Long term feed storage using Co2

[Chemguy]

A.T. Hagan :

Quote:
The food (or feed in this case) has to be properly dry, typically below 10% moisture content, to store well no matter what gas is used. CO2 has some advantages over nitrogen or argon in that it can be effective in eliminating insect life at much lower concentrations and has some anti-fungal properties as well.

This lower moisture content makes sense to me. I wonder if a better way to lower O2 content might be to use a vacuum sealed bag, rather than to displace atmoshpheric gases. I'm thinking about those 'space bags' that are sold in the household storage sections of some supermarkets and retail stores. Seems to me that this would allow for reopening/resealing without having to add more CO2 (or argon, ntirogen) each time.​

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
The idea is to displace oxygen which is necessary for bacteria and various other critters that can break down the feed. That's why in home canning for meats you cook in a pressure cooker to drive out the oxygen from the container. A really interesting thing happens when you melt down Dry ice. It doesn't go into a liquid state it goes directly into a gaseous state. Since Carbon Dioxide is heavier than air it literally will Fill up a container similar to filling a bucket with water. As the Co2 fills the container up the Air is pushed up and out of the container. Also A.T. mentioned a desiccant.... I am still researching that.

The home canner is used to STERILIZE also, not just drive out the air.
BOTULISUM IS CAUSED BY AN ANAEROBIC BACTERIA. that is a bacteria that thrives in a zero oxygen enviornment. Please be careful in your thinking that it will be safe to eat just because there was no oxygen present.

I think thats also why you need to keep the moisture content down.... I knew this technique is used with grains for Disaster preparedness (storing wheat for a number of years). I was bouncing the idea out there that it would be possible to use for Dry feed that would allow me to buy bulk lots for my livestock.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Quote:
The food (or feed in this case) has to be properly dry, typically below 10% moisture content, to store well no matter what gas is used. CO2 has some advantages over nitrogen or argon in that it can be effective in eliminating insect life at much lower concentrations and has some anti-fungal properties as well.

This lower moisture content makes sense to me. I wonder if a better way to lower O2 content might be to use a vacuum sealed bag, rather than to displace atmoshpheric gases. I'm thinking about those 'space bags' that are sold in the household storage sections of some supermarkets and retail stores. Seems to me that this would allow for reopening/resealing without having to add more CO2 (or argon, ntirogen) each time.

Vacuum packing would work better but folks usually store animal feed in larger containers which makes the process somewhat impractical.

If the container has good gas barrier properties then the oxygen absorbers work best, but you have to size them properly to the head gas volume of the container.

The dry ice method works well and is easy to do if the storage container can be sealed well AFTER the ice had evaporated. Carbon dioxide will act as a preservative at lower concentrations that would be necessary with nitrogen or argon. The most important thing is to be sure the grain is properly dry and the container kept in good storage conditions.

If anyone wants detailed instructions you can find them there: http://athagan.members.atlantic.net/PFSFAQ/PFSFAQ-1.html

I haven't updated the FAQ in some years so many of the links are bad, but the instructions have not changed. Human food or animal feed they can all be stored the same way for the most part.

 

[perchie.girl]

A.T. Hagan :

Quote:
This lower moisture content makes sense to me. I wonder if a better way to lower O2 content might be to use a vacuum sealed bag, rather than to displace atmoshpheric gases. I'm thinking about those 'space bags' that are sold in the household storage sections of some supermarkets and retail stores. Seems to me that this would allow for reopening/resealing without having to add more CO2 (or argon, ntirogen) each time.

Vacuum packing would work better but folks usually store animal feed in larger containers which makes the process somewhat impractical.

If the container has good gas barrier properties then the oxygen absorbers work best, but you have to size them properly to the head gas volume of the container.

The dry ice method works well and is easy to do if the storage container can be sealed well AFTER the ice had evaporated. Carbon dioxide will act as a preservative at lower concentrations that would be necessary with nitrogen or argon. The most important thing is to be sure the grain is properly dry and the container kept in good storage conditions.

If anyone wants detailed instructions you can find them there: http://athagan.members.atlantic.net/PFSFAQ/PFSFAQ-1.html

I haven't updated the FAQ in some years so many of the links are bad, but the instructions have not changed. Human food or animal feed they can all be stored the same way for the most part.​

Thank you for the link A.T. Wow.... what a mother load of information... i have only read one chapter on Desiccants and Oxygen absorbers. This answers a boat load of info I had in many many other areas....