Feed additive composition for ruminants

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an additive composition for ruminant feeds which contains a choline salt, is highly protected in the rumen, and has excellent elution properties in lower digestive tracts.　The present invention relates to an additive composition for ruminant feeds, the composition being characterized by containing: (A) at least one selected from hydrogenated oils and waxes each having a melting point of higher than 50°C and lower than 90°C; (B) 0.01 to 6% by weight of a surfactant; (C) 10 to 60% by weight of a choline salt; (D) 1 to 40% by weight of L-lysine or a salt thereof; (E) a moisture absorption agent; and (F) 0.1 to 3% by weight of a metal salt of stearic acid.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a feed additive composition for ruminants. More specifically, the present invention relates to a feed additive composition for ruminants that contains a choline salt, has high protection in the rumen, and is excellent in dissolution in the lower digestive tract. [Background technology]

[0002] When ruminants ingest feed, microorganisms living in the first stomach (rumen) break down some of the nutrients in the feed and use them as a nutrient source. This function allows ruminants to absorb substances that they cannot directly digest as nutrients. For example, microorganisms break down cellulose and produce sugars that ferment to produce volatile organic compounds. Ruminants absorb these products as nutrients. On the other hand, even if there is a nutrient source that ruminants want to directly absorb, the microorganisms break it down, so ruminants can only absorb the substances that the microorganisms ferment and produce.

[0003] To improve the health of ruminant animals and the productivity of their products (e.g. milk, meat, etc.), it may be desirable to provide nutrients that supplement the normal diet. In such cases, ruminant feed additive formulations are used that protect the nutrients in the rumen so that biologically active substances (nutrients) are not decomposed by microorganisms and can be effectively absorbed, and then the nutrients are absorbed in the digestive tract after the abomasum.

[0004] For example, the present applicant has previously proposed a method for producing a feed additive composition for ruminants that has high protective properties in the rumen (rumen juice resistance) and also has excellent elution properties in the lower digestive tract (e.g., small intestine) after the abomasum, which includes melt-mixing raw materials (protective agents such as hydrogenated vegetable oils and hydrogenated animal oils, biologically active substances, etc.) using an extruder (extrusion granulator) and solidifying the resulting molten mixture in water (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0005] Choline is known to improve lipid metabolism and prevent fatty liver in ruminants. However, choline chloride, which is the cheapest choline salt, is highly hygroscopic. In addition, it is known that highly soluble substances are difficult to pass through the lumen (Non-Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2008 / 041371 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2009 / 122750 [Non-patent literature]

[0007] [Non-Patent Document 1] Animal Science Journal(2006)77,495-502 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a feed additive composition for ruminants which contains a choline salt such as choline chloride, has high protective properties in the rumen, and also has excellent dissolution properties in the lower digestive tract. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] Means for Solving the Problems The present inventors, while studying a feed additive composition for ruminants containing a choline salt (such as choline chloride), have discovered a new technical problem in that, when a choline salt is melt-mixed together with other raw materials using an extruder, solid matter adheres to the discharge port and screw of the extruder, causing blockage of the discharge port and overloading of the screw, making it difficult to produce a molten mixture. As a result of intensive research, the present inventors surprisingly found that by combining L-lysine or a salt thereof, a moisture absorbent, and a metal stearate and using the combined use of a choline salt, it is possible to eliminate blockage of the extruder outlet and overload on the screw, and to stably produce a molten mixture. Based on this finding, they carried out further research and thereby completed the present invention. That is, the present invention is as follows.

[0010] [1] (A) at least one selected from hydrogenated oils and waxes having a melting point higher than 50°C and lower than 90°C; (B) 0.01 to 6% by weight of a surfactant, (C) 10 to 60% by weight of a choline salt; (D) 1 to 40% by weight of L-lysine or a salt thereof, (E) Moisture absorbents, and (F) 0.1 to 3% by weight of metal stearate A feed additive composition for ruminants, comprising: [2] The composition according to [1], wherein the metal stearate is at least one selected from the group consisting of calcium stearate and magnesium stearate. [3] The composition according to [1] or [2], wherein the L-lysine or a salt thereof is at least one selected from the group consisting of L-lysine, L-lysine hydrochloride, L-lysine sulfate, a salt of L-lysine and a carboxylic acid, and a hydrate thereof. [4] The composition according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the L-lysine or a salt thereof is L-lysine hydrochloride. [5] (G) The composition according to any one of [1] to [4], further comprising an inorganic powder. [6] The composition according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the surfactant is an emulsifier. [7] The composition described in [6], wherein the emulsifier is lecithin. [8] The composition according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the moisture absorbent is silica. [9] The composition according to any one of [1] to [8], further comprising 0.1 wt % or more and less than 5 wt % of water.

[10] A method for producing a feed additive composition for ruminants, comprising solidifying in water a molten mixture containing: (A) at least one selected from hydrogenated oils and waxes having melting points higher than 50°C and lower than 90°C; (B) 0.01 to 6% by weight of a surfactant; (C) 10 to 60% by weight of a choline salt; (D) 1 to 40% by weight of L-lysine or a salt thereof; (E) a moisture absorbent; and (F) 0.1 to 3% by weight of a metal stearate.

[11] A method for producing a feed additive composition for ruminants, comprising solidifying in water a molten mixture containing (A) at least one selected from hydrogenated oils and waxes having melting points higher than 50°C and lower than 90°C, (B) 1.1 to 1.4% by weight of lecithin, (C) 18 to 25% by weight of a choline salt, (D) 15 to 33% by weight of L-lysine hydrochloride, (E) a moisture absorbent, and (F) 0.7 to 1.5% by weight of a metal stearate.

[12] The method according to

[10] or

[11] , wherein the metal stearate is at least one selected from the group consisting of calcium stearate and magnesium stearate.

[13] The method according to any one of

[10] to

[12] , wherein the L-lysine or a salt thereof is at least one selected from the group consisting of L-lysine, L-lysine hydrochloride, L-lysine sulfate, a salt of L-lysine and a carboxylic acid, and a hydrate thereof.

[14] The method according to any one of

[10] to

[13] , wherein the L-lysine or a salt thereof is L-lysine hydrochloride.

