CA2429392A1 - Zeolite additive for animal feed and method of using same - Google Patents
Zeolite additive for animal feed and method of using same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2429392A1 CA2429392A1 CA002429392A CA2429392A CA2429392A1 CA 2429392 A1 CA2429392 A1 CA 2429392A1 CA 002429392 A CA002429392 A CA 002429392A CA 2429392 A CA2429392 A CA 2429392A CA 2429392 A1 CA2429392 A1 CA 2429392A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- zeolite
- fish
- fish feed
- ammonia
- fishes
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000010457 zeolite Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 69
- HNPSIPDUKPIQMN-UHFFFAOYSA-N dioxosilane;oxo(oxoalumanyloxy)alumane Chemical compound O=[Si]=O.O=[Al]O[Al]=O HNPSIPDUKPIQMN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 67
- 229910021536 Zeolite Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims abstract description 66
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 44
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 title claims description 14
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 title abstract description 7
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 title abstract description 7
- 241000251468 Actinopterygii Species 0.000 claims abstract description 114
- QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ammonia Chemical compound N QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 88
- 229910021529 ammonia Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 44
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 28
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 28
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 238000003306 harvesting Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 230000003134 recirculating effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 210000003608 fece Anatomy 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000008188 pellet Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 231100000419 toxicity Toxicity 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000001988 toxicity Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000013589 supplement Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 241000124008 Mammalia Species 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004062 sedimentation Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000227 grinding Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 241000238557 Decapoda Species 0.000 claims 4
- 241000238424 Crustacea Species 0.000 claims 2
- 241000938605 Crocodylia Species 0.000 claims 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 abstract description 8
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000011068 loading method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 241000287828 Gallus gallus Species 0.000 description 2
- -1 NH4 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000009360 aquaculture Methods 0.000 description 2
- 244000144974 aquaculture Species 0.000 description 2
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000004584 weight gain Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000019786 weight gain Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-O Ammonium Chemical compound [NH4+] QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-O 0.000 description 1
- 241000271566 Aves Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000005996 Blood meal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019733 Fish meal Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 108010068370 Glutens Proteins 0.000 description 1
- FFEARJCKVFRZRR-BYPYZUCNSA-N L-methionine Chemical compound CSCC[C@H](N)C(O)=O FFEARJCKVFRZRR-BYPYZUCNSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 235000019764 Soybean Meal Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 241000282898 Sus scrofa Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000209140 Triticum Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000021307 Triticum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000008042 Zea mays Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000005824 Zea mays ssp. parviglumis Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000002017 Zea mays subsp mays Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229910000323 aluminium silicate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000001580 bacterial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000008280 blood Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000004369 blood Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004927 clay Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000005822 corn Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000005911 diet Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000000378 dietary effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000015872 dietary supplement Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- BEFDCLMNVWHSGT-UHFFFAOYSA-N ethenylcyclopentane Chemical compound C=CC1CCCC1 BEFDCLMNVWHSGT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000002474 experimental method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002550 fecal effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000006052 feed supplement Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000021323 fish oil Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000004467 fishmeal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000001035 gastrointestinal tract Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 210000002816 gill Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 235000021312 gluten Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000012054 meals Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229930182817 methionine Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000010755 mineral Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000002823 nitrates Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen group Chemical group [N] QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 231100000252 nontoxic Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000003000 nontoxic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002594 sorbent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004334 sorbic acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940075582 sorbic acid Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 235000010199 sorbic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000001179 sorption measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004455 soybean meal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002195 synergetic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000002700 urine Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000011782 vitamin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940088594 vitamin Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 229930003231 vitamin Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 235000013343 vitamin Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23K—FODDER
- A23K50/00—Feeding-stuffs specially adapted for particular animals
- A23K50/80—Feeding-stuffs specially adapted for particular animals for aquatic animals, e.g. fish, crustaceans or molluscs
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23K—FODDER
- A23K40/00—Shaping or working-up of animal feeding-stuffs
- A23K40/25—Shaping or working-up of animal feeding-stuffs by extrusion
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23K—FODDER
- A23K20/00—Accessory food factors for animal feeding-stuffs
- A23K20/20—Inorganic substances, e.g. oligoelements
- A23K20/28—Silicates, e.g. perlites, zeolites or bentonites
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23K—FODDER
- A23K40/00—Shaping or working-up of animal feeding-stuffs
- A23K40/20—Shaping or working-up of animal feeding-stuffs by moulding, e.g. making cakes or briquettes
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Animal Husbandry (AREA)
- Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
- Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
- Birds (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Fodder In General (AREA)
- Feed For Specific Animals (AREA)
Abstract
Method of reducing the level of ammonia in an aquatic environment used for commercially raising and harvesting fish. A fish feed composed of the usual materials is combined with a zeolite additive. The combination forms a composition which is fed to the fishes and allows for the increased removal of ammonia from the fish enclosure in both non-circulating and recirculating aquatic or aquacultural systems. The removal of the ammonia has several advantages which allows increased production, particularly in aquacultural fish harvesting systems where water is recirculated.
