WO1997033488A1

WO1997033488A1 - Animal feed supplement

Info

Publication number: WO1997033488A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/003805
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerald E. Poley; Neil A. Mckeown; Richard S. Patton
Original assignee: Don J. Pestell Limited
Priority date: 1996-03-13
Filing date: 1997-03-13
Publication date: 1997-09-18
Also published as: CA2248787A1; AU2321697A

Abstract

A feed supplement for a monogastric animal includes about 10 % to 30 % by weight of a gluconeogenic compound which is selected from the group consisting of propionic acid, propionic acid esters, propionic acid salts, propyl esters, propyl alcohol, alanine, aspartate, glutamate, serine, lactose, lactate, glycerol, pyruvate, glutamine and mixtures thereof; from about 0 % to 5 % by weight of propylene glycol, from about 20 % to 60 % by weight of a fatty acid, and the balance of said supplement being a compatible filler. The feed supplement is administered in an effective amount to maintain or enhance the energy balance in the animal.

Description

ANIMAL FEED SUPPLEMENT

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an animal feed supplement and, more particularly, relates to an animal feed supplement for a monogastric animal for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of such an animal. That is, the invention allows the animal when it is under heightened energy demands to obtain a flow of metabolic fuels which enables it to maintain a sufficient supply of energy or additionally to enhance a supply of energy, to better meet physiological demands, and to partition that energy for use in bodily processes so that the animal is disposed to meet optimal performance criteria.

Background of the Invention

Conventional animal feed for monogastric animals with noncompartmentalized or single stomachs, such as swine, often fail to provide sufficient energy for the animal during periods of stress or high demand. For sows, this deficiency has been observed in the latter stages of pregnancy or during lactation. If the animal's dietary energy requirements are not met, an energy deficiency or an energy imbalance, or both, will result. Under such circumstances, the animal may exhibit a depressed appetite and other physiological problems, such as insufficient milk production during lactation and a delay of estrus upon weaning.

In late gestation, low nutrient intake can impact piglet survival in the first few days after birth. Methods to improve the energy status of the piglet at birth have been related to improving nutrient intake of the sow in late gestation. However, as observed by Weldon et al. (J. Animal Science 72 (1994) p.387) , high nutrient intake in late gestation may reduce energy intake during lactation. Weldon et al. indicated that excessive feed intake during gestation caused the sow to become insensitive to insulin, thereby limiting the sow's appetite. Seerley et al. (J. Animal Science 46 (1974) p.1009) and Bishop et al. (J. Animal Science 49, supplement 1 (1979) p.104) noted that fat added to the diet of the sow during late gestation increases the carcass fat content of the newborn pig, decreases the mortality rate of neonatal pigs, and thus, increases litter size at weaning. Enhanced maternal energy substrates may be beneficial for fetal energy deposition and improved piglet survival.

During the initial phase of lactation, a sow often has a poor appetite, but the appetite improves during the nursing period. The limited feed intake at the beginning of lactation results in body weight loss, lower milk production and reduced weight gain of the nursing litter. In the lactating sow, body fat (in the form of non- esterified fatty acids) and muscle mass are rapidly mobilized to meet the nutrient demands of milk production. It is this loss which impairs reproductive performance as evident in the increased interval from weaning to rebreeding or remating. This body weight loss and consequent energy lag of the sow during early lactation places the survival of the nursing litter at risk and impairs the reproductive capacity of the sow once the litter is weaned.

Koketsu et al. in J. Animal Sci. 74 (1996) pp. 2875- 2884 analyzed the records from 20,296 lactating sows on thirty commercial farms and noted that low feed intake or a drop in intake in the first week of lactation resulted in longer weaning to breeding and conception intervals. Sows which had a major drop in feed intake had a lower litter weight. Sows were more likely to be removed from the herd if intake dropped due to their ultimate poor reproduction readiness .

