The invention relates to the field of animal feed grains and a method of treating them so as to enable the animal to assimilate a greater quantity of the nutrients contained in the grain.
The literature discloses studies and tests which relate to "reconstitution" of feed grains. The term is defined in a Texas A & M University press release No. 2565, dated June 1968, as "consisting of adding water to air-dry grain to increase its moisture content to 25-30 percent, followed by controlled fermentation in the absence of air."
The release describes feeding tests in 48 animals which were divided into 6 uniform groups. Two groups which served as "controls" were fed ground, dry sorghum grain. Two other groups were fed moist sorghum grain which was reconstituted in whole form and was ground just before feeding. The remaining two groups received sorghum grain which had been ground and reconstituted. The first and last mentioned groups had substantially the same daily gain whereas the groups fed with reconstituted whole grain decreased the feed required per unit of gain by 11%. The "reconstitution" process was stated to require at least 21 days before the grain could be fed, and also required air tight silos for commercial practice of the process.
The release also states that the exact changes which occur in grain during reconstitution are not well understood, but that the process "may be" similar to that which takes place during germination of the grain, which will be discussed further below.
The literature contains other, later experiments which are along the lines of those contained in Release No. 2565, and which generally corroborate the findings thereof.
For example, a report of tests by the North Florida Experiment Station, Quincy, Florida, dated Jan. 8, 1969, indicates that comparable results were attained by the same process using shelled corn instead of sorghum grain. Another report of tests, published at a "Beef Cattle Short Course" at Gainsville, Florida, dated May 1, 1969, indicates shelled corn should contain 22 to 30% moisture because with moisture levels below 22%, adequate fermentation and softening of the grain does not occur. It is noted that the later reports appear to define "reconstitution" as the addition of water to dry grain rather than this step AND the fermentation step combined, as defined by Release No. 2565. Since the latter definition appears to be more widely accepted, this specification uses the term to indicate the addition of water rather than both the addition of water and subsequent fermentation. The "Short Course" report also indicates that the fermentation process may be terminated after 10 days rather than 3 weeks, without material impairment of the benefits stated in the Release.
The Short Course report discusses a number of methods for "reconstituting" dry grain prior to fermentation: (1) Spraying water through nozzles onto grain passing through an auger which has its discharge end elevated; (2) Immersion in a flooded pit from which the grain is removed by an auger; (3) A mixer truck; (4) A "reconstituter" in which grain is sprayed with water as it passes through; (5) Flooded on truck with perforated hose, to prevent water channeling down through grain and draining out of truck body before grain is wet; and (6) Water applied in blower as grain is put in structure (for fermentation).
Applicant's view of the state of the art is that all of the known methods for reconstituting grains, including the methods noted above, attempt to supply moisture to the interior of each kernel through the existing, naturally provided entrance channels, which occur in the germ area. The hull constitutes a natural "raincoat" which prevents absorption of water except in the germ area.
If, as suggested in Report No. 2565, the process of reconstitution is similar to that of germination, the first water absorbed would be taken up and held by the embryo, which produces an enzyme. The latter is conducted to the alourone layer which secretes a hydrolytic enzyme, which coacts with water in the starch matrix to convert or liquify the starch of the kernel. Thus, considerable time is required to absorb the required amount of water and to distribute it substantially uniformly throughout the interior of the kernel. As indicated above, the time period is on the order of 10 days, and since open air storage for such period could lead to deterioration or spoilage of the grain, air tight enclosure of the grain is necessary. Further, the air tight storage must be maintained during the entire feeding period to prevent uncontrolled fermentation.
The art cited during prosecution of the above identified parent application of which this application is a division, while teaching various types of methods and apparatus for treating feed grains, does not teach or suggest a method or apparatus wherein portions of the hulls of the kernels of feed grain are loosened from the interior portion of the kernels to cause the hulls to blister and thereafter opening the blisters to perforate the hulls.