Novel feed composition

Abstract

The present invention provides a feed composition comprising a) at least one organic acid and / or at least one salt thereof; and b) hypophosphorous acid and / or at least one salt thereof, and uses thereof to improve the growth performance and / or immunity of animals and / or reduce mortality.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001] [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a novel feed composition and its use.

[0002] [Background of the Invention] To maintain the hygiene of food and feed and prevent spoilage by microorganisms such as bacteria or mold, acidifying agent products containing organic acids can be used. For the purpose of minimizing the risk of foodborne diseases, organic acids such as benzoic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, and acetic acid can be used to control microbial growth in food, foodstuffs, or feed. For this purpose, acidifying agent products can be added before and / or after the production of the complete feed. In addition, acidifying agent products can be used to improve the feed intake rate and weight gain of animals as a result of ingestion.

[0003] Surprisingly, it has now been found that organic acids and / or their salts in combination with hypophosphorous acid and / or its salts bring additional benefits to animals.

[0004] [Summary of the Invention] The present invention provides a feed composition comprising a) at least one organic acid and / or at least one of its salts; and b) hypophosphorous acid and / or at least one of its salts.

[0005] The present invention also provides a method for improving growth performance and / or immunity and / or reducing mortality in animals, which comprises administering to the animals a feed composition according to the present invention. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0006] [Description of the Figures] [Figure 1]Box plots of hematological parameters 56 days (before challenge) and 7 days after bacterial challenge, across various groups, fed the experimental standard diet per tank. The boxes represent the interquartile range (IQR: 50% of data are found between Q1 and Q3). Lines crossing the boxes indicate the median. Whiskers outside the lines / boxes extend by Q1 - 1.5 × IQR (25% of data) and Q3 + 1.5 × IQR (25% of data), respectively. Outliers outside the whiskers are represented by individual markers. Dark black diamonds indicate the mean. Group 1 = control standard diet, Group 2 = Biotronic PX TOP3, Group 3 = MR.

[0007] [Detailed description of the invention] Animals: The term "animal" refers to all animals except humans. Examples of animals include: pigs (pig or swine) (piglets, young pigs, and sows, etc.); poultry (turkeys, ducks, quail, guinea fowl, geese, pigeons (including chicks), and chickens (broilers, chicks, and layers, etc.)); pets (cats and dogs, etc.); horses; crustaceans (shrimp and prawns, etc.); fish (amberjack, arapaima, barb, bass, bluefish, boca chico, bream, bullhead, cachamai, carp, catfish, cutlassfish, milkfish, chaa, cichlid, scad, cod, crappie, sea bream, drumfish) Examples include, but are not limited to, eels, gobies, goldfish, gouramis, groupers, guapotes, halibut, java, labeo, lai, loaches, mackerel, milkfish, black heron, mudfish, mullet, paco, pearl spot, pejerrey, perch, pike, trevally, roach, salmon, sampa, sauger, groupers, red snapper, shiner, sleeper, snakehead, snapper, red snapper, sole, rabbitfish, sturgeon, ocean sunfish, sweetfish, tench, terror, tilapia, trout, tuna, flounder, white salmon, walleye, and smallmouth trout. Preferably, the animals are selected from the group consisting of pigs (including but not limited to piglets, growing pigs, and sows); poultry (including but not limited to turkeys, ducks, quail, guinea fowl, geese, pigeons (including chicks), and chickens (including but not limited to broilers, chicks, and raes)); pets (including cats and dogs); and crustaceans (including shrimp and prawns).

[0008] Animal Feed: The term “animal feed” means any compound, preparation, or mixture that is suitable for or intended for consumption by animals, and that can sustain life and / or promote animal production without the consumption of any additional substances other than water.

[0009] Animal Feed Additives: The term "animal feed additives" refers to components or combinations of components added to animal feed, typically used in trace amounts, that require careful handling and mixing. Such components include, but are not limited to, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, eubiotics, colorants, growth enhancers, aromatic compounds / flavorings, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, antimicrobial peptides, antifungal polypeptides, and mycotoxin control compounds.