Zak et al. found that varying the feed intake of sows during lactation affects the fertility of the sows after weaning (J. Anim. Sci., 75 (1977) pp. 208-216) . Sows fed less at the first part of lactation and sows fed less in the last week of a four week lactation lost more body weight than sows fed to appetite, had an increased weaning to estrus interval and a reduced ovulation rate. Thus, Zak et al. concluded that the differences found in postweaning reproduction were due to the extent and timing of weight loss which results in varying the energy balance in the sows.

In efforts to increase energy intake, fats have been added to feed given to sows in late gestation as well as during lactation resulting in some improvement in reproductive performances as evidenced by increased survival of the young, particularly in litters with low-birth weight pigs. The metabolic mechanism and reproducibility of this increase is unclear (Ruwe et al., J. Animal Sci. 69 (1991) p.1935) . A neonate pig could deplete its body stores of carbohydrates as a supply of energy under nutritional energy stress conditions. However, to prevent this, the addition of fat to the diet of the sow appears to increase the level of fat in the sow's milk and colostrum. The neonate and nursing pig feeds on this milk which increases its fat stores. Stahly et al. showed that the addition of fat to the food of sows in late gestation did not improve pig survival at birth but the feeding of fat to the sows in lactation improved pig survival and weight at weaning. Animal Sci. 63 (1986) p. 1156.

In a review discussing the voluntary food intake of sows and gilts, Lynch (Occ. Publ. Br. Soc. Anim. Prod. (1989) No. 13) noted that sows tend to eat less with high energy diets including fat compared to lower energy diets without fat, resulting in an increased energy intake despite the lower total feed intake differential. The response to high fat diets appears to some extent to depend on the environmental temperature. The addition of fat to the animal's diet in hot conditions has an effect because fat has a lower heat increment and produces less body heat, thereby reducing the nutritional energy stress from high temperatures and allowing the animal to eat more.

Due to the lack of a consistent response with fat additions to the diet, it is necessary to consider other aspects of metabolism to produce a satisfactory animal feed supplement. In the pig as well as many other species, complex carbohydrates other than starch have long been an important source of energy. These complex carbohydrates are digested via hindgut macrobial fermentation to produce acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid. This digestion process is more important in the adult sow compared to the young pig due to the greater development of the hindgut fermentation capacity. Up to 25% of the energy requirements of the adult sow can be provided from this fermentation. However, fermentation also results in an energy loss to the animal through the generation of carbon dioxide and from the poor utilization of acetate. In particular, acetic acid and butyric acid are oxidized directly to carbon dioxide during fermentation. The heat of fermentation can also raise the pig's body temperature which in hot environments causes a loss of appetite.

Propionate and other glucose precursors or gluconeogenic compounds have been used as sources of energy for milk production in ruminants, often as a treatment for ketosis which is a disease in dairy cows characterized by reduced milk production and weight loss. Propionate and glucose, however, are insulin secretagogues. Higher insulin levels tends to decrease the uptake efficiency of certain glucose precursors such as lactate, alanine, glutamine and glycerol. However, propionate uptake appears not to be inhibited by insulin, so in the presence of propionate, insulin levels favor the conversion of propionate to glucose while other gluconeogenic compounds such as lactate are spared for other uses.

These glucose precursors have not been widely used in the diet of monogastric animals. In fact, Dorman et al. (JAVMA Vol. 198, No. 9 (1991) p. 1643) disclose that propylene glycol, in large quantities can be toxic in horses. Dorman et al. disclose that the accidental feeding of propylene glycol in a quantity of 3.8L (7.6 mg/kg of body weight) to a horse lead to the death of the horse 28 hours after propylene glycol ingestion.

Ferre, P., et al. disclose that orally feeding fat and injecting gluconeogenic substrates to starved, neonatal rats reverses hypoglycaemia (Am. J. Physiol. 234(2): E129-136) . The use of injection makes such a treatment onerous for treating larger animals and large numbers of such animals. Unlike sows, starved neonatal rats do not have energy stores to mobilize, thus, the complications with treating sows and other monogastric animals are not evident.

