COMPOSITIONS FOR USE IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND METHOD OF TREATMENT OF ANIMALS WITH VITAMIN U

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions for feeding meat-producing animals primarily for increasing their fodder utilization and body weight gain, poultries primarily for increasing their fodder utilization and egg production and improving egg quality, and fur animals primarily for increasing fur production and improving fur quality. The compositions according to the invention comprise vitamin U, either as such or coated with at least 10 % by weight of a long chain hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative, in admixture with one or more conventional feed components. The feed for direct consumption comprises 100 to 350 ppm (for meat-producing animals 50 to 300 ppm) of vitamin U, optionally in coated form.

Description: COMPOSITIONS FOR USΞ IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AMD METHOD OP TREAT¬ MENT OP ANIMALS WITH VITAMIN U The indention relates to compositions for use la animal husbandry. More particularly, the invention relates to - compositions for feeding me t-producing animals primarily for increasing their fodder utilization and body weight gain* - compositions for feeding poultries primarily for increasing their fodder utilization, egg production, egg shell strength and hatching ability, and - compositions for feeding fur animals primarily for increas- ing their fur production and the quality of fur. The invention also relates to a method of treatment of animals, primarily meat-producing animals, poultries and fur animals with vitamin U. Yitamin IT (S-meth l-methionine) is a substance widely used in the human therapy primarily for the prevention and healing of gastric ulcers, furthermore as a lipotropic, anti- histaminic and antisβrotonine agent for the prevention of hepatic disorders (Bukin, V., Anishimov, Y.E. "Yitamin U H , Ishdatβlstvo Nauka, Moscow, 1973 » Arznei ittel Porsch. 10, 23-28). Yitamin U has also been utilized as a veterinary agent for the prevention and healing of oesophagogastric ulcers in pigs cta Yeterinaria Hungarica ^l, 155-163 /1983/). Now it has been found that vitamin U exerts a range , of beneficial effects on various animals, including meat- producing animals (such as pigs, ruminants, horses, etc.), poultries (such as chickens, geese, ducks, etc.) and fur ani¬ mals (such as rabbits, foxes, goats, lambs, nutrias, etc.). Consequently, vitamin ϋ can be applied not only in the field of veterinary (i.e. to prevent or heal certain disorders of the animal organism) but in the routine animal husbandry, too * When administered to meat-producing animals either as a fodder component or dissolved in drinking water, vitamin U markedly increases the fodder utilization and body weight- gain of the treated animals. This means that a prβ-de-frermined body weight can be reached within a shorter period of time and the specific fodder consumption (consumed fodder : body weight gain) is lowered as well * As an additional advantage, vitamin ϋ exerts appetizing, liver protecting, epithelium recovering and antiphlogistic effects on the animals, which result in the production of a more healthy, strong and viable population less liable to infestation. This is of primary advantage when treating pregnant animals. According to our experiences these beneficial effects can be attained by treat- ing the animals with a feed comprising 50 to 300 ppm of vitamin ϋ. When administered to poultries, vitamin ϋ increases primarily the fodder utilization and egg production of the treated animals. Yitamin U exerts beneficial effects on egg quality as well, since eggs with stronger shell are produced. The hatching ability of eggs increases, too, which means that the ratio of non-fertile or otherwise injured eggs unable of . hatching decreases. According to our experiences these bene¬ ficial effects can be attained by treating the poultries with a feed comprising 100 to 350 ppm of vitamin ϋ# " When administered to fur animals, increased fur produc¬ tion and improved fur quality can be attained. The- -rate of fur production increases upon the effect of vitamin U, too, which means that the moulting period shortens or the fleece reaches the quality required for shearing within a shorter period of time. On animals breeded both for meat and fur production (e.g. lambs, goats and rabbits) vitamin U increases the fodder utilization and body weight gain as well. Upon treatment with vitamin U the animals get more calm, which is a very important advantage in the breeding of wild fur animals, such as foxes and nutrias. On females, vitamin U increases the conceptive ability and fertility rate, and the fertility cycle gets more even within treated population. These beneficial effects can be attained by treating the animals with a feed co-n.pris1.ag 100 to 350 ppm of vitamin U. It