Ruminant Feed Composition Enhancing Fiber Digestibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ruminants have limited digestibility of plant fibers, leading to inefficient use of feed and increased production costs due to insufficient microbial metabolism in the rumen, which affects energy balance and productivity.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising a mixture of co-products of cereal distillation or beer manufacturing with concentrated cereal solubles, prebiotic fibers, probiotics, amino acids, omega 3, lignans, and digestive enzymes, specifically formulated to enhance microbial activity and fiber digestion, with a mass ratio of concentrated cereal solubles to co-products between 1/1 and 5/1, promoting the production of propionic acid as a source of energy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional feed rations are used, then production costs increase due to increased feed quantity required, but fiber digestibility remains insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiber digestibilityVSAvoidfeed quantity required
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the feed by incorporating specific compounds (co-products of cereal distillation, concentrated cereal solubles, prebiotic fibers, probiotics, amino acids, proteins, omega 3, lignans, and digestive enzymes) to optimize microbial metabolism and improve fiber digestibility, thereby reducing the total feed quantity needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite feed composition combining multiple co-products of cereal distillation or beer manufacturing (DDG and DDGS) with concentrated cereal solubles (CDS) in a specific ratio (1/1 to 5/1 by mass), along with prebiotic fibers, probiotics, amino acids, proteins, omega 3, lignans, and digestive enzymes, to create a synergistic effect that enhances fiber digestion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If microbial activity is not stimulated, then fiber digestion efficiency remains low, but adding conventional supplements does not significantly improve rumen fermentation parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicrobial metabolism efficiencyVSAvoidenergy loss in rumen fermentation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses prebiotic fibers and probiotics as intermediaries to stimulate and modulate microbial activity in the rumen, creating optimal conditions for fiber digestion and energy extraction, thereby reducing energy losses through improved fermentation efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The combination of prebiotics and probiotics enables the rumen microbiota to self-optimize its metabolic functions, improving fiber breakdown and volatile fatty acid production without requiring external intervention beyond the initial supplement addition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If simple mixtures of co-products and solubles are used, then feed cost is reduced, but digestibility improvement is insignificant

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeed formulation simplicityVSAvoiddigestibility improvement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the mass ratio parameter between concentrated cereal solubles (CDS) and co-products of cereal distillation or beer manufacturing (DDG and DDGS) to be between 1/1 and 5/1, and incorporates specific quantities of prebiotic fibers, probiotics, amino acids, proteins, omega 3, lignans, and digestive enzymes to achieve significant digestibility improvement while maintaining formulation simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 significantly improves dry matter and fiber digestibility, reduces gas emissions, particularly methane, and enhances energy metabolism by directing fermentations towards propionic acid production, thereby increasing feed efficiency and animal productivity while maintaining health.

Implementation Method 1

directing fermentations towards the production of volatile fatty acids (AGV) and more specifically towards propionic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 2

digestive enzymes having a positive impact on the digestion of non-human mammals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme hydrolysis: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentEP3558027B1Product for improving the use of fibre in feed
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 AGRO INNOVATION INT
  • EP3558027B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3558027B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3558027B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a composition for feeding a non-human mammal, advantageously a herbivore, comprising a mixture of co-products of cereal distillation or of beer production with or without solubles (DDG and DDGS), of concentrated cereal solubles (CDS), of prebiotic fibres, of probiotics, of amino acids, of proteins, of omega 3, of lignan, and of digestive enzymes. It also relates to a nutritional feed bucket comprising said composition and to the use thereof for improving the zootechnical performance levels of a non-human, advantageously herbivorous, mammal, for increasing the digestibility of solids and of fibres, in particular of fodder and concentrates, and/or improving the consumption index and/or the dietary efficiency and/or promoting weight gain and/or increasing the intensity of microbial metabolism and fermentation and/or reducing gas emission, in particular methane emission, and/or inhibiting the protozoa of the flora and/or decreasing protein degradation and/or directing fermentations towards the production of volatile fatty acids, in particular towards propionic acid, in a non-human, advantageously herbivorous, mammal.