AU660426B2 - Fattening feed for livestock - Google Patents

Description

S F Ref: 198108

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 6 6 0 4 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Kao Corporation No. 14-10 Nihonbashi Kayaba-cho 1-chome Chuo-ku Tokyo

JAPAN

Masaharu Hayashi Spruson FergIson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Fattening Feed for Livestock

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S .5 0 is The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- FATTENING FEED FOR LIVESTOCK FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a feed for fattening livestock such as cattle and pigs. More particularly, it Srelates to a feed for fattening livestock which exerts nutritional effects of increasing the body weight of the livestock at the growth stage and improving the meat texture as well as an effect of elevating the feed efficiency.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, there is a tendency to use formula feeds for livestock which are protein-enriched and highcaloric feeds, the so-called concentrated feeds has been used for the purpose of elevating feed efficiency and body weight gain. However, livestock fed with such a concentrated feed are under great stress and a heavy burden on the liver, which plays an important role in physiological functions, arises. This certain abnormalities, such as hepatic hypertrophy or excessive lipid accumulation, to occur Owe.'.

"in the animals. Further, these fattening feeds contain a t:2 large amount of animal fats and oils as an energy source.

Although the addition of these fats and cils promotes body weight gain, the amount of dorsal fat and body fat are simultaneousl3r increased thereby. These fats are highly inferior in coimercial value as compared to muscle tissue Sand, furthermore, the excessive accumulation of fats means a waste in feed energy. Therefore a fat-rich carcass results in a decrease in the economical value of the meat.

Although attempts have been made to solve the above-described problems by reducing the fat content of feeds or using feed additives, none of them have completely solved these problems.

Summary of the Invention In order to solve the above problems, the present inventor has conducted extensive studies. As a result, he has found out that the abnormal accumulation of fat can be relieved and nutritional effects, feed efficiency and meat productivity can be improved by feeding livestock in the growth stage with a fattening feed for livestock which comprises a triglyceride of a medium-chain fatty acid having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms as an essential component, thus completing the present invention.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a livestock fattening feed ("livestock" being as herein defined) which comprises 1 to 15wt. of a triglyceride of a saturated, straight, medium-chain fatty acid having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms (hereinafter, referred to as MCT) and at least one component used in conventional livestock fattening feeds and a method for improving the fattening of livestock comprising feeding the above described fattening feed to livestock.

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Detailed Description of the Invention The fattening feed of the present invention may be suitably given to, in particular, pigs and beef cattle.

Ii I, *o [N:NLIBAA]00167:RLF The medium-chain fatty acid having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms to be contained in the MCT are saturated straight-chain fatty acids. Specific examples thereof include caprylic acid having 8 carbon atoms, capric acid having 10 carbon atoms and lauric acid having 12 carbon atoms.

The MCT to be used in the present invention preferably has a fatty acid composition comprising from 50 to 100% by weight of caprylic acid, from 0 to 50% by weight of capric acid and from 0 to 50% by weight of lauric acid, each based on the total weight of the fatty acids. However, it may contain other fatty acids such as shorter fatty acids those having 6 carbon atoms) and longer chain fatty acids those having 14 to 24 carbon atoms), as long as 16 the effects of the present invention are not deteriorated thereby. In such a case, the other fatty acids may be contained in an amount such that a weight ratio of the medium-chain fatty acids to the other fatty acids ranges from 10/0 to 0 The MCT which can be used in the present invention is available as commercial products under trade names of *it Kokonard MT in which the weight ratio of caprylic acid to capric acid is 85/10 and Kokonard RK in which the weight ratio of caprylic acid to capric acid ranges from 100/0 to 98/2 both sold by Kao Corporation.

3 Long-chain fatty acid triglycerides, which have been conventionally employed, are adsorbed via the lymphatic system. In contrast, the MCT to be used in the present invention is adsorbed via the portal system at a high absorption speed. Therefore accumulations hardly occur but rather the MCT is oxidized in the liver and consumed as energy.

