Processing method for producing animal feed

Abstract

A method for producing an animal feed from a prolamin-containing protein source comprises the steps of first washing of the prolamin-containing protein source with a first solvent, at least second washing with a second solvent, thereby obtaining a solid phase as animal feed and at least two liquid phases. The at least two liquid phases collectively comprise at least 22% of initial glutamic acid, at least 22% of initial proline, at most 60% of initial lysine, and at least 20% of initial mycotoxin.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to Luxembourg application LU504450 filed on June 7, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to an animal feed and a processing method for producing an animal feed. Background Art

[0003] The diet of mammals (such as monogastric animals, i.e. poultry, pigs, fish) and polygastric animals (i.e. ruminants) is an important source of energy for the animals.

[0004] The energy source in the diet is provided by dietary protein. Dietary protein provides essential amino acids, which are amino acids that animals cannot synthesize. Essential amino acids are also called indispensable amino acids.

[0005] Essential amino acids for monogastric animals are, for example, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. Lysine is an important essential amino acid for monogastric animals, as disclosed by Larkins et al. in "Improvement of corn seed protein quality" (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 58, No. 2, August 1993, pp. 264-269, https: / / doi.org / 10.1093 / ajcn / 58.2.264S). Arginine is an essential amino acid for birds and fish.

[0006] Animal feed for monogastric animals further requires a nitrogen source provided by amino acids which can be used to synthesize the remaining amino acids, ie amino acids which are not essential amino acids but are necessary to provide the monogastric animal with sufficient energy.

[0007] Monogastric animals can synthesize two amino acids, cysteine ​​and tyrosine, but only from the essential amino acids methionine and phenylalanine. Cysteine ​​and tyrosine are called semi-indispensable or semi-essential amino acids for monogastric animals. Therefore, the need for essential amino acids (i.e., indispensable amino acids) can be met by consuming cysteine ​​and tyrosine in the diet.

[0008] The diet of polygastric animals, i.e. ruminants, must also include essential amino acids, i.e. indispensable amino acids. Ruminants are able to synthesize amino acids. Therefore, it is sufficient to provide ruminants with an animal feed that contains sufficient nitrogen in the form of amino acids.

[0009] Arginine is synthesized as part of the mammalian urea cycle. For mammals, such as young mammals such as fast-growing chicks, sufficient amounts of glycine and serine may not be synthesized. As disclosed by Miller in "Protein nutrition requirements of farmed livestock and dietary supply" (https: / / www.fao.org / 3 / y5019e / y5019e06.htm, April 28, 2023), glycine and serine are referred to as "conditionally indispensable" amino acids for the good functioning of the mammalian body.

[0010] The diet must meet the basic physiological needs of the animal, such as the need for energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. These diets must further ensure optimal growth and productivity of the animal. Deficiencies can be made up by supplementing the feed, such as vitamins, etc.

[0011] Nutritional feeding management should take into account the animal's digestive function, age, sex, breed, lactation status and pregnancy status, as well as physical activity and environmental conditions. Nutrition-related diseases in companion animals include both diseases of excess of essential nutrients and diseases of deficiency of essential nutrients. As Torremorell discloses in Animal Biosafety (MSD Veterinary Manual, last reviewed / revised in February 2021 and revised in November 2022, https: / / www.msdvetmanual.com / management-and-nutrition / management-and-nutrition-introduction / overview-of-management-and-nutrition-in-animals), animal feed and nutritional feeding management can also affect animal health if feeding results in exposure to foodborne hazards such as physical objects or chemicals such as mycotoxins, allergens or microorganisms.

[0012] Animal studies such as Miller's "Protein nutrition requirements of farmed livestock and dietary supply" (https: / / www.fao.org / 3 / y5019e / y5019e06.htm, April 28, 2023) have confirmed that protein deficiency reduces the immune status of animals. Tsiagbe et al. studied the effects of adding methionine and cysteine, two sulfur-containing amino acids, on the growth and immune response of broilers fed a corn-soybean diet in the article "Effects of cysteine ​​in replacing methionine in the immune response of broilers" (Poultry Science, Vol. 66, No. 7, 1987, pp. 1138-1146, https: / / doi.org / 10.3382 / ps.0661138). Tsiagbe et al. found that cysteine ​​is important for the immune response of broilers and can largely replace the effect of methionine on the immune response. Konashi et al. conducted an experiment on "The effect of dietary essential amino acid deficiency on immune variables in broilers." Br J Nutr. 2000 Apr;83(4):449-56, PMID:10858703 to determine the effects of essential amino acid deficiency on several immune variables in male broiler chickens.

[0013] The response of animals to animal feeds depends on a complex interaction between the composition, preparation and resulting nutritional value of the diet. Animal feeds are rated according to their energy for production and protein content.

[0014] Animal feeds are graded for protein content by measuring crude protein content. This is analyzed by determining the nitrogen (N) content of the animal feed and then recalculating using a nitrogen to protein conversion factor to give the amount of crude protein present. Measuring the crude protein content of animal feed is vital for all animals.

[0015] However, the limiting amino acid is the essential amino acid that is lowest in the protein relative to a reference protein.

[0016] Lysine or methionine and cysteine ​​are the first limiting amino acid or the second limiting amino acid for monogastric animals. The nature of the limiting amino acid for ruminants depends on the maturity state of the ruminant. Mature ruminants are generally able to synthesize amino acids in the rumen. Therefore, there are no limiting amino acids for mature ruminants. In contrast, lactating ruminants and infant ruminants are unable to synthesize sufficient amino acids. Therefore, the amino acid composition of animal feed is crucial for lactating ruminants and infant ruminants.

[0017] Limiting amino acids are used to further evaluate animal feed by calculating the chemical score (CS) amino acids. CS amino acids are an indicator of protein quality and are evaluated by the following equation (1):

[0018]

[0019] The ideal content of essential amino acids refers to the content of the essential amino acid pattern.

[0020] The most limiting amino acid in a protein is reflected by the lowest CS amino acid.

[0021] Differences in digestive systems between animal species also affect the protein concentration required in animal feed. Carnivores have no ability to digest fibrous feeds and have a limited ability to digest even starchy carbohydrates. Therefore, the diet of carnivores must include more protein and fat, but the ratio of protein to energy is not significantly higher than that of pigs and poultry. Fish appear to have a much higher protein requirement than mammals. Aquaculture diets are a very important area in developing countries. Animal feed for fish contains a high content of protein. This is not because fish have a greater protein requirement, but because the energy requirement is smaller, as Miller reveals in the article "Protein nutrition requirements of farmed livestock and dietary supply" (https: / / www.fao.org / 3 / y5019e / y5019e06.htm, April 28, 2023).

[0022] Digestibility is defined as the difference between the amount of nitrogen (N) ingested and excreted, expressed as a proportion of the ingested nitrogen.