United Kingdom patent application no. 2,102,268 by Nakajima et al. discloses an animal feedstuff in soft granular form which contains 1% to 10% by weight of propylene glycol, 2% to 30% by weight of fatty components consisting of fat and/or oil and 2% to 25% by weight of moisture. This composition results in a soft granular animal feedstuff in which the granules do not tend to collapse readily into powder. Propylene glycol is added to the feedstuff to promote the caking efficiency of the feedstuff. United States patent no. 5,182,126 to Vinci et al. discloses a ruminant feed supplement which contains a C₁₄ - C₂₂ fatty acid alkaline earth metal salt and a propionate glucogenous ingredient. This compound is a rumen bypass animal feed supplement to ensure that the components of the compound are metabolized in the abomasum or small intestine and are not metabolized in the rumen. In the case of monogastric animals, the components of the feed supplements are selected specifically for absorption in the animal's digestive tract and there is no need for the bypass features of such ruminant compositions.

It is desirable to provide an animal feed supplement for a monogastric animal for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance in the animal. This feed supplement provides an approach to addressing the energy needs of the animal which positively affects the health of the animal. In particular, in the case of sows, the desired energy requirements during gestation and lactation are addressed by the invention.

FV"TT TΥ of the Invention

It has been found that an unexpected improvement in maintenance of the energy balance in a monogastric animal such as swine occurs when the diet of the animal includes a feed supplement comprising a gluconeogenic compound and a long chain fatty acid. For female animals the addition of this feed supplement results in an improvement in the reproductive performance during the latter stages of pregnancy, during lactation and subsequent reproductive performance. The addition of the supplement to the diet of the animal maintains or enhances its energy balance during lactation. The feed supplement of the invention may be adapted for monogastric animals such as swine, horses, rabbits, mink, chinchillas, dogs, rodents, fowl and preruminants such as calves and lambs. In its broad aspect, the feed supplement for a monogastric animal comprises an effective amount of a gluconeogenic compound and an effective amount of a C₁₄ - C₂₂ fatty acid. The term "effective" as used herein means any amount that is effective for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance in the animal.

In another aspect of the invention, the feed supplement for a monogastric animal comprises from about 10% to 30% by weight of a gluconeogenic compound. The gluconeogenic compound is selected from the group consisting of propionic acid, propionic acid esters, propionic acid salts, propyl esters, propyl alcohol, alanine, asparate, glutamate, serine, lactose, lactate, glycerol, pyruvate, glutamine and mixtures thereof. The feed supplement also comprises from about 0% to 5% by weight of propylene glycol, from about 20% to 60% by weight of a C₁₄ - C₂₂ fatty acid, with the balance of the supplement being fillers and other such essentially inert substances or food based carriers.

In another aspect of the invention, the feed supplement for a monogastric animal comprises about 10% by weight sodium propionate, about 5% by weight propylene glycol, about 40% by weight choice white grease, and about 45% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of dairy by-product, inert mineral, fibre, grain products, flavour enhancer and mixtures thereof.

In another aspect of the invention, the feed supplement for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of a monogastric animal is administered in a daily dosage amount of about 0.05-0.5% of the body weight of the animal.

In another aspect of the invention, the feed supplement for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of a monogastric animal is administered in a daily dosage amount of about 10% by weight of the dry matter content of the animal's feed.

In another aspect of the invention, the feed supplement is administered to a monogastric female animal in a daily dosage amount from within 5 to 15 days prior to the scheduled parturition date of the animal and continuing to feed said daily dosage from within 5 to 28 days postpartum.

The composition and use of the composition of the invention provide a number of advantages including the following:

1. Dietary gluconeogenic compounds and sources of long chain fatty acids are combined to facilitate metabolic processes at times when energy demands are high and when animals are under stress.

2. Nutrient intake and/or energy available for metabolic processes is enhanced by the addition of the feed supplement of the invention which may be used with traditional feed rather than having to remix an entire feed.

3. Reproductive efficiency is enhanced by nutrient intake and/or energy available for metabolic processes resulting in improving ovulatory processes and reduced time for conception.

