The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 20, 1990
Filed:
Jul. 05, 1988
William C Pratt, Canyon, TX (US);
Micro Chemical, Inc., Amarillo, TX (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for preparing at a livestock feedlot a concentrated suspension of anaerobic bacteria at a known, accurate concentration and for storing the prepared suspension for prolonged periods at the feedlot in a ready-to-use condition without significant loss of viability, allowing feedlot operators to conveniently administer such bacterial supplements to large numbers of livestock as a probiotic on a regular basis in accurate dosages. The apparatus comprises an insulated liquid-holding vessel cooled by a refrigeration means, and mixing and recirculation means to ensure temperature and concentration homogeneity of the bacterial suspension. The vessel and contents are gravimetrically monitored to ensure accuracy of bacterial concentration. In each of several embodiments, at time of intended use, a preselected mass or volume of bacterial liquid suspension is dispensed on demand from the vessel into a separate mixing tank for further accurate dilution and for addition of other microingredients to the suspension, as required, immediately before adding to and mixing with a known mass or volume of animal feed. The apparatus can be used with or without a separate microingredient weighing or volumetric metering system.