[0010] [Feed composition containing organic acids and hypophosphate] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a feed composition comprising: a) at least one organic acid and / or at least one salt thereof; and b) hypophosphorous acid and / or at least one salt thereof.

[0011] In the present invention, at least one organic acid may be selected from the group consisting of short-chain monocarboxylic acids having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, saturated dicarboxylic acids, unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, unsaturated carboxylic acids, saturated carboxylic acids, hydroxycarboxylic acids, aromatic carboxylic acids, and ketocarboxylic acids, and / or salts thereof. For the sake of clarity, examples of short-chain monocarboxylic acids having 1 to 6 carbon atoms include, but are not limited to, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, 3-methylbutyric acid, 2-methylbutyric acid, 2-ethylbutyric acid, valeric acid, and hexanoic acid. Examples of saturated dicarboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, adipic acid and succinic acid. An example of an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid is fumaric acid. Examples of unsaturated carboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, sorbic acid and oleic acid. Examples of saturated carboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, stearic acid, octanoic acid (also called caprylic acid), decanoic acid (also called capric acid), and dodecanoic acid (also called lauric acid). Examples of hydroxyl carboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, lactic acid, malic acid (D-, or L-, or D / L-malic acid), citric acid, and tartaric acid. Examples of aromatic carboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, benzoic acid and cinnamic acid. An example of a ketocarboxylic acid is pyruvic acid.

[0012] Preferably, at least one organic acid can be selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, 3-methylbutyric acid, 2-methylbutyric acid, 2-ethylbutyric acid, valeric acid, hexanoic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, sorbic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, octano(caprylic) acid, decano(capric) acid, dodecano(lauric) acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, pyruvic acid, gluconic acid, suberic acid, malonic acid, tannic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, peric acid, and gallic acid, or at least one salt thereof.

[0013] More preferably, at least one organic acid may be selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, 3-methylbutyric acid, 2-methylbutyric acid, 2-ethylbutyric acid, valeric acid, hexanoic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, sorbic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, octano(caprylic) acid, decano(capric) acid, dodecano(lauric) acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, and pyruvic acid, or at least one salt thereof.

[0014] More preferably, at least one organic acid may be selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, butyric acid, citric acid, formic acid, fumaric acid, lactic acid, octanoic acid, propionic acid, pyruvic acid, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, succinic acid, and valeric acid, or at least one salt thereof.

[0015] In the present invention, at least one salt of an organic acid may be any one of a metal salt such as a potassium salt, sodium salt, or calcium salt, or an ammonium salt. Examples of salts of organic acids include, but are not limited to, ammonium formate, potassium diformate, sodium diacetate, calcium acetate, ammonium propionate, sodium propionate, calcium propionate, calcium lactate, potassium sorbate, sodium formate, calcium formate, sodium butyrate, sodium sorbate, potassium citrate, sodium citrate, calcium citrate, and benzoates, such as sodium benzoate, magnesium benzoate, manganese benzoate, potassium benzoate, aluminum benzoate, calcium benzoate, and ferric benzoate.

[0016] Examples of commercially available organic acid products include VevoVitall® (DSM Nutritional Products, Switzerland), Biotronic® (DSM Nutritional Products, Austria), Amasil®, Luprisil®, Lupro-Grain®, Lupro-Cid®, Lupro-Mix® (BASF), n-Butyric Acid AF (OXEA), and Adimix Precision (Nutriad).

[0017] In the present invention, at least one salt of hypophosphorous acid can be selected from the group consisting of sodium hypophosphite, magnesium hypophosphite, manganese hypophosphite, potassium hypophosphite, aluminum hypophosphite, calcium hypophosphite, ammonium hypophosphite, and ferric hypophosphite, preferably sodium hypophosphite, magnesium hypophosphite, manganese hypophosphite, and potassium hypophosphite, and more preferably sodium hypophosphite.

