Feed additive compositions

Abstract

The present invention provides feed compositions comprising a basal animal diet supplemented with direct fed microbial (DFM) and at least one of a formulated yeast, a capsicum product, and an antimicrobial clay. The feed compositions improve growth, general health, intestinal health, and reduce microbial pathogens in non-human animals fed the feed compositions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 587,860 filed Nov. 17, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present disclosure generally relates to feed additive compositions, methods for improving growth, improving health, improving intestinal health, and the reduction of microbial pathogens in non-human animals.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Animal husbandry is a branch of agriculture concerned with raising, breeding, and day to day care of animals. Farmers engaged in this branch of agriculture produce meat, eggs, milk, and other products for the consumer. Additionally, these farmers are engaged in breeding and raising a wide variety of animals.[0004]Farmers engaged in animal husbandry face many challenges. The demand for food and food products from animal husbandry is anticipated to increase significantly as the population is growing...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for improving health in non-human animals, the method comprising feeding the non-human animal the feed composition described above. Improving the health of a non-human animal may be selected from reducing incidence of diarrhea, reducing number of days of diarrhea, decreasing mortality, improving intestinal health, reducing microbial pathogens in the intestinal tract of the animal, decreasing cytokine panel measuring TNF-alpha, and combinations thereof. Further, the non-human animal may be a chicken. When the non-human animal is a chicken, improving the health of the chicken comprises reducing the impact of C. perfringens in broilers.

[0018]In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for improving performance of non-human animals, the method comprising feeding the non-human animal the feed composition described above. Improving performance may be selected from increase in body weight gain, feed conversion rate (FCR), feed intake, average daily weight gain (ADG), an increase in average daily food intake (ADFI), an improved overall body weight, and ratio of F / G. The non-human animal may be a chicken.

[0019]In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides method for improving quality of a product derived from a non-human animal, the method comprising feeding the non-human animal the feed composition described above. Improving the quality of a product derived from a non-human animal may be selected from from improving breast meat yield, reducing product variability, reducing impact on consumer appeal due to poor color, poor texture, and drip loss in retail display, reducing organoleptic qualities in cooked chicken, including incidence of woody breast. The non-human animal may be a chicken.

Problems solved by technology

Farmers engaged in animal husbandry face many challenges.

Global environmental challenges, including global climate changes and the growing threat of disease transmission to and from agricultural animals, add further challenges.

Additionally, farmers need a low cost method to produce these products since the profit margin in these areas can be quite low.