[15] The method according to any one of

[10] to

[14] , wherein the molten mixture further contains (G) an inorganic powder.

[16] The method according to any one of

[10] and

[12] to

[15] , wherein the surfactant is an emulsifier.

[17] The method of producing the composition described in

[16] , wherein the emulsifier is lecithin.

[18] The method according to any one of

[10] to

[17] , wherein the moisture absorbent is silica. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a feed additive composition for ruminants which contains a choline salt, has high protective properties in the rumen, and also has excellent dissolution properties in the lower digestive tract. According to the feed additive composition for ruminants of the present invention, the choline salt can be efficiently transported to the lower digestive tract of the ruminant, so that the ruminant can sufficiently absorb the choline salt as a nutrient, thereby making it possible, for example, to improve the lipid metabolism of the ruminant and effectively prevent fatty liver. Hereinafter, the protective property of a ruminant feed additive composition in the rumen may be simply referred to as "protective property," and the dissolution property of a ruminant feed additive composition in the lower digestive tract may be simply referred to as "dissolution property." [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a graph (bubble chart) in which the molten mixtures of Examples 1-1 to 1-13 and Comparative Examples 1-1 to 1-3 are plotted, with the X-axis (horizontal axis) representing the blending ratio of lysine hydrochloride and the Y-axis (vertical axis) representing the blending ratio of calcium stearate. The size of the plotted circles (bubbles) indicates the motor current value (A) of the twin-screw extruder 5 minutes after the raw materials were charged. [Diagram 2] 1 is a graph showing the measurement results of the protection rate, elution rate, and residue rate of choline chloride for the ruminant feed additive compositions obtained by solidifying the molten mixtures of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 in water. [Diagram 3] 1 is a graph showing the measurement results of the protection rate, dissolution rate, and residue rate of lysine hydrochloride for the feed additive compositions for ruminants obtained by solidifying the molten mixtures of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 in water. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The feed additive composition for ruminants of the present invention (hereinafter also referred to as "the composition of the present invention") is characterized in that it contains (A) at least one selected from hydrogenated oils and waxes having a melting point higher than 50°C and lower than 90°C (hereinafter also referred to as "component A"), (B) a surfactant (hereinafter also referred to as "component B"), (C) a choline salt (hereinafter also referred to as "component C"), (D) L-lysine or a salt thereof (hereinafter also referred to as "component D"), (E) a moisture absorbent (hereinafter also referred to as "component E"), and (F) a metal stearate (hereinafter also referred to as "component F"). In addition to components A to F, the composition of the present invention preferably further contains (G) an inorganic powder. The composition of the present invention may further contain water in addition to Components A to F or Components A to G. In the present invention, the term "feed additive composition for ruminants" refers to a composition that is usually added to ruminant feed and ingested by the ruminant when the ruminant ingests the feed. However, as long as the composition is ingested by the ruminant, it does not necessarily have to be added to the feed, and for example, the composition of the present invention can be ingested by the ruminant alone.

[0014] [Component A] In the composition of the present invention, component A acts as a protective agent. The hardened oil used as component A is obtained by adding hydrogen to a vegetable oil or animal oil that is liquid at room temperature (25°C) to solidify it, and the concept also includes extremely hardened oil. The melting point of the hardened oil and wax used in the present invention is usually higher than 50°C, and is preferably 55°C or higher, more preferably 60°C or higher, because it can provide excellent protection in the rumen. In addition, the melting point is usually lower than 90°C, and is preferably 80°C or lower, more preferably 70°C or lower, because it can provide excellent elution in the lower digestive tract.

[0015] Specific examples of hydrogenated oils include hydrogenated vegetable oils such as hydrogenated soybean oil, hydrogenated palm oil, hydrogenated rapeseed oil, hydrogenated canola oil, hydrogenated olive oil, hydrogenated almond oil, hydrogenated avocado oil, hydrogenated peanut oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, hydrogenated corn oil, hydrogenated safflower oil, hydrogenated sunflower oil, hydrogenated safflower oil, hydrogenated rice oil, and their extremely hydrogenated oils; hydrogenated animal oils such as beef tallow and lard, and the like. Since they are easily available industrially, hydrogenated soybean oil, extremely hydrogenated soybean oil, hydrogenated beef oil, and hydrogenated pork oil are preferred. Specific examples of waxes include candelilla wax, carnauba wax, rice wax, wood wax, beeswax, and whale wax. These hydrogenated oils and waxes may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0016] The content of component A in the composition of the present invention is usually more than 23% by weight, and is preferably 30% by weight or more, more preferably 35% by weight or more, and particularly preferably 40% by weight or more, because it can provide an excellent balance between protection and elution in the rumen. The content is usually less than 60% by weight, and is preferably 55% by weight or less, more preferably 50% by weight or less, and particularly preferably 45% by weight or less, because it can contain a high concentration of a biologically active substance such as a choline salt.

[0017] [Component B] It is believed that the surfactant used as component B disperses the biologically active substance uniformly in the molten protective agent without uneven distribution. By dispersing the biologically active substance uniformly in the molten protective agent, the composition of the present invention can build a dense protective structure.

[0018] Specific examples of surfactants include, but are not limited to, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, nonionic surfactants, etc., among which those having an emulsifying effect are preferable. Since the composition of the present invention is ingested together with ruminant feed, emulsifiers are one of the preferable surfactants. These surfactants may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds.

[0019] Specific examples of emulsifiers include, but are not limited to, lecithin, saponin, sodium caseinate, fatty acid monoglycerides (e.g., stearic acid monoglyceride, oleic acid monoglyceride, etc.), sorbitan fatty acid esters, sucrose fatty acid esters, etc., and among these, lecithin is one of the preferred emulsifiers because it is easily available industrially. These emulsifiers may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds.

[0020] Specific examples of lecithin include, but are not limited to, soybean lecithin, rapeseed lecithin, canola lecithin, sunflower lecithin, safflower lecithin, cottonseed lecithin, corn lecithin, linseed lecithin, sesame lecithin, rice lecithin, coconut lecithin, palm lecithin, and other vegetable lecithins; egg yolk lecithin, etc., and are preferably vegetable lecithin, more preferably soybean lecithin, because they are easily available in the industry. These lecithins may be, for example, hydrogenated products, enzyme-treated products, enzyme decomposition products, lecithin fractions, etc. In addition, these lecithins may be used alone, or two or more of them may be used in combination.

