069]    In addition, whereas most pelleting machines are equipped with a feed roller that forces all meals or powders through the pellet die, it has been found that in accordance with the formula of the present invention, a flexible, open-ended roller provides adequate force and exerts less pressure and compaction on the meal thereby also reducing problems associated with denaturing of the ingredients by over-pressurizing during the pelleting process. 
         [0070]    A partial exploded view showing parts of an open-ended roller assembly in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 4   a  including an open-ended roller  70 , an internal bearing assembly  72 , roller shaft collar  74 , a roller oil seal  76  with enlarged detail  78  and roller shaft  80 . A variety of surface configurations for the roller  70  are shown in  FIG. 4   b  and include a diamond pattern  82 , a dimpled pattern  84 , a hard cote pattern  86  and a coin slot pattern. While any of these patterns can be used, the preferred embodiment of the roller utilizes a soft diamond pattern which assist in cupping ingredients gradually into the die canals of the pellet mill ring  12 . 
         [0071]    The diamond pattern is preferred as it exerts minimal pressure and less force hardening action as compared to flat surfaces or bars that forcefully compress ingredients into the canal funnels. Thus, a cupping diamond pattern has been observed to reduce friction and compaction of the ingredients urged into the dies. 
         [0072]    In addition it has been found that a coating agent added to the formula aids in preventing denaturing of the sensitive ingredients during the process. A coating agent agent is also preferably added to the pellets as they exit the die chambers or canals as this further prevents the pellets from sticking to each other which results in the formation of undesirable cubes or clumps. Such coating agents which have found use in processing the formula of the present invention include powdered calcium carbonate and calcium silicate, the latter being the preferred material. 
         [0073]    In conjunction with friction control aspects of the process, it is also desirable to add a lubricating fluid to the formula to enhance passage through the die and further reduce damage from friction and heat. It has also been found that cooked cereal products such as pre-cooked breakfast cereal food products, particularly cereal fines, act as successful carriers for pelleting the formula. Cooked cereals also have been found to enhance pellet consumption by the animals of interest as compared to uncooked cereal products or other grain by-products. 
         [0074]    In operation, the pellet mill as depicted in  FIG. 1  receives mixed pellet stock between the rollers  14  and  16  which slowly rotate around the inside of the pellet ring  12  held against surface  18  by the resilient roller springs  20  and  22 . The resilient roller springs control the amount of pressure exerted against the feed by the rollers  14  and  16  as they also rotate about their eccentric off-center shaft assemblies  24  and  26 . The off-center shaft assemblies  24  and  26  also make it easier to capture pellet stock between the rollers  14  and  16  and the die ring  12 . The open diamond or other surface pattern on the open-ended roller assemblies  14  and  16  also enable meal to escape between the raised portions of the pattern surface. 
         [0075]    These features combine to reduce the friction and heat buildup on the product as it is being extruded through the being extruded through the pelleting dies  52 . Thus, the pellet mill continues to receive mixed pellet feed stock and continues to extrude material through a large number of dies which can then be cut into pellets of any desired length. 
         [0076]    This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different equipment and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.