[0018] In the present invention, a feed composition according to the present invention may contain a plurality of organic acids and / or at least one salt thereof, and hypophosphorous acid and / or at least one salt thereof. For example, such a feed composition may contain two, three, four, or even more organic acids in combination with hypophosphorous acid and / or at least one salt thereof. In one example, the feed composition contains at least three organic acids, particularly formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, and a salt of hypophosphorous acid selected from the group consisting of sodium hypophosphite, manganese hypophosphite, magnesium hypophosphite, and potassium hypophosphite, preferably sodium hypophosphite and manganese hypophosphite, more preferably sodium hypophosphite. In another example, the feed composition contains at least four organic acids, particularly formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, benzoic acid, and a salt of hypophosphorous acid selected from the group consisting of sodium hypophosphite, manganese hypophosphite, magnesium hypophosphite, and potassium hypophosphite, preferably sodium hypophosphite and manganese hypophosphite, more preferably sodium hypophosphite.

[0019] In the present invention, the feed composition may be provided in a specific form, wherein the molar ratio of at least one organic acid and / or at least one salt thereof to hypophosphorous acid and / or at least one salt thereof is 100:0.1 to 0.1:100, preferably 100:1 to 1:100, more preferably 50:1 to 1:50, even more preferably 20:1 to 1:20, and most preferably 10:1 to 1:10.

[0020] Such feed compositions according to the present invention may be provided in a form in which one or more or all of the components are provided in solid form (e.g., salt, powder, granules, pellets, etc.) or liquid form (e.g., aqueous, gel, viscous). It is also conceivable that the feed composition may be provided in a form in which one component (e.g., one or more organic acids) is provided in liquid form and a second component is provided in solid form (e.g., hypophosphorous acid), and the composition is formed by combining the two components in a mixture or in separate forms.

[0021] As can be expected by any person skilled in the art, the feed composition according to the present invention can be formulated as an animal feed additive. Therefore, the feed composition of the present invention may also contain trace components.

[0022] Trace components include, but are not limited to, aromatic compounds; antimicrobial peptides; polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs); reactive oxygen species; at least one enzyme; and fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins and minerals.

[0023] Examples of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) include CAP18, leucosin A, protegrin-1, tanatin, defensin, lactoferrin, lactoferricin, obispirin (e.g., nobispirin, Robert Lehrer, 2000), plectacin, and statins.

[0024] As an example of polyunsaturated fatty acids, C 18- , C 20- , and C 22-There are polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and gamma-linolenic acid.

[0025] Examples of reactive oxygen species generating species include chemicals, such as perborate, persulfate, or percarbonate; and enzymes, such as oxidase, oxygenase, or synthetase.

[0026] Examples of enzymes include phytase (EC3.1.3.8 or 3.1.3.26), galactanase (EC3.2.1.89), alpha-galactosidase (EC3.2.1.22), phospholipase A1 (EC3.1.1.32), phospholipase A2 (EC3.1.1.4), lysophospholipase (EC3.1.1.1.5), phospholipase C (EC3.1.4.3), and / or phospholipase D (EC3.4.4.4.1).

[0027] Examples of fat-soluble vitamins include, but are not limited to, vitamin A, vitamin D3, and vitamin K, such as vitamin K3.

[0028] Examples of water-soluble vitamins include vitamin B 12 , biotin and choline, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, niacin, folic acid, and pantothenate, such as calcium D-pantothenate, but are not limited to these.

[0029] Examples of minerals include, but are not limited to, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, iodine, iron, manganese, copper, molybdenum, cobalt, and zinc. Common mineral supplements in feed include, but are not limited to, limestone, bone meal, oyster shells, sodium chloride, dicalcium phosphate, manganese sulfate, potassium iodide, and superphosphate. Sources of minerals include meat scraps, fish meal, dairy products, crushed limestone (calcium), crushed oyster shells (calcium), dicalcium phosphate (calcium, phosphorus), defluorinated phosphate ore (phosphorus, calcium), steamed bone meal (phosphorus, calcium), salt (sodium, chlorine, iodine), manganese sulfate (manganese), manganese oxide (manganese), zinc carbonate (zinc), and zinc oxide (zinc).

