USE OF 2-METHYLOXOLANE FOR FEEDING OVIPARIC ANIMALS

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of 2-methyloxolane for feeding oviparous animals

Description

Title of the invention: USE OF 2-METHYLOXOLANE FOR FEEDING OVIPARIC ANIMALS technical field

[0001] The present disclosure falls within the field of feeding oviparous animals, in particular gallinaceous animals, more particularly chickens. Previous technique

[0002] Oilseed meal is commonly used in animal feed as a protein supplement, but also as a source of metabolizable energy. Oilseed meal is the solid residue from the process of producing edible oil by solid / liquid extraction of oilseeds.

[0003] Currently, hexane is the most widely used solvent in the solid / liquid extraction process because it offers advantageous properties. Hexane allows for high-yield oil extraction (>97%) and leaves less than 3% residual oil in the solid substrate, thus preventing it from becoming rancid. Hexane is easy to separate from the extracted oil, has a suitable boiling point (i.e., high enough to limit losses during extraction but low enough to limit energy consumption during its separation from the extracted oil and during its recycling), is stable, and exhibits good lipid selectivity.

[0004] Oilseed meal contains hexane, and its hexane content is regulated in certain territories. For example, in Europe, the maximum permitted hexane content in oil meal is 1000 mg / kg.

[0005] Hexane nevertheless presents significant drawbacks. It is of petroleum origin, it is neurotoxic and is classified as toxic to reproduction category 2 and as toxic to the aquatic environment category 2. It is classified in the category "solvent to be limited" by expert toxicologists in the pharmaceutical industry (ICHQ3C R8) with an acceptable daily intake for an average human of 50 kg of only 2.9 mg.

[0006] Alternative solvents to hexane have therefore been tested on laboratory and pilot scale. For example, the Applicant's EP 19 842 832.3 describes the production of defatted oilseed cakes by solid / liquid extraction of soybeans, rapeseed, corn, cotton and sunflower, with a binary mixture of 2-methyloxolane and water.

[0007] In attempting to quantify the presence of 2-methyloxolane residues in chicken eggs, the Applicant observed that, completely unexpectedly, hens whose diet was supplemented with 2-methyloxolane laid more eggs than hens whose diet was not supplemented with 2-methyloxolane. Summary

[0008] Thus, it is proposed to use a food supplement comprising 2-methyloxolane to increase the egg production of an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen.

[0009] Advantageously, the oviparous animal whose diet is supplemented with the food supplement comprising 2-methyloxolane lays up to 14% more eggs per week than the oviparous animal whose diet is not supplemented with the food supplement according to the invention.

[0010] 2-Methyloxolane is also non-toxic when ingested at the quantities considered in animal feed. Indeed, a published 3-month ingestion test on rats showed a no-observed-adverse-effect level of 250 mg / kg body weight / day. Thus, the food supplement containing 2-methyloxolane is not toxic to animals whose diet is supplemented with said food supplement.

[0011] Furthermore, the concentration of 2-methyloxolane residues present in the meat from the oviparous animal whose diet is supplemented with the food supplement containing 2-methyloxolane and in the eggs laid by the oviparous animal whose diet is supplemented with the food supplement containing 2-methyloxolane is very low and compatible with the human exposure limit recommended by EFSA of 1 mg / kg human body weight per day (EFSA Opinion on 2-methyloxolane of 15 March 2022).

[0012] In addition, some oviparous animals whose diet is supplemented with the food supplement containing 2-methyloxolane may see their weight increase significantly.

[0013] 2-Methyloxolane is also bio-based, as its raw material is typically derived from sugarcane bagasse or corn cobs. Furthermore, it is not classified as toxic to the environment.

[0014] According to another aspect, a food supplement is proposed for the feeding of an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, said food supplement comprising 2-methyloxolane.

[0015] According to another aspect, the use of a kit is proposed to increase the egg production of an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, said kit comprising: - the food supplement containing 2-methyloxolane as described above, and - a composition for feeding an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more specifically a hen.

[0016] According to another aspect, a kit is proposed for feeding an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, said kit comprising: - the food supplement comprising 2-methyloxolane as described above, and - a composition for feeding an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen.