has also been observed that vitamin U, when coat¬ ed with a long chain hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative, is less liable to premature decomposition in the animal organism. This can be utilized particularly on ruminants, where the rumen microorganisms tend to decompose vitamin U. e .coated with at least 10 % by weight of a long chain hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative, this premature decom¬ position of vitamin U can be avoided, and the total amount of vitamin U can be resorbed in the animal organism. Based on the above, the invention relates to - a composition for feeding meat-producing animals primarily for increasing their fodder utilization and body weight gain, said composition comprising vitamin U, either as such or coated with at least 10 % by weight of a long chain hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative, in admixture with one or more conventional feed components; or - a composition for feeding poultries primarily for increas¬ ing their fodder utilization and egg production and improv¬ ing egg quality, comprising vitamin U, either as such or coated with at least 10 by weight of a long chain hydro¬ carbon or hydrocarbon derivative, in admixture with one or more conventional feed components; or - a composition for feeding fur animals primarily for increas ing fur production and improving fur quality, comprising vitamin ϋ, either as such or coated with at least 10 % by weight of a long chain hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivativ in admixture with one or more conventional feed components * The invention also relates to a method of treatment o (i) meat-producing animals primarily for increasing their fodder utilization and body weight gain* (ii) poultries primarily for increasing their fodder utiliza¬ tion and egg production and for improving egg quality, or (iii) fur animals primarily for increasing their fur produc¬ tion and for improving fur quality * According to the method of the invention (i) meat-producing animals are treated with a feed comprising 50 to 300 ppm of vitamin U either as such or coated with at least 10 % by weight of a long chain hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative, (ii,)..poultries are treated with a feed comprising 100 to 300 ppm of vitamin U either as such or coated with at least 10 % by weight of a long chain hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative, or (iii) fur animals are treated with a feed comprising 100 t* . 300 ppm of vitamin U either as such or coated with at least 10 % by weight of a long chain hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative * The invention also relates to vitamin U coated with at least 10 % by weight of a long chain hydrocarbon or hydro- carbon derivative, furthermore to a process for the prepara¬ tion of vitamin U in this coated form. The term "feed" as used in the specification and claims includes any solid or liquid substance applied in the feeding of animals either directly or after admixing it with other additives. This term includes solid fodders ready for use, drinking water, lick stones, and premixes for these co - positions * Feeds for direct feeding comprise 100 to 350 ppm ( or meat-producing animals 50 to 300 ppm) of vitamin U, op- tionally in coated form. The vitamin U content of preaixββ varies according to the ratio te be diluted with other eed components * Such premixes contain generally 1 to 30 % by - weight of vitamin U. The components of feeds other than vitamin U are con- ventional and well known to one skilled in the art. Certain feed compositions are described in the examples, but the scope of the invention is b no means restricted to them * As long chain hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon derivatives to be used for coating vitamin U e.g. paraffins, waxes, long chain fatty acids, long chainfetty acid esters, etc. can be applied. The term "long chain" represents compounds comprising at least 10 carbon atoms, the upper limit of carbon atom num¬ ber has no decisive role. Yitamin U, when coated, should con¬ tain at least 10 % by weight of the coating agent. Again, the upper limit of the coating agent content has no decisive role and depends primarily on economical considerations. In prac¬ tice vitamin U is admixed with the coating agent in a weight ratio of 1 to (0.5-1.5). The coating agent is applied onto the surface of vitamin U particles in a manner known per se, e.g. by admixing ground vitamin U with the coating agent or by spraying the coating agent onto the surface of vitamin U * The invention is elucidated in detail by the aid of the following non-limiting Examples * Example 1 Preparation of coated vitamin U 50 kg of vitamin U and 40 kg of ground dicalciua phosphate were added to 40 kg of molten stearic acid at 80 β C. The mixture was homogenized at 80 β C for 10 minutes, then cooled and