[0021] The content of component B in the composition of the present invention is usually 0.01% by weight or more, and is preferably 0.05% by weight or more, more preferably 0.5% by weight or more, particularly preferably 1% by weight or more, and even more preferably 1.1% by weight or more, because it is excellent in protection in the rumen and excellent in dissolution in the lower digestive tract. The content is usually 6% by weight or less, and is preferably 5% by weight or less, more preferably 3% by weight or less, particularly preferably 2% by weight or less, and even more preferably 1.4% by weight or less, because it is excellent in protection in the rumen.

[0022] [Component C] Specific examples of the choline salt used as component C include salts of choline and inorganic salts such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, etc.; salts of choline and organic acid salts such as tartaric acid, acetic acid, citrate, etc., and preferably a salt of choline and hydrochloric acid (choline chloride). These choline salts may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0023] The method for producing the choline salt used as component C is not particularly limited, and one produced by a method known per se or a method equivalent thereto may be used.

[0024] The content of component C in the composition of the present invention is usually 10% by weight or more, and is preferably 15% by weight or more, more preferably 17% by weight or more, and particularly preferably 18% by weight or more, because choline chloride can be efficiently provided to ruminants. The content is usually 60% by weight or less, and is preferably 55% by weight or less, more preferably 50% by weight or less, particularly preferably 45% by weight or less, even more preferably 35% by weight or less, and even more preferably 25% by weight or less, because the balance between protection in the rumen and dissolution in the lower digestive tract is excellent.

[0025] Component C may be ground before use. When component C is ground, the particle size is preferably 150 μm or less, more preferably 75 μm or less.

[0026] [Component D] It is believed that L-lysine or a salt thereof used as component D disperses the biologically active substance (choline salt) uniformly in the molten protective agent, similarly to component B (surfactant). In order to disperse the biologically active substance uniformly in the molten protective agent, both components B and D are necessary.

[0027] Component D may be free L-lysine or a salt of L-lysine. Examples of the form of the salt of L-lysine include salts with inorganic bases, salts with inorganic acids, salts with organic acids, and hydrates thereof. Examples of the salts with inorganic bases include salts with alkali metals such as sodium, potassium, and lithium, salts with alkaline earth metals such as calcium and magnesium, and ammonium salts. Examples of the salts with inorganic acids include salts with hydrohalic acids (hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, etc.), sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, etc. Examples of the salts with organic acids include salts with carboxylic acids (e.g., carboxylic acids having 1 to 3 carbon atoms such as formic acid, acetic acid, and propionic acid), oxalic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, and citric acid, etc. These salts of L-lysine may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Component D is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of L-lysine, a salt of L-lysine and an inorganic acid, a salt of L-lysine and an organic acid, and a hydrate thereof, more preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of L-lysine, L-lysine hydrochloride, L-lysine sulfate, a salt of L-lysine and a carboxylic acid, and a hydrate thereof, and particularly preferably L-lysine hydrochloride.

[0028] The L-lysine or a salt thereof used as component D may be extracted and purified from naturally occurring animals and plants, or may be obtained by chemical synthesis, fermentation, enzymatic or genetic recombination. Commercially available products may be used as is or after crushing. When component D is crushed, the particle size is preferably 150 μm or less, more preferably 75 μm or less.

[0029] The content of component D in the composition of the present invention is usually 1% by weight or more relative to the composition of the present invention, and is preferably 3% by weight or more, more preferably 15% by weight or more, and particularly preferably 20% by weight or more, because it can provide an excellent balance between protection and elution in the rumen and can efficiently provide L-lysine or a salt thereof to ruminants. By containing component D in the above amount, the composition of the present invention can improve the homogeneity of the molten mixture, improve the dischargeability to the extruder, and reduce overload on the screw. In addition, the content is usually 40% by weight or less relative to the composition of the present invention, and is preferably 33% by weight or less, more preferably 30% by weight or less, from the viewpoint of balance with the content of the choline salt and because it can provide an excellent protection in the rumen. When a salt of L-lysine is used as component D, the amount of the salt of L-lysine is calculated in terms of the free form (L-lysine). Since L-lysine or a salt thereof has an effect of increasing the milk production in lactating cows, it can also be used as a biologically active substance. Even in such a case, the content of L-lysine or a salt thereof in the composition of the present invention is preferably within the above-mentioned range.

[0030] [Component E] The moisture absorbent used as component E is not particularly limited as long as it has the property of absorbing and adsorbing moisture (hygroscopicity) and is a substance that can be ingested by ruminants, and examples thereof include silica (silicon dioxide), zeolite, kaolin, silicic acid, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, diatomaceous earth, wheat flour, rice bran, corn cobo, corn starch, cellulose, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, dextrin, natural sodium silicate, corn flour, bran, pullulan, bentonite, anhydrous silicic acid, anhydrous silicates, rice husk, calcium hydrogen phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, calcium dihydrogen phosphate, etc., and silica is more widely used as an excipient material for feed additives, so silica is preferred. These moisture absorbents may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds. In addition, some of these moisture absorbents are legally restricted for use in feed additive compositions in some countries, but an appropriate moisture absorbent may be used in accordance with the laws and regulations of each country.

[0031] Examples of silica include wet silica (eg, precipitated silica, silica gel, colloidal silica, etc.), dry silica (eg, fumed silica, etc.), and fused silica (eg, fused silica, etc.), with wet silica being preferred.

[0032] The method for producing the moisture absorbent used as component E is not particularly limited, and one produced by a method known per se or a method equivalent thereto may be used. In addition, a commercially available moisture absorbent may be used, which is preferable because it is simple.

[0033] The choline salt (ingredient C) may be precombined with the moisture absorbent (ingredient E).