[0030] Furthermore, as can be expected by any person skilled in the art, the feed composition according to the present invention can be further formulated as animal feed. Accordingly, the feed composition of the present invention may further contain any number of components typical of animal feed, such as the proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and additional additives defined above.

[0031] Examples of suitable types of protein that can be included in feed include, but are not limited to, meat scraps (lysine), fish meal (lysine, methionine), poultry by-product meal (tryptophan, lysine), blood meal, liver and gland meal, feather meal (hydrolyzed), animal tank waste, dairy products, cottonseed meal, peanut meal, soybean meal, sesame meal, and sunflower seed meal.

[0032] Most feed ingredients (corn, barley, safflower, milo, wheat, rice, bran, etc.) contain approximately 2-5% fat and linoleic acid. Sources of fat include animal fat (beef), lard, corn oil, and other vegetable oils.

[0033] Additional additives include, but are not limited to, the minerals defined above; antioxidants such as BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), santoquine, ethoxyquine, butylated hydroxyanisode, and diphenyl-p-phenyldiamine; pellet binders, e.g., sodium bentonite (clay), liquid or solid by-products of the wood pulp industry, molasses, and garmeal; colorants, e.g., xanthophyll, synthetic carotenoids, and canthaxanthin; probiotics, e.g., strains of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus; and / or antibiotics, e.g., penicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, and ureomycin.

[0034] In the present invention, at least one organic acid and / or at least one salt thereof can be provided in animal feed at concentrations of 0.001% to 10% by weight, preferably 0.01% to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.05% to 1% by weight, for example, 0.05% by weight, 0.1% by weight, 0.2% by weight, 0.3% by weight, 0.4% by weight, and 0.5% by weight.

[0035] In the present invention, hypophosphorous acid and / or at least one salt thereof can be provided in animal feed at concentrations of 0.0005% to 1% by weight, preferably 0.001% to 0.5% by weight, more preferably 0.002% to 0.2% by weight, and even more preferably 0.0025% to 0.1% by weight, for example, 0.0025% by weight, 0.003% by weight, 0.004% by weight, 0.005% by weight, 0.01% by weight, 0.015% by weight, 0.02% by weight, 0.025% by weight, 0.03% by weight, 0.04% by weight, 0.05% by weight, 0.06% by weight, 0.08% by weight, and 0.1% by weight.

[0036] [Methods to improve animal performance and / or immunity, and / or reduce mortality] Surprisingly, it has been found that a feed composition according to the present invention, comprising a) at least one organic acid and / or at least one salt thereof, and b) hypophosphorous acid and / or at least one salt thereof, achieves a synergistic effect in improving animal performance and / or immunity, and / or reducing animal mortality.

[0037] Accordingly, in a second embodiment, the present invention provides a method for improving growth performance and / or immunity and / or reducing mortality in animals, comprising administering to animals a feed composition, animal feed additive, or animal feed according to the present invention as described herein.

[0038] Furthermore, the present invention provides the use of the feed compositions described herein in the preparation of animal feed additives or animal feeds for improving growth performance and / or immunity and / or reducing mortality in animals.

[0039] In the present invention, the growth performance of an animal may be characterized or represented by the animal's weight gain (WG), mean weight gain, and / or feed conversion ratio (FCR).

[0040] In the present invention, animal immunity may be characterized or represented by total blood cell count (THC), as well as the quantity and percentage of cleavage cells (HC), semigranule cells (SC), and / or granule cells (GC) in the animal's hematopoietic lymphoid tissue.

[0041] In the present invention, the mortality rate of animals may be characterized or represented by the percentage of animals that die or survive after a challenge according to the present invention.

