Coated Feed Additive for Livestock Growth

Solution Overview

Problem

The mechanism of action of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) is not clear, leading to a lack of effective alternatives for promoting growth in livestock, and the use of AGPs is facing regulatory challenges due to antibiotic resistance and environmental concerns.

Innovation Solution

A coated-type feed additive composition containing physiologically active substances such as bacteriocins, polyphenols, amino acids, or polysaccharides that strengthen the membrane of intestinal epithelial cells, combined with a suitable coating agent to enhance body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in livestock.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) are used to improve livestock productivity, then body weight gain and feed conversion ratio are improved, but antibiotic resistance and environmental pollution problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces long-lasting antibiotic growth promoters with short-lasting bacteriocin-based additives that are rapidly degraded by digestive enzymes. This approach eliminates the persistence of antibiotics in the animal gut and environment, thereby preventing antibiotic resistance development while maintaining growth promotion effects through temporary, non-persistent action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful persistence of antibiotics into a benefit by using bacteriocins that are intentionally designed to be rapidly degraded. The rapid degradation by digestive enzymes transforms the potential harm of persistent antibiotic residues into a benefit, ensuring environmental cleanliness and preventing resistance while maintaining effective growth promotion during the feeding period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If bacteriocins are used as alternatives to AGPs, then antibiotic resistance is reduced, but they are easily decomposed by digestive enzymes and thus not effective in feed applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces protective agents as intermediaries that form a protective matrix around bacteriocins in the feed. These protective agents act as mediators that shield the bacteriocins from rapid decomposition by digestive enzymes while still allowing them to function effectively in the animal gut, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite feed formulations combining bacteriocins with protective agents and other feed components. This composite approach enhances the stability and bioavailability of bacteriocins in the feed application, allowing them to survive the digestive process long enough to exert their growth-promoting effects without being rapidly decomposed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If the mechanism of action of AGPs is unclear, then alternative substances cannot be effectively developed, but regulatory challenges increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms through controlled release formulations and protective agents that allow monitoring of bacteriocin activity throughout the digestive process. This feedback approach enables better understanding of the mechanism of action by observing how the protective matrix degrades and releases bacteriocins, providing data for regulatory compliance while advancing scientific knowledge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The feed additive composition effectively improves body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in healthy livestock, offering an economical solution that avoids the issues of antibiotic resistance and environmental pollution associated with AGPs.

Implementation Method 1

a coated-type feed additive composition for improving body weight gain of livestock or feed conversion ratio for livestock comprising: a core containing a physiologically active substance having a property of strengthening a membrane of intestinal epithelial cells; and a core coating agent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoating: Coatings

Data Source

PatentUS11857596B2Animal feed additive and animal feed

Publication Date: 2024.01.02

AI summary

The present invention provides a coated-type feed additive composition for improving body weight gain of livestock or feed conversion ratio for livestock comprising: a core containing a physiologically active substance having a property of strengthening a membrane of intestinal epithelial cells; and a core coating agent.