comminuted to a particle size of 0.1 te 0.4 mm * The resulting granular product was added to 20 kg of molten stearic acid, the mixture was kneaded, then cooled and com¬ minuted * Stearic acid can be replaced by the same amount of wax or paraffin, calcium phosphate can be replaced by the same amount of zeolite or another clay mineral * Example 2 Preαix for cattle fodder A prβmix for cattle fodder was prepared by homogeniz- ing the following substances: vitamin A 3 000 000 IU vitamin ^ 300 000 IU antioxidant 30 000 g vitamin U (coated as described in Example l) 300 000 mg mineral pre ix (comprising Mn, Cu, Zn, I, Co, Mg) 60 000 mg " carrier (ground corn) q.s. ad 1 000 g When utilized for feeding catties, the above premix was admixed with chopped corn stalk in a weight ratio of 0.5 : 99.5. Example 3 Tests performed on catties The tests were performed on 14 bull calves each weigh ing 180 kg in average * 7 of the calves were fed with a cattle fodder of conventional composition supplemented with 20 ppm of vitamin U (uncoated), whereas the remaining 7 calves, whic3a served as controls, did not receive vitamin U in the fodder of otherwise the same composition. The calves were fattened until they reached an average body weight of 550 kg. All of the animals received fodder in the same daily amounts * In the group treated with vitamin U the animals reached the pre-determined body weight of 550 kg within 9 months", which corresponds te an average daily weight gain of 1400 g * The animals of the control group reached a body • weight of 542 kg in average within 10 months, which corresponds to a daily weight gain of 1210 g in average * Thus the daily average weight gain of the animals increased by 15 % upon the treatment. The amount of fodder required to attain the same weight gain decreased by 10 . Example 4 Premix for pig fodder A premix for pig fodder was prepared by homogenizing the following substances: vitamin A 366300.001M vitamin D 3 54945.00 IU vitamin E 347.00 IU vitamin K- 124.80 mg vitamin B ≥ 137.20 mg vitamin B, 499.50 mg vitamin B 12 0.52 mg nicotinic acid 999 * 00 mg antioxidant 124 * 80 mg choline chloride 9999.00 mg vitamin U 9999.00 mg saccharin (sodium salt) 3300.00 ag mineral premix (comprising Zn, I, Se, Mn, Cu, Pe, Co) 9378 * 57 m L-lysine 1.66 % phosphorous source 5.28 % calcium source 18 * 94 % nutrient salt 3.23 % When utilized for feeding pigs, the above premix was admixed*with a basal pig fodder of conventional composition in a weight ratio of 3:97. Example 5 Tests performed on pigs The animals were divided into two groups. The pigs of the control group did not receive vitamin U, whereas those belonging' to the treated group received a fodder with a vitamin U content indicated below. Apart from this difference the composition of the fodder and the conditions of fattening were the same in both groups. Test A: The treated group consisted of 276 animals, whereas the control group consisted of 515 animals. The animals were fattened until they reached an average body weight of 105 kg.. Prom the 60th day øf their life, the animals belonging to ther treated group received a fodder supplemented with 100 ppm of vitamin U. The following results were obtained: Mortality: lower by 2.8 % than that observed in the control group Specific fodder consumption: lower by 18.2 % than that observed in the' control group Average daily body weight gain: greater by 6.7 than that observed in the control group Fattening period: shorter by 13.3 days than that of the control group Test B: The treated group consisted of 473 animals, whereas the control group consisted βf 580 animals ■> The animals were fattened until they reached an average body weight of 105 kg. Prom the 12th d§y of their life, the animals belonging to the treated group received a fodder supplemented with 50 ppm of vitamin Uj the amount of vitamin U was raised to 100 ppm from the 30th day * The following results were obtained: Mortality: lower by 7.0 % than that observed in the control group Specific fodder consumption: lower by 6.1 % than that observed in the control group Average daily body weight gain: greater by 9.8 % than that ■ observed in the control group Fattening period: shorter by 18.6 days than in the control group Test G: The treated group consisted of 177 animals, whereas the control group consisted of 184 animals. The animals were fattened until they reached an average body weight of 105 kg. Prom the 12th day of their life, the animals belonging to the treated group received a fodder supplemented with 50 ppm of vitamin U; the amount βf vitamin U was raised to 100 ppm from the 42nd day and to 150 ppm from the 80th day * The following result* were obtained: Mortality: lower by 6.8 % than that observed in the control group Specific fodder consumption: lower by 8 * 7 % than that observed in the control group Average daily body weight gain: greater by 2.9 % than that