[0042] In the present invention, improvement is compared to an animal feed additive (referred to herein as a control) that does not contain at least one organic acid and / or at least one salt thereof, and hypophosphorous acid and / or at least one salt thereof. Preferably, one or more parameters relating to animal performance, immunity, and / or mortality change in the desired direction by at least 0.5%, at least 0.6%, at least 0.7%, at least 0.8%, at least 0.9%, at least 1.0%, at least 1.2%, or at least 1.4% compared to the control.

[0043] In the method of the present invention, at least one organic acid and / or at least one salt thereof may be administered in amounts of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the animal feed, preferably 0.01% to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.05% to 1% by weight, for example, 0.05% by weight, 0.1% by weight, 0.2% by weight, 0.3% by weight, 0.4% by weight, and 0.5% by weight.

[0044] In the method of the present invention, hypophosphorous acid and / or at least one salt thereof may be administered in amounts of 0.0005% to 1% by weight of animal feed, preferably 0.001% to 0.5% by weight, more preferably 0.002% to 0.2% by weight, and even more preferably 0.0025% to 0.1% by weight, for example, 0.0025% by weight, 0.003% by weight, 0.004% by weight, 0.005% by weight, 0.01% by weight, 0.015% by weight, 0.02% by weight, 0.025% by weight, 0.03% by weight, 0.04% by weight, 0.05% by weight, 0.06% by weight, 0.08% by weight, and 0.1% by weight.

[0045] The present invention is further illustrated by the following embodiments.

[0046] [Examples] [Example 1] [Animals and housing] The clinical trial was conducted from August 1, 2022 to October 10, 2022, at Nong Lam University, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and the Aquaculture Center for Applied Nutrition (ACAN).

[0047] A total of 5,000 late-stage larval (PL 10) Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp (pathogen-free) were purchased from a local hatchery in Ninh Thuan province (www.shrimpvet.com). At the ACAN facility, the PLs were reared for 42 days in 2,000L quarantine tanks under recirculating seawater conditions (15 ppt salinity, 29-31°C, pH 8.0-8.2) until they reached an average weight of 2.40 g / shrimp size. During the rearing period, the PLs were fed commercially available shrimp feed.

[0048] [Feeding and Treatment] After a period of rearing in quarantine tanks, shrimp exhibiting normal feeding behavior and showing no obvious signs of disease were selected for the performance trial. Three groups (6 replicates per group, 20 shrimp per replicate) were administered either unsupplemented (control group) or a basal diet supplemented with the feed additive Biotronic PX Top 3 (DSM Nutritional Products, Austria) or MR (95 wt% Biotronic PX Top 3 (DSM Nutritional Products, Austria) and 5 wt% sodium hypophosphate monohydrate (NaH2PO2*H2O)), as shown in Table 1. The experimental diet was provided for a period of 70 days (including the performance trial and the challenge trial).

[0049] [Table 1]

[0050] Table 2 shows the composition of the baseline diet (control diet) used in the clinical trial. The experimental diets (groups 2-3) were prepared by mixing the feed additive Biotronic PX Top 3 or MR into the baseline diet.

[0051] [Table 2]

[0052] Throughout the experiment, water quality was maintained under conditions suitable for shrimp rearing. After completing all sample collection for the performance trial, 13 shrimp were randomly selected from each tank and transferred to the challenge tank (3 groups, 4 replicates per group).

[0053] The animals were allowed to acclimate in a challenge tank for three days to adapt to the new conditions and ensure that no deaths occurred after transplantation. The shrimp were immersed in a 20 ppm ammonia solution for 24 hours, and then subjected to 1.12 × 10⁻⁶ 6 The challenge was performed by immersion in CFU / mL of Vibrio parahaemolyticus for 1 hour. After 1 hour of bacterial immersion, 50% of the water from each challenge tank was replaced with fresh saline solution to reduce the bacterial concentration in each tank to 50%.