[0017] According to another aspect, it is proposed to use a feed to increase the egg production of an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, said feed comprising the food supplement comprising 2-methyloxolane as described above and a composition for feeding an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen as described above.

[0018] According to another aspect, a food is proposed for feeding an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, said food comprising the food supplement comprising 2-methyloxolane as described above and a composition for feeding an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen.

[0019] According to another aspect, a food supplement as described above, a kit as described above or a food as described above is proposed for use in increasing the egg production of an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen.

[0020] According to another aspect, a method is proposed for increasing the egg production of an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, comprising a step of ingestion by the oviparous animal, in particular the gallinaceous bird, more particularly the hen, of the food supplement as described above, of the kit as described above or of the feed as described above. Description of the implementation methods

[0021] According to a first aspect, it is proposed to use a food supplement comprising 2-methyloxolane to increase the egg production of an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen.

[0022] For the purposes of this application, "oviparous animal" means an animal that lays eggs and in which the embryo develops within the egg. A bird of the gallinaceous family is an example of an oviparous animal.

[0023] For the purposes of this application, "gallinaceous" means a family of omnivorous birds characterized by a stocky body, a thick beak, short, rounded wings, and robust legs. The gallinaceous family comprises several sub- families. The phasianidae, which includes the chicken, rooster, quail, peacock, partridge, and guinea fowl, is one of these subfamilies.

[0024] For the purposes of this application, "food supplement" means a foodstuff whose purpose is to supplement a normal diet and which constitutes a concentrated source of nutrients or other substances having a nutritional or physiological effect.

[0025] Typically, the amount of 2-methyloxolane administered to the oviparous animal, in particular to a gallinaceous bird, more particularly to a hen, during this use can be between 0.1 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 200 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day, in particular between 1 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 50 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day, more particularly between 3 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 32 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day.

[0026] Advantageously, the egg production of the oviparous animal increases when the amount of 2-methyloxolane ingested by said oviparous animal is dosed within these ranges.

[0027] The food supplement used may be in the form of a solution, a powder, a capsule, an extrudate, a tablet or be a biological substrate cake, in particular be in the form of a powder, a capsule or be a biological substrate cake, more particularly be a biological substrate cake.

[0028] In the food supplement used, 2-methyloxolane may be in liquid form or impregnated onto a food-grade support for the oviparous animal of the food supplement used.

[0029] For example, 2-methyloxolane in liquid form is suitable for food supplements in solution and capsule form. Impregnation of 2-methyloxolane is suitable for food supplements in powder, extruded, tablet, or biological substrate cake form.

[0030] These formulations are easy to produce because they are known to those skilled in the art and because 2-methyloxolane is liquid under atmospheric pressure and temperature conditions. It can therefore be easily impregnated onto food-grade substrates using known techniques.

[0031] The food-grade carrier of the food supplement may, for example, be chosen from a mineral or biological carrier. The mineral carrier may, for example, be a mineral powder, such as silica powder. Tixosil® 68 powder is an example of a silica powder suitable for use as a mineral carrier.

[0032] For the purposes of this application, "bio-substrate cake" means the solid residue from the extraction of oil or juice from a bio-substrate.

[0033] For the purposes of this application, "biological substrate" means a material solid chosen from a plant, an alga, a microorganism and their mixtures, in particular a plant.

[0034] For example, the plant may be an oilseed, a protein crop, or a mixture thereof.

[0035] Examples of oilseeds include rapeseed, sunflower, soybean, peanut, sesame, walnut, almond, cotton, flax, or mixtures thereof, in particular rapeseed, sunflower, soybean, or mixtures thereof.

[0036] Examples of protein crops are peas, broad beans, lupins and mixtures thereof.