4. The feeding of the composition of the invention to a monogastric animal improves the energy status providing substrates for gluconeogenesis.

5. An animal fed the composition of the invention produces healthier offspring. 6. The nutrient and feed intake immediately postpartum is increased which enhances the overall nutrient intake and/or energy available for the metabolic processes of the animal.

Detailed Description of the Prefer-r_**^ wm^odiment

The feed supplement of the invention is added to the normal feed for a monogastric animal. The feed supplement includes a gluconeogenic compound as well as a long chained fatty acid which provides nutrients to a monogastric animal. In a female animal, the feed supplement allows for the treatment and/or prevention of lost appetite postpartum, for the production of healthier offspring, improved conception and subsequent reproductive performance and for the maintenance or enhancement of the energy balance of the animal.

Examples of suitable gluconeogenic compounds are propionic acid, propionic acid ester, propionic acid salt, propyl ester, propyl alcohol, alanine, aspartate, glutamate, serine or any protein or any other source of amino acids pertinent in energy metabolism, lactose, lactate, glycerol, pyruvate, glutamine and other gluconeogenic compounds which are well known in the art, and propylene glycol.

Examples of suitable fatty acids are beef and mutton tallow, lard, choice white grease, cotton seed oil, palm seed oil, in addition to other naturally occurring fatty acid oils or oils from genetically altered sources which -e well known in the art, and mixtures thereof, including triglycerides of any of these fatty acids.

The fatty acids used according to the present invention are straight or branched, unsaturated, unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic mono-carboxylic acids having 14 or more carbon atoms in the molecule (herein referred to generally by the term "fatty acid") , or mixtures of these acids. The upper limit on the number of carbons is not critical; however, straight chains containing 14 to 22 carbon atoms are preferred. Branched chain fatty acids and acids containing up to 30 or more carbon units can also be used according to the present invention.

It has been found that the simultaneous addition to the diet of gluconeogenic compounds and C₁₄ - C₂₂ fatty acids enables female monogastric animals such as sows to recover their appetites relatively quickly postpartum. The use of such a supplement shows increased dry matter intake, decreased litter mortality, shorter weaning to conception interval and increased subsequent litter size.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the feed supplement for a monogastric animal comprises from about 10% to 30% by weight of a gluconeogenic compound. The gluconeogenic compound is selected from the group consisting of propionic acid, propionic acid esters, propionic acid salts, propyl ester, propyl alcohol, alanine, aspartate, glutamate, serine, lactose, lactate, glycerol, pyruvate, glutamine and mixtures thereof. The feed supplement also comprises from about 0% to 5% by weight of propylene glycol, from about 20% to 60% by weight of a C₁₄ - C₂₂ fatty acid with the balance of the supplement being fillers and other essentially inert substances or food based carriers.

The balance of the feed supplement may be alfalfa, legume hay, grass hay, corn grain, forages, oats, barley, distiller's grain, brewer's grain, soya bean meal, corn seed meal, mineral sources such as calcium carbonate and silicon dioxide, soy hulls and corn cob meal, anti-caking agents and mixtures thereof. A flavour enhancer such as anise and others known in the art may also be added. In one embodiment of the present invention, the feed supplement comprises about 10% by weight sodium propionate, about 5% by weight propylene glycol (the gluconeogenic compounds) , about 40% by weight choice white grease (the fatty acid source) , and about 45% by weight of a combination of dairy by-product, inert mineral, fibre material, grain products, as noted above, and flavour enhancers.

Sows consume about 4 pounds to 16 pounds of feed per day. The supplement totals a daily dosage amount equal to 2% to 20% by weight to the dry matter content of the animal's feed, and preferably, a daily dosage amount equal to 10% by weight of the dry matter content of the animal's feed.

