Rumen-Resistant Microgranules for Controlled Post-Ruminal Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compositions for delivering physiologically active substances to ruminants suffer from poor stability during feedstuff production, inadequate ruminal protection, and low post-ruminal digestibility, leading to insufficient bioavailability of these substances.
Innovation Solution
A rumen-resistant microgranule composition with a core containing active substances and a matrix, coated with multiple layers to protect against ruminal degradation, featuring disintegrant agents for controlled release in the abomasum and small intestine, enhancing bioavailability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active substances are mixed with feedstuff in conventional formulations, then they are administered orally to animals, but they undergo enzymatic chemical degradation in the rumen and during processing, resulting in poor preservation stability and low bioavailability
Solution Approach 1:
The formulation is segmented into distinct functional components: active substances (5-50% w/w), protective agents (50-95% w/w), and optional binders or fillers. This segmentation allows the active substances to be physically separated from the feed matrix, protecting them from ruminal degradation while maintaining stability during processing and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
Protective agents serve as intermediaries between the active substances and the ruminal environment. These agents (fats, oils, waxes, proteins, or their derivatives) form a protective barrier that prevents enzymatic degradation in the rumen while allowing controlled release in the lower digestive tract, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and bioavailability.
2Reliability
If protective coatings are applied to protect active substances from ruminal degradation, then rumen bypass is improved, but post-ruminal digestibility and bioavailability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective agents are selected and formulated with specific physical and chemical parameters: melting points above ruminal temperature (38-42°C) to maintain protection, but below colonic temperature (35-37°C) to allow release. Fats and oils with melting points of 35-45°C, waxes with melting points of 40-60°C, and proteins with appropriate solubility characteristics are used to achieve the desired parameter balance for both protection and release.
Solution Approach 2:
The formulation uses composite protective systems combining multiple agents (fats, oils, waxes, proteins, or their derivatives) with complementary properties. This composite approach provides synergistic protection during ruminal passage while ensuring adequate release in the lower digestive tract, resolving the contradiction between protection and digestibility.
3Productivity
If active substances are concentrated in the formulation, then higher zootechnical performance can be achieved, but they become more susceptible to degradation during mixing, packaging, storage, and compaction
Solution Approach 1:
The active substances are extracted from the conventional feed matrix and formulated as a separate concentrated composition with protective agents. This extraction allows higher concentrations of active substances (5-50% w/w) to be incorporated while the protective agents shield them from degradation during mixing, packaging, storage, and compaction operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Protective agents (fats, oils, waxes, proteins, or their derivatives) are incorporated beforehand to cushion and protect the active substances from mechanical stress, heat, and moisture during processing and storage. This prior cushioning prevents degradation before the substances are exposed to harmful conditions, enabling higher concentrations to be used safely.
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 composition achieves improved ruminal bypass and post-ruminal digestibility, resulting in higher total bioavailability of active substances, maintaining chemical and physical stability during processing and administration.
Implementation Method 1
The microgranules comprise at least two coating layers, in which the first coating layer consists of a substance or mixture of substances having hydrophobic properties
Implementation Method 2
The core comprises one or more physiologically active substances and a matrix, in which at least one disintegrant agent is included
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a rumen-resistant composition in the form of microgranules, a process for its production and a feedstuff containing such composition.