[0034] The content of component E in the composition of the present invention is usually 1% by weight or more, and from the viewpoint of preventing moisture absorption, it is preferably 1.5% by weight or more, and more preferably 2% by weight or more. The content is usually 15% by weight or less, and from the viewpoint of excellent balance with biologically active substances, it is preferably 10% by weight or less, more preferably 5% by weight or less, even more preferably 4% by weight or less, and particularly preferably 3% by weight or less.

[0035] The weight ratio of the content of component E to the content of component C in the composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of effectively preventing moisture absorption of the choline salt, it is preferably component E:component C=1:1-20, more preferably component E:component C=1:3-15, and particularly preferably component E:component C=1:6-12.

[0036] [Component F] The present invention uses a metal stearate as component F. Metal stearates have been widely used as lubricants when tableting powders to produce tablets, and are known to be capable of coating the powder surface and improving the flowability of the powder. The present invention is not bound by any theory, but the molten mixture prepared in the process of producing the composition of the present invention is a non-solid material, and the action of metal stearate in a non-solid material cannot be predicted from the general lubricating action obtained in a powder, which is a solid material.

[0037] Examples of the metal stearate used as component F include calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, lead stearate, lithium stearate, strontium stearate, cadmium stearate, barium stearate, etc. Component F is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, and lead stearate, and more preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of calcium stearate and magnesium stearate, since it is more widely used as an excipient material for feed additives and is easily available.

[0038] There are no particular limitations on the method for producing the metal stearate used as component F, and those produced by a method known per se or a method equivalent thereto may be used.

[0039] The content of component F in the composition of the present invention is usually 0.1% by weight or more, and from the viewpoint of improving the flowability of the molten mixture, it is preferably 0.3% by weight or more, and more preferably 0.7% by weight or more. The content is usually 3% by weight or less, and from the viewpoint of achieving an excellent balance between protection and elution in the lumen, it is preferably 2% by weight or less, and more preferably 1.5% by weight or less.

[0040] [Ingredient G] The inorganic powder used as component G is not particularly limited as long as it is chemically inactive and can be ingested by ruminants, and examples thereof include clay minerals such as talc and mica; metal oxides such as titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, and zinc oxide; and talc is preferred because it is more widely used as a filler material for feed additives and is easily available. These inorganic powders may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds.

[0041] When the composition of the present invention contains component G, the content of component G in the composition of the present invention is usually 1% by weight or more, and from the viewpoint of the effect of improving protectiveness in the rumen, it is preferably 2% by weight or more, and more preferably 2.5% by weight or more. The content is usually 10% by weight or less, and from the viewpoint of the excellent balance between protectiveness and elution in the rumen, it is preferably 8% by weight or less, and more preferably 7% by weight or less.

[0042] It is believed that the water contained in the composition of the present invention affects the storage stability of the composition of the present invention and improves the protective properties in the rumen. The water contained in the composition of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is water that can be commonly used in the production of feed additive compositions, and examples thereof include ultrapure water, pure water, ion-exchanged water, distilled water, purified water, tap water, etc.

[0043] The water content (moisture content) of the composition of the present invention is usually 0.1% by weight or more, and is preferably 1% by weight or more, more preferably 1.5% by weight or more, because it can provide excellent protection in the rumen. The moisture content is usually less than 5% by weight, and is preferably 4% by weight or less, more preferably 3% by weight or less, because it can provide excellent protection in the rumen. The water content in the composition of the present invention is determined by loss on drying method (110° C., 3 hours).

[0044] The composition of the present invention may contain other components in addition to components A to F, optional component G, and water. The other components are not particularly limited as long as they do not impair the object of the present invention, and examples thereof include biologically active substances other than choline salts; excipients such as calcium carbonate; pH adjusters such as sodium bicarbonate and citric acid; and anti-caking agents such as calcium silicate and sodium aluminosilicate. The other components may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0045] The composition of the present invention is preferably formed into a shape that is easy for ruminants to ingest, and the shape is not particularly limited, but examples include a sphere, granule, pellet, rugby ball, rolled barley, egg, tablet, etc.

[0046] The composition of the present invention is preferably spherical or nearly spherical. The particle size of the molded product of the composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, but is usually 0.1 to 20 mm, and from the viewpoint of the degree of mixing with the feed, is preferably 0.3 to 10 mm, and more preferably 0.5 to 5 mm. The particle size of the composition of the present invention is determined by sieving with a standard sieve specified in JIS Z 8801 of the Japanese Industrial Standards.

[0047] The method for producing the composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, and the composition of the present invention may be produced by a method known per se, for example, the method described in International Publication No. 2008 / 041371, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0232933, International Publication No. 2009 / 122750, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011 / 0081444, etc., or a method equivalent thereto. Specifically, the composition of the present invention may be produced by a method including solidifying a molten mixture containing components A to F (or components A to G) in water, or the like.

[0048] The contents of components A to F in the molten mixture may be appropriately set according to the contents of components A to F in the composition of the present invention to be produced. The content of component A in the molten mixture is usually more than 23% by weight and less than 60% by weight, preferably 30 to 55% by weight, more preferably 35 to 50% by weight, and particularly preferably 40 to 45% by weight, based on the molten mixture; the content of component B in the molten mixture is usually 0.01 to 6% by weight, preferably 0.05 to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 3% by weight, particularly preferably 1 to 2% by weight, and even more preferably 1.1 to 1.4% by weight, based on the molten mixture; and the content of component C in the molten mixture is usually 10 to 60% by weight, preferably 15 to 55% by weight, and more preferably 17 to 5 The content of component D in the molten mixture is usually 1 to 40% by weight, preferably 3 to 35% by weight, more preferably 15 to 33% by weight, and particularly preferably 20 to 30% by weight, based on the molten mixture; the content of component E in the molten mixture is usually 1 to 15% by weight, preferably 1.5 to 10% by weight, more preferably 2 to 5% by weight, even more preferably 2 to 4% by weight, and particularly preferably 2 to 3% by weight, based on the molten mixture; and the content of component F in the molten mixture is usually 0.1 to 3% by weight, preferably 0.3 to 2% by weight, and more preferably 0.7 to 1.5% by weight, based on the molten mixture. When the molten mixture contains component G, the content of component G in the molten mixture is usually 1 to 10% by weight, preferably 2 to 8% by weight, and more preferably 2.5 to 7% by weight, based on the molten mixture.

