This application relates a flowable feed supplement for ruminant animals such as cattle comprising a liquid acid adsorbed on a granular inorganic substrate. When a transmission over the network fails, information at multiple protocol layers indicates the usability of the gateway through which the failed transmission was made. The series of patterned graded oxidation mask layers has a comparatively high nitrogen:oxygen atomic ratio within a series of first contiguous sub-layers; a comparatively high nitrogen:oxygen atomic ratio within a series of third contiguous sub-layers; and a comparatively low nitrogen:oxygen atomic ratio within a series of second contiguous sub-layers.