[0037] Typically the biological substrate can be a plant chosen from among the almond, amaranth, peanut, argan, sea buckthorn, cashew, avocado, oat, borage, safflower, camelina, carrot, cocoa, cashew, canola, hemp, rapeseed, copra, squash, cotton, croton, rosehip, fig, prickly pear, pomegranate, hops, illipe, jojoba, jasmine, shea, lavender, lavandin, flax, lupin, corn, hazelnut, walnut, coconut, poppy, olive, evening primrose, orange, palm kernel, paprika, pecan, pistachio, pepper, castor bean, rice, rose, cedar rose, musk rose, sesame, soybean, marigold, sunflower, the Calophyllum inophyllum, madhuca, Queensland nut, raspberry, blackcurrant, melon, grape, tomato, baobab, babassu, cranberry, chia, pumpkin, mustard, neem, Nigella sativa, niger, poppy, perilla, Plukenetia volubili, squash, annatto, Taramira, apricot, plum, peach, wheat,Tuberose, ylang-ylang, geranium, patchouli, petitgrain (citrus), anise, caraway, juniper, bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, mace, celery, angelica, cardamom, tonka bean, vanilla, vetiver, iris, sandalwood, guaiac wood, tarragon, lemongrass, sage, mint, pine, rosemary, fir, thyme, galbanum, elemi, benzoin, myrrh, frankincense and mixtures thereof, in particular soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, baobab, corn, peanut, coconut, palm kernel, cotton and mixtures thereof, especially soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, baobab and mixtures thereof.

[0038] According to a specific embodiment, the biological substrate cake is a cake of soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, corn, peanut and mixtures thereof.

[0039] The biological substrate cake can be in the form of cake flour or extruded.

[0040] For the purposes of this application, "oilcake flour" means the by-product of crushing, grinding or pulverizing oilcake to obtain a powder.

[0041] Advantageously, oilseed cake flour is easy to eat and is very well assimilated by an oviparous animal.

[0042] For the purposes of this application, "extruded" means a product whose production is by extrusion.

[0043] The biological substrate cake can be obtained from a solid / liquid oil extraction process using 2-methyloxolane. Such a process is described, for example, in EP 19 842 832.3.

[0044] Typically, the mass concentration of 2-methyloxolane in the biological substrate cake may be less than 1000 mg / kg, in particular from 10 mg / kg to 500 mg / kg, especially from 100 mg / kg to 300 mg / kg.

[0045] Advantageously, a mass concentration in these ranges allows an effective dose of 2-methyloxolane to be administered to the animal while having it ingest an acceptable amount of biological substrate meal.

[0046] According to another aspect, a food supplement is proposed for the feeding of an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, said food supplement comprising 2-methyloxolane.

[0047] The food supplement may be in the form of a solution, a powder, a capsule, an extrudate, a tablet or a cake of biological substrate, in particular a powder, a capsule or a cake of biological substrate, more particularly a cake of biological substrate.

[0048] In the food supplement, 2-methyloxolane may be in liquid form or impregnated onto a food-grade support for the oviparous animal of the food supplement.

[0049] For example, 2-methyloxolane in liquid form is suitable for food supplements in solution and capsule form. Impregnation of 2-methyloxolane is suitable for food supplements in powder, extruded, tablet, or biological substrate cake form.

[0050] These formulations are easy to produce because they are known to those skilled in the art and because 2-methyloxolane is liquid under atmospheric conditions of pressure and temperature. It can therefore be easily impregnated onto the food-grade support using known techniques.

[0051] The food-grade carrier of the food supplement may, for example, be chosen from a mineral or biological carrier. The mineral carrier may, for example, be a mineral powder, such as silica powder. Tixosil® 68 powder is an example of a silica powder suitable for use as a mineral carrier.

[0052] As defined above, the biological substrate cake is the solid residue from the extraction of oil or juice from a biological substrate which is a solid material selected from a plant, an alga, a microorganism and mixtures thereof, in particular a plant.

[0053] For example the plant may be an oilseed, a protein crop or a mixture thereof.

[0054] Examples of oilseeds include rapeseed, sunflower, soybean, peanut, sesame, walnut, almond, cotton, flax or mixtures thereof, in particular rapeseed, sunflower, soybean or mixtures thereof.

[0055] Examples of protein crops are peas, broad beans, lupins and mixtures thereof.