[0023] Camp Montoro et al., in “High Levels of Standardized Ileal Digestible Amino Acids Improve Feed Conversion Efficiency in Slow-Growing Pigs during the Late-Fat Growing Period” (DOI: 10.1111 / jpn.13610), describe studies conducted on slow-growing and fast-growing pigs to examine differences in the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) levels of amino acids (AA).

[0024] Ileal digestibility is used to estimate the bioavailability of AA in, for example, pig feed ingredients. When the basic losses of AA are taken into account when calculating the ileal digestibility, these values ​​can be expressed as standardized ileal digestibility as defined in HH Stein et al., "Definition of apparent, true and standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in pigs," Animal Science, Vol. 109, No. 1-3, 2007, pp. 282-285, https: / / doi.org / 10.1016 / j.livsci.2007.01.019.

[0025] Camp Montoro's research has shown that an increase in the total amino acid content of lysine SID results in a more efficient feed conversion in slower growing pigs. Therefore, for animals of the same age, nutrient requirements may vary depending on the animal's growth rate.

[0026] Specific limiting amino acids or vitamins may cause problems for lactating adult females under the stress of milk production, as disclosed in Van Soest et al., Nutritional Ecology of Ruminants, Cornell University Press, 1994, https: / / doi.org / 10.7591 / 9781501732355.

[0027] Miller published in "Protein nutrition requirements of farmed livestock and dietary supply" (https: / / www.fao.org / 3 / y5019e / y5019e06.htm, April 28, 2023) that processing animal feed for monogastric animals under mild conditions, such as at low temperatures, can improve the digestibility of animal feed, which is particularly important for young mammals and fish.

[0028] Miller specifically describes that mild conditions in the presence of reducing sugars or sucrose cause the epsilon amino group of lysine to react with the latent aldehyde group of the reducing sugar or sucrose to form early Maillard reaction products such as fructosyl-lysine or formyl-lysine. The formation of fructosyl-lysine or formyl-lysine results in a loss of lysine. Further reactions occur when the protein is stored at 37°C in the presence of reducing sugars or sucrose for considerable periods of time. Fructosyl-lysine and formyl-lysine are absorbed by monogastric animals, but they are not metabolized by monogastric animals.

[0029] The digestibility of animal feeds for ruminants is not significantly affected by heat treatment, especially when the amino acid composition of the animal feed is balanced to meet the amino acid requirements of ruminants.

[0030] As disclosed by Carpenter and Booth in 1973, when the processing does not include reducing sugars, processing conditions of temperatures above 100°C and long durations (eg, several hours) can result in the loss of lysine.

[0031] These processing conditions result in the formation of cross-links between the epsilon amino groups of lysine and the carboxyl groups of aspartic acid and glutamic acid (or their amides) to form new peptide-like cross-links (Hurrell et al., 1976). In addition, under these processing conditions, cystine loses hydrogen sulfide to form dehydroalanine residues and cysteine ​​residues. The dehydroalanine residues and cysteine ​​residues recombine to form lanthionine, thereby generating new CSC cross-links between the peptide chains between the epsilon amino groups of lysine and between the carboxyl groups of aspartic acid and glutamic acid.

[0032] As described by Opstvedt et al., "Heat-induced changes in sulfhydryl groups and disulfide bonds in fish protein and their effect on protein and amino acid digestibility in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)," Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 1984, July; 32(4): 929-935; DOI: 10.1021 / jf00124a056, heating of proteins under mild conditions, such as between 70 and 120°C for 20 minutes, in the absence of reducing sugars, results in the loss of sulfhydryl groups in cysteine ​​residues and an increase in disulfide bonds in cysteine ​​residues, with little loss of total cysteine. According to Opstvedt et al., heating results in the formation of new SS cross-links in proteins and also in the rearrangement of existing disulfide bonds during protein denaturation, which reduces protein digestibility and amino acid digestibility.

[0033] Dehydroalanine can also be formed by dehydration of serine. Under certain conditions, especially at alkaline pH, the epsilon amino group of lysine reacts with dehydroalanine to form lysine-alanine crosslinks. Lysine-alanine crosslinks reduce the digestibility of proteins, thereby reducing the availability of all amino acids, not just the directly involved amino acids, i.e., lysine and dehydroalanine.

[0034] It should be noted that the digestibility of animal feed produced from a protein source containing prolamins may be related to the content of hydrophobic amino acids in the animal feed. The hydrophobic amino acids may be alanine (Ala), isoleucine (Ile), leucine (Leu), methionine (Met), phenylalanine (Phe), valine (Val), proline (Pro), glycine (Gly), tryptophan (Trp) and tyrosine (Tyr). Gulati et al. pointed out in the article "Heating Reduces Proso Millet Protein Digestibility via Formation of Hydrophobic Aggregates", J Agric Food Chem. 2017 Mar, 8; 65(9): 1952-1959. doi: 10.1021 / acs.jafc.6b05574. Epub 2017 Feb 23. PMID: 28198183 that, given the amino acid composition of the protein source, reducing the content of hydrophobic amino acids in animal feed leads to an increase in the digestibility of the animal feed.

[0035] It should be noted that the digestibility of animal feed produced from prolamin-containing protein sources can also be defined by the pepsin-indigestible protein fraction in the animal feed. Values ​​of less than 25% of the pepsin-indigestible protein fraction are "normal", while values ​​above 30% indicate that the heat treatment of the protein source is too severe ("Die praktische Anwendung der Proteinbewertung für in der Rationsgestaltung für Milchrinder”, M.Hoffmann, LKV Sachsen, 2011, https: / / www.bing.com / ck / a?!&&p=f61ff9abe184cc0fJmltdHM9MTcxNjc2ODA wMCZpZ3VpZD0wMGVhMzJjMS0wOTY4LTZkNGYtMzQ4OC0yNjQ2MD according to Bryan DDSL, Classen HL. "In Vitro Methods of Assessing Protein Quality for Poultry. Animals. 2020; 10(4): 551. https: / / doi.org / 10.3390 / ani10040551", the pepsin digestibility assay is one of the most widely used assays for assessing the quality and protein composition of animal feeds. Rumen-degradable protein also decreases with increasing heat treatment, and according to Bryan DDSL et al., furthermore, heat treatment of protein diets, most commonly through the Maillard reaction, can trigger amino acid losses.

[0036] Osborne, in "The Chemistry of the Proteinaceous Body of the Wheat Grain", Part I, Ethanol-soluble Proteins and Their Glutamine Content, Am. J. Physiol., 1905;13:35-44, defines prolamins as proteins extractable in aqueous ethanol, in contrast to other proteins such as albumins which are extractable with water, globulins which are extractable with saline, and glutenins which are essentially unextractable.

[0037] Current animal feeds include globulins and prolamin-containing protein sources.

[0038] Current animal feeds are nutritionally limited because globulins and prolamins are deficient or lack one or more of the amino acids required by animals. Prolamins in cereals generally do not contain lysine, while globulins in legumes have limited content of sulfur-containing amino acids, namely methionine and cysteine.