[0049] The method for preparing the molten mixture containing components A to F (or components A to G) is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a method of heating components A to G (which may contain other components as desired) using a commercially available extruder (preferably a twin-screw extruder) or the like. The order in which components A to F or components A to G are added to the cylinder of the extruder is not particularly limited, but in order to coat the surface of component C with component B, components B and C may be mixed in advance using a mixer or the like and then added, or components A to F or components A to G may be added almost simultaneously in order to increase production efficiency. Alternatively, a molten mixture can also be obtained by first mixing components A and C at about room temperature, and then adding the remaining components and heating. Component C may be pulverized before use. For example, in order to prevent moisture absorption, a mixture obtained by mixing component C with component E in a mixer or the like, or a premix of components C and E, etc., may be pulverized using a pulverizer until the average particle size (median diameter) is preferably 150 μm or less, more preferably 75 μm or less, and then sieved as necessary.

[0050] The temperature at which components A to F or components A to G are heated is not particularly limited as long as it is equal to or higher than the melting point of component A, but is preferably about 5 to 15°C higher than the melting point of component A. For example, when using extremely hardened soybean oil (melting point: 67 to 68°C) as component A, heating at 72 to 85°C is sufficient. At this time, components other than component A do not necessarily need to melt, and for example, component C may not melt but may be dispersed, and the molten mixture may be in a slurry state. In addition, it is not necessary to heat at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of component A from the beginning of heating. For example, first, preheating is performed at a temperature 5 to 10°C lower than the melting point of component A, and then the raw material is conveyed by a screw in the cylinder of the extruder, and then heated at a predetermined temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of component A, to efficiently obtain a stable molten mixture.

[0051] The equipment that can be used to prepare the molten mixture is not limited to an extruder, and any equipment that can prepare a molten mixture that can become droplets when allowed to fall naturally may be used.

[0052] The method of solidifying the molten mixture containing components A to F (or components A to G) in water is not particularly limited, but it can be performed by immersing the molten mixture in water, specifically, for example, storing the molten mixture in a container having a hole (hole) of a predetermined diameter and dropping it into water from the hole. When the molten mixture is dropped (preferably by natural dropping) from a hole of a predetermined diameter, it is cut by the action of surface normal force while dropping and becomes individual independent droplets. When the droplets are dropped into a water tank at a predetermined temperature, the droplets are instantly cooled in the water and solidified, and a solid material of a predetermined shape is obtained. When the droplets solidify into a solid material, the water in the water tank is taken up by the solid material, but this water can be reduced by a subsequent heating and drying treatment (described later). When the molten mixture is solidified in water, some biologically active substances may be dissolved in the water, but the amount is very small.

[0053] The diameter of the holes in the container for storing the molten mixture may be appropriately selected depending on the size of the resulting granules (solidified droplets of the molten mixture), and is usually 1 to 5 mm, preferably 0.5 to 3 mm.

[0054] The container for storing the molten mixture is not particularly limited as long as it has holes of a predetermined diameter, but it is preferable to use a multi-hole shooter because it can efficiently increase the production volume. Here, the "multi-hole shooter" refers to a container with multiple holes in the bottom, which is a facility for temporarily storing the molten mixture. In addition, the container for storing the molten mixture is preferably equipped with a heating facility so that the stored molten mixture does not cool.

[0055] The temperature of the molten mixture when it is dropped into water is not particularly limited, but is usually 60 to 90°C, and preferably 70 to 90°C from the viewpoint of the melting point.

[0056] The temperature of the water into which the molten mixture is dropped is not particularly limited as long as the molten mixture is instantaneously solidified, but is usually 0 to 30°C.

[0057] The granules obtained by solidifying the molten mixture containing components A to E in water (also referred to as "underwater granules" in this specification) are preferably subjected to a heat-drying treatment. The moisture content of the granules can be adjusted by the heat-drying treatment. The heat-drying treatment can be carried out, for example, by exposing the granules to an atmosphere (e.g., hot water, steam, hot air, etc.) set at a temperature lower than the melting point of component A contained in the granules for about several minutes to several tens of minutes. The time for the heat-drying treatment may be appropriately set based on the temperature of the heat-drying treatment, the type of component A, the amount of the granules, etc.

[0058] When the composition of the present invention is produced by a method including solidifying a molten mixture containing components A to F (or components A to G) in water, the method may further include coating the solidified mixture with a coating agent. Examples of coating agents that can be used include hardened oils, surfactants, natural vegetable oils, animal oils, vegetable oils, fatty acids or salts thereof, waxes, polysaccharides (chitosan, alginic acid, etc.), monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, fatty acid esters, fatty acid alcohols, celluloses (carboxymethylcellulose, etc.), clay, silica, pH-sensitive polyvinyl derivatives (polyvinylpyrrolidone, etc.), acrylic resins (Resin IV, etc.), etc. The method for coating the solidified mixture is not particularly limited, and may be a method known per se, but may be produced by, for example, the method described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,137,719, U.S. Pat. No. 8,182,851, etc., or a method equivalent thereto.

[0059] The composition of the present invention may be of a dispersed type (matrix type) in one embodiment. Here, the "dispersed type" ruminant feed additive composition refers to a ruminant feed additive composition containing each component, including a biologically active substance, in a substantially uniformly dispersed state. In another embodiment, the composition of the present invention may be of a coated type in which a dispersed core is coated with a coating agent. Here, the "coated type in which a dispersed core is coated with a coating agent" ruminant feed additive composition refers to a ruminant feed additive composition in which the center (core) is of a dispersed type (containing each component, including a biologically active substance, in a substantially uniformly dispersed state), and the surface of the core is coated with a coating agent.

[0060] The composition of the present invention preferably has a surface layer that is substantially free of biologically active substances (e.g., choline salts, etc.). The composition of the present invention can have water repellency by having a surface layer that is substantially free of biologically active substances. Here, the "layer that is substantially free of biologically active substances" means a layer that does not contain any biologically active substances at all, or a layer that contains a biologically active substance in an amount that does not inhibit water repellency (usually 2% by weight or less, preferably 1% by weight or less).

