ANIMAL FEED OF HIGHER NUTRITIVE VALUE, METHOD FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF AND USE OF A POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL COMPOUND

Abstract: Animal feed is disclosed, which contains a polyethylene glycol compound selected from a group consisting of: a) a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 3,000-15,000; b) an ethoxylate of a carboxylic acid having 8-24 carbon atoms; c) an ethoxylate of a mono-, di- or triglyceride containing at least one acyl group having 8-24 carbon atoms; d) an ethoxylate of a mono-, di- or triester of sorbitan with a carboxylic ester having 8-24 carbon atoms; and e) an ethoxylate of an alcohol having 8-24 carbon atoms, wherein the ethoxylates b), c), d) and e) have a molecular weight of 15,000 at most and, in an amount of more than 75 % by weight, consist of ethyleneoxy units. In addition to the polyethylene glycol compound, the animal feed may also contain 10-70 % by weight of cereals, 0-15 % by weight of feed fat, 10-50 % by weight of protein-containing nutritious substances other than cereals, and 1-10 % by weight of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, flavourings, antibiotics, probiotics and other animal feed additives. By the presence of the polyethylene glycol compound, the nutrient value of the feed is improved. The feed is suitably fed to poultry, pigs and calves. Moreover, a method of producing the animal feed is disclosed.

Description: ANIMAL FEED OF HIGHER NUTRITIVE VALUE, METHOD FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF AND USE OF A POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL COMPOUND The present invention relates to animal feed, which contains pulverulent or granular nutritious substances and a polyethylene glycol compound which is a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 3,000-15,000 and/or a special ethylene oxide adduct which in an amount of at least 75% by weight consists of ethyleneoxy units. The addition of the polyethylene glycol compound to the feed has been found to improve the nutritive value of the feed, for instance for poultry, pigs and calves. It is generally known to disperse fat in water with the aid of surface-active agents, such as castor oil ethoxy¬ late and lecithin, in order to obtain a formula primarily destined for calves. It is also known to incorporate surface-active compounds into pulverulent or granular feed based on cereals and fat, by admixing them to a fatty phase which is in the liguid state, optionally after heating, so as to increase the availability of the nutritive value of the fat. From, for instance, a doctor's thesis by Christoph Gϋnther: Einfluss von Emulgatoren auf die Verwendung tierischen Fettes von Masth nerkύken at the Hohe Landwirt- schaftlische Fakultat der Reinischen Friedrich-Wilheims- Universitat zu Bonn, 16 February 1988, it is thus known to produce a chicken-feed by mixing various nutritious sub- stances, such as cereals and melted fat. E ulsifiers, such as soybean lecithin, sugar ester, polyoxyethylene glyceryl monostearate and mixtures of castor oil ethoxylate and soy¬ bean lecithin are added to the fat in order to improve its digestibility. From an article entitled Growth Promotion in Broilers by Copolymer CRL 87-61', by J.P. Texton et al in J.APPL. Poultry Res. (1992)1, pp 373-81, it is also known to add nonionic surface-active block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, for example in contents of 10 pp , to chicken-feed in an attempt at promoting the growth of chickens. According to the article, the surface-active co- polymer was mixed first with a premix of maize meal and then with the remaining ingredients of the feed. When the chickens were fed with this feed, their growth increased somewhat and their mortality was reduced after 42 days, but not after 21 days. The results obtained have, however, been questioned by William A Duclley-Cash in an article published in Feedstuffs, 1993, March 1, p. 13. The object of the present invention is to improve the availability of the nutritious substances in conventional animal feed, especially for poultry, pigs and calves, in order to increase the growth per weight unit of feed and/or the daily growth while reducing the mortality. It has now surprisingly been found that this object can be achieved in the production of animal feed containing a polyethylene glycol compound selected from a group con¬ sisting of a) a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 3,000-15,000, b) an ethoxylate of a carboxylic acid having 8-24 carbon atoms, c) an ethoxylate of a mono-, di- or triglyceride containing at least one acyl group having 8-24 carbon atoms, d) an ethoxylate of a mono-, di- or