[0039] Various types of biotechnological approaches have been considered to improve the amino acid composition of animal feed currently made from, for example, corn. As disclosed in Holding et al., "Recent advances in the study of the organization and function of prolamin storage proteins," Frontiers in Plant Science, Plant Evolution and Development, June 2014, Volume 5, Article 276, https: / / doi.org / 10.3389 / fpls.2014.00276, one type of biotechnological approach is to produce, for example, transgenic corn plants. A major disadvantage of transgenic corn plant production is that material imported into Europe must be labeled as a GMO if it contains more than 0.9% of any genetically modified organism (GMO).

[0040] In general, the use of corn grain as the primary energy source, or corn gluten meal as a protein supplement, results in a low contribution of lysine in animal feeds. Lysine must be chemically supplemented into animal feeds. The bioavailability of chemically supplemented lysine is more limited compared to naturally supplemented lysine (i.e., lysine already in the animal feed), as disclosed in “Many lysine sources degrade in the rumen, losing their effectiveness” (https: / / www.purinamills.com / dairy-feed / education / detail / using-lysine-in-cattle-feed).

[0041] According to Gulati et al. in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2017, 65(9), 1952-195, doi:10.1021 / acs.jafc.6b05574, current animal feed is also produced from millet. According to Gulati et al., about 51% of yellow rice protein is composed of hydrophobic amino acid residues. Hydrophobic amino acid residues may be the reason for the low digestibility of yellow rice protein by animals.

[0042] Sorghum has also been studied as a source of animal feed, but the digestibility of sorghum prolamins is low.

[0043] Zeins and kafirin are packaged into protein bodies, which are themselves indigestible. The indigestibility of the protein bodies is caused by the disulfide cross-linked nature of gamma-gliadins. As disclosed by Holding et al., "Recent advances in the organization and function of gliadin storage proteins," Frontiers in Plant Science, Plant Evolution and Development, June 2014, Volume 5, Chapter 276, https: / / doi.org / 10.3389 / fpls.2014.00276, gamma-gliadins form a shell with a relatively low surface area, i.e., the surface area for enzyme attack to digest the gamma-gliadins is significantly lower, given the amount of gamma-gliadins packaged.

[0044] Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins produced by fungi such as Aspergillus, Penicillium or Fusarium. As disclosed in https: / / www.who.int / news-room / fact-sheets / detail / mycotoxins, fungi can grow on different types of crops and food (including cereals) and under any environmental conditions. The growth of fungi can be carried out before the crop is harvested, after it is harvested or during storage. Most mycotoxins are chemically stable and can survive food processing.

[0045] Mycotoxins can cause toxic reactions when ingested by animals above a certain concentration. As disclosed in Streit E et al., Current status of mycotoxin contamination and coexistence in animal feed - Focus on Europe, Toxins, 2012; 4(10): 788-809, https: / / doi.org / 10.3390 / toxins4100788, symptoms of mycotoxin ingestion include reduced animal productivity, reduced weight gain, reduced fertility and immunosuppression, leading to increased susceptibility to diseases and parasites, resulting in significant illness and death.

[0046] The mycotoxins of greatest concern are aflatoxins (AF), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) and teratoxin A (OTA) because these mycotoxins are abundant and widely distributed in corn-derived animal feeds, with serious impacts on animal health.

[0047] SU639511A1 also discloses treating feed with sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3), i.e. washing feed. NaHSO3 is only suitable for removing water-soluble proteins or proteins dissolved by breaking disulfide bonds. This also leads to changes in the amino acid concentration in the obtained animal feed. Since the solubility of hydrophobic alcohol-soluble proteins in NaHSO3 is not similar to that in organic solvents such as ethanol-water solutions, washing the protein source containing alcohol-soluble proteins with NaHSO3 does not remove the same substances as washing the protein source containing alcohol-soluble proteins with a first organic solvent and then washing with a second organic solvent.

[0048] As disclosed by Yang, P. et al. (2005) in Effect of Steeping with Sulfite Salts and Adjunct Acids on Corn Wet-Milling Yields and Starch Properties. Cereal Chemistry, 82: 420-424. https: / / doi.org / 10.1094 / CC-82-0420, NaHSO3 can also be used to soak corn. Soaking corn is a pretreatment condition for CGM, for example, at the raw material supplier. The effect of NaHSO3 is mainly to soften the core of CGM so as to further remove γ-zein or water-soluble proteins that are soluble in water after treatment with, for example, NaHSO3 or SO2.

[0049] Therefore, there is a need for a process that can produce animal feed with increased amounts of essential amino acids.

[0050] There is a need for a process that can produce animal feed with reduced mycotoxin content. Summary of the invention

[0051] This problem is solved by the subject matter of claims 1, 4, 6, 8 and 17. Further aspects and preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the process and use claims and in the dependent claims and are derived from the following description, the accompanying examples and in particular the accompanying further patent claims.

[0052] The present disclosure teaches one aspect of a process for producing animal feed from a protein source containing prolamin. The method comprises washing the protein source containing prolamin for a first time, and then washing the solid phase obtained from the first washing for at least a second time, thereby again obtaining a solid phase as animal feed and at least two liquid phases. The parameters of the washing are set so that the sum of the at least two liquids produces at least 22% of the initial glutamic acid, at least 22% of the starting proline, up to 60% of the initial lysine and at least 20% of the initial mycotoxins.

[0053] The term "originally" refers to the content in a prolamin-containing protein source.

[0054] The term "at least 22% of the initial glutamate" means "the glutamate content relative to the prolamin-containing protein source is at least 22%".

[0055] The first washing is able to remove most of the initial mycotoxins (AF, DON, ZEA, OXA) from the prolamin-containing protein source by extracting most of the initial mycotoxins in the first liquid phase, resulting in an animal feed with a mycotoxin concentration lower than the total mycotoxin concentration of the first and second liquid phases.

[0056] Extracting the initial protein with a relatively low lysine content (based on total protein) into the second liquid phase results in obtaining an animal feed with a relatively higher lysine content (based on total protein) than the protein source containing prolamins.

[0057] It should be noted that not only the second wash can be foreseen as a subsequent wash, i.e. a cascade system of washes, but also the first wash can include subsequent washes.

[0058] Still, it is important to note that the use of different organic solvents or solvent / water mixtures is crucial.

[0059] In one aspect, if the initial concentration of the mycotoxin is at least above 200 μg / kg, the at least two liquid phases comprise 22% to 70% of the initial glutamate, 22% to 75% of the initial proline, 10% to 60% of the initial lysine and 20% to 90% of the initial mycotoxin.

[0060] In one aspect, the at least two liquid phases comprise 22% to 24% of initial glutamate, 22% to 30% of initial proline, 11% to 15% of initial lysine, and 41% to 50% of initial mycotoxins, wherein initial refers to a prolamin-containing protein source.