[0056] Typically the biological substrate can be a plant chosen from among the almond, amaranth, peanut, argan, sea buckthorn, cashew, avocado, oat, borage, safflower, camelina, carrot, cocoa, cashew, canola, hemp, rapeseed, copra, squash, cotton, croton, rosehip, fig, prickly pear, pomegranate, hops, illipe, jojoba, jasmine, shea, lavender, lavandin, flax, lupin, corn, hazelnut, walnut, coconut, poppy, olive, evening primrose, orange, palm kernel, paprika, pecan, pistachio, pepper, castor bean, rice, rose, cedar rose, musk rose, sesame, soybean, marigold, sunflower, the Calophyllum inophyllum, madhuca, Queensland nut, raspberry, blackcurrant, melon, grape, tomato, baobab, babassu, cranberry, chia, pumpkin, mustard, neem, Nigella sativa, niger, poppy, perilla, Plukenetia volubili, squash, annatto, Taramira, apricot, plum, peach, wheat,Tuberose, ylang-ylang, geranium, patchouli, petitgrain (citrus), anise, caraway, juniper, bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, mace, celery, angelica, cardamom, tonka bean, vanilla, vetiver, iris, sandalwood, guaiac wood, tarragon, lemongrass, sage, mint, pine, rosemary, fir, thyme, galbanum, elemi, benzoin, myrrh, frankincense and mixtures thereof, in particular soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, baobab, corn, peanut, coconut, palm kernel, cotton and mixtures thereof, especially soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, baobab and mixtures thereof.

[0057] According to a specific embodiment, the biological substrate cake is a soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, corn, peanut and mixtures thereof.

[0058] The biological substrate cake can be in the form of cake flour or extruded.

[0059] Advantageously, oilseed cake flour is easy to eat and is very well assimilated by an oviparous animal.

[0060] The biological substrate cake can be obtained from a solid / liquid oil extraction process using 2-methyloxolane. Such a process is described, for example, in EP 19 842 832.3.

[0061] Typically, the mass concentration of 2-methyloxolane in the biological substrate cake may be less than 1000 mg / kg, in particular from 10 mg / kg to 500 mg / kg, especially from 100 mg / kg to 300 mg / kg.

[0062] Advantageously, a mass concentration in these ranges allows an effective dose of 2-methyloxolane to be administered to the animal while having it ingest an acceptable amount of biological substrate meal.

[0063] The food supplement can be ingested by the oviparous animal as a supplement of its usual diet, for example as a supplement to seeds.

[0064] Thus, according to another aspect, the use of a kit is proposed to increase the egg production of an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, said kit comprising: - the food supplement containing 2-methyloxolane as described above, and - a composition for feeding an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen.

[0065] Typically, the amount of 2-methyloxolane administered to the oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, when using the kit can be between 0.1 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 200 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day, in particular between 1 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 50 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day, more particularly between 3 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 32 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day.

[0066] Advantageously, the egg production of the oviparous animal increases when the amount of 2-methyloxolane ingested by said oviparous animal is dosed within these ranges.

[0067] The composition of the kit used for feeding an oviparous animal may, for example, be: - a cereal grain such as wheat, corn, oats, and mixtures thereof, - food waste such as fruit and / or vegetable peelings, and / or - a complete food, in particular a whole food.

[0068] For the purposes of this application, "complete feed" means a compound feed, nutritionally appropriate for oviparous animals by means of a specific composition, and designed to constitute a single ration which can keep oviparous animals alive and / or promote egg production.

[0069] The complete feed may be in extruded, granulated, powdered, or pelleted form.

[0070] According to another aspect, a kit is proposed for feeding an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, said kit comprising: - the feed supplement comprising 2-methyloxolane as described above, and - a composition for feeding an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen.

[0071] The animal feed composition of the kit may, for example, be: - a cereal grain such as wheat, corn, oats, and mixtures thereof, - food waste such as fruit and / or vegetable peelings, and / or - a complete feed, in particular a complete food.

[0072] The complete feed can be in the form of extruded, granulated, powdered or pelleted.

