Acid-containing feed supplements for ruminants and methods of manufacturing same

• US 20060029645A1
• Filed: 08/04/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Novus International, Inc. (Nippon Soda Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nutritech Solutions, Ltd.
• Inventors: Vanderkooi, Bill
• Application Number:
  US10/910,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20060029645A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/442
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/37 from waste material from hydrolysates of wood or straw A23K10/32; from molasses A23K10/33
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/105 Aliphatic or alicyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/20 Inorganic substances, e.g. oligoelements
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/24 Compounds of alkaline earth metals, e.g. magnesium
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/28 Silicates, e.g. perlites, zeolites or bentonites
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 40/00 Shaping or working-up of animal feeding-stuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/10 for ruminants
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/87 Re-use of by-products of food processing for fodder production

Abstract

This application relates a flowable feed supplement for ruminant animals such as cattle comprising a liquid acid adsorbed on a granular inorganic substrate. The inorganic substrate may be combined with an organic carrier such as source of slowly fermentable carbohydrates. In one embodiment the inorganic substrate is silicon dioxide. The supplement provides a concentrated, palatable source of anions to help prevent hypocalcemia, ketosis and other diet-related metabolic disorders.

Claims

1. A flowable animal feed supplement for ruminants comprising a liquid acid adsorbed on a granular inorganic substrate.

2. The feed supplement as defined in claim 1, wherein the inorganic substrate is capable of adsorbing between 50 and 500% of its weight in moisture.

3. The feed supplement as defined in claim 1, wherein the inorganic substrate is selected from the group consisting of silica, silicon dioxide and sodium bentonite.

4. The feed supplement as defined in claim 1, wherein the inorganic substrate is within the range of 0.1% to 5% of the dry mass of the feed supplement.

5. The feed supplement as defined in claim 1, wherein the liquid acid is within the range of 5% to 60% of the dry mass of the feed supplement.

6. The feed supplement as defined in claim 5, wherein the liquid acid comprises 15% or more of the dry mass of the feed supplement.

7. The feed supplement as defined in claim 1, wherein the liquid acid is hydrochloric acid.

8. The feed supplement as defined in claim 1, wherein the liquid acid is selected from the group consisting of malic acid, propionic acid and fumaric acid.

9. The feed supplement as defined in claim 1, further comprising organic material consisting of slowly fermentable carbohydrates.

10. The feed supplement as defined in claim 9, wherein the organic material is selected from the group consisting of beat pulp, soybean hulls and alfalfa.

11. The feed supplement as defined in claim 9, wherein the organic material is capable of adsorbing between 10 and 100% its weight in moisture.

12. The feed supplement as defined in claim 9, wherein the organic material is within the range of 35% to 95% of the dry mass of the feed supplement.

13. The feed supplement as defined in claim 9, further including inorganic additives selected from the group consisting of limestone, ammonium chloride and calcium chloride.

14. The feed supplement as defined in claim 5, wherein the inorganic substrate comprises approximately 2% of the dry mass of the feed supplement.

15. A method of manufacturing a feed supplement as defined in claim 9 comprising:

(a) mixing a supply of organic material comprising slowly fermentable carbohydrates;

(b) spraying liquid acid on to the organic material while continuing to mix the organic material; and

(c) adding an inorganic substrate to the mixture,

wherein the liquid acid is substantially adsorbed by the organic material and the inorganic substrate to yield a flowable feed supplement.

16. The method as defined defined in claim 15, further comprising adding inorganic additives selected from the group consisting of limestone, ammonium chloride and calcium chloride to the mixture.

17. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein the inorganic substrate is selected from the group consisting of silica, silicon dioxide and sodium bentonite.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the liquid acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, malic acid, propionic acid and fumaric acid.

19. A method of preventing hypocalcemia in dairy cattle comprising feeding to said cattle a biologically effective amount of the feed supplement of claim 7.

20. A method of preventing ketosis in dairy cattle comprising feeding to said cattle a biologically effective amount of the feed supplement of claim 8.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said feed supplement is fed to said cattle for between one and 28 days and preferentially for 21 prior to calving.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said feed supplement is fed to said cattle at a rate of between 75 grams to 150 grams of supplement per animal per day.