[0054] The mortality rate of the shrimp was observed at least twice a day, and any mortally wounded or dead animals were removed until the challenge was completed. Shrimp that died during the first three days after the bacterial challenge under favorable conditions were sent to the laboratory for bacterial isolation to confirm the success of the challenge. At the end of the challenge trial, all remaining shrimp were sacrificed, disinfected with chlorine, and discarded.

[0055] [Experimental parameters and analysis] [1. Growth Performance Parameters] Clinical observations, water quality parameters, and mortality rates were recorded daily. For practical reasons, the animals in each tank were weighed together, and the total weight of the animals on days 0, 28, and 56 was recorded. The average weight of the individuals in each tank was calculated by dividing the total weight of the animals by the number of animals.

[0056] Feed consumption was determined for the period between each weighing day. The Feed Conversion Rate (FCR) was calculated as the ratio of total feed consumption on a tank basis to the weight gain per tank, as well as the calculated average feed consumption and weight gain per animal.

[0057] [2. Immunological analysis] Blood lymph samples from three shrimp per tank were collected for immunological analysis at the following time points: 1. Sample collection at the end of the performance trial 2. Sample collection: During the challenge clinical trial (1 week after the challenge) Animals were randomly selected, and their total blood cell count (THC), as well as the quantity and percentage of pellucid cells (HC), semigranular cells (SC), and granular cells (GC), were analyzed.

[0058] [3. Animal sample collection for EMS testing during challenge clinical trials] Prior to the challenge, pool samples containing four shrimp were collected from different performance tanks per group. In addition, to determine the cause of death after the bacterial challenge, 3-4 dead shrimp in good condition per group were sent to the lab for early death syndrome / AHPND (EMS / AHPND) testing via real-time PCR five days after the bacterial challenge.

[0059] [Results and Discussion] [1. Growth Performance] As shown in Table 3, the average body weight and average body weight gain per tank were higher in the MR supplementation group compared to the control group and the Biotronic PX TOP3 group.

[0060] [Table 3]

[0061] [2. Immunological Parameters] As shown in Figure 1, the percentage of small granule cells (SGCs) was higher in the group that received MR supplementation compared to the control group and the Biotronic PX TOP3 group, both before and after the challenge.

[0062] [3. Survival in Challenge Clinical Trials] EMS analysis of shrimp samples collected before and after the bacterial challenge showed that the trial shrimp at the end of the performance trial (before the challenge) were EMS-free, but EMS-positive after the challenge. This indicates that the challenge using the EMS-positive bacterium Vibrio parahemolyticus was successful.

[0063] As shown in Table 4, survival rates during the challenge trial were higher in the MR-replenished group compared to the control group and the Biotronic PX TOP3 group during the first week of the challenge.

[0064] [Table 4]

[0065] [Conclusion] Feed supplementation with MR improves growth performance and immunity and reduces mortality compared to the control group.

[0066] [Example 2] [Animals and housing] The clinical trial was conducted at a commercial farm in Lorca (Murcia, Spain). A total of 572 healthy weaned piglets [(Landrace × Large White) × Pietrain] were used in the trial. The piglets were weaned at an average age of 26 days and had an average initial weight of 5.73 kg ± 0.96 kg. Environmental conditions were automatically controlled to ensure appropriate temperature and ventilation for the piglets' age.

[0067] Weaned piglets were classified into 13 groups of animals based on body weight (sex-mixed with an equal ratio of males and females in each group) and housed in 44 experimental cages (11 replicates per group). Subsequently, the piglets were weighed (individually) and randomly assigned to one of four experimental treatments (CTR, VEV, BIO, SH) based solely on body weight.

[0068] A two-stage feeding plan (0-14 days and 14-38 days) was used, but the duration of the experimental period was 38 days, divided into four periods: 0-7 days, 7-14 days, 14-21 days, and 21-38 days. At the end of each period, the piglets were weighed (individually on day 0, day 7, day 14, day 21, and day 38), and the total feed consumption was recorded to calculate the main production parameters (growth rate, average daily feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio).

