FEED SUPPLEMENT FOR RUMINANT ANIMALS AND METHOD FOR USING SAME

Abstract: Feed for ruminant animals comprising particles of material characterized by being solid, flowable, and hydrolytically stable. The particles comprises: a) from 15 to 95% by weight of the reaction product of at least one metal cation selected from the group consisting of Group Ia and Group IIa elements of the Periodic Table with at least one aliphatic, monocarboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and b) from 5 to 85% by weight of a granular, edible material, preferably water-absorbing, having a pH sufficiently high that the resulting pH of the mixture with a) is greater than 7.0, the percentages of a) and b) being based on their total dry combined weight, and the particles containing less than 30% by weight of moisture.

Description: FEED SUPPLEMENT FOR RUMINANT ANIMALS AND METHOD FOR USING SAME This invention relates to a composition for feeding ruminant animals and to a method for feeding such animals. The ruminant animal lives on ingested forage consisting of large amounts of cellulose which it cannot digest directly. Instead of direct conversion of the forage, the ruminant animal has evolved a symbiotic relationship with microorganisms, consist¬ ing of a variety of bacteria and protozoa. The bacteria digest forage for their own survival and growth and the host ruminant later digests the microorganisms and their by-products. Just as the ruminant animal requires certain preformed nutrients for its growth, the micro¬ organisms upon which it depends for cellulose diges¬ tion have their own requirements for essential nutrients. M. P. Bryant and I. M. Robinson (J. Bacteriol. , 1962, jS :605) studied the effect of certain compositions, including a mixture of acetic acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, isovaleric acid, and 2-methylbutyric acid on essential nutrition for the growth of ruminant microorganisms. Ruminant nutritionists have shown that during the digestive process, in the rumen of cattle, bacteria break down feed protein to ammonia and fatty acids. The bacteria then use the ammonia to synthe¬ size cellular protein. These bacteria pass from the rumen to the abomasum and the intestine where they are digested and serve as the major source of protein for maintenance of body tissues and for milk produc¬ tion. Extensive studies on the nutrition of rumen bacteria have shown that fiber-digesting bacteria require certain isoacids, such as isobutyric acid, as well as ammonia for synthesis of bacterial protein. (Dairy Notes , Nov., 1973, p. 7, Dr. Robert M. Cook, Michigan State University, published by the Coopera¬ tive Extension Service.) Without isoacids, urea or NH 3 cannot be utilized by these rumen bacteria. For many years cattle rations have been supplemented with nonprotein nitrogen in the form of urea or ammonia. U.S. Patent 3,564,098 discloses a method of improving growth response in ruminants which com¬ prises orally administering certain acids, including valeric acid. Also, U.S. Patent 3,982,028 discloses that volatile fatty acids are absorbed though the rumen walls and are utilized by the animal as primary energy sources. The effects of isoacids (isobutyric, isovaleric, 2-methylbutyric and valeric acid) on milk production were reported in 1980 J. Dairy Sci. , 63_:1098-1103. It has been suggested that certain salts of volatile fatty acids are less corrosive and odorous than free acids, but as efficacious as volatile fatty acids. German Patent No. DT-19 65 923 teaches that lower branched-chain volatile acids can be used in the form of sodium, potassium, magnesium, or calcium salts to stimulate ruminal microbial activity and to increase the appetite of the animals. U.K. Patent 1,309,863 discloses the use of a mixture of lower fatty acid sodium salts as a feed supplement for ruminants. The feed supplement described in this patent is either in the form of an aqueous solution or, after further processing, in the form of a dry powder. U.S. Patent 3,958,009 dis¬ closes the use of ammonium and potassium isobutyrate as a means for inhibiting the growth of plant and animal pathogenic and nonpathogenic microorganisms and the improvement in the rate of weight gain in animals which have been fed with these isobutyrates. U.S. Patent 4,179,552 discloses a liquid composition comprising a C 3 -C β carboxylic acid, and ion selected from NH_, , and cations of Group la and Group Ila elements according to the Periodic Table and water. The ratio of acid to cation is between 2:1 and 4:1 on a chemical equivalent basis. It is known that alkaline and alkaline earth metal salts of volatile fatty acids are hygroscopic. In an open environment, these salts absorb moisture quickly at ambient conditions and undertake hydroly¬ sis to generate a small amount of free volatile fatty acids resulting in the characteristic