[0061] A processing method for producing animal feed from a protein source containing prolamin, comprising the steps of: washing the protein source containing prolamin with a first organic solvent to obtain a first solid phase and a first liquid phase, removing the prolamin by washing the first solid phase with a second organic solvent to obtain a second solid phase and at least a second liquid phase; obtaining the second solid phase as animal feed, wherein the animal feed has a glutamate concentration reduced by at least 22% compared to the protein source containing prolamin, a proline concentration reduced by at least 22% compared to the protein source containing prolamin, a mycotoxin concentration reduced by at least 20% compared to the protein source containing prolamin, and a lysine concentration increased by at least 40% compared to the protein source containing prolamin substances. In the case of severe mycotoxin content, the animal feed contains up to 50% of the initial mycotoxin.

[0062] Washing the protein source containing prolamins with a first organic solvent can reduce the amount of mycotoxins. Washing the first solid phase with a second organic solvent can remove proteins low in lysine content.

[0063] Thus, the animal feed produced by this processing method has a reduced amount of mycotoxins and additionally a higher amount of lysine compared to protein sources containing prolamins.

[0064] Compared to the starting material (i.e., a protein source containing prolamins), the animal feed comprises at least 4% increased amounts of sulfur-containing amino acids and at least 40% increased lysine content. In addition, the animal feed comprises up to 60 mg / g fatty acids in dry matter, including up to 9 mg / g saturated fatty acids in dry matter; and the amount of mycotoxins is reduced by at least 20%. The processing method further increases the arginine content by 30% compared to a protein source containing prolamins. As disclosed by Kent et al. in Chapter 18, "Wet Milling: The Basis for Corn Biorefineries, Corn" (3rd ed., AACC International Press, 2019, pp. 501-535, https: / / doi.org / 10.1016 / B978-0-12-811971-6.00018-8), the glycine content in animal feed produced by the processing method of the present invention is also more than doubled compared to the glycine content in animal feed produced by the classical wet grinding processing method.

[0065] Compared with the animal feed of the prior art disclosed in the article "Protein nutrition requirements of farmed livestock and dietary supply" (https: / / www.fao.org / 3 / y5019e / y5019e06.htm, April 28, 2023), which contains about 2.8g of methionine and cysteine ​​per 16g of N, the animal feed of the present application contains a higher content of methionine and cysteine, for example, 3g of methionine and cysteine ​​per 16g of N. Compared with 1.2g of lysine per 19g of N, the animal feed of the present application also includes a higher content of lysine (2.4g of lysine per 16g of N). In one aspect, the animal feed includes <0.1g sugar / 100g.

[0066] In another aspect, a processing method for producing animal feed from a protein source containing alcohol-soluble proteins comprises the following steps: washing the protein source containing alcohol-soluble proteins with a first organic solvent to obtain a first solid phase and a first liquid phase, removing the alcohol-soluble proteins by washing the first solid phase with a second organic solvent to obtain a second solid phase and a second liquid phase, until the second solid state is obtained as animal feed, wherein the glutamate content in the animal feed is lower than the total amount of glutamate in the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase, the proline content is lower than the total amount of proline in the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase, the lysine content is higher than the total amount of lysine in the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase, and the amount of mycotoxins is lower than the total amount of mycotoxins in the protein source containing alcohol-soluble proteins.

[0067] Based on pepsin-indigestible protein values ​​below 25%, it is assumed that heat treatment does not seriously interfere with the digestibility of the animal feed.

[0068] It is assumed that the animal feed has improved digestibility because part of the hydrophobic amino acids are removed from the animal feed. Furthermore, no significant heat treatment is performed in the processing method of the present invention which would reduce digestibility.

[0069] The "total amount of glutamate in the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase" refers to the sum of the first portion of glutamate from the first liquid phase and the second portion of glutamate from the second liquid phase.

[0070] The aim is to have essentially no glutamic acid or other amino acids in the first liquid phase. The aim is to obtain an amino acid content in the second liquid phase and the second solid phase that is the same as the amino acid content in the prolamin-containing protein source.

[0071] It should be noted that the step of washing the first solid phase with a second organic solvent to obtain a second solid phase and a second liquid phase until the second solid phase is obtained as animal feed is a well-researched and motivated choice to obtain improved animal feed, especially animal feed with improved digestibility.

[0072] The inventors did wash the first solid phase with a second organic solvent to obtain a second solid phase and a second liquid phase until the second solid phase was obtained as an animal feed, thereby obtaining the claimed specific content of amino acids.

[0073] Although flushing is a well-known technique in the field of feed production technology, before the present invention, there was a prejudice against performing multiple washes for environmental and economic reasons, because using more solvent means recovering the solvent in a proper and clean manner, which is time-consuming and expensive. The processing method claimed in the present invention provides a unique solution with a highly specific indication, namely that the glutamate obtained from the total content of the prolamin-containing protein source is less than half of the initial content of glutamate, because the content of glutamate is defined as less than the total content of glutamate of the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase. In other words, more than half is washed away. At the same time, the content of proline is also less than the total content of proline of the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase. In other words, more than half is washed away. In addition, contrary to expectations, it is necessary to adjust the processing method so that the content of lysine is higher than the total content of lysine of the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase, while the content of mycotoxins needs to be lower than the total content of mycotoxins of the prolamin-containing protein source. It is not suggested to provide multiple stages of washing and the expectation of the skilled person is actually that all components are continuously washed away and their content is reduced. In sharp contrast, the present invention provides a reduction in the concentration of undesirable substances while increasing the content of proline. In other words, the processing method of the present invention is very special, it uses two different washing steps, and only by combining the two different washing steps is it possible to reduce the generally undesirable components and select a specific one among the proteins that is beneficial to animal feed, while reducing the one that is difficult to digest, that is, has a more complex folding structure (not disclosed).

[0074] In another aspect, a processing method for producing animal feed from a protein source containing alcohol-soluble proteins comprises the steps of washing the protein source containing alcohol-soluble proteins with a first organic solvent to obtain a first solid phase and a first liquid phase, removing the alcohol-soluble proteins by washing the first solid phase with a second organic solvent to obtain a second solid phase and a second liquid phase, until the second solid phase is obtained as an animal feed, wherein the liquid phase comprises at least 120 mg / g glutamic acid, at least 40 mg / g proline, at most 7 mg / g lysine and at least 400 μg / kg mycotoxins in total.

[0075] In one aspect, the step of washing the protein source containing alcohol-soluble proteins with a first organic solvent is carried out until the content of mycotoxins in the first solid phase is less than 500 μg / kg, in particular the animal feed comprises 90 μg / kg of mycotoxins dry matter, including 40 μg / kg of deoxynivalenol dry matter and 40 μg / kg of zearalenone dry matter.

[0076] In another aspect, a step of extracting alcohol-soluble proteins from a first solid phase and washing the first solid phase with a second organic solvent using multiple runs of parameters and / or cascade is performed until the alcohol-soluble protein content is less than 60% of the initial alcohol-soluble protein content, in particular the animal feed comprises 500 mg / g protein in dry matter, containing 110 mg / g glutamic acid, 37 mg / g proline and at least 10 mg / g lysine.