[0061] The thickness of the layer that is substantially free of a biologically active substance is usually 10 to 110 μm, and is preferably 10 to 80 μm because it can provide excellent water repellency.

[0062] The composition of the present invention having a surface layer that is substantially free of a biologically active substance can be produced, for example, by a method including solidifying a molten mixture containing components A to F (or components A to G) in water and coating the solidified mixture with a coating agent.

[0063] The protection in the rumen and dissolution in the lower digestive tract of the composition of the present invention can be evaluated from the protection rate and dissolution rate of a biologically active substance (e.g., choline salt, etc.) measured by an in vitro test using a dissolution tester.

[0064] <Measurement of biologically active substance concentration (concentration A) for calculating protection rate> Using a dissolution tester (manufactured by Toyama Sangyo Co., Ltd.), add approximately 3 g of the formulation sample to 900 ml of ultrapure water (produced using Milli Q (manufactured by Millipore)) that has been heated to a temperature equivalent to the body temperature of ruminants (e.g., dairy cows, etc.) (e.g., 39°C), stir at 100 rpm, and 20 hours after the start of stirring, take 2 ml of the test solution under stirring for measuring the protection rate, and measure the concentration of the biologically active substance (concentration A, unit: mg / dl). <Measurement of the concentration of biologically active substance (concentration B) for calculating the dissolution rate> Immediately after taking the sample for measuring the protection rate, 8 ml of an aqueous solution of bile powder (manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and pancreatin (manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) (concentrations of bile powder and pancreatin are both 23.4 g / 100 ml) is added to the test liquid immediately after taking the sample for measuring the protection rate, while continuing to stir at 100 rpm, to prepare a test liquid equivalent to the small intestine. Five hours after the addition of the aqueous solution, 2 ml is taken from the test liquid being stirred for measuring the dissolution rate, and the concentration of the biologically active substance is measured (concentration B, unit: mg / dl). The concentrations of the above biologically active substances (concentrations A and B) are measured using liquid chromatography (Waters Corporation) or a biosensor (Oji Scientific Instruments). <Calculation of protection rate and elution rate of biologically active substances> The protection rate and dissolution rate of the biologically active substance are calculated according to the following formulas. Protection rate [%] = {1 - (concentration A [mg / dl] × 9) / (weight of preparation sample [g] × 1000 × content of biologically active substance in preparation sample [wt%] / 100)} × 100 Dissolution rate [%] = {((Concentration B [mg / dl] - Concentration A [mg / dl]) x 9) / (Weight of formulation sample [g] x 1000 x Content of biologically active substance in formulation sample [wt%] / 100)} x 100

[0065] The protection rate of the biologically active substance of the composition of the present invention is preferably 50% or more, more preferably 70% or more, and particularly preferably 80% or more. On the other hand, the upper limit of the protection rate of the composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, but is usually 100%.

[0066] The higher the dissolution rate of the biologically active substance from the composition of the present invention, the more preferable it is, and there is no particular upper limit.

[0067] The ruminant animals for which the composition of the present invention can be used are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include cattle, sheep, goats, deer, giraffes, camels, and llamas, with cattle being preferred.

[0068] The amount of the composition of the present invention added to ruminant feed is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately adjusted depending on the required amount of a biologically active substance (e.g., choline chloride, etc.), etc. The composition of the present invention is usually used by being added to feed and ingested by ruminants together with the feed, but as long as it is ingested by ruminants, it does not necessarily have to be added to feed, and for example, the composition of the present invention can be ingested by ruminants alone.

[0069] The present invention will be described in more detail in the following examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples in any way. EXAMPLES

[0070] <Test Example 1> [Production of molten mixtures of Examples 1-1 to 1-4, 1-10, 1-11, and 1-13] Choline chloride (Hangzhou Donglou Bio-Nutrient Co., Ltd.) and silica (Evonik "Carplex #80") were mixed in a Nauta mixer (Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.) to obtain a mixture, or a premix of choline chloride and silica (silica ratio: 10% by weight, Hangzhou Donglou Bio-Nutrient Co., Ltd.) was pulverized in a fine grinder (Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.). The obtained pulverized product was thoroughly mixed with soybean hardened oil (Yokoseki Yushi Kogyo Co., Ltd.), soybean lecithin (ADM Co., Ltd.), lysine hydrochloride pulverized in a fine grinder (Bepex Co., Ltd.), calcium stearate (NOF Corp.), and talc (Asada Milling Co., Ltd.) in the ratios (unit: weight%) shown in Tables 1 and 2, and the mixture was continuously fed into a twin-screw extruder (Japan Steel Works, Ltd.). The temperatures inside the cylinder of the extruder were preheating temperature: 65°C, main heating temperature: 88°C, and outlet temperature setting: 77°C, and the materials were melted and mixed to obtain a molten mixture in a molten slurry state.

[0071] [Production of molten mixtures of Examples 1-5 to 1-9 and 1-12] A molten mixture in a molten slurry state was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1-1, except that talc was not used.

[0072] [Preparation of molten mixture of Comparative Example 1-1] A molten mixture in a molten slurry state was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1-1, except that calcium stearate and talc were not used.

[0073] [Preparation of molten mixtures of Comparative Examples 1-2 and 1-3] A molten mixture in a molten slurry state was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1-1, except that lysine hydrochloride and talc were not used.

[0074] [Preparation of molten mixtures of Comparative Examples 1-4] An attempt was made to prepare a molten mixture in the same manner as in Example 1-1, except that only choline chloride (manufactured by Hangzhou Donglou Bio-Nutrient Co., Ltd.) was used instead of a mixture obtained by mixing choline chloride and silica in a Nauta mixer (i.e., no silica was used). However, choline chloride absorbs moisture and cannot be finely ground, and therefore a molten mixture could not be produced.