For a pregnant animal, the preferred method for feeding the supplement of the invention comprises orally feeding the animal the composition in a daily dosage amount from within 5-15 days prior to the scheduled parturition date of the animal and continuing to feed said daily dosage from within 5 to 28 days postpartum. The composition is fed to the animal as a supplement to the animal's feed. The daily dosage is preferably 0.05-0.5% of the body weight of the animal depending on the metabolic needs of the animal. For the sow this dosage is about 45 to 681g (0.1 to 1.5 lb.) . The daily dosage can be varied throughout the administration period, as needed. The monogastric animal may be swine, equine, rabbits, mink, chinchillas, dogs, rodents, fowl and preruminants such as calves and lambs.

The following examples are included to further illustrate the invention herein described and claimed. The examples are not intended as limitations of the present invention. The examples show that sows fed the test product ate more, had decreased litter mortality, had a shorter weaning to conception interval and had increased subsequent litter size. In particular, the examples show that the sows had an increased feed intake during the first week postpartum.

The composition of the invention tested comprised 10% by weight sodium propionate, 5% by weight propylene glycol, 40% by weight choice white grease, and 45% by weight of a combination of dairy by-product, inert mineral, fibre material, grain products and flavour enhancers (the "test product") . The control was 40% by weight choice white grease and 60% by weight filler which was dairy by-products and grain products. The test product and the control were fed beginning day 102 of gestation which was approximately 11 days prior to parturition at a rate ranging from 227 to 568 grams/head/day and this was continued for 21 days postpartum. Ten sows were fed the test product and ten sows were fed the control. Each group of sows included an equal number of either primiparous or multiparous (average prior litters: 3.4) sows.

The feed intake of the sows and the piglets after the first parity and after the second parity were observed.

Table 1 lists the total feed intake per sow in early lactation for day 1 and 2 and for the first week postpartum.

Table 1

Kg Intake 1st Parity 2nd Parity Average All Sows

Day 1 and 2 Week Day 1 and 2 Week Day 1 and 2 Week control 6.7 33.8 8.2 41.5 7.4 37.6 test 7.6 36.8 10.2 47.6 8.9 42.2 product A study of average daily feed intake for the sows for the twenty-one day lactation period is shown in Table 2.

Table 2

Kg/day 1st Parity Multiparity All sows control 5.26 6.81 6.04 test product 5.51 7.58 6.55

Table 3 shows the per cent mortality and the weights and gains of the piglets at 21 days of age. The average data from all sows fed the control and sows fed the test product is also shown.

Table 4 shows the weaning to estrus interval, the number of sows with delayed estrus and reproductive failure. The number of sows which had a weaning to estrus interval of less than eight days is shown and those which had a weaning to estrus interval greater than eight days is shown. The average weaning to estrus interval for the first and second parities is shown as WEI and the number of fetus aborted naturally is shown.

Table 4

No. < 8 Days No. > 8 days WEI Abort

1st Multiparity 1st Multiparity 1 & 2 Week Parity Parity control 3 4 2 1 9.0 2 test 4 4 0 0 5.1 0 product

Table 5 shows the subsequent litter size of the sows fed the control and the sows fed the test product. The column entitled "Change" refers to the increase or decrease of litter size as compared to the previous litter of the sows. Sows fed the control had almost the same litter size as the prior litter (-0.14) while sows fed the test product increased the number of pigs born alive by 0.77 compared to the prior litter.

Table 5

Born Alive Change # Sows having 2 or more

Fewer Pigs Compared to

Last Parity control 10.1 -0.14 4 test product 11.1 0.77 1 In summary, the composition of the invention increases the nutrient and feed intake of the sow which leads to a decreased mortality rate in piglets. In particular, nutrient intake during the first week postpartum was increased.

It will be understood that modifications can be made in the embodiments of the invention herein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as described in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A feed supplement for a monogastric animal comprising an effective amount of a gluconeogenic compound and an effective amount of a C₁₄ - C₂₂ fatty acid.

2. A feed supplement for a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 1 comprising from about 10% to 30% by weight of a gluconeogenic compound and from about 20% to 60% by weight of a C₁₄ - C₂₂ fatty acid, the balance being a compatible filler.