triester of sor- bitan with a carboxylic ester having 8-24 carbon atoms, and e) an ethoxylate of an alcohol having 8-24 carbon atoms, wherein the ethoxylates b) , c) , d) and e) have a molecular weight of 15,000 at most and in an amount of more than 75% by weight consist of ethyleneoxy units. The reason why the presence of the polyethylene glycol compound results in a higher nutritive value is not known, but it would seem that the strongly hydrophilic polyethylene glycol compound in¬ creases the availability of the pulverulent or granular nu- tritious substances and/or facilitates the assimilation thereof. The amount of the polyethylene glycol compound usually is 10-1500 ppm, preferably 20-500 ppm. The polyethylene glycol compound, which is hydrophi- lie, has a HLB value of at least 15, preferably at least 17. It preferably has a molecular weight of 5,000-12,000 and preferably contains more than 85% by weight of ethyleneoxy units. Suitable compounds are e.g. polyethylene glycols, such as polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 6,000. The ethoxylates according to b)-e) are suitably based on naturally occurring compounds which are biologi¬ cally compatible. Examples are ethoxylates of fatty acids having 8-24 carbon atoms, preferably 10-22 carbon atoms, which means mono- or diesters with oleic acid, soybean fatty acids, tallow fatty acids, rape-seed fatty acids, linseed oil fatty acids and coconut fatty acids; ethoxylates of mono-, di- or triglycerides, such as ethoxylates of glyce- rides based on tallow fatty acids, oleic acid, soybean fatty acids, rape-seed fatty acids and coconut fatty acids; and ethoxylates of mono-, di- or triesters between sorbitan and fatty acids, such as tallow fatty acids, oleic acid, soybean fatty acids, castor-oil fatty acids, rape-seed fatty acids and coconut fatty acids. Further examples of polyethylene glycol compounds are alcohol ethoxylates, in which the alcohol has been obtained by hydration of natural fatty acids having 8-24, preferably 10-22 carbon atoms. A most convenient ethoxylate is castor-oil ethoxylate having a molecular weight of about 5,000 to about 11,000, which promotes both the growth and the health of the animals even at low dosages. The animal feed according to the invention, which preferably is dry, is suitably produced by mixing the poly¬ ethylene glycol compound, which optionally is dissolved or suspended in water and/or applied to a carrier, with the pulverulent or granular nutritious substances or other solid components of the animal feed or a mixture of two or more of these components. If the feed contains a liquid hydrophobic component, such as a lipid or a carboxylic acid, this com¬ ponent is suitably added before or after mixing the poly¬ ethylene glycol compound with the pulverulent or granular nutritious substances or other solid components. It is also possible to add the polyethylene glycol compound directly to the liquid hydrophobic component, since the strongly hydro- philic polyethylene glycol compound is not soluble or easily emulsifiable in the hydrophobic component. When preparing the animal feed, a premix is suitably prepared, consisting of e.g. vitamins, flavourings, minerals, enzymes, antibiotics and probiotics. It is possible to add to the premix dry components consisting of cereals, such as ground or crushed wheat, oats, barley, maize and rice; vegetable protein feed based on e.g. rape, soy and sunflower; animal protein feed, such as protein E, blood meal, bone meal and fish meal; molasses; and milk products, such as various milk powders and whey powders. To this mixture or to the premix, addition is suitably made of the polyethylene glycol compound, optionally dissolved or emulsified in water and/or applied to a carrier, which con¬ sists of e.g. ground cereals, starch or inorganic minerals, such as silicates. After mixing all the dry additives, the hydrophobic component, which is liquid, optionally after heating, can be added. It may consist of lipids, such as fat, and/or of carboxylic acids, such as a fatty acid. The lipids usually consist of slaughter fat and vegetable fat, optionally liquefied by heating. After thorough mixing, a mealy or particulate composition is obtained, depending on the degree of grinding of the ingredients. If required, the hydrophobic component, which is liquid, optionally after heating, can be added to the solid pulverulent or particu¬ late components, or a part thereof, in order to produce a solid pulverulent mixture before adding the polyethylene glycol compound. Within the scope of the invention, it is also pos¬ sible to produce a suspension of the animal feed. This is especially convenient if the feed is prepared for immediate