[0077] In one aspect, the first organic solvent comprises at least 90 wt% ethanol and the washing is performed to reduce the mycotoxin content by at least 10%, particularly over at least half an hour and at a temperature of at least 20°C, particularly 30°C for three hours.

[0078] In another aspect, the second organic solvent is a water / ethanol solution comprising up to 95 wt % ethanol. In another aspect, the second organic solvent is a water / ethanol solution comprising at least 60 wt % ethanol, preferably the second organic solution comprises between 60 wt % and 95 wt % ethanol, preferably 70 wt % ethanol, more preferably 65 wt % ethanol. The washing is carried out for at least half an hour, preferably one hour, at a temperature of at least 50°C.

[0079] In another aspect, the processing method for producing animal feed advantageously does not heat above 100°C, thereby not introducing new disulfide bonds in the protein due to the processing conditions. Catalytic reactions due to high temperatures, such as unwanted reactions, such as the Maillard reaction, are also prevented, preventing a decrease in the digestibility of the animal feed.

[0080] Further taught in the present disclosure is an animal feed from a protein source containing prolamins. The animal feed comprises at least 450 mg / g protein on a dry matter basis, comprising at most 130 mg / g glutamic acid, at most 40 mg / g proline, at least 7 mg / g lysine and at most 15000 μg / kg mycotoxins.

[0081] The animal feed comprises up to 80% glutamic acid relative to a protein source containing prolamins, up to 70% proline relative to a protein source containing prolamins, at least 40% lysine relative to a protein source containing prolamins, and at least 20% reduction in mycotoxins relative to a protein source containing prolamins.

[0082] In one aspect, the protein components of the at least two liquid phases comprise in total at least 150 mg / g glutamate, at least 60 mg / g proline and at least 250 μg / kg mycotoxins, but at most 7 mg / g lysine.

[0083] In another aspect, the protein component in the animal feed comprises a glutamate concentration of at most 120 mg / g, a proline concentration of at most 40 mg / g, a lysine concentration of at least 7 mg / g. In this aspect, the animal feed comprises mycotoxins at a mycotoxin concentration of at most 90 μg / kg.

[0084] In one aspect, the animal feed of the invention is produced under acidic conditions, for example at a pH of up to 7.0, rather than at an alkaline pH, thereby reducing the risk of forming additional cross-links, for example lysine alanine cross-links, in the animal feed.

[0085] Compared to the initial raw material, the protein component of the animal feed advantageously comprises a content of at least 5% increased sulfur-containing amino acids and a content of at least 50% increased lysine. In addition, the animal feed comprises a dry matter content of at most 60 mg / g fatty acids, including at most 9 mg / g saturated fatty acids; and the mycotoxin content is reduced by at least 20%.

[0086] In another aspect, the animal feed comprises 25 μg / kg of dry matter mycotoxins. The mycotoxin content is expressed as the sum of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, aflatoxins and zearalenone. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0087] Figure 1 A process roadmap of a processing method for producing animal feed according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0088] Figure 1 A process roadmap of a processing method for producing animal feed according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0089] Processing methods

[0090] The process includes providing a prolamin-containing protein source, such as corn gluten meal. The prolamin-containing protein source includes glutamic acid, proline, lysine, and mycotoxins, referred to as initial glutamic acid, initial proline, initial lysine, and initial mycotoxins.

[0091] The processing method comprises washing, ie, a first washing, of the protein source containing prolamins.

[0092] In one embodiment, the first wash is with a first solvent, preferably a first organic solvent.

[0093] In another embodiment, the first wash is with a supercritical gas, preferably supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2).

[0094] The first washing, ie washing with the first organic solvent, can obtain a first solid phase and a first liquid phase.

[0095] The first wash is carried out at room temperature for at least 15 minutes, preferably one hour.

[0096] The first solid phase comprises, for example, a large amount of carbohydrates and a large amount of protein and has a reduced content of mycotoxins compared to a protein source containing prolamins.

[0097] The first liquid phase includes, for example, fatty acids, pigments, polyphenols and mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are, for example, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, aflatoxin and aflatoxin A. Fatty acids are saturated acids and unsaturated acids. Saturated fatty acids are, for example, palmitic acid. Unsaturated fatty acids are, for example, oleic acid and linoleic acid.

[0098] An advantage of the first washing is that at least 40% of the initial deoxynivalenol concentration is removed from the prolamin-containing protein source.

[0099] In one example, the inventors were surprisingly able to reduce the initial deoxynivalenol concentration by 50%.

[0100] Another advantage of the first wash is that at least 20% of the initial zearalenone concentration is removed from the prolamin-containing protein source.

[0101] In another example, the inventors were able to reduce the initial zearalenone concentration by 72%.

[0102] For example, the first liquid phase is further processed to recover the first organic solvent from the first liquid phase. In one embodiment, the first liquid phase is recovered by evaporation to better reuse the first organic solvent in the first liquid phase. The process of recovering the first organic solvent can be carried out in a combined distillation and dehydration system to remove impurities from the first solvent.

[0103] The first organic solvent includes, for example, ethanol. The first organic solvent includes at least 90 wt% ethanol, preferably at least 95 wt% ethanol, more preferably at least 98 wt% ethanol.

[0104] The first washing, ie washing the protein source containing prolamin with a first organic solvent, is performed until, for example, the content of mycotoxins in the first solid phase is less than 600 μg / kg.

[0105] The first wash is carried out for at least half an hour at a temperature of at least 20°C, preferably the first wash is carried out for two hours at a temperature of 40°C.

[0106] The processing method further comprises removing prolamin by washing the first solid phase with a second organic solvent, that is, removing prolamin from the first solid phase to obtain a second solid phase and a second liquid phase, until a second solid state is obtained as animal feed.

[0107] Washing the first solid phase with a second organic solvent, ie, the second wash, can remove proteins having a relatively low lysine concentration (based on total protein) from the second solid phase in the second liquid phase.

[0108] In one embodiment, the second organic solvent includes ethanol or isopropanol.

[0109] In another embodiment, the second organic solvent is a water-ethanol solution or a water-isopropanol solution.

[0110] In another embodiment, the second solvent 30 comprises at least 42 wt % ethanol and 58 wt % water, preferably 52 wt % ethanol and 48 wt % water, and most preferably 60 wt % ethanol and 40 wt % water.

[0111] The second wash is carried out at a temperature of at least 50°C for at least half an hour, and preferably the first wash is carried out at 70°C for one hour.

[0112] In one embodiment, the second liquid phase is applied countercurrently in several washing steps to further increase the yield of the prolamin extraction.

[0113] In another embodiment, the second liquid phase is treated to recover the second organic solvent.

[0114] The alcohol-soluble proteins are removed by washing the first solid phase with a second organic solvent, and then the third solid phase is obtained, for example, by washing the second solid phase. The processing method includes, for example, continuously washing the continuously obtained solid phases to improve the digestibility and formulation of the animal feed, preferably the processing method includes a first washing and a second washing, and more preferably the processing method includes a first washing, a second washing, wherein the second washing includes two consecutive washings.

