US 12,256,760 B2
Method and apparatus for production of high meat content pet foods
LaVon Wenger, Sabetha, KS (US); Allan C. Spellmeier, Fairview, KS (US); and Philip B. Wiltz, Sabetha, KS (US)
Assigned to Wenger Manufacturing, LLC, Sabetha, KS (US)
Filed by Wenger Manufacturing Inc., Sabetha, KS (US)
Filed on Dec. 17, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/716,758.
Application 16/716,758 is a division of application No. 16/024,351, filed on Jun. 29, 2018, abandoned.
Application 16/024,351 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/840,926, filed on Dec. 13, 2017, granted, now 10,555,547.
Application 16/024,351 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/699,642, filed on Sep. 8, 2017, granted, now 10,434,483, issued on Oct. 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/645,301, filed on Mar. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0120955 A1, Apr. 23, 2020
Int. Cl. A23K 10/20 (2016.01); A23K 10/26 (2016.01); A23K 20/158 (2016.01); A23K 20/163 (2016.01); A23K 40/25 (2016.01); A23K 50/42 (2016.01)
CPC A23K 10/20 (2016.05) [A23K 10/26 (2016.05); A23K 20/158 (2016.05); A23K 20/163 (2016.05); A23K 40/25 (2016.05); A23K 50/42 (2016.05)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making an animal feed product comprising the steps of:
a) dewatering a meat source by passing said meat source through a pair of counter-rotating, tapered, helically flighted, intermeshed screws to produce a dewatered meat product having a moisture content 45-60% by weight, based upon the total weight of the dewatered meat taken as 100% by weight;
b) adding at least one additional ingredient to the dewatered meat product from step a) to form an extrudable mixture; and
c) extruding the extrudable mixture from step b) through an extruder to create an extruded product, the total meat content of the extruded product being from about 40-60% by weight, based upon the total weight of the extruded product taken as 100% by weight.