Feed Protease Composition for Broad-pH Protein Digestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficient digestion of protein sources like soybean meal in animal feeds, particularly in mono-gastric animals such as pigs and poultry, leads to suboptimal protein uptake and performance, necessitating proteases that can function effectively across the broad pH range of the digestive tract.
Innovation Solution
The use of S8 proteases obtained from the taxonomic order Xanthomonadales, specifically from the genus Lysobacter, which exhibit protease activity and improve apparent ileal nitrogen digestibility, enhancing protein digestion and animal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional proteases are used in animal feed, then some protein digestion occurs, but the apparent ileal nitrogen digestibility remains low (around 80%) and protein uptake is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting proteases with specific pH activity profiles that match the digestive tract conditions. The proteases are chosen to be active at pH 2-3 (stomach), pH 6-7.5 (intestine), and pH 4-6 (crop), enabling effective protein digestion across all digestive segments and significantly improving apparent ileal nitrogen digestibility beyond the conventional 80% level.
2Reliability
If proteases active at narrow pH ranges are used, then they work well in specific digestive segments, but they cannot function effectively across the broad pH range of the entire digestive tract
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by selecting proteases that can perform protein digestion function across multiple pH environments. Specifically, the proteases are chosen to be active in the stomach (pH 2-3), intestine (pH 6-7.5), and crop (pH 4-6), making them universally effective throughout the entire digestive tract of mono-gastric animals rather than being limited to a single segment.
3Productivity
If more protease activity is added to improve protein digestion, then apparent ileal nitrogen digestibility increases, but feed cost and formulation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the protease-to-protein ratio and selecting proteases with high specific activity. This allows achieving improved apparent ileal nitrogen digestibility and protein uptake without excessively increasing the amount of protease additive needed, thereby limiting the increase in feed formulation complexity and cost.
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 S8 proteases increase apparent ileal nitrogen digestibility and improve growth performance by effectively degrading proteins across various pH conditions in the digestive tract, leading to better protein utilization and reduced feed conversion ratios.
Implementation Method 1
proteases which are active at the broad range of physiological pH of the digestive tract... effectively degrading proteins across various pH conditions in the digestive tract
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to animal feed or animal feed additives comprising polypeptides having protease activity and uses thereof. It also relates to the methods for producing the proteases and for using the proteases to improve animal performance and the nutritional value of an animal feed.