Seaweed feed product and method for processing seaweeds

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a seaweed feed product comprising a halogenated compound reduced seaweed material, a binder, and one or more bound halogenated compounds wherein the one or more bound halogenated compounds are bound to at least a portion of the binder. Also disclosed herein are methods of feeding ruminants, feed products, methods of administering halogenated compounds to ruminants, methods of processing seaweed, and boluses and licks for consumption by ruminants.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 411,342 (Agent Docket No. CBH0004MA), filed on September 29, 2022, and entitled “SEAWEED FEED PRODUCTS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING SEAWEED,” and further claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 486,615 (Agent Docket No. CBH0004MA1), filed on February 23, 2023, and entitled “SEAWEED FEED PRODUCTS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING SEAWEED,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Art Technical Field

[0003] The present specification relates generally to feed products and, more particularly, to animal feed products suitable for ruminants. Technical Background

[0005] With as many as 1.5 billion livestock worldwide, cattle, sheep and other ruminant production systems produce 20% of global greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions, primarily through methane emissions. This methane emission is a byproduct of the fermentation of organic matter in the rumen of the stomach, a unique digestive system of ruminants. Therefore, there is an urgent need for methods and products that can reduce methane emissions from ruminants. Summary of the invention

[0006] According to one embodiment, the seaweed feed product may include a seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds, a binding agent, and one or more bound halogenated compounds. The one or more bound halogenated compounds may be bound to at least a portion of the binding agent.

[0007] According to another embodiment, a ruminant can be fed by a method comprising administering to the ruminant an amount of a seaweed feed product effective to reduce methane emissions from the ruminant. The seaweed feed product can include a seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds, a binding agent, and one or more bound halogenated compounds. The one or more bound halogenated compounds can be bound to at least a portion of the binding agent.

[0008] According to another embodiment, the feed product may consist essentially of a binding agent and one or more bound halogenated compounds. The one or more bound halogenated compounds may be bound to at least a portion of the binding agent.

[0009] According to another embodiment, a ruminant can be fed by a method comprising administering to the ruminant an amount of a feed product effective to reduce methane emissions from the ruminant. The feed product can consist essentially of a binding agent and one or more bound halogenated compounds. The one or more bound halogenated compounds can be bound to at least a portion of the binding agent.

[0010] According to another embodiment, seaweed can be processed by a method comprising contacting the seaweed harvested with an aqueous solution comprising a binding agent. The seaweed harvested can contain one or more halogenated compounds. A portion of the one or more halogenated compounds in the seaweed harvested can be discharged from the seaweed harvested to form a seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds. At least a portion of the one or more discharged halogenated compounds can be combined with a binding agent to form a combined halogenated compound material. The method can also include separating one or both of the combined halogenated compound material and the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds from the aqueous solution.

[0011] According to another embodiment, the seaweed feed product may include a seaweed material containing reduced halogenated compounds of red algae, a binding agent containing one or more cyclodextrins, and one or more bound halogenated compounds. The one or more bound halogenated compounds may be bound to at least a portion of the binding agent. The one or more halogenated compounds may include bromoform.

[0012] According to another embodiment, ruminants can be fed by a method comprising administering to the ruminants an amount of a seaweed feed product to effectively reduce methane emissions from the ruminants. The seaweed feed product may comprise a seaweed material containing reduced halogenated compounds of red algae, a binder comprising one or more cyclodextrins, and one or more bound halogenated compounds. The one or more bound halogenated compounds may be bound to at least a portion of the binder. The one or more halogenated compounds may comprise bromoform. Other features and advantages of the seaweed feed products and related methods described herein will be set forth in the detailed description below, and some features and advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description, or recognized by practicing the embodiments described herein, including the following detailed description, claims, and accompanying drawings.

[0013] It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description describe various embodiments and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed subject matter. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the various embodiments and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The embodiment and processing and use method of seaweed feed product as described herein will be described in detail now.According to one or more embodiments, seaweed feed product can comprise seaweed material, binding agent and one or more halogenated compounds of combination with halogenated compound reduction.As described in detail herein, it has been found that after the seaweed that comprises halogenated compound such as bromoform in the harvest, it is easy to lose a part of this halogenated compound in each stage of processing, storage, transportation and / or other treatment before reaching final consumer and being consumed by animal subsequently.This loss of halogenated compound is undesirable, because bromoform and other halogenated compounds in general have been determined as the material that can reduce ruminant methane emission.In one or more embodiments as described herein, these halogenated compounds present in the seaweed before the harvest are combined with at least a portion of the binding agent present in the seaweed feed product.Therefore, halogenated compounds can be stored in the seaweed feed product, and can not be lost in the environment.

[0015] As described herein, certain embodiments relate to seaweed feed products. The seaweed feed products described herein refer to any material that an animal (e.g., a ruminant) eats (e.g., consumes and / or digests), including seaweed or processed materials derived from seaweed. According to different embodiments, the seaweed feed products described herein can be consumed by the animal alone (i.e., mainly consuming the feed without consuming other feed materials), or can be consumed with other feeds (i.e., mixed with other feed materials or consumed "side by side" with other feeds). In certain embodiments, the seaweed feed products described herein can account for only a relatively small amount in the overall diet of the animal, and can be regarded as a supplement to another bulk feed. For example, the feed described herein can be consumed by the animal together with other feeds, such as forage (including, for example, grass or leguminous crops (e.g., alfalfa) forage), silage, corn, soybeans, other seeds, oils, dietary supplements, etc. For example, in certain embodiments, the seaweed feed products described herein can be mixed with other feeds, such as corn and / or soybeans. In other embodiments, the animal can be grazed, or otherwise provided with any of a variety of forages, and fed a certain amount of the seaweed feed products described herein alone. It is contemplated that the seaweed feeds described herein may be part of a feeding regimen that may vary depending on the species and type of ruminant, such as dairy cows, feedlot beef cattle, "high-end" cattle (such as wagyu or other high-end cattle types), free-range cattle, etc., and may also vary depending on the feeding method (such as feedlots or grazing systems or a combination of both). Each type of ruminant may have a specialized diet that includes the seaweed feed product and other additives.

[0016] According to different embodiments, the seaweed feed products described herein can be consumed and / or digested by ruminants. As described herein and understood by those skilled in the art, "ruminants" can refer to herbivorous, ungulate mammals (Ruminantia and Tylopoda) with complex three-chambered stomachs or four-chambered stomachs. Ruminants include, but are not limited to, cattle, sheep, deer, goats, giraffes, camels and llamas. Ruminants described herein can be domesticated, such as ruminants for direct human food consumption, dairy purposes and / or entertainment. In certain embodiments, ruminants can be dairy cows, beef cattle, "high-end" cattle such as Wagyu, free-range cattle or other, or can vary according to feeding methods (e.g., feedlots or grazing systems or combinations thereof).

[0017] Generally, in the embodiments described herein, the seaweed feed product includes seaweed material having reduced levels of halogenated compounds (halogenated compounds are naturally present in seaweed and stored in specialized glandular cells), sometimes referred to herein as reduced halogenated compound seaweed material. Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the reduction in the level of halogenated compounds relative to freshly harvested seaweed may be due to the release of these halogenated compounds from the seaweed glandular cells into the environment during processing, transportation and / or storage, these halogenated compounds are sometimes classified as volatile organic compounds ("VOCs"), and thus the halogenated compounds in the seaweed are reduced.

[0018] As described herein, in certain embodiments, some or all of the halogenated compounds emitted from the harvested seaweed are volatile organic compounds, meaning that they have a vapor pressure greater than 10 Pa at 20° C. or higher. Volatile organic compounds may escape more easily from the seaweed gland cells, especially after harvesting, when the glands may be ruptured or otherwise damaged or degraded. Some or all of the halogenated compounds disclosed herein may have such volatility and are considered volatile organic compounds when meeting this standard. In one or more embodiments, when describing a bound halogenated compound, the vapor pressure of the bound halogenated compound corresponds to the vapor pressure of the bound halogenated compound in the unbound state (i.e., the vapor pressure of the halogenated compound alone).