[0069] [Experimental feed] The experimental feed for each research phase was formulated using BRILL Software (linear programming) and the FEDNA 2019 composition table. The same nutrient and component restrictions were used, except that the test products (VEVOVITALL® (DSM Nutritional Products, Switzerland) and BIOTRONIC® TOP 3 (DSM Nutritional Products, Austria) or sodium hypophosphate) were included.

[0070] The inclusion levels of the test product and the components of the experimental feed are shown in Tables 5 and 6.

[0071] [Table 5]

[0072] [Table 6]

[0073] [Experimental parameters and analysis] • Average weight in kg / piglet on day 0, day 7, day 14, day 21, and day 38 • Average daily weight gain (ADWG) kg / day for days 0-7, 7-14, 14-21, 21-38, 0-14, 14-38, and 0-38. • Average daily feed intake (ADFI) kg / day for 0-7, 7-14, 14-21, 21-38, 0-14, 14-38, and 0-38 days. • Feed conversion ratio (FCR) kg / kg for days 0-7, 7-14, 14-21, 21-38, 0-14, 14-38, and 0-38 days. • Dropout rates % for days 0-7, 7-14, 14-21, 21-40, 0-14, 14-38, and 0-38 days. Mortality rates for days 0-7, 7-14, 14-21, 21-40, 0-14, 14-38, and 0-38 days.

[0074] [Results and Discussion] As shown in Table 7, compared to the control group and the organic acid groups (VEV and BIO), the SH group supplemented with VevoVitall® and sodium hypophosphite had the highest average daily weight gain and the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR). In addition, the SH group had a much lower dropout rate and mortality rate among piglets.

[0075] [Table 7]

[0076] [Conclusion] The combination of organic acids and sodium hypophosphate improved growth performance and reduced mortality in piglets during the pre-starter period (0-7 days after weaning).

Claims

1. a) a feed composition comprising at least one organic acid and / or at least one salt thereof; and b) hypophosphorous acid and / or at least one salt thereof.

2. The feed composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one organic acid is selected from the group consisting of short-chain monocarboxylic acids having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, saturated dicarboxylic acids, unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, unsaturated carboxylic acids, saturated carboxylic acids, hydroxycarboxylic acids, aromatic carboxylic acids, and ketocarboxylic acids.

3. The feed composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one organic acid is selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, 3-methylbutyric acid, 2-methylbutyric acid, 2-ethylbutyric acid, valeric acid, hexanoic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, sorbic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, octano(caprylic) acid, decano(capric) acid, dodecano(lauric) acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, pyruvic acid, gluconic acid, suberic acid, malonic acid, tannic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, peric acid, and gallic acid, or at least one salt thereof.

4. The feed composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one organic acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, butyric acid, citric acid, formic acid, fumaric acid, lactic acid, octanoic acid, propionic acid, pyruvic acid, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, succinic acid, and valeric acid, or at least one salt thereof.

5. The feed composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one salt of the organic acid is ammonium formate, potassium diformate, sodium diacetate, calcium acetate, ammonium propionate, sodium propionate, calcium propionate, calcium lactate, potassium sorbate, sodium formate, calcium formate, sodium butyrate, sodium sorbate, potassium citrate, sodium citrate, calcium citrate, and benzoates, such as sodium benzoate, magnesium benzoate, manganese benzoate, potassium benzoate, aluminum benzoate, calcium benzoate, and ferric benzoate, but is not limited to these, and is one of any metal salts such as potassium salts, sodium salts, or calcium salts, and ammonium salts.

6. The feed composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one salt of hypophosphorous acid is selected from the group consisting of sodium hypophosphite, magnesium hypophosphite, manganese hypophosphite, potassium hypophosphite, aluminum hypophosphite, calcium hypophosphite, ammonium hypophosphite, and ferric hypophosphite, preferably sodium hypophosphite, magnesium hypophosphite, manganese hypophosphite, and potassium hypophosphite, and more preferably sodium hypophosphite.