[0075] [Evaluation of Molten Mixtures of Examples 1-1 to 1-13 and Comparative Examples 1-1 to 1-3] (1) Discharge status of molten mixture Five minutes after the raw materials were fed into the twin-screw extruder, the state of the molten mixture being discharged from the extruder outlet was visually observed and evaluated based on the following criteria. [Evaluation Criteria] ○: The molten mixture continues to be discharged from the extruder outlet. ×: The molten mixture was no longer discharged from the extruder outlet. (2) Motor current value of the twin-axis extruder Five minutes after the raw materials were fed into the twin-screw extruder, the motor current value (A) of the twin-screw extruder was checked. The motor current value increases as the load on the twin-screw extruder screw increases, and a lower motor current value indicates a lower load on the twin-screw extruder screw. When the motor current value exceeds 15A, the twin-screw extruder is forced to stop operating.

[0076] The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[0077] [Table 1]

[0078] [Table 2]

[0079] In Examples 1-1 to 1-13, the molten mixture continued to be discharged from the extruder outlet in a smooth slurry state even 5 minutes after the raw materials were charged. In particular, in Example 1-12, the molten mixture continued to be discharged from the extruder outlet in a smooth slurry state even after 3 hours of continuous operation. On the other hand, in Comparative Examples 1-1 to 1-3, the molten mixture was discharged from the extruder outlet in a smooth slurry state immediately after the raw materials were added, but within 5 minutes after the raw materials were added, solid matter adhered to the extruder outlet, causing it to become clogged, and the molten mixture could no longer be discharged. When the operation of the twin-screw extruder was stopped and the screws were removed, no solid deposits were observed on the screws in Example 1-12, in which the molten mixture continued to be discharged smoothly, whereas a large amount of solid deposits were observed on the screws in Comparative Examples 1-1 to 1-3, in which the extruder outlet was clogged.

[0080] Furthermore, in Examples 1-1 to 1-13, the motor current value of the twin-screw extruder was significantly below the forced shutdown value of 15 A even 5 minutes after the raw materials were added, whereas in Comparative Examples 1-1 to 1-3, the motor current value rose rapidly within 5 minutes after the raw materials were added and ultimately exceeded the forced shutdown value of 15 A, forcing the operation of the twin-screw extruder to stop and making continuous production impossible.

[0081] 1 is a graph (bubble chart) in which the X-axis (horizontal axis) represents the blending ratio of lysine hydrochloride and the Y-axis (vertical axis) represents the blending ratio of calcium stearate, and in which Examples 1-1 to 1-13 and Comparative Examples 1-1 to 1-3 are plotted. The size of the plotted circles (bubbles) represents the motor current value (A) of the twin-screw extruder. In the graph, the area with the larger circle (bubble) (i.e., the area where the twin-screw extruder becomes inoperable) was considered to be the area below the dotted line shown in the graph.

[0082] <Test Example 2> [Preparation of the molten mixture of Example 2] Choline chloride (Hangzhou Donglou Bio-Nutrient Co., Ltd.) and silica (Evonik "Carplex #80") were mixed in a Nauta mixer (Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.), and the mixture obtained was pulverized in a fine grinder (Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.). The obtained pulverized product was thoroughly mixed with soybean hardened oil (Yokoseki Yushi Kogyo Co., Ltd.), soybean lecithin (ADM Co., Ltd.), lysine hydrochloride pulverized in a fine grinder (Bepex Co., Ltd.) as necessary, and calcium stearate (NOF Corp.) in the ratio (unit: weight %) shown in Table 3, and the mixture was continuously fed into a twin-screw extruder (Japan Steel Works, Ltd.). The temperature inside the cylinder of the extruder was set to a preheating temperature of 65°C, a main heating temperature of 88°C, and an outlet setting temperature of 77°C, and the mixture was melted and mixed to obtain a molten mixture in a molten slurry state.

[0083] [Preparation of molten mixture of Comparative Example 2] Except for not using calcium stearate, a molten mixture in a molten slurry state was obtained in the same manner as in Example 2. The motor current value of the twin-screw extruder started to increase slightly, and there were signs of blockage at the extruder outlet, but operation could be continued.

[0084] [Table 3]

[0085] [Production of feed additive composition for ruminants] The molten mixtures obtained in Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were discharged from the extruder outlet and fed into a multi-hole shooter (number of holes: 108, diameter of holes: 1 mm), and then the molten mixtures were allowed to fall naturally from the holes of the multi-hole shooter into a cooling water tank (water temperature: 0 to 10°C). The distance from the multi-hole shooter to the water surface of the cooling water tank was 10 cm. The molten mixtures that fell from the multi-hole shooter became droplets while falling, and after immersing in water, they were cooled and instantly solidified. After dehydration, they were subjected to a heat drying process for 10 minutes in a fluidized bed dryer (manufactured by Freund Corporation) set at 52°C to obtain granules (feed additive composition for ruminants).

[0086] For the ruminant feed additive compositions of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 immediately after production, the moisture content, choline chloride content, lysine hydrochloride content, and protection rate and dissolution rate of biologically active substances (choline chloride, lysine hydrochloride) were measured and calculated respectively by the following procedures.

[0087] [Measurement of moisture content of feed additive composition] The water content of each composition was determined by loss on drying method (110°C, 3 hours).

[0088] [Measurement of choline chloride content and lysine hydrochloride content in feed additive composition] The choline chloride content and lysine hydrochloride content of each composition were measured and calculated by the following procedures. 1.0 g of the feed additive composition was placed in a 50 mL FALCON conical tube, 2 mL of concentrated hydrochloric acid and 18 mL of pure water were added, and the tube was sealed and heated at 90°C for 3 hours. After cooling, the tube was transferred to a 100 mL measuring flask, filled with pure water, and filtered through a 0.45 μm filter to prepare an aqueous solution of choline and lysine. This aqueous solution was diluted 10 times, and quantitative analysis was performed using a biosensor BF-7 (manufactured by Oji Scientific Instruments) with a choline electrode for choline and a lysine electrode for lysine to determine the contents (wt%) of choline chloride and lysine hydrochloride in the feed additive composition.