[0019] According to the presently disclosed embodiments, at least a portion of the halogenated compounds lost from the halogenated compound-reduced seaweed material is present in a "bound halogenated compound material" that includes one or more "bound halogenated compounds" bound to a "binding agent," such as one or more cyclic oligosaccharides. The use of binding agents at various stages of seaweed processing can retain at least a portion of the halogenated compounds that would otherwise be lost to the environment.

[0020] As used herein, "halogenated compound" refers to any compound that includes a halogen (i.e., fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine). As used herein, these halogenated compounds are typically found in the glands of certain seaweeds. In this disclosure, descriptions of "halogenated compounds" or "halogenated compounds" may refer to one or more halogenated compounds that are present in seaweed (e.g., specialized seaweed glands) prior to harvest. In certain embodiments, the halogenated compound is organic, which generally means that the halogen is bound to a carbon molecular backbone, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. As used herein, "bound halogenated compound" refers to a halogenated compound that is bound to a binding agent.

[0021] A non-exhaustive list of organic halogenated compounds contemplated includes bromoform; dibromo(iodo)methane; bromo(diiodo)methane; iodoform; dibromo(chloro)methane; bromochloroiodomethane; dibromomethane; bromo(iodo)methane; diiodomethane; tetrabromomethane; acetyl iodide; 2-iodoethanol; 1-bromo-2-iodoethane; 2,2-dibromoacetaldehyde; 1-bromopropan-2-one; 1-iodopropan-2-one; 1,1-dibromopropan-2-one; 1-bromobutan-2-one; 1-bromo-3-iodopropan-2-one; 1,1,1-tribromopropan-2-one; 1,1-dibromo-1-chloropropan-2-one; 1,3-dibromobutan-2-one; 1,1-dibromopropan-2-one Bromo-3-iodoprop-2-one; 1,1,3,3-tetrabromoprop-2-one; 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexachloroprop-2-one; 1,1,3-tribromoprop-2-ol; 1,1,3,3-tetrabromoprop-1-ene; 1,1,3-tribromo-3-chloroprop-1-ene; 1,1-dibromo-3,3-dichloroprop-1-ene; 1,3,3-tribromo-1-iodoprop-1-ene; 3,3-dibromoprop-2-enal; 4,4-dibromobut-3-en-2-one; 1,4,4-tribromobut-3-en-2-one; 1-iodo-4,4-dibromobut-3-en-2-one; 1,1,4, 4-Tetrabromobut-3-en-2-one; 1,4,4-tribromo-1-chlorobut-3-en-2-one; 1,1,4-tribromo-4-chlorobut-3-en-2-one; 1,1-dibromo-4,4-dichlorobut-3-en-2-one; 1,4-dibromo-1,4-dichlorobut-3-en-2-one; 2-chloroacetic acid; 2-bromoacetic acid; 2-iodoacetic acid; 2,2-dichloroacetic acid; 2-bromo-2-chloroacetic acid; 2-iodo-2-chloroacetic acid; 2,2-dibromoacetic acid; 2-iodo-2-bromoacetic acid; 2,2-diiodoacetic acid; 3-chloroprop-2-enoic acid; 2-chloroprop-2-enoic acid; 3-bromoprop-2 -enoic acid; 3-iodoprop-2-enoic acid; 3-iodoprop-2-enoic acid; 3,3-dichloroprop-2-enoic acid; 2,3-dichloroprop-2-enoic acid; 3,3-dibromoprop-2-enoic acid; 2,3-dibromoprop-2-enoic acid; 3-iodo-3-dibromoprop-2-enoic acid; 2-iodo-3-bromoprop-2-enoic acid; 2-bromo-3-iodoprop-2-enoic acid; 3,3-diiodoprop-2-enoic acid; 2,3-diiodoprop-2-enoic acid; 2,3,3-tribromoprop-2-enoic acid; 2,3-dibromo-3-iodoprop-2-enoic acid; 2-iodo-3,3-dibromoprop-2-enoic acid; dibromochloromethane and bromochloromethane. At least bromoform, dibromochloromethane and bromochloromethane are known to be major components of certain seaweed species, such as Asparagopsis taxiformis and Asparagopsis armata.

[0022] In one embodiment, the halogenated compound includes bromine.Under unrestricted circumstances, it is particularly noteworthy in the embodiments of the present invention that bromoform has been shown to reduce the methane emissions of ruminants when provided in sufficient dosages.However, without being bound by any theory, it is believed that in addition to bromoform, other halogenated compounds may also affect the reduction of methane emissions of ruminants, so capturing these other compounds may also be beneficial.In other embodiments, the halogenated compound may include iodine, and as described herein, iodine may have an impact on the palatability of animal feed.These iodine compounds (such as iodized salts) may have an adverse effect on palatability, and in certain embodiments, these compounds may not be combined with a binding agent, and may wish to escape into the environment.

[0023] As described herein, seaweed feed products can include seaweed materials with reduced halogenated compounds and combined halogenated compound materials. According to one or more embodiments, the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds is composed of materials derived from and present in unharvested seaweed. Typically, the seaweed material described herein is a material obtained after certain processing of harvested seaweed. Harvesting as used herein generally refers to, for example, collecting seaweed crops by cutting or other mechanical means, and removing seaweed from its growing habitat. In one or more embodiments, the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds described herein comprises harvested seaweed, which is similar or identical to unharvested seaweed except the loss of various compounds (such as, but not limited to, halogenated compounds).

[0024] The seaweed material present in the seaweed feed products described herein is "reduced in halogenated compounds," meaning that the seaweed material present in the seaweed feed product contains fewer halogenated compounds than the unharvested precursor seaweed. It should be understood that the seaweed with reduced halogenated compounds may still include some halogenated compounds. For example, halogenated compounds such as bromoform may be present in the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds, meaning that not all of the halogenated compounds originally present in the unharvested seaweed have escaped from the specialized glandular cells or other structures of the seaweed where they were present at the time of harvest.

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the reduced halogenated compound seaweed material in the seaweed feed product can also be physically altered, such as mechanically cut, chopped, pulverized, ground, etc., compared to unharvested precursor seaweed. In certain embodiments, the reduced halogenated compound seaweed material can be freeze dried, wherein an amount of water can be substantially removed from the reduced halogenated compound seaweed material compared to unharvested precursor seaweed.

[0026] In one or more embodiments, the reduced halogenated compound seaweed material in the seaweed feed product can also be processed to reduce the content of water-soluble salts, particularly halide salts, which may otherwise adversely affect the suitability of the reduced halogenated compound seaweed as a material component of the seaweed feed product. For example, reducing these materials can improve palatability to ruminants. In certain embodiments, the seaweed feed material can improve palatability to cattle, sheep, or other ruminants compared to freshly harvested seaweed.

[0027] As described herein, the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds may contain materials present in unharvested seaweed, or materials that have been minimally processed compared to freshly harvested seaweed. As described herein, "seaweed" can refer to any aquatic plant, especially multicellular seaweed. The seaweed varieties considered herein can include, but are not limited to, large seaweeds of the Rhodophyta (red), Phaeophyta (brown), and Chlorophyta (green). These algae can be grown in fresh or sea water, or otherwise harvested from fresh or sea water, can be grown in naturally occurring marine environments, or can be grown in artificial environments such as tanks, ponds, etc.

[0028] In particular, some seaweeds, including red algae, are known to contain halogenated compounds, especially bromoform. These seaweed species include, but are not limited to, species of the genus Asparagopsis, such as Asparagopsis taxiformis or Asparagopsis armata. However, it is contemplated that other species of seaweeds may be found that include halogenated compounds, or that genetic variants of seaweeds that include halogenated compounds may be developed, all of which are contemplated to be applicable to the presently disclosed embodiments.