[0115] In one embodiment, washing is performed until the prolamin content in the animal feed is less than 60% of the initial prolamin amount.

[0116] In another embodiment, washing is performed in a countercurrent operation.

[0117] The process also includes separating the second solid phase from the second liquid phase in a separator, such as a Buchner filter.

[0118] The processing method further comprises, for example, drying the second solid phase to obtain an animal feed.

[0119] For example, drying is carried out at a temperature between 30° C. and 80° C., preferably between 50° C. and 100° C., more preferably between 60° C. and 80%. Drying allows the animal feed to have a dry matter content of at least 85%, preferably 88%, more preferably 90%.

[0120] In one embodiment, drying is performed in a vacuum desiccator.

[0121] The first liquid phase and the second liquid phase

[0122] In another embodiment, the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase comprise at least 22% of the initial glutamate, at least 22% of the starting proline, up to 60% of the initial lysine, and at least 20% of the initial mycotoxin.

[0123] The expression “the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase include” should be understood as “the sum of the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase includes”, “the liquid phases jointly include”, and “the sum of the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase includes”.

[0124] In another embodiment, the first and second liquid phases comprise 22% to 75% of the initial glutamate, 22% to 70% of the initial proline, 10% to 60% of the initial lysine; and 20% to 90% of the initial mycotoxin if the initial concentration of the mycotoxin is at least above 200 μg / kg.

[0125] In another embodiment, the first and second liquid phases comprise at least 140 mg / g glutamic acid, at least 60 mg / g proline and at least 20% of the initial amount of mycotoxins, but at most 8 mg / g lysine.

[0126] In another embodiment, the first and second liquid phases comprise at least 150 mg / g glutamic acid, at least 65 mg / g proline and at least 30% of the initial amount of mycotoxins, but at most 7 mg / g lysine.

[0127] In another embodiment, the first and second liquid phases comprise at least 120 mg / g glutamate, at least 40 mg / g proline, at most 7 mg / g lysine, and at least 400 μg / kg of the original mycotoxin.

[0128] Animal Feed

[0129] In one embodiment, the animal feed includes glutamate whose concentration is reduced by at least 22% compared to a protein source containing prolamins, proline whose concentration is reduced by at least 22% compared to a protein source containing prolamins, mycotoxins whose concentration is reduced by at least 20% compared to a protein source containing prolamins, and lysine whose concentration is increased by at least 40% compared to a protein source containing prolamins.

[0130] In one embodiment, the animal feed comprises a glutamate content that is lower than the total amount of glutamate in the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase, a proline content that is lower than the total amount of proline in the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase, a lysine content that is higher than the total amount of lysine in the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase, and a mycotoxin content that is lower than the total amount of mycotoxin in the protein source containing prolamin.

[0131] In one embodiment, the first liquid phase does not contain glutamic acid and / or proline and / or lysine. The second liquid phase comprises the total content of glutamic acid and / or the total content of proline and / or the total content of lysine.

[0132] In one embodiment, the amino acid content in the second liquid phase and the second solid phase is substantially the same as the amino acid content of the prolamin-containing protein source.

[0133] The animal feed includes protein, for example 450 mg / g protein per dry matter, in another embodiment 500 mg / g protein per dry matter, the protein comprising glutamic acid, proline and lysine.

[0134] The animal feed comprises, for example, at most 160 mg / g glutamate, preferably at most 130 mg / g glutamate, preferably 120 mg / g glutamate.

[0135] In another embodiment, the animal feed comprises at most 100 mg / g proline, at most 80 mg / g proline, preferably 60 mg / g proline, more preferably 40 mg / g proline.

[0136] In another embodiment, the animal feed comprises at least 5 mg / g lysine, preferably at least 7 mg / g lysine, more preferably at least 10 mg / g lysine, preferably 15 mg / g lysine on a dry matter basis.

[0137] In one embodiment, the animal feed comprises a mycotoxin concentration of up to 400 μg / kg.

[0138] In another embodiment, the animal feed comprises at most 15000 μg / kg of dry matter mycotoxins, including 12000 μg / kg of dry matter deoxynivalenol and 3000 μg / kg of dry matter zearalenone; preferably at most 10000 μg / kg of dry matter mycotoxins.

[0139] The animal feed obtained according to the processing method of the present invention was found to have surprising digestibility properties.

[0140] The amino acid composition of the animal feed is improved in terms of absolute lysine content. The amino acid composition of the animal feed comprises, for example, an absolute lysine content of at least 2.4 g per 16 g N and an improved sulfur-containing amino acid content of at least 3.0 g per 16 g N.

[0141] Compared to corn gluten meal (CGM), animal feed also includes high levels of carbohydrates, high levels of protein, and low levels of fatty acids, as shown in the table below. The values ​​of CGM are described by DDLoy et al. in "Nutritional Properties and Feeding Value of Corn and Its Coproducts", https: / / doi.org / 10.1016 / B978-0-12-811971-6.00023-1. The processing method disclosed by DDLoy et al. for producing CGM includes the conventional step of wet grinding of corn kernels.

[0142]

[0143] The table shows that the processing method of the present invention is able to obtain an animal feed having an increased amount of carbohydrates and a reduced fatty acid content relative to commercial corn gluten meal (CGM) but maintaining a relatively high protein content relative to CGM.

[0144] Compared to CGM, the animal feed of the present invention is improved because it comprises a higher content of ileal amino acids, namely lysine, threonine, methionine, tryptophan and isoleucine.

[0145] Compared to commercial corn gluten meal (CGM), the animal feed of the present invention includes twice as much lysine [mg / g protein]. In addition, the concentration of the essential amino acids methionine and cysteine ​​in the animal feed is increased by 5%.

[0146] In one example, the inventors achieved production of an animal feed having a 14% increase in cysteine ​​concentration at the same methionine concentration.

[0147] This makes the animal feed of the present invention particularly suitable for the diet of pigs and chickens. In fact, the bodies of pigs and chickens cannot produce lysine themselves. Therefore, lysine is an essential amino acid and limiting factor for pigs and chickens and needs to be provided by external sources, such as animal feed.

[0148] Carrying out a second wash and then separating the second solid phase from the second liquid phase can remove proteins with low lysine content from the second solid phase, thereby increasing the lysine content in the second solid phase. Proteins with low lysine content are essentially of no value for animal growth. Removing proteins with low lysine content can obtain animal feed with significantly better amino acid composition and high protein content.

[0149] Hereinafter, the present invention is explained in more detail by means of selected examples.

[0150] The content of mycotoxins in the following examples was measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS / MS). The content of fatty acids was measured according to Deutsche Akkreditierungstelle GmbH, ASU number 17.00-4, and the content of proteins (Nx6,25) was measured by ASU L 17.00-15. The amino acid content was determined by high performance liquid chromatography combined with fluorescence detection (HPLC / FLD).