consumption. Animal feed according to the invention usually con¬ tains, in addition to the polyethylene glycol compound, 0- 80, preferably 10-70% by weight of cereals; 0-30, preferably 0-15 and most preferred 1-8% by weight of feed fat; 0-85, preferably 10-50% by weight of protein-containing nutritious substances of a type other than cereals; and 0-12, prefer¬ ably 1-10% by weight of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, flavourings, antibiotics, probiotics, and optionally other additives usually included in animal feed. To prevent separation during storage, one should suitably add water to the animal feed and subject it to a conventional pelletis- ing, expanding or extruding process. If, after such treat¬ ment, the animal feed contains an excess of water, this can be removed by drying. If considered suitable, the resulting granular animal feed can also be crushed to a smaller particle size. The present invention will now be further illustrated with the aid of the following Examples. Example 1 Two different sorts of chicken-feed according to the invention were produced by adding to wheat bran either 0.01 parts by weight of castor oil ethoxylated with 200 mole of ethylene oxide per mole of castor oil (RO 200) or 0.01 parts by weight of polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 6,000 (PEG 6000), or 0.03 parts by weight of PEG 6000. The total amount of the polyethylene glycol compound and the wheat bran was 0.3 parts by weight. This mixture was then incorporated into the remaining ground cereals, meat meal, tapioca meal and a premix containing vitamins and minerals. Melted feed fat and molasses were added to this dry mixture under agitation. Finally, a small amount of water was added and the chicken-feed was pelletised and dried. Moreover, two feed compositions were produced for comparative purposes, one composition containing 0.10 parts by weight of an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block polymer (Pluronic PE 6800) having an ethyleneoxy content of about 80% by weight, and the other composition having no additive. The different sorts of chicken-feed produced had the follow¬ ing composition. Table 1 ( omponents components, parts a_ weight ot teed composition 1 2 3 A B RO 200 PEG 6000 PEG 6000 Pluronic — Crushed barle 35.0 35.0 35.0 35.0 35.0 Crushed wheat 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 Wheat bran 0.29 0.29 0.27 0.2 3.0 Additive 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.1 - Tapioca meal 7.0 7.0 7.0 6.0 6.0 Soybean meal 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 Meat meal 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 Feed fat 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 Molasses 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 Premix 2.0 2.0 7.0 2.0 2.0 210 broilers distributed between 14 cages each con¬ taining 15 broilers were fed per feed composition. The in¬ crease in weight, feed intake, feed index (feed intake/ in¬ crease in weight) and the relative feed conversion of the broilers were determined. The following results were ob¬ tained Table 2 Results The measured results indicate that the test animals, when given feed produced according to the invention, showed better growth than if given the comparative feed. At the same time, a lower feed index was obtained for the 40-day value, i.e. a lower feed intake per increase in weight with the feed produced according to the invention. Example 2 A composition corresponding to composition 1 in Example 1 was produced by mixing all the components except the feed fat and wheat bran with the castor oil ethoxylate. Under agitation, the feed fat, that had been liquefied by heating, was then added to this feed mixture, so that the feed fat was finely divided and a dry particulate free- flowing feed mixture was obtained. Subsequently, wheat bran with the castor oil ethoxylate was added to this mixture under agitation. Finally, a small amount of water was added, and the chicken-feed was granulated and dried. As in Example 1, broilers were fed, and their in¬ crease in weight, feed intake, feed index and relative feed consumption were determined. The results obtained agreed very well with the results obtained in Example 1. Example 3 Different sorts of thicken-feed were produced by adding six different polyalkylene glycol compounds in the amounts indicated in the table below to 0.3 parts by weight of boiled wheat starch. Table 3 Test Compound % EO by Parts by weight weight 1 Ethoxylated sorbitan monooleate 80 0.01 2 Ethoxylated sorbitan fatty acid 80 0.01 3 Ethoxylated castor oil 83 0.01 4 Ethoxylated castor oil 91 0.01 5 Ethoxylated castor oil 91 0.005 Comp Ethoxylated castor oil 66 0.10 The obtained mixtures were then blended with 100 parts by weight of a basic chicken feed composition with the following ingredients. Table 4 Feed Composition Ingredients Parts by weight Crushed barle 35 Crushed wheat 21 Tapioca meal 6 Soy een meal 24 Meat meal 5 Feed fat 5 Molasses 2 Premix 2 The premix contained vitamines and minerals. 