[0029] The precursor marine algae used in the marine algae material that halogenated compounds as herein described reduce comprises a certain amount of halogenated compounds when not harvested.For example, the marine algae that does not harvest that derives the marine algae material that halogenated compounds reduce can comprise the halogenated compounds of every gram of marine algae 0.1mg to 6mg that does not harvest, for example the bromoform of every gram of marine algae 0.1mg to 6mg that does not harvest.This measurement can be carried out immediately after harvesting.As mentioned above, some halogenated compounds that exist in the marine alga that does not harvest may lose from marine alga in the harvest and processing and storage and transportation process, and sometimes cause due to the volatilization of halogenated compounds, and this is undesirable in certain embodiments, because halogenated compounds can reduce the generation of methane in ruminant body.

[0030] As described herein, the seaweed feed product can include a binding agent and one or more bound halogenated compounds bound to part or all of the binding agent. Materials including halogenated compounds bound to a binding agent are sometimes also referred to herein as bound halogenated compound materials, wherein one or more halogenated compounds are bound to the binding agent.

[0031] In one or more embodiments, the binder can be any material (including mixtures of compounds) that can bind to the desired halogenated compound. As described herein, a halogenated compound "bound" to a binder refers to a halogenated compound that is chemically linked to the binder. Various chemical bonds are considered, such as chemical bonding (such as a complex formed by two or more compounds), hydrogen bonding, covalent bonding, ionic bonding, van der Waals bonding, or polar covalent bonding. Generally, the binding effects of these materials such as cyclic oligosaccharides will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, cyclodextrins can form complexes with one or more halogenated compounds considered herein, or be otherwise combined with them. In a non-limiting embodiment, one or more cyclodextrins are combined with bromoform to form a chemical complex or combination to form a solid precipitate.

[0032] As described herein, the binding agent included in the seaweed feed product described herein may or may not be bound to one or more halogenated compounds. For example, a portion of the binding agent may be bound to one or more halogenated compounds, while a portion may not be bound to one or more halogenated compounds. For example, an excess of the binding agent may be present compared to the stoichiometric binding equivalent of the halogenated compound, such that all of the halogenated compound is bound.

[0033] According to one or more embodiments, the seaweed feed product may include at least 0.01% by weight of a binding agent (including both bound and unbound binding agents). In other embodiments, the seaweed feed product may include at least 0.02%, at least 0.03%, at least 0.04%, at least 0.05%, at least 0.1%, at least 0.2%, at least 0.3%, at least 0.4%, at least 0.5%, at least 0.6%, at least 0.7%, at least 0.8%, at least 0.9%, or even at least 1% by weight of a binding agent. As described herein, the amount of binding agent does not include halogenated compounds that may be bound to the binding agent. For example, a mixture of about 1% by weight cyclodextrin (1 g / 100 g seaweed) may bind to about 200 mg of bromoform, or about 0.2% bromoform in unharvested seaweed.

[0034] According to different embodiments, the binding agent can be a naturally occurring or synthetic material, or a combination of materials with limited or no pharmaceutical activity. For example, the binding agent can include materials recognized by those skilled in the art as harmless to animals after consumption, and can be a naturally occurring material or a synthetic material. In certain embodiments, the seaweed feed products described herein do not contain any active pharmaceutical ingredients or biologically active materials other than those that may be present in unharvested seaweed. For example, but not limited to, some cyclic oligosaccharides, such as cyclodextrins, are considered to be substantially harmless or completely harmless to ruminants and other animals when consumed.

[0035] According to one or more embodiments, as described herein, the binder can be an organic binder or an inorganic binder. As understood by those skilled in the art, an organic binder generally includes a carbon skeleton structure, while an inorganic binder does not include a carbon skeleton structure.

[0036] In certain embodiments, the organic binding agent may include one or more cyclic oligosaccharides. As used herein, the term "cyclic oligosaccharide" refers to a cyclic structure comprising six or more sugar units. Some exemplary embodiments used herein are cyclic oligosaccharides with six, seven or eight sugar units and mixtures thereof. Six-membered, seven-membered and eight-membered cyclic oligosaccharides are usually abbreviated as α, β and γ, respectively, in the art.

[0037] The cyclic oligosaccharide used for the composition of the embodiment of the present invention can include any suitable sugar or mixture of sugar.The example of suitable sugar includes but is not limited to glucose, fructose, mannose, galactose, maltose and mixture thereof.In one or more embodiments, the cyclic oligosaccharide used herein is cyclodextrin, such as α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin or their mixture.As described herein, α-cyclodextrin includes cyclodextrin with 6 glucose subunits (substituted or unsubstituted), β-cyclodextrin includes cyclodextrin with 7 glucose subunits (substituted or unsubstituted), and γ-cyclodextrin includes cyclodextrin with 8 glucose subunits (substituted or unsubstituted).

[0038] In one or more embodiments, the cyclic oligosaccharide used herein is all alpha-cyclodextrin, all beta-cyclodextrin or all gamma-cyclodextrin. According to other embodiments, the cyclodextrin included in the composition described herein can be a mixture of any two or three of alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin or gamma-cyclodextrin. For example, cyclodextrin can contain or be composed of a mixture of alpha-cyclodextrin and beta-cyclodextrin, a mixture of alpha-cyclodextrin and gamma-cyclodextrin, a mixture of beta-cyclodextrin and gamma-cyclodextrin, or a mixture of alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin and gamma-cyclodextrin. Not bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the combined use of multiple types of cyclodextrin (α, β or γ) can combine the multiple compounds present in seaweed. For example, one type of cyclodextrin can be combined with bromoform to a large extent, while another type of cyclodextrin can be combined with another compound from seaweed. The diversity of this binding agent can allow the capture of multiple components, which in certain embodiments, when consumed by ruminants, can lead to a reduction in final methane production.

[0039] In certain embodiments, the cyclodextrin may include 0 to 10 mol%, 10 mol% to 20 mol%, 20 mol% to 30 mol%, 30 mol% to 40 mol%, 40 mol% to 50 mol%, 50 mol% to 60 mol%, 60 mol% to 70 mol%, 70 mol% to 80 mol%, 80 mol% to 90 mol%, 90 mol% to 100 mol%, or any combination of these ranges of alpha-cyclodextrin. In certain embodiments, the cyclodextrin may include 0 to 10 mol%, 10 mol% to 20 mol%, 20 mol% to 30 mol%, 30 mol% to 40 mol%, 40 mol% to 50 mol%, 50 mol% to 60 mol%, 60 mol% to 70 mol%, 70 mol% to 80 mol%, 80 mol% to 90 mol%, 90 mol% to 100 mol%, or any combination of these ranges of beta-cyclodextrin. In certain embodiments, the cyclodextrin can include 0 to 10 mol%, 10 to 20 mol%, 20 to 30 mol%, 30 to 40 mol%, 40 to 50 mol%, 50 to 60 mol%, 60 to 70 mol%, 70 to 80 mol%, 80 to 90 mol%, 90 to 100 mol%, or any combination of these ranges of gamma-cyclodextrin.

[0040] The cyclic oligosaccharide or the mixture of cyclic oligosaccharides used in the embodiments described herein can be substituted by any suitable substituent or a mixture of substituents. The term "mixture of substituents" used herein refers to that two or more different suitable substituents can be substituted on the cyclic oligosaccharide. The derivatives of cyclodextrin can be mainly composed of molecules in which some hydroxyls are substituted. Suitable substituents include but are not limited to alkyl; hydroxyalkyl; dihydroxyalkyl; (hydroxyalkyl) alkylene bridging groups, such as cyclodextrin glycerol ether; aryl; maltosyl; allyl; benzyl; alkanoyl; cationic cyclodextrin, such as cyclodextrin containing 2-hydroxy-3-(dimethylamino) propyl ether; quaternary ammonium group; anionic cyclodextrin, such as carboxyalkyl, sulfobutyl ether group, sulfate group and succinate; amphoteric cyclodextrin; and mixtures thereof.

[0041] Substituents can be saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched. Some substituents include saturated straight chain alkyl, hydroxyalkyl and mixtures thereof. Some alkyl and hydroxyalkyl substituents are selected from C1-C8 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl or mixtures thereof. In certain embodiments, alkyl and hydroxyalkyl substituents are selected from C1-C6 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl or mixtures thereof. In other embodiments, alkyl and hydroxyalkyl substituents are selected from C1-C4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl or mixtures thereof. Embodiments of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl substituents include propyl, ethyl and methyl.