3. A feed supplement for a monogastric animal comprising:

(a) from about 10% to 30% by weight of a gluconeogenic compound, said gluconeogenic compound comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of propionic acid, propionic acid esters, propionic acid salts, propyl esters, propyl alcohol, alanine, aspartate, glutamate, serine, lactose, lactate, glycerol, pyruvate, glutamine and mixtures thereof;

(b) from about 0% to 5% by weight of propylene glycol;

(c) from about 20% to 60% by weight of a fatty acid; and

(d) the balance of said supplement being a compatible filler.

4. A feed supplement for a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 3, wherein said monogastric animal is swine.

5. A feed supplement for a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said monogastric animal is equine.

6. A feed supplement for a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 3, wherein said monogastric animal is rabbit, mink, chinchilla, dog, rodent, a fowl, or a preruminant calf or a preruminant lamb.

. A feed supplement for a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 3, wherein said fatty acid is a C₁₄ - C₂₂ fatty acid.

8. A feed supplement for a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 3, wherein said fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of beef tallow, mutton tallow, lard, choice white grease, cotton seed oil, palm seed oil, natural fat, triglycerides of such fatty acids and mixtures thereof.

9. A feed supplement for a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 3, wherein said filler is selected from the group consisting of alfalfa, legume hay, grass hay, forages, corn grain, oats, barley, distiller's grain, brewer's grain, soya bean meal, corn seed meal, calcium carbonate, silicon dioxide, anti-caking agents and mixtures thereof.

10. A feed supplement for a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 9 additionally comprising a flavour enhancer.

11. A feed supplement or a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 3 comprising about 10% by weight sodium propionate, about 5% by weight propylene glycol, about 40% by weight choice white grease, and about 45% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of dairy by¬ product, inert mineral, fibre, grain products, flavour enhancer and mixtures thereof.

12. A method for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of a monogastric animal by administering to said monogastric animal a sufficient amount of a feed supplement composition, comprising:

(a) from about 10% to 30% by weight of a gluconeogenic compound, said gluconeogenic compound comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of propionic acid, propionic acid esters, propionic acid salts, propyl ester, propyl alcohol, alanine, aspartate, glutamate, serine, lactose, lactate, glycerol, pyruvate, glutamine and mixtures thereof;

(b) from about 0% to 5% by weight of propylene glycol;

(c) from about 20% to 60% by weight of a C₁₄ - C₂₂ fatty acid; and

(d) the balance of said supplement being a compatible filler.

13. A method for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 12, wherein said monogastric animal is swine.

14. A method for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 12, wherein said monogastric animal is equine.

15. A method for maintaining or enhancing the energy- balance of a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 12, wherein said monogastric animal is a calf, lamb, rabbit, mink, chinchilla, primate, dog, breeding rat or a fowl.

16. A method for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 12, wherein said fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of beef tallow, mutton tallow, lard, choice white grease, cotton seed oil, palm seed oil, natural fat, triglycerides of such fatty acids and mixtures thereof.

17. A method for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 12, wherein said filler is selected from the group consisting of alfalfa, legume hay, grass hay, forages, corn grain, oats, barley, distiller's grain, brewer's grain, soya bean meal, corn seed meal and mixtures thereof.

18. A method for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 17 additionally comprising a flavour enhancer.

19. A method for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 12, comprising about 10% by weight sodium propionate, about 5% by weight propylene glycol, about 40% by weight choice white grease, and about 45% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of dairy by-product, inert mineral, fibre, grain products, flavour enhancer and mixtures thereof.

20. A method for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of a monogastric female animal as claimed in claim

12, wherein a daily dosage amount of said composition is administered to said monogastric animal from within 5 - 15 days prior to the scheduled parturition date of the animal to within 5 to 28 days postpartum.

21. A method for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 12, wherein a daily dosage of said composition is administered in about 0.05-0.5% of the body weight of the animal.

22. A method for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 20, wherein said daily dosage is about 10% of the dry matter content of the animal's feed.

23. A method for maintaining or enhancing the energy balance of a monogastric animal as claimed in claim 21, wherein the dosage is about 45 to 681g.