unpleasant odor. Unless the dry salts are kept in a sealed container, it is very difficult to maintain the dry powder form of the salts and to prevent generation of odor at typical warm and humid storage and operating conditions of a farm or feed mill. The above-mentioned patents have not addres¬ sed the problems of hydrolytic stability of the salts of volatile fatty acids, and the odor caused by interaction of volatile fatty acid salts and moisture at ambient conditions. Furthermore, these patents do not disclose a process of producing a solid, flow- able, nonodorous product while still maintaining water in the finished product. According to the present invention, these problems are avoided by providing homogeneous parti¬ cles of material adapted to be orally administered to ruminants. These particles are characterized by being solid, flowable, and hydrolytically stable. More particularly, the particles comprise a) from 15 to 95% by weight of the reaction product of at least one metal cation selected from the group consisting of Group la and Group Ila elements of the Periodic Table with at least one aliphatic, monocarboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and b) from 5 to 85% by weight of a granular, edible material having a pH sufficiently high that the OMPI : lfO resulting pH of the mixture with a) is greater than 7.0. The percentages of a) and b) are based on their total dry combined weight. The particles contain less than 30% by weight of moisture. These particles are especially desirable for ruminant animal feed supplementation because of a number of reasons. The particles are solid and flowable allowing them to be easily handled. Being metal salts of the volatile fatty acids, they do not have an objectionable odor, which is commonly found with the free acids as well as some of the other salts. Due to the presence of the granular edible material, the particles are hydrolytically stable, whereas without the presence of such material, the salts absorb enough water from the atmosphere alone to become liquid or semi-solid. By providing a basic environment, the granular material prevents the formation of the free acids which would cause objec- tionable odor. Once ingested by a ruminant animal, the salts are broken down into the individual acids from which they are derived, allowing the animal to receive all the benefits from such acids. The metal cations used in reacting with the monocarboxylic acid are selected from the Group la and Group Ila elements of the Period Table. Prefer¬ ably, these cations are sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium. Sodium and potassium are especially preferred. The aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having 3 to 8 carbon atoms used in reacting with the cations are preferably isobutyric, n-butyric, 2-methyl- butyric, n-valeric and isovaleric, or a combination thereof. Most desirably, the acids are a combination of isobutyric, valeric, isovaleric and 2-methyl- butyric. The granular material, preferably water absorbing, used in this invention is selected from basic water-absorbing minerals such as metal oxides , metal hydroxide, basic inorganic salts, clays, natural cellulosic and proteinaceious materials, synthetic polymeric materials such as polyacrylamide and polyethylene glycol, and a combination of these materials. A combination of these materials which provides a water-absorbing capability and yields a saturated solution or dispersion with a pH of 7.0 or above after absorbing a sufficient amount of water is particularly useful in this invention. Feed-grade minerals and natural cellulosic and proteinaceous materials which satisfy the above-mentioned proper- ties are most preferred in this invention. Typical examples are listed below. Metal oxides such as magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, aluminum oxide, and silicon dioxide; Metal hydroxides such a magnesium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide; Salts such as sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbon¬ ate, magnesiumcarbonate, calcium carbonate, rock phosphate, mono-, di- and tricalcium phosphate, anhydrous calcium sulfate, anhydrous zinc sulfate, anhydrous calcium chloride; Clay such as bentonite, kaolinite, talc and vermiculite; Cellulosic materials such as bran, dehydrated alfalfa, vegetable gums, and dry hays. The water-absorbing materials have a pH sufficiently high that the resulting mixture with the reaction product of metal cation and acid has a pH of at least 7.0, preferably at least 9.5. Thus, forma¬ tion of free acid from moisture in the environment is minimized. A volatile fatty acid salt with an alkaline or alkaline earth cation is usually prepared by reacting the free acid and the respective metal oxide or hydroxide in an aqueous medium, and then evaporat¬ ing water to obtain a dry powder