Method and apparatus for administering live bacteria as feed additives to livestock and poultry

• US 4,910,024 A
• Filed: 07/05/1988
• Issued: 03/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micro Beef Technologies Ltd (MWI Veterinary Supply Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Micro Chemical Inc.
• Inventors: Pratt, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Penland, R. B.
• Application Number:
  US07/215,210
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 426/2, 426/61, 426/807, 435/260, 435/854, 424/93, 424/94, 222/132, 222/142
• US Class Current: 424/93.45
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0216 for the distribution of liquid fodder A01K9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 67/033 Rearing or breeding invertebrates; New breeds of invertebrates
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 7/02 Automatic devices ; Medication dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/18 of live microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/04 Preserving or maintaining viable microorganisms immobilised microorganisms C12N11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 15/001 Volumetric pre-dispensing to an estimated weight; Gravimetric make-up device for target device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 426/807 Poultry or ruminant feed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/854 Lactobacillus acidophilus

Abstract

A method and apparatus for preparing at a livestock feedlot a concentrated suspension of anaerobic bacteria at a known, accurate concentration and for storing the prepared suspension for prolonged periods at the feedlot in a ready-to-use condition without significant loss of viability, allowing feedlot operators to conveniently administer such bacterial supplements to large numbers of livestock as a probiotic on a regular basis in accurate dosages. The apparatus comprises an insulated liquid-holding vessel cooled by a refrigeration means, and mixing and recirculation means to ensure temperature and concentration homogeneity of the bacterial suspension. The vessel and contents are gravimetrically monitored to ensure accuracy of bacterial concentration. In each of several embodiments, at time of intended use, a preselected mass or volume of bacterial liquid suspension is dispensed on demand from the vessel into a separate mixing tank for further accurate dilution and for addition of other microingredients to the suspension, as required, immediately before adding to and mixing with a known mass or volume of animal feed. The apparatus can be used with or without a separate microingredient weighing or volumetric metering system.

Claims

1. A method for delivering temperature-sensitive probiotic bacteria in a live condition into a potentially large number of domestic animals as a means of increasing nutrient absorption efficiency and controlling the proliferation of harmful microorganisms in the digestive tracts of such animals, such method comprising:

depositing the bacteria in an aqueous liquid,

suspending the bacteria in the liquid to form a concentrated aqueous suspension of the bacteria,

controlling the temperature of the concentrated suspension to maintain said temperature within a range that will maintain the bacteria in a viable condition without promoting bacteria growth or multiplication,

while providing a substantially uniform suspension of the bacteria therein, delivering on demand at least a portion of the concentrated suspension into an aqueous carrier liquid to form a dilute suspension of the bacteria,

delivering the dilute suspension into a feed ration for the animals, dispersing the dilute suspension in the feed ration, and delivering the feed ration containing the dispersed dilute suspension therein to the animals for consumption.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the bacteria are deposited in the aqueous liquid from an arid and substantially oxygen-free storage environment.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the bacteria in the storage environment are lyophilized.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the bacteria are of the species Lactobacillus acidophilus.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the temperature of the concentrated aqueous suspension of the bacteria is maintained in a range from about just about 32°

F. to about 50°

F.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the temperature of the concentrated aqueous suspension is controlled by at least intermittently refrigerating the suspension.

7. The method of claim 6 including the step of at least intermittently agitating the suspension when refrigerating the suspension to prevent the suspension from freezing.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous liquid is agitated while depositing the bacteria therein.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein a substantially uniform suspension of the bacteria in the concentrated aqueous suspension is provided by at least intermittently agitating the suspension.

10. The method of claim 1 including the step of agitating the dilute aqueous suspension of the bacteria to achieve a uniform concentration of the bacteria in the suspension before the dilute aqueous suspension is delivered to the animals'"'"'feed.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein a known amount of bacteria is deposited in a known amount of aqueous liquid to form a concentrated aqueous suspension of bacterial having a known concentration.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein a measured amount of the concentrated aqueous suspensions of bacteria is delivered to a known amount of aqueous carrier liquid and the resulting dilute aqueous suspension of bacterial is delivered to a known amount of the animals'"'"'feed.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the measured amount is obtained by weighing.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the measured amount is obtained by metering on a volumetric basis.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the measured amount is obtained by a combination of weighing and volumetric metering.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of delivering the concentrated aqueous suspension of bacteria to the aqueous carrier liquid, delivering the resulting dilute aqueous suspension of the bacteria to the animals'"'"'feed ration, and dispersing the dilute suspension in the feed ration are performed just before the feed ration is presented to the animals.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the dilute aqueous suspension of bacterial is substantially uniformly dispersed through the feed ration before the feed is presented to the animals for consumption.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein probiotic bacterial are added to the animals'"'"'feed just before each feeding of the animals.

19. A method of dosing a population of animals en masse with live probiotic bacteria as a means of enhancing the rate of weight gain of the population, such method comprising:

depositing a known amount of the bacteria in a measured amount of aqueous liquid,

suspending the bacteria in the liquid to form a concentrated aqueous solution of the bacteria having a known concentration,

controlling the temperature of the concentrated aqueous suspension within a non-freezing temperature range that inhibits growth and multiplication of the bacteria without killing the bacteria,

while providing a substantially uniform suspension of the bacteria therein, delivering on demand a known amount of the concentrated suspension into an aqueous carrier liquid to form a dilute aqueous suspension of the bacteria having a known concentration,

mixing the dilute suspension with a known amount of animal feed before presentation of the feed to the animals for ingestion.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein probiotic bacteria are added to the feed ration of the population of animals with a frequency suitable for achieving the desired rate of weight gain of the population.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the population of animals is dosed with bacteria at each feeding of the population.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the steps of delivering a known amount of the concentrated suspension into an aqueous carrier liquid and admixing the resulting dilute aqueous suspension of the bacteria with the animal'"'"'s feed ration are performed just before the feed is presented to the animals.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the dilute aqueous suspension of the bacteria is substantially uniformly admixed with the animals'"'"'feed just before the feed is presented to the animals for ingestion.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the aqueous carrier liquid also contains other microingredient feed additives.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the bacteria are of the species Lactobacillus acidophilus.

26. A method of maintaining probiotic bacteria at an animal feedlot in a ready-to-administer condition for administration en masse to a large population of animals at the feedlot, the method comprising:

depositing the bacterial in dry form in an aqueous liquid,

suspending the bacterial in the liquid to form a concentrated aqueous suspension of the bacteria,

controlling the temperature of the concentrated suspension within a non-freezing temperature range that inhibits growth and multiplication of the bacteria in the liquid without killing the bacteria.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the bacteria deposited in the aqueous liquid are lyophilized.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein a known amount of dried bacteria is deposited and suspended in a known amount of aqueous liquid, thereby forming a suspension of the bacteria having a known concentration.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the temperature of the suspension is controlled by at least intermittently refrigerating the suspension.

30. The method of claim 27 including the step of agitating the suspension when refrigerating the suspension to prevent freezing the suspension.

31. The method of claim 26 including the step of at least intermittently agitating the suspension to maintain concentration uniformity of the suspension.