[0042] In one or more embodiments, the cyclic oligosaccharides used in the presently disclosed embodiments are unsubstituted or substituted only with saturated linear alkyl or hydroxyalkyl substituents. Thus, some examples of cyclic oligosaccharides used herein are alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin, methyl-alpha-cyclodextrin, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl-alpha-cyclodextrin, and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin. One or more of these compounds are commercially available from Wacker-Chemie GmbH Hanns-Seidel-Platz 4, Munich, Germany, under the trade names Alpha W6M and Beta W7 M, respectively.

[0043] According to other embodiments, the organic binder may include one or more amphiphilic components that combine in an aqueous system to form an aggregate structure, and in some embodiments, the aggregate structure has a lipophilic interior. Non-limiting examples of amphiphilic components include ethoxylated castor oil and ethoxylated hydrogenated castor oil. In other embodiments, the organic binder may include one or more amphiphilic multi-arm star block copolymers, such as those described by Ternat et al. (Macromol.Chem.Phys.208:131 2007). In other embodiments, the organic binder may also include one or more polymeric emulsifiers having a lipophilic portion and a hydrophilic portion. Non-limiting examples of such polymeric emulsifiers include those produced by Lubrizol Advanced Materials (Cleveland, Ohio, USA) under the trade name Pemulen TM Commercially available Acrylates / C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer.

[0044] In other embodiments, the binder may be an inorganic binder, such as, but not limited to, a molecular sieve, such as a zeolite. Zeolites may be composed of angularly-shared [SiO4] 4- or [AlO4] 5- Crystalline aluminosilicates formed by tetrahedrons have periodic one- to three-dimensional frameworks, unique pore structures, and good physical and chemical stability.

[0045] Now described are methods of processing seaweed that can be used to produce the seaweed feed products described herein. Generally, in the methods described herein, the harvested seaweed is contacted with a solution comprising a binding agent, and at least a portion of the halogenated compounds that escape from the seaweed are bound by the binding agent. Thus, in one or more embodiments, these halogenated compounds can be retained in the seaweed feed product in the form of bound halogenated compound material.

[0046] According to one or more embodiments, in the initial step, harvested seaweed may be provided. In certain embodiments, the harvested seaweed may be provided by harvesting precursor seaweed. As described herein, precursor seaweed is seaweed that undergoes any of a variety of processing steps (e.g., cutting, packaging, etc.) to form the seaweed material of the seaweed feed product described herein. As described herein, harvesting generally refers to collecting the seaweed crop, such as by cutting or other mechanical means, and removing the seaweed from its growing habitat. In other embodiments, the harvested seaweed may be provided by another party, and the following steps are equally applicable.

[0047] According to some embodiments described herein, the loss of halogenated compounds from harvested seaweed is generally undesirable because retaining the halogenated compounds in the seaweed may be advantageous if the seaweed is fed to ruminants to reduce methane emissions. It has been found that the amount of halogenated compounds excreted from the seaweed between seaweed harvest and animal consumption can be significant and may begin to be excreted shortly after harvest. Therefore, it is desirable to capture and retain such lost halogenated compounds rather than lose them to the environment.

[0048] After the marine algae of gathering in the harvest is provided, the marine algae of gathering in the harvest can be contacted with the aqueous solution comprising a binding agent.Usually, the marine algae of gathering in the harvest can be immersed in the aqueous solution, for example immersed in a storage tank.In such an embodiment, the content of the storage tank can be stirred or otherwise agitated.After the gathering in the harvest, a part of one or more halogenated compounds in the marine algae of gathering in the harvest can be discharged from the marine algae of gathering in the harvest.The discharge of one or more halogenated compounds can be realized by the volatilization of halogenated compounds, which allows halogenated compounds to escape from the marine algae of gathering in the harvest.The loss of this naturally occurring halogenated compound has formed the marine algae material that halogenated compounds as herein described reduce.

[0049] According to the embodiments disclosed herein, at least a portion of the halogenated compound discharged is combined with a binding agent to form a combined halogenated compound material (including both the binding agent and the halogenated compound). In certain embodiments, the halogenated compound discharged and the binding agent are dissolved in an aqueous solution, and once combined, they will be precipitated from the solution. Therefore, in these embodiments, the halogenated compound discharged can be retained as a solid composition, which at least partially comprises the aforementioned combined halogenated compound material. This solid composition may be suitable for animal consumption and can be relatively easily transported and compatible with the combined halogenated compound material in the solid seaweed feed product. For example, the combination of cyclodextrin and bromoform can form a solid material.

[0050] As previously mentioned, halogenated compounds may begin to volatilize after harvest and be discharged from the harvested seaweed relatively quickly. In such embodiments, it may be beneficial to quickly contact the harvested seaweed with an aqueous solution comprising a binding agent. For example, according to one or more embodiments, the contact of the harvested seaweed with the aqueous solution may initially occur within 1 hour of the seaweed harvest. In other embodiments, the contact of the harvested seaweed with the aqueous solution may initially occur within 30 minutes, within 15 minutes, within 5 minutes, within 1 minute, within 45 seconds, within 30 seconds, or even within 15 seconds after the seaweed is harvested.

[0051] According to embodiments, the contact time of the marine algae of results and the aqueous solution can include a wide time range, and there is no need to limit. Usually, when the marine alga is ready to carry out subsequent processing or / and packaging steps, the marine algae of results can contact with the aqueous solution, which will be discussed below. In other embodiments, the contact time can be the time that is enough to discharge the halogenated compound of the required amount into the aqueous solution and combined with the binding agent. This time period can depend on the initial amount of the halogenated compound present in the marine alga of results, the intermediate processing steps that can reduce the halogenated compound content in the marine alga of results before contact, and the speed that the halogenated compound is discharged from the marine alga when contacting with the aqueous solution.

[0052] Based on the above time considerations, in one or more embodiments, the time period for which the harvested seaweed is contacted with the aqueous solution can be from 5 minutes to 1 month, such as 5 minutes to 1 hour, 1 hour to 6 hours, 6 hours to 12 hours, 12 hours to 24 hours, 24 hours to 2 days, 2 days to 1 week, 1 week to 2 weeks, 2 weeks to 1 month, or any combination of these ranges.

[0053] As described herein, it is contemplated that other processing steps may be performed between harvesting and / or providing the harvested seaweed and the initial contact with the aqueous solution. For example, in certain embodiments, the harvested seaweed may be transported by ship from the harvest site prior to contacting the aqueous solution. In other embodiments, the harvested seaweed may be physically altered prior to contacting the aqueous solution, such as by cutting, chopping, etc.

[0054] In other embodiments, the harvested seaweed can be physically altered, such as cutting, chopping, etc., before contacting the aqueous solution. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that this mechanical processing can increase the speed at which halogenated compounds are discharged from the harvested seaweed into the aqueous solution. For example, it is believed that the glandular rupture that stores halogenated compounds in the seaweed can release halogenated compounds such as bromoform into the environment. In such embodiments, the discharge of halogenated compounds can be intentionally increased to form additional combined halogenated compound materials. This may be advantageous because after removing contact with the aqueous solution, the halogenated compounds remaining in the seaweed material are less, giving less halogenated compounds the opportunity to escape into the environment in downstream processing and before being consumed by animals.

[0055] As described herein, the aqueous solution contacted with the seaweed of harvest includes a bonding agent, which may include one or more compounds capable of forming a bond with a halogenated compound. The concentration of the bonding agent in the aqueous solution may vary according to several factors, such as the ratio of the aqueous solution to the seaweed of harvest during contact, and the amount of the expected halogenated compound discharged from the seaweed of harvest during contact with the aqueous solution. In the process of contacting with the aqueous solution, the amount of the halogenated compound discharged from the seaweed of harvest is expected to depend at least on the time of contact, the amount of the halogenated compound present in the seaweed of harvest during contact, and the speed at which the halogenated compound is discharged from the seaweed when contacting with the aqueous solution. For example, the amount of the bonding agent initially in the aqueous solution (when initially contacting with the seaweed) may be determined so that the molar amount of the bonding agent is close to the halogenated compound discharged (assuming that the molar bonding ratio of the halogenated compound to the bonding agent is 1:1). That is, in one or more embodiments, the bonding agent may be a non-limiting agent so that there is no obviously excessive halogenated compound that is not captured. However, based on cost considerations, the initial amount of the bonding agent in the aqueous solution may be limited so as not to waste excessive bonding agent.