product. Concen¬ trated aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide, 50% or above are preferred to be used in the reaction in order to minimize the total amount of water to be absorbed by the preferred water-absorbing granular material. The feed composi¬ tion according to this invention is then prepared by adding, while applying rigorous mixing, a desired amount of water-absorbing granular material to the aqueous medium until a solid, flowable product has formed. The amount of water in the product may be reduced by evaporation either before or after adding water-absorbing granular material. Preferably, the finished product ' prepared by this method contains at least 25% (by weight on dry basis) salts of volatile fatty acids. The solid, flowable,. volatile fatty acid salts on the granular material may be used as a feed supplement or mixed with pelleting aids or other feed ingredients to make a final product in pellet form. A small amount of animal feed flavors may also be incorporated into the product composition to mask any residual odor. The feed supplement is fed to ruminants in quantities sufficient to result in weight gain and increases in milk production. The reaction product of the metal cation and acids is broken down by the ruminant animal to the metal cation and acids. The quantity of feed supplement fed per day is determined so as to result in an intake of 5 to 150 grams of the acids. The amount of volatile fatty acid salts of Group I and Group II cations required to result in these amounts of acids can be calculated using the ratio of the volatile fatty acid molecular weight to the molecular weight of the volatile fatty acid salt. The following examples are submitted for a better understanding of the invention. Unless otherwise indicated, all parts, percentages, ratios, etc., are by weight. Example 1 This example illustrates the process, stoichiometry, and reaction conditions for the preparation of the product disclosed herein. An amount of 50% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (32.8 grams) was added to a mixture of volatile fatty acids (40.0 grams) containing 31.5% isobutyric acid and 68.5% mixed C 5 -isoacids (n-valeric acid, isovaleric acid, and 2-methylbutyric acid) so as to neutralize the acids completely. It was observed that the temperature of the mixture rose very rapidly because of the exothermic neutralization reaction. The mixture was essentially colorless until the temperature reached 90°C, above which an instantaneous yellowing of solution was observed. If the temperature of the mixture was lower than 80°C, the mixture gradually solidified to a waxy solid and the reaction appeared to be incomplete. To ensure the completion of the neutralization reaction, the temperature of the reaction mass was raised to the range of 95-110°C by controlling the rate of addition of NaOH, and/or by supplying heat to the reaction mass until the yellowing of the solution was ob¬ served. A quantity of bentonite (110 grams) was added to the yellow salt solution, which conntained 67.4% salt and 32.6% water. The mass was thoroughly mixed and cooled to obtain a solid, granular, flow¬ able, product with a mild pleasant odor which con¬ tained 26.8% sodium salt of volatile fatty acids on dry basis, 55.9% bentonite, and 18.2% water. When the salt solution was alowed to cool alone, it solidified at 60°C to a soft, waxy solid. Exam le 2 This example illustrates the use of a highly concentrated NaOH solution in the process to minimize the amount of water-absorbing granular material in the finished product. A solution of volatile fatty acid sodium salts was prepared by reacting 100 grams of mixed volatile fatty acids (same volatile fatty acid composition as in Example 1) with a stoichiometric amount of 73% aqueous solution of NaOH at 100°C. Seventy-five grams of magnesium oxide or bentonite was required to blend with the salt solution to obtain a granular, solid, flowable, mildly aromatic product. The content of sodium volatile fatty acids in the product was 53% by weight, which was sub¬ stantially higher than the sodium content in Example 1. When the hot solution was allowed to cool at an ambient condition, it solidified at 80°C to a waxy solid. Example 3 This example illustrates the hygroscopic nature of sodium volatile fatty acids and the effect of basic inorganic water- bsorbing minerals on odor quality of the product. A stock solution of sodium volatile fatty acids prepared as described in Example 1 was dried under reduced pressure in an oven at 110°C for 24 hours to yield a flaky, anhydrous, crystalline product. Four grams of anhydrous sodium volatile fatty acid was placed in a closed chamber at 100% relative humidity at 25°C. Similarly, a 15 gram sample of a sodium volatile fatty acid/bentonite product from Example 1 was placed in another chamber at 100% relative humidity at 