Lactobacillus Feed Supplement for Ruminant Meat and Milk Yield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current feed supplements for ruminant animals, such as cattle, are inadequate in improving production efficiency and productivity, particularly in terms of meat and milk production, and often lack controlled dosing options.
Innovation Solution
A microbial composition comprising one or more bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus, specifically Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus buchneri, and Lactobacillus casei, is developed as a feed supplement for ruminant animals. This composition is designed to improve nutrition, growth, development, and productivity when administered to animals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional feed supplements are used for ruminant animals, then basic nutrition is provided, but production efficiency and productivity (meat and milk production) are not sufficiently improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite microbial formulation containing multiple Lactobacillus species (L. paracasei, L. buchneri, L. casei) rather than a single strain. This composite approach synergistically improves digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall productivity, resolving the contradiction by providing both reliable basic nutrition and enhanced production efficiency through combined microbial actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the biological parameters of the feed supplement by introducing specific Lactobacillus strains with proven efficacy for improving ruminant productivity. These parameter changes in microbial composition and functionality directly address the insufficient productivity improvement while maintaining reliable nutrition delivery.
2Productivity
If feed supplements are designed to improve productivity, then production efficiency may increase, but controlled dosing through voluntary consumption is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables animals to self-regulate their supplement intake by incorporating the microbial composition into feed or water sources that animals voluntarily consume. This self-service approach allows controlled dosing without manual intervention, resolving the contradiction by maintaining both productivity improvement and ease of operation through animal-driven consumption control.
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 use of the Lactobacillus-based microbial composition in ruminant animal feed supplements has shown significant improvements in animal growth, gut structure development, and productivity, including increased meat and milk production, with no adverse effects on feed intake.
Implementation Method 1
Ruminant animals possess highly specialised digestive systems, including a complex mix of microbes that assist with the digestive process
Data Source
AI summary
A composition for administration to an animal is provided. The composition comprises a bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus. Also provided is a method of improving or enhancing one or more characteristics of an animal by administering a composition comprising a bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus to the animal. The animal may be cattle, such as a calf. Related animals and animal products are further provided.