[0056] In an embodiment, if precipitation occurs during the binding process, the organic binding material is dissolved in an aqueous solution before being combined with a halogenated compound. Cyclic oligosaccharides may be particularly suitable due to their relatively high solubility. The cyclic oligosaccharides used in the composition of the present embodiment are soluble in water. "Soluble" as used herein means that at least about 0.1g of solute is dissolved in 100mL of solvent at 25°C and 1 standard atmosphere (760mmHg). In certain embodiments, the cyclic oligosaccharides used herein have a solubility of at least about 1g / 100mL at 25°C and 1atm pressure. In certain embodiments, the cyclic oligosaccharides exist only at room temperature at the level of their solubility limit in a given composition.

[0057] Contacting of the seaweed to be harvested with the aqueous solution containing the binding agent can be a batch or continuous process, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0058] The methods described herein can cause the halogenated compounds present in large amounts in the harvested seaweed to be present as halogenated compounds in the combined halogenated compound material. For example, the seaweed feed product can contain at least 0.01% by weight of the combined halogenated compound material based on the gross weight of the seaweed feed product. In other embodiments, the seaweed feed product can contain at least 0.02% by weight, at least 0.03% by weight, at least 0.04% by weight, at least 0.05% by weight, at least 0.1% by weight, at least 0.2% by weight, at least 0.3% by weight, at least 0.4% by weight, at least 0.5% by weight, at least 0.6% by weight, at least 0.7% by weight, at least 0.8% by weight, at least 0.9% by weight or even at least 1% by weight of the combined halogenated compound material based on the gross weight of the seaweed feed product.

[0059] In other embodiments, the seaweed feed product may contain at least 1 wt % of the bound halogenated compound material, or even at least 2 wt %, at least 3 wt %, at least 4 wt %, at least 5 wt %, at least 10 wt %, at least 15 wt %, at least 20 wt %, at least 25 wt %, or even at least 50 wt % of the bound halogenated compound material, based on the total weight of the seaweed feed product. For example, such embodiments may employ a separation step after processing to separate some or all of the reduced halogenated compound seaweed material from the bound halogenated compound material. Such seaweed feed products may be administered to ruminants in relatively concentrated doses of bromoform or other halogenated compounds along with other feeds.

[0060] According to some embodiments, the bound halogenated compound material can be completely or almost completely separated from the seaweed material. In these embodiments, the feed product can consist of or consist essentially of (i.e., 99% by weight or more) the binding agent and the halogenated compound, with little or no seaweed material present.

[0061] After the harvested seaweed is contacted with an aqueous solution containing a binding agent, one or both of the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds and the combined halogenated compound material can be separated from the aqueous solution. This can be achieved by simple liquid / solid separation, because in some embodiments, the combined halogenated compound material is a precipitated solid. This separation can be carried out by a sieve, etc., and / or by methods such as centrifugation. This separation is likely to remove water-soluble salts, especially halide salts, dissolved in the aqueous solution from the seaweed, otherwise the halide salts may have an adverse effect on the suitability of the seaweed with reduced halogenated compounds as a component in the seaweed feed product material. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, "separating" these materials may include incomplete separation, wherein a certain amount of aqueous solution is still present on the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds and the combined halogenated compound material after separation.

[0062] After separation, the reduced halogenated compound seaweed material and the combined halogenated compound material can remain separate, combined, or recombined (as applicable), which can constitute the seaweed feed product described herein. However, in other embodiments, the reduced halogenated compound seaweed material, the combined halogenated compound material, or the combination of these materials in a mixture can also be subjected to other processing steps. For example, the reduced halogenated compound seaweed material, the combined halogenated compound material, or the combination of these materials in a mixture can be freeze-dried, otherwise dried to remove residual moisture, transported, thawed, aged, washed, packaged, etc. before the animal consumes the seaweed feed product.

[0063] According to other embodiments described herein, the seaweed feed product can include oil, such as vegetable oil, which can reduce the extra loss of halogenated compounds. For example, when exposed to the environment, the seaweed feed product may lose extra halogenated compounds (from the seaweed material reduced by the halogenated compounds). In one embodiment, oil is sprayed, atomized on at least a portion of the seaweed feed product outside. This use of oil can reduce the loss of halogenated compounds in the environment, because it is not bound by theory, and oil can be combined or otherwise limited by the movement of the halogenated compounds of the seaweed material that lacks halogenated compounds and is continuously released. Expected oil includes but is not limited to coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, palm oil, peanut oil, rapeseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, sunflower seed oil, mustard oil or other vegetable oils, including any mixture of any of the aforementioned substances.

[0064] According to other embodiments, the seaweed feed product may also include molasses or other viscous sugars. The addition of molasses can significantly reduce dust, mask odors, and increase palatability. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the addition of molasses can "encapsulate" the seaweed, which can reduce odor, improve palatability, and retain bromoform or other halogenated compounds. Molasses can be used in combination with oil. In one embodiment, 100 grams (dry weight) of seaweed material can be mixed with 10 milliliters of canola oil and 10 grams of molasses. The canola oil can be sprayed on the seaweed material first and then mixed. Then, molasses can be added, and the molasses can be heated to change the viscosity.

[0065] According to the methods described herein, in various embodiments, the majority of the seaweed feed products produced can include a combination of reduced halogenated compound seaweed material and a binding agent. For example, the seaweed feed product can include at least 50% by weight, at least 75% by weight, at least 85% by weight, at least 95% by weight, at least 99% by weight, at least 99.5% by weight, or even at least 99.9% by weight of the combination of reduced halogenated compound seaweed material and a binding agent.

[0066] According to one or more embodiments described herein, in addition to the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds and the combined halogenated compound material, the seaweed feed product may also contain other materials. For example, the seaweed feed product described herein may also contain whole, ground or steamed grains, including barley, sorghum, oats, wheat, corn and other similar grains fed to cattle; whole, ground or granulated grass / silage materials, including alfalfa, corn silage, straw, hay; whole or ground cellulosic waste streams, including cottonseed, almond shells, wheat grains, citrus peels; or combinations of these. In other embodiments, the seaweed feed product described herein may also contain flow control agents, such as silicon dioxide, tricalcium phosphate, etc., to avoid agglomeration and allow the material to flow in bulk. In other embodiments, the seaweed feed product described herein may also contain other stability enhancers, such as antioxidants (such as vitamin E), etc., to avoid any oxidative stability problems. In other embodiments, the seaweed feed product described herein may also contain added vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. In further embodiments, the seaweed feed product described herein may be added with active pharmaceutical ingredients.

[0067] In other embodiments, the seaweed feed product may contain other binding compounds (formed by non-halogenated compounds) that form a bond with the binding agent. For example, when contacted with the aqueous solution, non-halogenated compounds may also be expelled from the harvested seaweed and bind to the binding agent. If these binding materials precipitate out of the solution, they may be present in the seaweed feed product together with the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds and the bound halogenated compound material. However, in certain embodiments, depending on the choice of binding agent, the amount of these materials formed in the contacting step may be relatively small, such as a molar ratio of less than 1:1 to the bound halogenated compound material.

[0068] However, in one or more embodiments, a binding agent may be used that has some selectivity for the material that is bound and / or precipitated. For example, a seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds and as a whole seaweed feed product may include less iodine-containing compounds, such as iodized salt, than is present in the unharvested precursor seaweed. This may be beneficial in one aspect because iodine-containing compounds (such as iodized salt) in seaweed feed products may taste unpleasant and may cause ruminants to reject them as a food source. Therefore, in some embodiments, the content of iodine-containing compounds, such as iodized salt, in the seaweed feed products described herein is lower than that in harvested seaweed, particularly if the binding agent does not form a bond with or precipitate with a particular iodine-containing compound. It is believed that this is the case at least for the cyclodextrins disclosed herein.