210 broilers distributed between 14 cages each con¬ taining 15 broilers were fed per feed composition. The in¬ crease in weight, the feed intake and feed index (feed in¬ take/increase in weight) were determined. The following results were obtained after 40 days. Table 5 Results Tests 1 2 3 4 5 Comp. Growth, g 1708 1694 1745 1728 1725 1655 Feed intake, g 3057 3049 3106 3110 3036 3029 Feed index 1.79 1.80 1.78 1.80 1.76 1.83 From the results it is evident that the use of poly¬ ethylene glycol compounds in accordance with the invention improves the growth of the broilers and the feed index in comparison with the use of ethoxylated castor oil having a content of only 66% by weight of EO-derived units, although the addition of this compound was 10-20 times higher.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Animal feed containing pulverulent or granular nutritious substances and, optionally, other solid com- ponents, characterised in that it contains a polyethylene glycol compound selected from a group consisting of a) a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 3,000-15,000, b) an ethoxylate of a carboxylic acid having 8-24 carbon atoms, c) an ethoxylate of a mono-, di- or triglyceride containing at least one acyl group having 8-24 carbon atoms, d) an ethoxylate of a mono-, di- or triester of sorbitan with a carboxylic ester having 8-24 carbon atoms, and e) an ethoxylate of an alcohol having 8-24 carbon atoms, wherein the ethoxylates b) , c) , d) and e) have a molecular weight of 15,000 at most and in an amount of more than 75% by weight consist of ethyleneoxy units. 2. Animal feed as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the polyethylene glycol a) has a molecular weight of 5,000-12,000, and that the ethoxylates b)-e) contain more than 85% by weight of ethyleneoxy units and have a mole¬ cular weight of 12,000 at most. 3. Animal feed as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , characteris¬ ed in that the polyethylene glycol compound consists of a castor oil ethoxylate. 4. Animal feed as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the castor oil ethoxylate has a molecular weight of 5,000-11,000. 5. Animal feed as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, characterised in that the polyethylene glycol compound constitutes 10-1500 ppm, preferably 20-500 ppm, based on the weight of the animal feed. 6. Animal feed as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, characterised in that it contains, in addition to the poly¬ ethylene glycol compound, 10-70% by weight of cereals, 0- 15% by weight of feed fat, 10-50% by weight of protein- containing nutritious substances other than cereals, and 1- 10% by weight of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, flavourings, antibiotics, probiotics and other animal feed additives. 7. Animal feed as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that it contains 1-8% by weight of feed fat. 8. A method for producing animal feed as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, characterised in that the polyethylene glycol compound, which optionally is dissolved or suspended in water and/or applied to a carrier, is introduced into the pulverulent or granular nutritious substances or optionally other solid components of the animal feed. 9. The use of a polyethylene glycol compound, selected from a group consisting of a) a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 3,000-15,000, b) an ethoxylate of a carboxylic acid having 8-24 carbon atoms, c) an ethoxylate of a mono-, di- or triglyceride containing at least one acyl group having 8-24 carbon atoms, d) an ethoxylate of a mono-, di- or triester of sorbitan with a carboxylic ester having 8-24 carbon atoms, and e) an ethoxylate of an alcohol having 8-24 carbon atoms, wherein the ethoxylates b) , c) , d) and e) have a molecular weight of 15,000 at most and in an amount of more than 75% by weight consist of ethyleneoxy units in order to improve the nutrient value of animal feed. 10. The use as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the polyethylene glycol compound is of a structure in accordance with claims 2, 3 or 4.

Inventors: SAMUELSSON ANNE-CATHRINE, SAMUELSSON, ANNE-CATHRINE
Applicants: AKZO NOBEL NV, SAMUELSSON ANNE CATHRINE, AKZO NOBEL N.V., SAMUELSSON, ANNE-CATHRINE
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A23K1
IPC codes: A23K1