[0151] Commercial corn gluten meal (CGM) was used as a control relative to the animal feed.

[0152] Embodiment 1:

[0153] A protein source of prolamin containing corn gluten meal was provided for Example 1. The corn gluten meal was washed with a first organic solvent of 98% ethanol at 25° C. for one hour to obtain a first solid phase and a first liquid phase.

[0154] The first solid phase is separated from the first liquid phase with a separator. The first solid phase is washed with a second organic solvent including water and ethanol. The first liquid phase is treated in a vacuum distiller system to recover ethanol. A second wash is performed at a temperature of 60° C. for 1 hour to obtain a second solid phase and a second liquid phase. The second solid phase is separated from the second liquid phase in a solid-liquid separator. The second solid phase is dried in a vacuum dryer at a temperature between 60° C. and 80° C. As shown in Table 1 below, Animal Feed 40 has a surprisingly improved composition compared to corn gluten meal.

[0155] Table 1 - Mycotoxin content of Example 1

[0156]

[0157] As shown in the table, the content of deoxynivalenol in the animal feed of Example 1 was reduced to 49.94%, and the content of zearalenone was reduced to 72.42%, which shows that the processing method of the present invention can reduce the content of mycotoxins in animal feed.

[0158] Table 2 - Energy value of animal feed of Example 1

[0159]

[0160]

[0161] Dry matter is abbreviated as DM. Table 2 shows that the animal feed obtained by the processing method of the present invention contains a higher content of carbohydrates and a lower content of fat, and furthermore, a lower content of protein, compared to CGM.

[0162] Example 2

[0163] A protein source of alcohol-soluble proteins containing corn gluten meal is provided for Example 2. In the subsequent three steps, the corn gluten meal is countercurrently washed with a first organic solvent, a second organic solvent and a third organic solvent made of three different concentrations of water and ethanol. The three consecutive washing steps are carried out at a temperature of 60°C for one hour to obtain a second solid phase and a second liquid phase. The second solid phase is separated from the second liquid phase in a solid-liquid separator. The second solid phase is step-dried in a vacuum dryer at a temperature between 60°C and 80°C. As shown in Table 3 below, the obtained animal feed has a surprisingly improved composition compared to corn gluten meal.

[0164] Table 3 - Energy value of animal feeds of Example 2

[0165]

[0166]

[0167] As shown in Table 3, compared with corn gluten meal, the animal feed of Example 2 contains a higher content of carbohydrates and a comparable content of fatty acids, while the protein content is slightly reduced.

[0168] Table 4 - Relative amino acid requirements for different animals based on Miller's "Protein nutrition requirements of farmed livestock and dietary supply" (https: / / www.fao.org / 3 / y5019e / y5019e06.htm, April 28, 2023).

[0169]

[0170]

[0171] Lysine is used as the reference amino acid in the above comparison table and all other amino acids are expressed in ratio to lysine because lysine is the first limiting amino acid in most diets.

[0172] Met+Cys represents methionine and cysteine, Phe+Tyr represents phenylalanine and tyrosine, Trypt represents tryptophan, and Gly or Ser represents glycine or serine. Table 4 shows the amino acid requirements of different animals compared to the amino acid composition of animal feed 40. For all animals listed, Met+Cys, threonine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, Phe+Tyr as well as histidine, arginine and proline are met.

[0173] Table 5 - Amino acid content in the animal feed of Example 1.

[0174]

[0175] Table 5 shows that the processing method of the present invention can obtain improved animal feed that is closer to the lysine requirement of pigs and chickens.

[0176] Table 6 - Amounts of amino acids in CGM, Example 1 and Example 2

[0177]

[0178] As can be seen from Table 6 above, the content of hydrophobic amino acids, i.e., proline, in the animal feeds of Examples 1 and 2 is reduced compared to that in the prolamin source of CGM. Therefore, it can be inferred that, as known in the prior art Xing, J.; Li, Z.; Zhang, W.; Wang, P. The Composition, Structure, and Functionalities of Prolamins from Highland Barley. Molecules 2023, 28, 5334. https: / / doi.org / 10.3390 / molecules28145334, prolamins are moved during the processing method because prolamins contain a large amount of hydrophobic amino acids.

[0179] Table 7 below provides a summary of the pepsin indigestible proteins, ie the pepsin indigestible protein fraction, of different animal feeds of the invention. The protein source, ie the raw material, is a protein source comprising prolamin-containing biomass, but not always originating from the same crop (raw material 1, 2 and 3).

[0180] Table 7 - Proportion of protein indigestible by pepsin in animal feeds from different protein sources.

[0181]

[0182] CGF stands for corn gluten feed and BSG stands for brewers spent grains.

[0183] Exemplary list of amino acid contents in animal feed and in protein sources. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino acids are classified according to their corresponding side chains (according to "Biochemie, Müller-Esterl", https: / / doi.org / 10.1007 / 978-3-662-54851-6").

[0184]

[0185] Table 8 - Relative amounts of amino acids

[0186]

[0187] DDGS stands for Dry Distillers Grains with Solubles.

[0188] The content of glutamic acid, proline and lysine depends on the actual amino acid composition after removal of the corresponding prolamins. Therefore, removal of the prolamin fraction from CGM yields the following table:

[0189] Table 9 - Amino acid content in different products of the processing method of the present invention

[0190]

[0191]

[0192] In the case where the alcohol-soluble protein biomass, i.e. the alcohol-soluble protein source, is changed to, for example, spent brewing grains, the corresponding alcohol-soluble proteins (hordein) have different amino acid compositions. The same conclusion applies, for example, to wheat alcohol-soluble proteins (gliadins). Therefore, based on the raw material used, i.e. the alcohol-soluble protein source, the amino acid composition changes. In addition, based on the alcohol-soluble proteins contained in the biomass, for example, the percentage of glutamate removal will be different. In general, alcohol-soluble proteins are defined as being rich in glutamate and proline. Therefore, when alcohol-soluble proteins are removed from the first solid residue, i.e. the first solid phase, and dissolved in the second liquid phase, it is observed that the concentrations of glutamate and proline in the second solid phase, i.e. the animal feed, are lower.

[0193] Furthermore, prolamins are poor in lysine, and therefore, when the lysine-poor fraction of proteins, i.e., prolamins, is removed from the first solid phase, a higher lysine content is observed in the second solid phase. The lysine-poor fraction (prolamins, which by definition dissolve in aqueous ethanol, i.e., the second liquid phase) is removed, and therefore, the lysine-rich fraction remains in the second solid phase, i.e., the animal feed.

[0194] Especially in animal feed, lysine is the most important essential amino acid.

[0195] The conclusions regarding mycotoxin removal are rather general, since the concentration of mycotoxins in animal feed is independent of the source of prolamin-containing proteins. The concentration of mycotoxins depends on the initial concentration of mycotoxins. The lower the concentration, the lower the removal. As shown in the first row of the table below, after some analyses of the corresponding animal feed and CGM produced after the production process, at least two mycotoxins were reduced each time. The reduction of mycotoxins is shown in the table below.