25°C. After two days, anhydrous sodium volatile fatty acid absorbed a sufficient amount of water to yield a clear solu¬ tion. A faint obnoxious odor was detected when the chamber was opened. However, in the same perod of time, the sample from Example 1 became a mushy solid, but no detectable odor was sensed when the chamber was opened. Example 4 This example illustrates the use of three natural cellulosic materials as water-absorbing granular materials for the preparation of a product disclosed in the invention. A stock solution of sodium volatile fatty acid was prepared as described in Example 1. The stock solution contained 67.4% sodium volatile fatty acid and 32.6% water. A sample of dry hay was chopped and ground cryogenically. Thirty grams of ground hay was added to a 30 gram solution of sodium volatile fatty acids at 60°C. The mixture was thoroughly mixed and allowed to cool to yield a solid, flowable, product with a mild, not unpleasant odor which contained 33.7% sodium volatile fatty acids. A sample of alfalfa pellets, commonly used as an animal feed ingredient, was ground to fine particles. Thirty grams of ground alfalfa was added to a 30 gram solution of sodium volatile fatty acids at 60°C. The mixture was thoroughly mixed to yield a solid, granular, nonodorous product which contained 33.7% sodium volatile fatty acid. A similar product was also prepared by using wheat bran as the water-absorbing granular material at the same ratio as dry hay or alfalfa. Natural cellulosic materials such as dry hay, dehydrated alfalfa, and bran absorbed sodium volatile fatty acid solution very quickly, but the products usually emitted a different odor, although nonodious, but much stronger than the odor of the products using inorganic water-absorbing granular materials, such as magnesium oxide and bentonite. Exa ple 5 This example illustrates the use of a combination of water-absorbing basic inorganic materials and natural cellulosic materials as granu- lar materials for preparing a product in pellet form. A sodium stock solution was prepared as described in Example 1. An amount of sodium volatile fatty acid solution was blended with an equal amount of a mixture of dehydrated alfalfa/bentonite (1:1 by weight) to yield a soft, paste-like product. The product was nonodious and less odorous than products described in Example 4. The paste-like material was fabricated into cylindrical tablets with a diameter of 1/4-3/8 of an inch and a length/diameter ratio of 1-2 by a Parr pellet press or spherical boluses with a diameter of 1/4-3/8 of an inch by rolling and tumbling in a Hobart mixer. Soft pellets may be hardened by drying in air or in an oven. Dry, hard pellets are odor-free, easy to handle, and contain 40% by weight sodium volatile fatty acid.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. Particles comprising a) from 15 to 95% by weight of the reaction product of at least one metal cation selected from the group consisting of Group la and Group Ila elements of the Periodic Table with at least one aliphatic, monocarboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and b) from 5 to 85% by weight of a granular, edible material having a pH sufficiently high that the resulting pH of the mixture with a) is greater than 7.0, the percentages of a) and b) being based on their total dry combined weight, and said particles con- taining less than 30% by weight of moisture. 2. Particles of material according to claim 1 wherein said metal cation is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. 3. Particles of material according to any previous claim wherein said metal cation is sodium. 4. Particles of material according to any previous claim wherein said aliphatic monocarboxylic acid is a mixture of 4 and 5 carbon atom acids. 5. Particles of material according to any previous claim wherein said granular, edible material is water-absorbing. 6. Particles of material according to any previous claim wherein said granular, edible material is selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal hydroxides, basic inorganic salts, clays, natural cellulosic and proteinaceous materi¬ als, synthetic polymeric materials. 7. Particles of material according to claim 6 wherein the granular, edible material is bentonite. 8. Particles cf material according to any previous claim wherein said reaction product a) is a mixture of sodium salts of isobutyric acid, valeric acid, isovaleric acid and 2-methylbutyric acid. 9. A feed for ruminant animals comprisinng the particles according to any previous claim. OMPI

Inventors: BENTON CHARLES HERBERT JR, SANDHU MOHAMMAD AKRAM, WU STEPHEN HONG-WEI, BENTON, CHARLES, HERBERT, JR., SANDHU, MOHAMMAD, AKRAM, WU, STEPHEN, HONG-WEI
Applicants: EASTMAN KODAK CO, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Application year: 1983
Main classification: A23K1
IPC codes: A23K1