[0073] The food supplement and the composition for animal feed, in particular the complete feed, can form a feed intended for feeding an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen.

[0074] Thus, according to another aspect, it is proposed to use a feed to increase the egg production of an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, said feed comprising the food supplement comprising 2-methyloxolane as described above and a composition for feeding an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen as described above.

[0075] For the purposes of this application, "feed" means a nutritionally appropriate composition for oviparous animals due to its specific composition, and designed to constitute a single ration that can keep oviparous animals alive and / or promote egg production.

[0076] Advantageously, the feed used is easy for the farmer to implement because it allows the oviparous animal to be fed with a single ration in order to increase its egg production.

[0077] Typically, the amount of 2-methyloxolane administered to the oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, when using this feed can be between 0.1 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 200 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day, in particular between 1 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 50 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day, more particularly between 3 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 32 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day.

[0078] Advantageously, the egg production of the oviparous animal increases when the amount of 2-methyloxolane ingested by said oviparous animal is dosed within these ranges.

[0079] According to another aspect, a food is proposed for feeding an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, said food comprising the food supplement comprising 2-methyloxolane as described above and a composition for feeding an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen as described above.

[0080] The food may be in the form of extruded, granulated, powdered or pelleted.

[0081] The food can be produced by means of a process comprising the following steps: al) mixing of the food supplement and the animal feed composition to obtain a mixture, bl) shaping the mixture obtained in step a) to produce the food.

[0082] Steps a1) and b1) are classic steps that can easily be put into work done by a professional.

[0083] This production process is suitable for food in the form of extruded, granulated, powdered or pelleted.

[0084] The food can alternatively be produced by means of the process comprising the following steps: a2) grinding the food supplement to obtain a first powder, b2) grinding the animal feed composition to obtain a second powder, c2) mixing the first powder and the second powder to produce the food.

[0085] Steps a2), b2) and c2) are conventional steps that can be easily carried out by a person skilled in the art.

[0086] This alternative production process is suitable for food in powder form.

[0087] According to another aspect, a food supplement is proposed as described below- above, a kit as described above or a feed as described above for its use in increasing the egg production of an oviparous animal, especially a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen.

[0088] Typically, the amount of 2-methyloxolane administered to the oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, by means of the food supplement, kit or feed for this use can be between 0.1 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 200 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day, in particular between 1 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 50 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day, more particularly between 3 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 32 kg of the oviparous animal / day.

[0089] Advantageously, the egg production of the oviparous animal increases when the amount of 2-methyloxolane ingested by said oviparous animal is dosed within these ranges.

[0090] According to another aspect, a method is proposed for increasing the egg production of an oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, comprising a step of ingestion by the oviparous animal, in particular the gallinaceous bird, more particularly the hen, of the food supplement as described above, of the kit as described above, or of the feed as described above.

[0091] Typically, during this method, the amount of 2-methyloxolane administered to the oviparous animal, in particular a gallinaceous bird, more particularly a hen, can be between 0.1 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 200 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day, in particular between 1 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 50 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day, more particularly between 3 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day and 32 mg / kg of the oviparous animal / day.

[0092] Advantageously, the egg production of the oviparous animal increases when the amount of 2-methyloxolane ingested by said oviparous animal is measured in these ranges. Examples

[0093] The following examples illustrate the invention without, however, limiting it.

[0094] In this example, domestic laying hens were divided into four groups: - the 4 hens in the control group did not ingest 2-methyloxolane. - The 12 hens in group Nxl ingested pure liquid 2-methyloxoane in capsules. The dose of pure liquid 2-methyloxoane ingested was 3.18 mg / kg of hen / day, or 40 mg / kg in the daily ration. - The 12 hens in group Nx5 ingested pure liquid 2-methyloxoane in capsules. The dose of pure liquid 2-methyloxoane ingested was 15.88 mg / kg of hen / day, or 200 mg / kg in the daily ration, and - The 12 hens in group NxlO ingested pure liquid 2-methyloxoane in capsules. The dose of pure liquid 2-methyloxoane ingested was 31.77 mg / kg of hen / day, i.e. 400 mg / kg in the daily ration (group NxlO).