[0069] According to one or more embodiments, the amount of iodized salt in the seaweed feed material may be less than or equal to 1000 mg / g dry seaweed. In other embodiments, the amount of iodized salt in the seaweed feed material may be less than or equal to 600 mg / g dry seaweed, which may reduce ruminant rejection of the feed. In other embodiments, the amount of iodized salt in the seaweed feed material may be less than or equal to 340 mg / g dry seaweed, which may further increase the palatability of the feed.

[0070] In addition, without being bound by theory, it is believed that bromoform may be more volatile and therefore more easily excreted from the harvested seaweed than other bromine-containing compounds. In certain embodiments, this means that relatively few non-bromoform-containing compounds are lost from the harvested seaweed (i.e., these compounds are present in large quantities in the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds). This aspect may be beneficial in seaweed feed products because, without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that non-bromoform compounds also help reduce methane emissions from ruminants.

[0071] Typically, in the embodiments disclosed herein, the halogenated compounds present in the bound halogenated compound material and the reduced halogenated compound seaweed material are the same materials originally present in the harvested seaweed. Generally speaking, in certain embodiments, the seaweed feed product differs from the harvested seaweed primarily in terms of the chemicals present by the addition of a binding agent, while retaining most of the halogen-containing compounds originally present in the unharvested seaweed, such as bromoform and other compounds. These embodiments may be superior to alternatives such as synthetic halogenated compounds or isolated halogenated compounds, which may be carcinogenic and are known to contribute to ozone depletion.

[0072] According to other embodiments, the present disclosure relates to methods for feeding ruminants. According to these methods, a certain amount of seaweed feed product can be administered to the ruminant, and the seaweed feed product can effectively reduce the methane emissions of the ruminant. As described herein, the application of the seaweed feed product can include multiple steps, such as providing the seaweed feed product to the ruminant and allowing the ruminant to eat and digest the seaweed feed product. For example, the seaweed feed product can be mixed with other feeds or provided to the ruminant alone. According to different embodiments, the seaweed feed product disclosed herein can be administered to the animal continuously (e.g., consumed daily with a normal ration) or at specific intervals (e.g., approximately once a week or month).

[0073] According to various embodiments contemplated herein, the digestive system of ruminants is now described herein, without relying on any particular theory throughout the specification. The digestive system of ruminants is different from that of non-ruminants, and the entire stomach is composed of four parts: (1) rumen, (2) reticulum, (3) omasum and (4) abomasum. This unique structure allows microbial fermentation of feed by a large number of microorganisms to be combined with the typical mammalian digestive process, thereby allowing the utilization of feed components that cannot be digested by the subsequent digestive process in non-ruminants, such as cellulose.

[0074] Ruminants may swallow much of their feed without fully chewing it. This partially chewed material is called the "cud," and the bidirectional function of the esophagus allows the cud to be regurgitated into the mouth for additional chewing and mixing with saliva to further reduce particle size. This material is then swallowed again and passes into the reticulum, where the filtering process discussed earlier allows liquids and smaller particles of appropriate density to pass into the omasum and subsequently into the abomasum. The remaining larger particles and those with a density in the ideal range of 1.1 g / cm 3 and 1.3 g / cm 3 The remaining particles, as well as a small amount of associated liquid, can slowly enter the rumen for fermentation. It is reported that the rumen retention time of 2mm fiber particles is 42 hours to 56 hours, which is four times the retention time of liquids. The retention time of larger particles gradually increases, and the retention time of 8mm particles can reach 52 hours to 67 hours. The whole process is called rumination. Through repeated chewing, the surface area is increased and new surfaces of the fiber matrix are exposed for bacteria to act on. Repeated chewing activities usually continue until most of the rumen contents are less than 1mm and can enter the omasum through the reticulum.

[0075] The solid portion of a roughage diet that remains in the rumen can usually be retained for up to 48 hours and forms a dense mat in the rumen. Rumen microorganisms (primarily bacteria) digest cellulose in plant cell walls, digest complex starches, synthesize protein from nonprotein nitrogen, and synthesize B vitamins and vitamin K. Rumen fermentation may initially result in the degradation of carbohydrates and proteins into short-term intermediates such as sugars and amino acids. The products of this initial degradation may be further metabolized into microbial mass, the gases carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and volatile fatty acids (VFA): primarily acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, and to a lesser extent branched-chain VFAs and occasionally lactic acid. The major by-products of the fermentation of carbohydrates to VFAs may be hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

[0076] Rumen lumen conditions may be anaerobic, with fluid pH typically between 6.5 and 6.8. However, the volume measured varies, with reported values ​​ranging from 50 to 55 L, 40 to 60 L, and 85 to 102 L. The reported fluid emptying rate may vary with temperature, with emptying rates ranging from 1.8 L / h to 3.2 L / h and retention times ranging from 18.7 to 13.5 hours at 26°C and 41°C, respectively.

[0077] As mentioned previously, byproducts of carbohydrate fermentation are hydrogen and carbon dioxide. If the hydrogen is not removed, further metabolism by the rumen microorganisms will be inhibited. Hydrogen removal can be provided by a group of archaea collectively known as methanogens, which belong to the phylum Euryarcheota. This group of archaea is phylogenetically distinct from eukaryotes and bacteria, but many of them are closely related to anaerobic bacteria, such as those found in the anaerobic environment of the rumen.

[0078] Removal of hydrogen can be accomplished through the process of methanogenesis. Methanogenesis in microorganisms is a form of anaerobic respiration. Methanogens do not use oxygen for respiration; in fact, oxygen may inhibit the growth of methanogens. The terminal electron acceptor in methanogenesis is not oxygen, but carbon. Carbon can occur in a small number of organic compounds, all of low molecular weight. Two described pathways involve the use of either acetic acid or inorganic carbon dioxide as the terminal electron acceptor. These pathways can be complex, but can be summarized in a simple equation:

[0079] CO2+4H2→CH4+2H2O

[0080] CH3COOH→CH4+CO2

[0081] Since most of the acetic acid (CH3COOH) produced in the rumen is absorbed systemically through the rumen wall, carbon dioxide is probably the major carbon compound used in rumen methane production.

[0082] The main methanogens in the bovine rumen utilize hydrogen and carbon dioxide, but there may be niche groups that utilize other substrates. However, as the final step in carbohydrate fermentation by methanogens, removal of hydrogen from the rumen environment allows the microorganisms involved in the fermentation to function optimally and supports complete oxidation of the substrate.

[0083] Methane production in cattle may be diet-dependent but may peak 5 to 6 hours after feeding, followed by a biphasic decline in methane production. The initial rapid decline in production may last until 12 to 15 hours after feeding, with production gradually declining over the remaining 9 to 12 hours until the next feeding.

[0084] Without being bound by any particular theory, according to one or more embodiments, administration of halogenated compounds can reduce the amount of methane produced by ruminants by inhibiting rumen methanogenesis. For example, one or more chemical pathways described herein that ultimately produce methane can be inhibited by exposure to halogenated compounds.

[0085] According to embodiments as described herein, halogenated compound can be applied to ruminant in the form of described seaweed feed product.That is to say, halogenated compound can be included in the halogenated compound material of combination, and it also comprises bonding agent, for example one or more cyclodextrins.Once applied to ruminant, halogenated compound can be separated from bonding agent, and bonding agent can be digested by ruminant or discharged in other ways.Not subject to the constraint of any particular theory, it is believed that when combined with bonding agent, halogenated compound is applied to ruminant and can play the effect of changing halogenated compound to ruminant discharge.For example, when halogenated compound is separated from bonding agent, halogenated compound can be continuously released in ruminant body, instead of allowing all halogenated compounds consumed by ruminant to be directly exposed to the formation of methane in ruminant body immediately.