observed in the control group Fattening period: shorter by 6.6 days than that of the contro group Test D: The treated group consisted of 1107 animals, whereaβ the control group consisted of 1241 animals. The animals were fattened until they reached an average body weight of 105 kg * From the 12th day of their life, the animals belonging to the treated group received a fodder supplemented with 50 ppm βf vitamin U; the amount of vitamin U was raised tβ 150 ppm from the 40th day and to 200 ppm from the 90th day. The following results were obtained: Mortality: lower by 4.5 % than that observed in the cβntrβl group Specific fodder consumption: lower by 5 * 6 % than that observed in the control group Average daily body weight gain: greater by 5.8 than that observed in the control group Fattening period: shorter by 13.2 days than that of the control group Test S: The treated group consisted of 606 animals, whereas the control group consisted of 607 animals. The animals were fattened until they reached an average body weight βf 105 kg. Proa the 30th qy βf their life, the animals belonging tβ the treated group received a feed supplemented with 200 ppa βf vitamin U * The following results were obtained: Mortality: lower by 1.6 than that observed in the control group Specific fodder consumption: lower by 5 * 7 % than that ob¬ served in the control group Average daily body weight gain: greater by 12.4 % than that observed in the control group Fattening period: shorter by 14.9 days than that of the control grβup Test P: The treated group consisted ef 265 animals, whereas the control group consisted of 282 animals. The animals were fattened until they reached an average body weight of 105 kg. Prom the 28th day of their life, the animals belonging tβ the treated group received a fodder supplemented with 200 pp βf vitamin U. The following results were obtained: Mortality: lower by 5.3 than that observed in the control grβup Specific fodder consumption: lewer by 18.8. % than that βb- served in the cβntrβl grβup Average daily bβdy weight gain: greater by 5 * 7 % than that βbserved in the control group Fattening periβd: shorter by 12 * 1 days than that of th cβntrβl group Test G The treated grβup consisted βf 263 animals, where¬ as the contrβl group consisted βf 273 animals * The animals were fattened until they reached an average body weight of 105 kg. Prom the 28th day of their life, the animals belong- ing tβ the treated group received a fodder supplemented with 200 ppm βf vitamin U * The folleising results were obtained: Mortality: lower hy 3.1 than that observed in the control grβup Specific fodder consumption: lower by 19.5 % than that ob¬ served in the contrβl group Average daily body weight gain: greater by 15 * 3 % than that observed in the cβntrβl grβup Fattening pβriβd: shorter by 6.2 days than that of the contrβl group Example 6 Premix fβr drinking water A premix fβr drinking water was prepared by die- solving the following components in one litre βf water: Example 7 Testa performed on ducks Ducks were fed with a fodder of the following composi¬ tion: corn wheat alfalfa meal bran extracted soybean grits (dry substance: 47-%) extracted sunflower grits (dry substance: 40 %) fish meal (dry substance: 70 %) mixed animal protein meal (dry substance: 50 %) complete pβultry premix (comprising minerals and vitamins) 9 * 0 H In the treated group 300 ppm βf vitamin U was also added to the above fodder- * The tests were performed on 2900 duck hens, 1700 βf them belonging to the treated group and 1200 of them serving as controls * In both group the animals were maintained under strictly the same conditions * The tests were performed ' for 7 months, and mortality, egg production and- egg quality were recorded * The following results were obtained: Mortality: lower by 14 % than that observed in the control group Egg production (fβr one duck): higher by 5 % than that observed in the control group Number of viable hatched ducke (calculated for one hen) : higher by 13.2 % than that observed in the contrβl grβup Egg shell strength: of the eggs laid by the treated animals only 5 % were hair-cracked, whereas this number was 24 % in the control group Fodder consumption (calculated fβr one egg ) : lower by 7.1 % than that observed in the contrβl group Example 8 Testa performed on brood-hens The tests were performed on 50,000 brββd-hens, 25,000 ef them belonging tβ the treated group and the other 25,000 serving as controls. A premix of the composition described in Example 6 was diluted with water to a vitamin U content βf 150 ppm, and this solution was applied as drinking water in the treated grβup. The control group received a solution of the same composition but containing no vitamin U as drinking water. In a 40 days' test period the egg production increased by 68 % in the treated grβup * Example 9 Tests performed on broiler chickens The tests were performed en 