The content of the MCT in the fattening feed for livestock of the present invention may be at least 0.5% by ,0 weight and preferably range from 1.0 to 15% by weight in the case of pigs and from 1.0 to 10% by weight in the case of beef cattle, each based on the total weight of the fattening feed.

A suitable amount of the MCT to be fed per day per kilogram of body weight can range from 10 to 60 g though it may vary depending on the kind, the sex and the stage of growth of livestock. In particular, from 20 to 60 g of the MCT is preferably fed per day per kilogram of body weight in the case of pigs and from 10 to 30 of the MCT is preferably ae S'0 fed per day per kilogram of body weight in the case of beef S" cattle.

•i Examples of known MCT-containing feeds include one aiming at preventing diarrhea of cattle during the nursing stage (as described JP-A-2-100635; (the term "JP-A" as used 8- herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") and a fish feed showing an effect of preventing 4 diseases (as described JP-A-2-35048). However, the feed disclosed in JP-A-2-100635 is a milk replacer to be fed for infant livestock and thus the composition thereof is different from a feed for livestock at the growth stage. For g example, the milk replacer contains the MCT in a relatively high amount. If a feed for livestock at the growth stage contains the MCT in such a high amount of the MCT, livestock's preference for the feed is extremely deteriorated.

/0 In contrast, the fattening feed for livestock of the present invention, which has a relatively low MCT content, is never degraded. When a suitable amount of the fattening feed additive for livestock of the present invention is given to livestock, therefore, the effects of increasing body weight /S and improving meat texture can be achieved.

The fattening feed for livestock of the present invention further contains components those used in conventional fattening feeds for livestock as disclosed, for example, in Haiqo Shirvo Koza (Assorted Feed Course), published by Chikusan (1980). Specific examples thereof include cereals such as corn, milo and soybean cake; leaf meals such as alfalfa; fats and oils; saccharides; proteins; vitamins; and minerals. Among them, cereals may be contained in the fattening feed for livestock of the present invention 2S as the main component in an amount of from 40 to 96 by weight based on the total weight of the fattening feed.

5 The fattening feed for livestock of the present invention can be formulated into a solid form with using an appropriate amount of starch and can be given to the livestock as such. Alternatively, it can be given to the livestock in the form of na aqueous solution (liquid feeding). Such an aqueous solution can be prepared by adding the fattening feed of the present invention into water so as to give a 15 to 30% by weight aqueous solution, and then mixing and kneading the resulting solution.

The term "livestock" as used herein means livestock at the stage of life during the period from the termination of feeding with a milk replacer to the termination of the fattening stage. Having regard for example to beef cattle, "livestock" means beef cattle in the period from the termination of the feeding with a milk replacer those weighing at least 70 kg and capable of taking roughage) to the termination of the fattening stage.

Having regard for example to pigs, "livestock" means pigs in a period from the termination of the feeding with a late artificial milk following weaning those weighing at least 20 kg) to the termination of the fattening stage.

The present invention is now illustrated in greater detail by way of the following Examples, but it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be construed as 0 being limited thereto. Unless otherwise indicated herein, all parts, percents, ratios and the like are by weight.

Example 1 Twenty pigs in the growth stage (average body weight: 35 kg) were divided into 4 lots, with lot including each having 5 animals. Then each lot was fed with a feed of the (N:ALIBAA00238:AR formulation as specified in Table 1 below for 3 months and the final body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion rate and dorsal fat thickness were determined.

The feed to gain ratio was calculated by dividing the feed intake by the body weight gain TABLE 1

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Test Lot Component I II by by weight) weight) Corn 48.0 48.0 Milo 24.7 21.7 Soybean Cake 13.5 13.5 Feather Meal 1.5 1.5 Alfalfa Meal 4.0 4.0 Vitamin Mixture 0.3 0.3 Mineral Mixture 3.0 3.0 Caprylic Acid TG* Capric Acid TO 5.0 Lauric Acid TG Fancy Tallow SNote: *TG: triglyceride.