[0086] In other embodiments, the combined halogenated compound material (halogenated compound combined with a binding agent) can be administered to the ruminant by using a bolus or lick. In such embodiments utilizing a bolus or lick, the combined halogenated compound material can be completely or almost completely separated from the seaweed material, then incorporated into a bolus or lick, and then administered to the ruminant. In such embodiments, the bolus or lick can contain, consist of, or consist essentially of (i.e., 99% by weight or more) a binding agent and a halogenated compound, as well as other conventional materials used in the bolus or lick, such as a binding agent and other conventional materials provided to the ruminant by the lick or bolus, wherein, except for the halogenated compound, there is little or no seaweed derived material. In certain embodiments, other additives may also be present in the bolus or lick, such as conventionally known substances present in known boluses and licks as described herein. In other embodiments, in addition to the combined halogenated compound, some additional seaweed derived materials may be present in the bolus or lick.

[0087] As used herein, a bolus refers to an oral supplement commonly used for ruminants, such as cattle, sheep, and goats. A bolus may be a relatively large, capsule-shaped tablet designed to slowly release its contents over a period of time. Boluses may be used for a variety of purposes, such as delivering minerals, vitamins, or medications to animals, or to treat specific conditions such as parasitic infections. A typical ruminant bolus may consist of an outer layer of a hard, slowly dissolving material surrounding a core of an active ingredient. A bolus may be designed to remain in the animal's rumen (the first chamber of its four-chambered stomach) for weeks or months, slowly releasing the contents as the outer layer dissolves. The slow release of the bolus ensures that the animal receives a relatively steady dose of the active ingredient (e.g., bromoform) over a longer period of time.

[0088] As described herein, licks refer to mixtures of materials such as salt, minerals and sometimes other ingredients (e.g., bromoform), which are made into concentrated blocks or spread on a flat surface. Ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goats can use these licks to supplement the essential minerals that may not be available in normal feed. For example, licks commonly used by ruminants can be made from a mixture of minerals such as salt, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus, and sometimes molasses or other ingredients can be used to make it more palatable. Licks considered herein can also include halogenated compounds, such as combined bromoform. Then, the licks can be made into blocks or spread on a plane such as a metal plate or a plastic plate for animal consumption.

[0089] Without being bound by theory, it is believed that incorporating cyclodextrin into the bolus may help control the release of the halogenated material. In addition, adding cyclodextrin to the lick also helps to improve the stability of the halogenated material, such as bromoform.

[0090] Without limitation, contemplated embodiments of boluses include those that may have an expiration date of about 30 days and deliver about 300 mg of bromoform per day. Such boluses may utilize about 9 grams of bromoform, wherein the total weight of the bolus may be about 100 grams.

[0091] Ranges herein may be expressed as from "about" one particular value, and / or to "about" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from a particular value and / or to another particular value. Similarly, when a value is expressed as an approximation by using the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It will also be understood that the endpoints of each range are both related to and independent of the other endpoint.

[0092] Unless expressly stated otherwise, it is not intended that any method described herein require that its steps be performed in a particular order, or that any apparatus be used in a particular orientation. Thus, in the absence of an actual recitation of the order in which the steps of a method claim are to be followed, or an actual recitation of the order or orientation of individual components in any apparatus claim, or in the absence of other specific statements in the claim or specification that the steps are limited to a particular order, or in the absence of a specific order or orientation of apparatus components, no order or orientation is intended to be inferred. This applies to any possible non-explicit basis for interpretation, including: logical issues regarding the arrangement of steps, operational flow, order of components, or orientation of components; plain meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation; the number or type of embodiments described in the specification.

[0093] As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a" component includes aspects having two or more such components unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0094] The present disclosure includes a number of aspects, referred to as Aspect 1 to Aspect 70, as described below.

[0095] Aspect 1. A seaweed feed product comprising: a seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds; a binding agent; and one or more bound halogenated compounds, wherein the one or more bound halogenated compounds are bound to at least a portion of the binding agent.

[0096] Aspect 2. The seaweed feed product according to aspect 1, wherein the seaweed feed product comprises at least 0.01 wt% of a binding agent.

[0097] Aspect 3. The seaweed feed product according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the bound halogenated compound bound to the binding agent forms a solid bound halogenated compound material.

[0098] Aspect 4. The seaweed feed product according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the binding agent comprises one or more cyclic oligosaccharides.

[0099] Aspect 5. The seaweed feed product according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the binding agent comprises one or more cyclodextrins.

[0100] Aspect 6. The seaweed feed product according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the binding agent comprises α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin or a mixture thereof.

[0101] Aspect 7. The seaweed feed product according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the binding agent comprises α-cyclodextrin.

[0102] Aspect 8. The seaweed feed product according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the binding agent comprises β-cyclodextrin.

[0103] Aspect 9. The seaweed feed product according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the binding agent comprises one or more zeolites.

[0104] Aspect 10. The seaweed feed product according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the one or more bound halogenated compounds comprises bromoform.

[0105] Aspect 11. The seaweed feed product according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the vapor pressure of the one or more bound halogenated compounds in an unbound state at 20°C or higher is greater than or equal to 10 Pa.

[0106] Aspect 12. The seaweed feed product according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds comprises one or more halogenated compounds.

[0107] Aspect 13. The seaweed feed product according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the seaweed material comprises red algae.

[0108] Aspect 14. The seaweed feed product according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the seaweed material comprises Asparagus taxus, Asparagus spinosa, or a combination thereof.

[0109] Aspect 15. A seaweed feed product according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein one or both of the following are met: the seaweed feed product comprises at least 50% by weight of the combination of the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds and the binding agent; and the iodized salt present in the seaweed feed product is less than or equal to 1000 mg / gram of the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds.

[0110] Aspect 16. A method for feeding ruminants, the method comprising: administering a certain amount of seaweed feed product to the ruminants to effectively reduce methane emissions from the ruminants, wherein the seaweed feed product is the seaweed feed product according to any one of the preceding aspects.

[0111] Aspect 17. The method according to aspect 16, wherein the ruminant is a cattle.

[0112] Aspect 18. The method according to aspect 16, wherein the ruminant is a sheep.

[0113] Aspect 19. The method of aspect 16, wherein the seaweed feed material improves palatability to cattle, sheep, or both compared to freshly harvested seaweed.

[0114] Aspect 20. The method according to aspect 16, wherein the ruminant is a beef cattle, a "high-end" ruminant, a dairy cow, or a free-range cattle.

[0115] Aspect 21. The method according to any one of aspects 16 to 20, wherein grass, grain or a combination thereof is also administered to the ruminant.

[0116] Aspect 22. A feed product consisting essentially of: a binding agent; and one or more bound halogenated compounds, wherein the one or more bound halogenated compounds are bound to at least a portion of the binding agent.

[0117] Aspect 23. The feed product according to aspect 22, wherein the combined halogenated compound material is a solid.

[0118] Aspect 24. The feed product according to aspect 22 or 23, wherein the binding agent comprises one or more cyclic oligosaccharides.

[0119] Aspect 25. The feed product according to aspect 22 or 23, wherein the binding agent comprises one or more cyclodextrins.

[0120] Aspect 26. The feed product according to aspect 22 or 23, wherein the binder comprises α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin or a mixture thereof.

[0121] Aspect 27. The feed product according to aspect 22 or 23, wherein the binding agent comprises α-cyclodextrin.

[0122] Aspect 28. The feed product according to aspect 22 or 23, wherein the binding agent comprises β-cyclodextrin.

[0123] Aspect 29. The feed product according to aspect 22 or 23, wherein the binding agent comprises one or more zeolites.

[0124] Aspect 30. The feed product according to any one of aspects 22 to 29, wherein the one or more bound halogenated compounds comprises bromoform.

[0125] Aspect 31. A feed product according to any one of aspects 22 to 30, wherein the vapor pressure of the one or more bound halogenated compounds in an unbound state at 20°C or higher is greater than or equal to 10 Pa.

[0126] Aspect 32. A method of feeding a ruminant, the method comprising: administering to the ruminant an amount of a feed product effective to reduce methane emissions from the ruminant, wherein the feed product is the feed product of any one of Aspects 22 to 31.

[0127] Aspect 33. A method according to aspect 32, wherein the ruminant is a cattle.

[0128] Aspect 34. A method according to aspect 32, wherein the ruminant is a sheep.

[0129] Aspect 35. The method of aspect 32, wherein the seaweed feed material improves palatability to cattle, sheep, or both compared to freshly harvested seaweed.

