Pathogen-Free Worm Feed for Poultry Microbiota
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The poultry industry faces high microbial infection rates among young animals, leading to death and the need for antibiotics, which contributes to antibiotic resistance in humans, while also lacking beneficial microbiota due to hygienic conditions and reduced mother-offspring interactions.
Innovation Solution
A feed composition containing living worms free of pathogens like Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Histomonas meleagridis, along with vermicompost, is used to provide positive microbiota and protect against microbial infections, produced by raising worms from pathogen-free breeding stock and maintaining them in pathogen-free environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If young animals are reared under high hygienic standards, then mortality from microbial infections is reduced, but beneficial microbiota acquisition is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing pathogen-free earthworms as a pre-established beneficial microbiota source before animals are exposed to potential pathogens. The worms are reared under controlled pathogen-free conditions and then introduced to the animals, proactively establishing protective microbiota rather than reacting to infections after they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
Earthworms serve as an intermediary organism that transfers beneficial microbiota from the environment to the animal gut. The worms act as a mediator that carries protected, beneficial microorganisms through their gut and deposits them in the animal's digestive tract, facilitating microbiota transfer without direct environmental exposure.
2Reliability
If antibiotics are administered to prevent microbial infections, then animal health is improved, but antibiotic resistance in humans increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful situation of antibiotic dependency into a beneficial alternative by using pathogen-free earthworms as a natural microbiota source. Instead of relying on antibiotics to control infections, the worms provide beneficial microbiota that naturally competes with pathogens, transforming the approach from chemical intervention to biological prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The earthworms provide self-service by naturally carrying and transferring beneficial microbiota to animals without requiring external intervention. The worms' gut environment naturally cultivates beneficial microorganisms that are then deposited in the animal's digestive tract, creating a self-sustaining microbiota establishment system.
3Quantity of substance
If earthworms are fed to provide beneficial microbiota, then positive microbiota is increased, but harmful microbiota may be introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by removing earthworms from their natural environment and rearing them under controlled pathogen-free conditions. This extracts the worms from sources of harmful microbiota and maintains them in a purified state, ensuring only beneficial microbiota is transferred to animals without contamination from environmental pathogens.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the environmental parameters of worm rearing by maintaining worms in pathogen-free conditions with controlled substrate and temperature. This parameter control ensures the worms' gut microbiota consists only of beneficial organisms, transforming the worms into safe microbiota delivery vehicles free from harmful contaminants.
Data Source
AI summary
The presently claimed invention is directed to a feed composition comprising at least one living worm, wherein the worm is free of pathogens selected from the group consisting of species of Salmonella, species of Campylobacter, Histomonas meleagridis and any combination of two or more of the aforementioned.