Comparative Lot I II by by weight) weight) 48.0 48.0 24.7 21.7 13.5 13.5 1.5 4.0 0.3 0.3 3.0 n

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5.0 S 1. 7 TABLE 2 Test Lot Comparative Lot I II I II Body Weight (kg): Initial 34.7 35.1 34.5 35.6 Termination 120.6 124.8 115.8 116.7 Body Weight Grain (g/day) 954.4 996.7 903.3 901.1 Feed to Gain Ratio 2.98 2.86 3.44 3.53 Average Dorsal Fat /0 Thickness* (cm) 2.46 2.58 3.23 3.45 Note: Average of three dorsal points.

As the results in Table 2 show, the body weight grain, feed to gain ratio and dorsal fat thickness were improved in the test lots fed with the feed of the present !6 invention, compared with those in the comparative lots. Each value given in Table 2 is the average of the values for animals.

EXAMPLE 2 •Six Holstein castrated oxen (average body weight: about 90 kg) were divided into 3 lots, with each lot including 2 animals. Then each lot was fed an alfalfa hay cube as roughage and the formula feed as specified in Table 3 below as a concentrated feed for 14 weeks. Thus, the body weight gain and items relating to blood properties including 8 cholesterol, phospholipid and triglyceride levels were measured.

Component Corn Milo /O Barley Soybean Cake Wheat Bran Alfalfa Meal Molasses /S Common Salt Calcium Carbonate Lime Phosphate TABLE 3 Test lot I _JUL cyby (pks by weight) weight) 33 33 21 21 13 13 14 14 6.3 6.3 4.2 4.2 5 5 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.0 1.8 1.8 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 2.5 2.5 3.0 rceride.

Comparative Lot acVs by weight) 33 21 13 14 6.3 4.2 1.8 0.1 0.1 *o Si

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Mineral Vitamin Caprylic Acid TG* Capric Acid TG Lauric Acid TG Tallow Note: *TG: trigly 9 TABLE 4 Test lot I II Comparative lot Body Weight (kg): Initial 93 94 Termination 204 215 184 Body Weight Gain (/day) 1.13 1.23 0.96 Blood Properties: Cholesterol (mg/dl) 73.6 72.0 120.6 to Phospholipid (mg/dl) 86.5 93.6 148.3 Triglyceride (mg/dl) 24.3 26.9 41.5 As the results of Table 4 show, the body weight gains and the lipid metabolism (estimated from the blood properties) in the test lots fed with the feeds of the present invention were improved, compared with those in the comparative lot. Each value given in Table 4 is the average of the values for 2 animals.

While the invention has been described in detail and Swith reference to specific examples thereof, it will be gv apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

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Claims (4)

1. A method for improving the fattening of livestock ("livestock" being as hereinbefore defined) comprising feeding to the livestock, requiring such improvement of fattening, a livestock fattening feed which comprises 1 to 15wt. of a triglyceride of a saturated, straight, medium-chain fatty acid having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and at least one component used in conventional livestock fattening feeds.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the feed further comprises cereal.

3. The method for improving the fatteing of livestock ("livestock" being as hereinbefore defined) comprising feeding to the livestock requiring such improvement of fattening, a livestock fattening feed, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the Examples excluding any comparative examples.

4. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to wherein the livestock are cattle or pigs. j. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said feed is fed to the livestock ir an amount such that from 10 to 60g of said triglyceride is fed per day per kilogram of livestock body weight. DATED this Twelfth Day of April 1995 Kao Corporation Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON P [N\LIBAA]00238:EAR Fattening Feed for Livestock ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fattening feed for livestock which comprises a triglyceride of a medium-chain fatty acid having from 8 to 12 6 carbon atoms is disclosed, and a method of improving the fattening of livestock (for example, beef cattle, pigs) in the growth stage, improving the meat texture and elevating the feed efficiency comprising feeding the fattening feed to livestock is also disclosed. 0 'h