[0130] Aspect 36. The method according to aspect 32, wherein the ruminant is a beef cattle, a "high-end" ruminant, a dairy cow, or a free-range cattle.

[0131] Aspect 37. The method according to aspect 32, wherein grass, grain or a combination thereof is also administered to the ruminant.

[0132] Aspect 38. A method of processing seaweed, the method comprising: contacting harvested seaweed with an aqueous solution comprising a binding agent, wherein: the harvested seaweed comprises one or more halogenated compounds; a portion of the one or more halogenated compounds of the harvested seaweed are expelled from the harvested seaweed to form a seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds; and at least a portion of the one or more expelled halogenated compounds are combined with the binding agent to form a combined halogenated compound material; and separating one or both of the combined halogenated compound material and the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds from the aqueous solution.

[0133] Aspect 39. A method according to aspect 38, wherein the combined halogenated compound material is precipitated from an aqueous solution.

[0134] Aspect 40. The method of aspect 38 or 39, wherein the contacting comprises immersing the harvested seaweed in an aqueous solution.

[0135] Aspect 41. The method according to any one of aspects 38 to 40, wherein the contacting of the harvested seaweed with the aqueous solution can initially occur within 1 hour of the seaweed being harvested.

[0136] Aspect 42. The method according to any one of aspects 38 to 41, wherein the contact time between the harvested seaweed and the aqueous solution is from 5 minutes to 1 month.

[0137] Aspect 43. The method of any one of aspects 38 to 42, further comprising harvesting the precursor seaweed to form harvested seaweed, wherein the precursor seaweed comprises one or more halogenated compounds.

[0138] Aspect 44. A method according to any one of aspects 38 to 43, wherein the binding agent comprises one or more cyclodextrins.

[0139] Aspect 45. The method according to any one of aspects 38 to 44, further comprising physically altering the algae material having reduced halogenated compounds.

[0140] Aspect 46. A seaweed feed product comprising: a seaweed material having reduced halogenated compounds comprising red algae; a binding agent comprising one or more cyclodextrins; and one or more bound halogenated compounds, wherein the one or more bound halogenated compounds are bound to at least a portion of the binding agent, and wherein the one or more halogenated compounds comprise bromoform.

[0141] Aspect 47. The seaweed feed product according to aspect 46, wherein the one or more cyclodextrins comprise α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin, or a mixture thereof.

[0142] Aspect 48. The seaweed feed product according to aspect 46 or 47, wherein the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds comprises one or more halogenated compounds.

[0143] Aspect 49. The seaweed feed product according to any one of aspects 46 to 48, wherein the seaweed material with reduced halogenated compounds comprises Asparagus taxus, Asparagus spinosa, or a combination thereof.

[0144] Aspect 50. A method of feeding a ruminant, the method comprising: administering to the ruminant an amount of a seaweed feed product effective to reduce methane emissions from the ruminant, wherein the seaweed feed product is the seaweed feed product of any one of aspects 46 to 49.

[0145] Aspect 51. A method according to aspect 50, wherein the ruminant is a cattle.

[0146] Aspect 52. A method according to aspect 50, wherein the ruminant is a sheep.

[0147] Aspect 53. The method of aspect 50, wherein the seaweed feed material improves palatability to cattle, sheep, or both compared to freshly harvested seaweed.

[0148] Aspect 54. A method according to aspect 50, wherein the binding agent comprises γ-cyclodextrin.

[0149] Aspect 55. The method according to aspect 50, wherein the binding agent comprises any two of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin and γ-cyclodextrin.

[0150] Aspect 56. The method according to aspect 50, wherein the binding agent comprises α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin and γ-cyclodextrin.

[0151] Aspect 57. The feed product according to aspect 22 or 23, wherein the binding agent comprises γ-cyclodextrin.

[0152] Aspect 58. The feed product according to aspect 22 or 23, wherein the binder comprises any two of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin and γ-cyclodextrin.

[0153] Aspect 59. The feed product according to aspect 22 or 23, wherein the binding agent comprises α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin and γ-cyclodextrin.

[0154] Aspect 60. The seaweed feed product according to aspect 46, wherein the one or more cyclodextrins comprise α-cyclodextrin.

[0155] Aspect 61. The seaweed feed product according to aspect 46, wherein the one or more cyclodextrins comprise β-cyclodextrin.

[0156] Aspect 62. The seaweed feed product of aspect 46, wherein the one or more cyclodextrins comprises γ-cyclodextrin.

[0157] Aspect 63. The seaweed feed product according to aspect 46, wherein the one or more cyclodextrins comprise any two of α-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin and γ-cyclodextrin.

[0158] Aspect 64. The seaweed feed product according to aspect 46, wherein the one or more cyclodextrins comprise α-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin and γ-cyclodextrin.

[0159] Aspect 65. A bolus comprising: a binding agent; and one or more bound halogenated compounds, wherein the one or more bound halogenated compounds are bound to at least a portion of the binding agent.

[0160] Aspect 66. The bolus of aspect 65, wherein the binding agent comprises one or more cyclodextrins, and wherein the one or more binding halogenated compounds comprises bromoform.

[0161] Aspect 67. A bolus comprising the feed product according to any one of aspects 22 to 31.

[0162] Aspect 68. A method of administering a halogenated compound to a ruminant, the method comprising inserting the bolus of aspect 67 into the rumen of the ruminant.

[0163] Aspect 69. A lick preparation comprising the feed product according to any one of aspects 22 to 31.

[0164] Aspect 70. A method of administering a halogenated compound to a ruminant, the method comprising providing the lick of aspect 69 to the rumen.

Claims

1. A seaweed feed product, comprising: Algal materials with reduced halogenated compounds; Binders; and One or more bound halogenated compounds, wherein the one or more bound halogenated compounds are bound to at least a portion of the binding agent.

2. The seaweed feed product according to claim 1, wherein the seaweed feed product comprises at least 0.01 wt% of a binding agent.

3. The seaweed feed product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bound halogenated compound combined with the binding agent forms a solid bound halogenated compound material.

4. The seaweed feed product according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the binding agent comprises one or more cyclic oligosaccharides.

5. A method for raising ruminants, the method comprising: Administering to a ruminant an amount of a seaweed feed product effective to reduce methane emissions from the ruminant, wherein the seaweed feed product is a seaweed feed product according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. A feed product consisting essentially of: Binders; and The invention relates to a novel nanostructured carbon foam comprising one or more bound halogenated compounds, wherein the one or more bound halogenated compounds are bound to at least a portion of the binding agent.

7. A bolus comprising the feed product according to claim 6.

8. A method of administering a halogenated compound to a ruminant, the method comprising inserting the bolus according to claim 7 into the rumen of the ruminant.

9. A lick comprising the feed product according to claim 6.

10. A method of administering a halogenated compound to a ruminant, the method comprising providing the lick according to claim 9 to the rumen.

11. A method for processing seaweed, the method comprising: The harvested seaweed is contacted with an aqueous solution comprising a binding agent, wherein: The harvested seaweed comprises one or more halogenated compounds; a portion of the one or more halogenated compounds in the harvested seaweed is expelled from the harvested seaweed to form a seaweed material having reduced halogenated compounds; and At least a portion of the one or more halogenated compounds that are expelled is combined with a binding agent, To form a combined halogenated compound material; One or both of the combined halogenated compound material and the reduced halogenated compound algal material are separated from the aqueous solution.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the bound halogenated compound material is precipitated from an aqueous solution.

13. A seaweed feed product comprising: A marine algae material having reduced halogenated compounds comprising red algae; a binding agent comprising one or more cyclodextrins; and One or more bound halogenated compounds, wherein the one or more bound halogenated compounds are bound to at least a portion of the binding agent, and wherein the one or more halogenated compounds comprise bromoform.

14. The seaweed feed product according to claim 13, wherein the one or more cyclodextrins comprise α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin or a mixture thereof.

15. A bolus comprising: Binders; and One or more bound halogenated compounds, wherein the one or more bound halogenated compounds are bound to at least a portion of the binding agent.