METHOD OF PREPARING MORE DIGESTIBLE ANIMAL FEED

Disclosed is a process for making an animal feed comprising: contacting an edible fiber source in a mixture with an inorganic fiber hydrolyzing agent in a continuous process in a mixing device having at least one rotating member that shears the edible fiber and wherein the pressure is about 14 psig to about 50 psig the temperature is about 100°C to 110 °C, and the time is between about 1 second to less than 5 minutes to solubilize a first portion of carbohydrates from lignocellulosic material in the edible fiber source; contacting the edible fiber source with an enzyme fiber degrading agent selected from the group consisting of cellulases, hemicellulases, esterases, phytases, laccases, peroxidases and proteases for a time sufficient to solubilize a second portion of carbohydrates from lignocellulosic material in the edible fiber source; and drying the contacted edible fiber source to form a dried mixture having an insoluble fiber fraction and a soluble carbohydrate fraction derived from a common edible fiber source and wherein the soluble carbohydrate fraction is at least 45% wt/wt of the total carbohydrates contributed by the insoluble fiber fraction and soluble carbohydrate fraction.