[0095] Egg production in each group was monitored to statistically validate the significance of the effect of oral administration of 2-methyloxolane on egg production.

[0096] The statistical treatment is as follows: A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using XLSTAT 2020.2.1 software on MS Excel 16.0.15225. The significance level was set at 95% with a p-value of 0.05 to test for a significant effect of oral administration of 2-methyloxolane on egg production, with the following parameters: Discrete explanatory variable: housing group and continuous variable to be explained: number of eggs laid.

[0097] In case of a significant difference between the means, a Student's t-test with a significance level of 5% will be applied for pairwise comparison from the same software.

[0098] In total, 1115 eggs were counted during the observations.

[0099] Table 1 below shows the average number of eggs laid per day per 4 hens according to their group of placement.

[0100] [Tables] Grouping Number of eggs Control 3.5 Nxl 3.9 Nx5 3.9 NxlO 3.9

[0101] The Student's t-test clearly demonstrated the existence of the 2 groups: - the control group, and - the groups that received 2-methyloxolane orally.

[0102] This example therefore highlights that oral administration of 2-methyloxolane significantly increases the number of eggs laid per hen without any apparent dose effect in the tested range, namely from 40 to 400 mg / kg of 2-methyloxolane in the daily ration.

Claims

Demands

1. Use of a food supplement containing 2-methyloxolane to increase egg production in an oviparous animal.

2. Use according to claim 1 wherein the amount of 2-methyloxolane administered to the oviparous animal is between 0.1 mg / kg of oviparous animal / day and 200 mg / kg of oviparous animal / day.

3. Use according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the food supplement is in the form of a solution, powder, capsule, extrudate, tablet or is a biological substrate cake.

4. Use according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the food supplement is a biological substrate cake.

5. Use according to claim 4 wherein the biological substrate cake is in the form of cake flour or extruded.

6. Use according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the biological substrate may be a plant selected from almond, amaranth, peanut, argan, sea buckthorn, cashew, avocado, oat, borage, safflower, camelina, carrot, cocoa, cashew, canola, hemp, rapeseed, copra, squash, cotton, croton, rosehip, fig, prickly pear, pomegranate, hops, illipe, jojoba, jasmine, shea, lavender, lavandin, flax, lupin, maize, hazelnut, walnut, coconut, poppy, olive, evening primrose, orange, palm kernel, paprika, pecan, pistachio, pepper, castor, rice, rose, the cedar rose, musk rose, sesame, soy, marigold, sunflower, Calophyllum inophyllum, madhuca, Queensland nut, raspberry, blackcurrant, melon, grape, tomato, baobab, babassu, cranberry, chia, pumpkin, mustard, neem,Nigella Sativa, niger, poppy, perilla, Plukenetia volubili, pumpkin, annatto, Taramira, apricot, plum, peach, wheat, tuberose, ylang-ylang, geranium, patchouli, petitgrain (citrus), anise, caraway, juniper, bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, mace, celery, angelica, cardamom, tonka bean, vanilla, vetiver, iris, sandalwood, guaiac wood, tarragon, lemongrass, sage, mint, pine, rosemary, fir, thyme, galbanum, elemi, benzoin, myrrh, frankincense, and their mixtures.

7. Use of a kit to increase the egg production of an oviparous animal, said kit comprising: - a food supplement comprising 2-methyloxolane as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6, and - a composition for feeding an oviparous animal.

8. Use according to claim 7 wherein the amount of 2-methyloxolane administered to the oviparous animal is between 0.1 mg / kg of oviparous animal / day and 200 mg / kg of oviparous animal / day.

9. Use of a feed to increase the egg production of an oviparous animal, said feed comprising a feed supplement as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6 and a composition for feeding an oviparous animal.

10. Use according to claim 9 wherein the amount of 2-methyloxolane administered to the oviparous animal is between 0.1 mg / kg of oviparous animal / day and 200 mg / kg of oviparous animal / day.

11. Kit for feeding an oviparous animal, said kit comprising: - a food supplement comprising 2-methyloxolane, and - a composition for feeding an oviparous animal.