76,900 young broiler chickens, 25,600 βf them belonging tβ the treated grβup and the remainder serving as contrβls. From the 2nd day of their life, the animals were treated with a basal chicken fodder of the sςmβ cβmpβsitiβn, the only difference being that vitamin U, in an amβunt βf 300 ppm, was also admixed to the fodder of the treated animals * After a 40 days' test period the specific fodder consumption of the treated group was less by 7 % than that observed in the contrβl grβup. Example 10 Tests performed on Angora rabbits Angora rabbits were fed with a fodder ef the following composition: barley 30 w/w bran 22 " sunflower grits 20 " soybean grits (dry substance: 48 %) 3 " meat flour (dry substance: 62 %) 5 " alfalfa meal 18 " complete rabbit premix (comprising minerals and vitamins) 2 " In the treated group 200 ppm of vitamin U was also added to the above fodder. The animals were treated with vitamin U only in the fur- roducing cycle * The rate of fur production increased upon the effect of vitamin U. The animals belonging to the treated group ceuld be sheared after 65 days, i.e. 5 days earlier than the controls, and the specific fur production was higher by 20 % than that observed in the contrβl group. The quality of fur improved as well; the ratiβ βf first class fur increased by 15 % iu the treated grβup * During this period the fertility rate raised from 40 % Example 11 Tests performed on Arctic foxes Arctic foxes were fed wit a fodder of the following composition: chicken meat paste 28 w/w % chicken back and hindquarters 20 " beef 8 » boiled pig bleed 10 " boiled egg 5 " lamb liver, lung and spleen 10 " beiled wheat grits boiled barley grits wheat germ apple carrot premix for carnivores (comprising minerals and vitamins) 1 " In the treated group 200 ppm of vitamin U was also added tβ the above fodder * The treatment with vitamin U started 2 weeks before the fur-producing cycle and lasted until the end ef moulting * Upβn the treatment with vitamin U the eulting period shortened by 4-6 days, and the amount of fur produced increase by 10-15 % in relation to the controls * Furthermore, more shiny, tight and attractive furs were obtained in the treated- group • In the period of treatment the animals got more calm, and the ertility ratio increased by 40 %•

Claims: What we claim is : 1 * A composition for feeding meat-producing animals primarily for increasing their fodder utilization and body weight gain, characterized in that the composition comprises 5 vitamin U, either as such or coated with at least 10 % by weight βf a leng chain hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative, in admixture with one or more conventional feed components * 2 * A compesitien for feeding poultries primarily for increasing their fodder utilization and egg production and 10 improving egg quality, characterized in that the compesitien comprises vitamin U, either as such or coated with at least 10 % by weight of a long chain hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative, in admixture with one βr more conventional feed components * 15. 3 * A composition fβr feeding fur animals primarily fβr increasing fur prβductiβn and imprβving fur quality, character ized in that the compesitien comprises vitamin U, either as such βr coated with at least 10 % by weight of a long chain hydrocarbon er hydrecarbβn derivative, in admixture with βne 20 er more conventional feed cβmpenents * 4 * A ethβd ef treatment ef meat-prβducing animals primarily for increasing their fodder utilization and body weight gain, characterized in that the animals are treated with a feed comprising 50 tβ 300 ppm ef vitamin U either as 5 such βr coated with at least 10 % by weight of a long chain hydrocarbon βr hydrocarbon derivative * 5 * A method of treatment of poultries primarily fβr increasing their fodder utilization and egg production and iαprβving egg quality, characterized in that the animals are treated with a feed comprising 100 tβ 350 ppm βf vitamin U either as such or coated with at least 10 % by weight βf a long chain hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative * 6. A method of treatment of fur animals primarily for increasing their fur production and improving fur quality, characterized in that the animals are treated with a feed comprising 100 tβ 350 ppm of vitamin U either as such or coat ed with at least 10 % by weight of a long chain hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative * 7. Yitamin U coated with at least 10 % by weight of a long chain hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative *

Inventors: HEGEDUES MIHALY, PRIBEK FERENC, SZABO ETELKA, SZAKACS LASZLO, TAMAS JOZSEF, ZSIGMOND LASZLO, HEGEDUES, MIHALY, PRIBEK, FERENC, SZABO, ETELKA, SZAKACS, LASZLO, TAMAS, JOZSEF, ZSIGMOND, LASZLO
Applicants: REANAL FINOMVEGYSZERGYAR
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A23K1
IPC codes: A23K1