7. The feed composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the molar ratio of the at least one organic acid and / or the at least one salt thereof to the hypophosphorous acid and / or the at least one salt thereof is 100:0.1 to 0.1:100, preferably 100:1 to 1:100, more preferably 50:1 to 1:50, even more preferably 20:1 to 1:20, and most preferably 10:1 to 1:

10.

8. The feed composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one organic acid and / or the at least one salt thereof is provided in a concentration of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the animal feed, preferably 0.01% to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.05% to 1% by weight, for example, 0.05% by weight, 0.1% by weight, 0.2% by weight, 0.3% by weight, 0.4% by weight, and 0.5% by weight.

9. The feed composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein hypophosphorous acid and / or at least one salt thereof is provided in an animal feed at a concentration of 0.0005% to 1% by weight, preferably 0.001% to 0.5% by weight, more preferably 0.002% to 0.2% by weight, and even more preferably 0.0025% to 0.1% by weight, for example, 0.0025% by weight, 0.003% by weight, 0.004% by weight, 0.005% by weight, 0.01% by weight, 0.015% by weight, 0.02% by weight, 0.025% by weight, 0.03% by weight, 0.04% by weight, 0.05% by weight, 0.06% by weight, 0.08% by weight, and 0.1% by weight.

10. A feed composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which improves the performance and / or immunity of animals and / or reduces mortality.

11. An animal feed additive or animal feed comprising the feed composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. Use of the feed composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10 in the preparation of an animal feed additive or animal feed for improving animal performance and / or immunity and / or reducing mortality.

13. The animals include pigs, e.g., piglets, growing pigs, and sows; poultry, e.g., turkeys, ducks, quail, guinea fowl, geese, pigeons (including chicks), and chickens (broilers, chicks, and rayer chickens, but not limited to these); pets, e.g., cats and dogs; horses; crustaceans, e.g., shrimp and prawns; fish, e.g., amberjack, arapaima, barb, bass, bluefish, boca chico, bream, bullhead, cachaça, carp, catfish, cutlassfish, milkfish, chaa, cichlid, scad, cod, crappie, The use according to claim 12, selected from the group consisting of sea bream, drumfish, eel, goby, goldfish, gourami, grouper, guapote, halibut, jabba, labeo, rai, loach, mackerel, milkfish, black heron, mudfish, mullet, paco, pearl spot, pejerrey, perch, pike, trevally, roach, salmon, sampa, sauger, grouper, red sea bream, shiner, sleeper, snakehead, snapper, red snapper, sole, rabbitfish, sturgeon, ocean sunfish, sweetfish, tench, terror, tilapia, trout, tuna, flounder, white salmon, walleye, and smallmouth trout.

14. A method for improving growth performance and / or immunity and / or reducing mortality in an animal, comprising administering to the animal a feed composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or an animal feed additive or animal feed according to claim 11.

15. The animals include pigs, e.g., piglets, growing pigs, and sows; poultry, e.g., turkeys, ducks, quail, guinea fowl, geese, pigeons (including chicks), and chickens (broilers, chicks, and rayer chickens, but not limited to these); pets, e.g., cats and dogs; horses; crustaceans, e.g., shrimp and prawns; fish, e.g., amberjack, arapaima, barb, bass, bluefish, boca chico, bream, bullhead, cachaça, carp, catfish, cutlassfish, milkfish, chaa, cichlid, scad, cod, crappie, The method according to claim 14, selected from the group consisting of sea bream, drumfish, eel, goby, goldfish, gourami, grouper, guapote, halibut, jabba, labeo, rai, loach, mackerel, milkfish, black heron, mudfish, mullet, paco, pearl spot, pejerrey, perch, pike, trevally, roach, salmon, sampa, sauger, grouper, red sea bream, shiner, sleeper, snakehead, snapper, red snapper, sole, rabbitfish, sturgeon, ocean sunfish, sweetfish, tench, terror, tilapia, trout, tuna, flounder, white salmon, walleye, and smallmouth trout.

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