[0089] [Measurement of protection rate and dissolution rate] <Measurement of biologically active substance concentration (concentration A) for calculating protection rate> Using a dissolution tester (manufactured by Toyama Sangyo Co., Ltd.), about 3 g of the formulation sample was added to 900 ml of ultrapure water (produced using Milli Q (manufactured by Millipore Co., Ltd.)) that had been heated to a temperature (e.g., 39°C) equivalent to the body temperature of ruminants (e.g., dairy cows, etc.), and the mixture was stirred at 100 rpm. 20 hours after the start of stirring, 2 ml of the test solution was taken during stirring for measuring the protection rate, and the concentration of the biologically active substance was measured (concentration A, unit: mg / dl). <Measurement of the concentration of biologically active substance (concentration B) for calculating the dissolution rate> Immediately after taking the sample for measuring the protection rate, 8 ml of an aqueous solution of bile powder (manufactured by FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and pancreatin (manufactured by FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) (concentrations of bile powder and pancreatin were both 23.4 g / 100 ml) was added to the test liquid immediately after taking the sample for measuring the protection rate, while continuing to stir at 100 rpm, to prepare a test liquid equivalent to the small intestine. Five hours after the addition of the aqueous solution, 2 ml was taken from the test liquid being stirred for measuring the dissolution rate, and the concentration of the biologically active substance was measured (concentration B, unit: mg / dl). The concentrations of the above biologically active substances (concentrations A and B) were measured using liquid chromatography (Waters Corporation) or a biosensor (Oji Scientific Instruments). <Calculation of protection rate, elution rate and residue rate of biologically active substances> The protection rate and dissolution rate of the biologically active substance were calculated according to the following formulas. Protection rate [%] = {1 - (concentration A [mg / dl] × 9) / (weight of preparation sample [g] × 1000 × content of biologically active substance in preparation sample [wt%] / 100)} × 100 Dissolution rate [%] = {((Concentration B [mg / dl] - Concentration A [mg / dl]) x 9) / (Weight of formulation sample [g] x 1000 x Content of biologically active substance in formulation sample [wt%] / 100)} x 100 The residual rate of biologically active substances was calculated by the following formula. Residual rate [%] = {1 - (concentration B [mg / dl] × 9) / (weight of preparation sample [g] × 1000 × content of biologically active substance in preparation sample [wt%] / 100)} × 100 The protection rate [%] is the sum of the elution rate [%] and the residue rate [%].

[0090] The results of measuring the moisture content, choline chloride content, and lysine hydrochloride content of the ruminant feed additive compositions obtained by solidifying the molten mixtures of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 in water are shown in Table 4. The results of measuring the protection rate, dissolution rate, and residue rate of the biologically active substances (choline chloride, lysine hydrochloride) of the compositions are shown in Figures 2 and 3. The contents of the extremely hardened soybean oil, soybean lecithin, silica and calcium stearate in the molten mixture do not change before and after granulation in water.

[0091] [Table 4]

[0092] As is clear from the results shown in Figures 2 and 3, the feed additive composition for ruminants obtained by solidifying the molten mixture of Example 2, which contains calcium stearate, in water had a higher protection rate and dissolution rate than the feed additive composition for ruminants obtained by solidifying the molten mixture of Comparative Example 2, which does not contain calcium stearate, in water. [Industrial Applicability]

[0093] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a feed additive composition for ruminants which contains a choline salt, has high protective properties in the rumen, and also has excellent dissolution properties in the lower digestive tract. According to the feed additive composition for ruminants of the present invention, the choline salt can be efficiently transported to the lower digestive tract of the ruminant, so that the ruminant can sufficiently absorb the choline salt as a nutrient, thereby making it possible, for example, to improve the lipid metabolism of the ruminant and effectively prevent fatty liver.

[0094] This application is based on patent application No. 2019-176242 filed in Japan (filing date: September 26, 2019), the contents of which are incorporated in their entirety herein.

Claims

1. (A) at least one selected from hydrogenated oils and waxes having a melting point higher than 50° C. and lower than 90° C.; (B) 0.01 to 6% by weight of a surfactant; (C) 10 to 60% by weight of a choline salt; (D) 1 to 40% by weight of L-lysine or a salt thereof, (E) moisture absorbents, and (F) 0.1 to 3% by weight of a metal stearate A feed additive composition for ruminants, comprising:

2. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the metallic stearate is at least one selected from the group consisting of calcium stearate and magnesium stearate.

3. 3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the L-lysine or a salt thereof is at least one selected from the group consisting of L-lysine, L-lysine hydrochloride, L-lysine sulfate, a salt of L-lysine and a carboxylic acid, and a hydrate thereof.

4. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the L-lysine or a salt thereof is L-lysine hydrochloride.

5. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising (G) an inorganic powder.

6. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the surfactant is an emulsifier.

7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the emulsifier is lecithin.

8. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the moisture absorbent is silica.

9. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising from 0.1% by weight to less than 5% by weight of water.

10. A method for producing a feed additive composition for ruminants, comprising solidifying in water a molten mixture containing (A) at least one selected from hydrogenated oils and waxes having melting points higher than 50°C and lower than 90°C, (B) 0.01 to 6 wt % of a surfactant, (C) 10 to 60 wt % of a choline salt, (D) 1 to 40 wt % of L-lysine or a salt thereof, (E) a moisture absorbent, and (F) 0.1 to 3 wt % of a metal stearate.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the L-lysine or a salt thereof is at least one selected from the group consisting of L-lysine, L-lysine hydrochloride, L-lysine sulfate, a salt of L-lysine and a carboxylic acid, and a hydrate thereof.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the L-lysine or a salt thereof is L-lysine hydrochloride.

13. A method for producing a composition according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the surfactant is an emulsifier.

14. The manufacturing method described in claim 13, wherein the emulsifier is lecithin.

15. A method for producing a feed additive composition for ruminants, comprising solidifying in water a molten mixture containing (A) at least one selected from hydrogenated oils and waxes having melting points higher than 50°C and lower than 90°C, (B) 1.1 to 1.4 wt% of lecithin, (C) 18 to 25 wt% of a choline salt, (D) 15 to 33 wt% of L-lysine hydrochloride, (E) a moisture absorbent, and (F) 0.7 to 1.5 wt% of a metal stearate.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the metal stearate is at least one selected from the group consisting of calcium stearate and magnesium stearate.

17. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the molten mixture further contains (G) an inorganic powder.

18. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein the moisture absorbent is silica.

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