Feed additive composition

Abstract

A feed additive composition comprising a direct fed microbial (DFM), in combination with a xylanase (e.g. endo-1,4-β-d-xylanase) and a β-glucanase (and optionally a further fibre degrading enzyme), wherein the DFM is selected from the group consisting of an enzyme producing strain; a C5 sugar-fermenting strain; a short-chain fatty acid-producing strain; a fibrolytic, endogenous microflora-promoting strain; or combinations thereof. The DFM may be selected from the group consisting of: Bacillus subtilis AGTP BS3BP5, Bacillus subtilis AGTP BS442, B. subtilis AGTP BS521, B. subtilis AGTP BS918, Bacillus subtilis AGTP BS1013, B. subtilis AGTP BS1069, B. subtilis AGTP 944, B. pumilus AGTP BS 1068 or B. pumilus KX11-1, Enterococcus faecium ID7, Propionibacterium acidipropionici P169, Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM-1-3698, Lactobacillus farciminis CNCM-1-3699, a strain having all the characteristics thereof, any derivative or variant thereof, and combinations thereof and the further fibre degrading enzyme may be selected from the group consisting of a cellobiohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1.176 and E.C. 3.2.1.91), a β-glucosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.21), a β-xylosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.37), a feruloyl esterase (E.C. 3.1.1.73), an α-arabinofuranosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.55), a pectinase (e.g. an endopolygalacturonase (E.C. 3.2.1.15), an exopolygalacturonase (E.C. 3.2.1.67) or a pectate lyase (E.C. 4.2.2.2)), or combinations thereof.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to methods for improving feed compositions using a specific direct fed microbial in combination with a xylanase and a β-glucanase, and to a feed additive composition comprising a direct fed microbial in combination with a xylanase and a β-glucanase. The present invention further relates to uses and kits.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Supplemental enzymes are used as additives to animal feed, particularly poultry and swine feeds, as a means to improve nutrient utilization and production performance characteristics. Enzyme blends are available to improve the nutritional value of diets containing cereal grains, soybean meal, animal protein meals, or high fibre food and industrial by-products.[0003]The concept of direct fed microbials (DFM) involves the feeding of live beneficial microbes to animals like chickens or pigs, such that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. Probiotics is another term...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to a combination of enzymes and specific bacteria that can improve the conversion of plant material into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. The combination of xylanase and β-glucanase can improve the solubilization of fibre from the diet, which can lead to better animal performance. The use of specific bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium animalis, can also optimize the conversion of plant material into SCFAs. The resulting increase in the energy value of the plant material can be further enhanced by combining xylanase, β-glucanase, and other fibre degrading enzymes with specific bacteria that produce SCFAs. The use of DFMs that produce SCFAs can also help to increase the population of fibrolytic microflora in the GIT, which can further enhance the conversion of plant material into SCFAs. Overall, this combination of enzymes and bacteria can improve the efficiency of plant material utilization in animals and optimize animal performance.

Problems solved by technology

This solubilisation of hemicellulose would not always be sufficient to increase performance because C5-sugars released are not an efficient source of energy for animals when they are absorbed (Savory C., J. Br. J. Nut. 1992, 67: 103-114), but they are a more efficient source of energy when converted into short chain fatty acids (SCFA) either by microorganisms in the GIT or by DFMs.

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