[0196]

[0197] The removal of mycotoxins is independent of the raw materials used. However, the level of mycotoxins can vary depending on the raw materials used.

[0198] Table 10 - Composition of the whole process

[0199]

[0200]

Claims

1. A process for producing animal feed from a protein source containing prolamins, comprising the following steps: The protein source containing prolamin is first washed with a first solvent, Carrying out at least a second washing with a second solvent to obtain a solid phase as animal feed and at least two liquid phases, wherein The at least two liquid phases together comprise: at least 22% of initial glutamate; at least 22% of initial proline; Up to 60% of the initial lysine; and At least 20% of the initial mycotoxins.

2. The processing method according to claim 1, wherein: The at least two liquid phases together comprise: 22% to 70% of initial glutamate; 22% to 75% of initial proline; 10% to 60% of the initial lysine; and If the initial concentration of the mycotoxin is at least above 200 μg / kg, then 20% to 90% of the initial mycotoxin.

3. The processing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The at least two liquid phases together comprise: at least 90 mg / g, preferably at least 140 mg / g, glutamic acid; At least 30 mg / g of proline, and At least 20% of the initial amount of mycotoxins, but Up to 16 mg / g, preferably up to 8 mg / g lysine.

4. A process for producing animal feed from a protein source containing prolamins, comprising the steps of: washing the protein source containing prolamin with a first organic solvent to obtain a first solid phase and a first liquid phase, removing prolamins by washing the first solid phase with a second organic solvent to obtain a second solid phase and at least one second liquid phase; The second solid phase is obtained as the animal feed, wherein the animal feed comprises: The glutamate concentration is reduced by at least 22% compared to said protein source containing prolamins, The proline concentration is reduced by at least 22% compared to said protein source containing prolamins, A mycotoxin concentration is reduced by at least 20% compared to said protein source containing prolamins, and Compared to said protein source containing prolamins, the lysine concentration is increased by at least 40%.

5. The processing method according to claim 4, wherein: The at least two liquid phases together comprise: At least 150 mg / g glutamate; At least 65 mg / g proline, and At least 30% of the initial amount of mycotoxins, but Up to 7 mg / g lysine.

6. A process for producing animal feed from a protein source containing prolamins, comprising the steps of: washing the protein source containing prolamin with a first organic solvent to obtain a first solid phase and a first liquid phase, The first solid phase is washed with a second organic solvent to remove prolamin to obtain a second solid phase and a second liquid phase, until the second solid phase is obtained as the animal feed, wherein the animal feed comprises: a glutamate content that is less than the total amount of glutamate in the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase; a proline content that is lower than the total amount of proline in the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase; a lysine content that is greater than the total amount of lysine in the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase; and An amount of mycotoxins which is less than the total amount of mycotoxins in said protein source containing prolamins.

7. The processing method according to claim 6, wherein: The animal feed comprises: A concentration of glutamate of up to 120 mg / g, A concentration of up to 40 mg / g of proline, a lysine concentration of at least 7 mg / g, and Mycotoxin concentrations up to 400 μg / kg.

8. The processing method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein: The animal feed comprises: Glutamate at a concentration of up to 90 mg / g; and / or Lysine at a concentration of at least 16 mg / g.

9. The processing method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The protein source containing prolamins is corn gluten meal (CGM) and / or brewers spent grains (BSG) and / or wheat starch by-product.

10. A process for producing animal feed from a protein source containing prolamins, comprising the steps of: washing the protein source containing prolamin with a first organic solvent to obtain a first solid phase and a first liquid phase, The first solid phase is washed with a second organic solvent to remove prolamin to obtain a second solid phase and a second liquid phase, until the second solid phase is obtained as the animal feed, wherein the liquid phases together include: At least 120mg / g glutamate, At least 40mg / g proline, Up to 7 mg / g lysine, and At least 400 μg / kg mycotoxins.

11. The processing method according to claim 10, wherein: The step of washing the protein source containing prolamin with the first organic solvent is performed until the content of the mycotoxin in the first solid phase is less than 600 μg / kg, In particular, the animal feed comprises at most 15000 μg / kg of dry matter of mycotoxins, including 12000 μg / kg of dry matter of deoxynivalenol and 3000 μg / kg of dry matter of zearalenone.

12. The processing method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein: The step of removing prolamins by washing the first solid phase with the second organic solvent comprises at least two or more consecutive washes, Until the content of prolamin is less than 60% of the initial prolamin content, In particular until the animal feed comprises: 450mg / g protein dry matter, including 120mg / g glutamate, 40mg / g proline, and At least 10 mg / g lysine.

13. The processing method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein: The first organic solvent comprises at least 90 wt % ethanol, preferably at least 95 wt % ethanol, and / or The first washing is performed for at least half an hour at a temperature of at least 20°C, preferably the first washing is performed at a temperature of 40°C for two hours.

14. The processing method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein: The second organic solvent comprises at least 60 wt % ethanol, preferably at least 70 wt % ethanol, and / or The second washing is carried out for at least half an hour at a temperature of at least 50°C, and preferably the first washing is carried out at a temperature of 60°C for one hour.

15. The processing method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: One of washing the protein source containing prolamins with the first organic solvent, washing the first solid phase with the second organic solvent, or a combination thereof is performed to reduce the mycotoxin content in the animal feed by at least 20% compared to an initial amount of mycotoxin.

16. The processing method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The second organic solvent is a water / ethanol solution comprising at least 60 wt. % ethanol, and Removing prolamins by washing the first solid phase is performed until the animal feed comprises, At least one, preferably all of the following conditions: At least 450 mg / g protein dry matter, including Up to 130 mg / g glutamate, Up to 40 mg / g proline, At least 7mg / g lysine, In particular, the removal of prolamins by washing the first solid phase is carried out at a temperature of at least 50° C. for at least half an hour.

17. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising drying the animal feed at a temperature between 30°C and 80°C, preferably the drying comprising a vacuum drying step.

18. The processing method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The removal of prolamin by washing the first solid phase with the second organic solvent is performed by maintaining the dielectric constant εr between 30 and 42.

19. An animal feed derived from a protein source containing prolamins, the animal feed comprising: At least 450 mg / g protein dry matter, including Up to 130 mg / g glutamate, Up to 40 mg / g proline, At least 7 mg / g lysine; and Up to 15000 μg / kg of mycotoxin dry matter.

20. The animal feed of claim 19, comprising: 500mg / g protein dry matter, including 120mg / g glutamate, 37mg / g proline, and At least 10 mg / g lysine, preferably 15 mg / g lysine dry matter, preferably at most 10000 μg / kg mycotoxin dry matter.

21. The animal feed according to claim 19 or 20, comprising: Up to 160 mg / g glutamate; Up to 60 mg / g proline; and At least 5mg / g lysine.

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