Description
TITHE
ZEOhITE ADDITIVE FOR ANIMAh FEED AND METHOD OF USING SAME
INTRODUCTION
This invention relates to an animal feed and, more particularly, to a zeolite additive for fish feed Which additive thereby reduces ammonia in the water inhabited by the fishes within the enclosure in which the fish feed and the zeolite additive are used.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of a hydrous aluminosilicate sorbent composition as an animal feed supplement is described in United States Patent 5,140,949 (Chu et al) entitled ZEOLITE-ChAY COMPOSITION AND USES THEREOF, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The composition comprises a non-fibrous naturally occurring clay and a non-fibrous crystalline zeolite. The composition is stated to have a synergistic effect in binding ammonium rations at both high and low levels of available ammonia. The use of the dietary supplement is stated to result in improved performance (i.e., better weight gain and general improvement in health) of the animals.
The purpose of such a supplement, however, is to increase the growth rates and general health of various animals including fish, fowl, swine and chicken. It is believed that by suppressing ammonia formation in the gastrointestinal tract of mammals, the growth rate is stimulated. Others have presented similar findings by adding zeolites to animal feed which showed benefits in weight gain and general health improvements in the animals.
It is speculated that a possible physiological explanation a.s the known binding effect of NH4 ions by zeolites and the reduction of portal blood ammonia by dietary zeolites.
In fish farms or aquaculture generally where water supply is usually a limiting factor for fish production, the presence of ammonia in the water within which the fish are raised is a problem of significant concern. If the ammonia buildup can be reduced, additional fish can be raised since the buildup of ammonia is often the limiting factor for fish production. In recirculation systems which rely on biological filters to detoxify ammonia, the efficiency of the system can be improved by decreasing the amount of ammonia that has to be detoxified. Adsorption of ammonia by zeolite and removal of the zeolite in a microscreen prior to the biological filter effectively decreases the load of ammonia on the filter. Because the zeolite is perpetually added to the feed and is concurrently being removed by the microscreen filter it functions similarly to an ammonia sink. When recireulation systems are used for recirculating water, the above-identified problems axe exacerbated since recirculation type systems have high capital and operating costs. Significant reductions in production costs could be realised by increasing fish production.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for reducing the ammonia toxicity in an environment where ammonia is excreted by an animal, said method comprising adding an effective amount of zeolite as a component of or as a supplement to a feed or foodstuff.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for reducing the quantity of ammonia in a recirculating water type fish enclosure wherein fish are raised for harvesting,, said method comprising adding an effective amount of zeolite to a fish feed to form a composition and feeding said composition of said zeolite and said fish feed to fishes within said recirculating type fish enclosure thereby to reduce said quantity of said ammonia in said recirculated water.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for increasing the sedimentation rate of feces from fishes raised for harvesting within an enclosure with water therein Wherein said water of said enclosure i.s recirculated, said method comprising adding an effective amount of zeolite to a fish feed to form a composition and feeding said composition of said fish feed and zeolite to said fish in said enclosure.
According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for decreasing the use of oxygen in oxidation of ammonia a.n an environment for raising fishes comprising the steps of feeding said fishes a fish feed which includes an effective quantity of zeolite for increasing ammonia removal from said environment thereby reducing said use of said oxygen in said oxidation of said ammonia.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a composition used for the feeding of fishes comprising adding an effective amount of zeolite to a fish feed.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a product produced by one of the foregoing methods.
According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a fish feed used for consumption by fishes being raised for harvesting in an enclosure containing water, said fish feed comprising a composition of nutritionally balanced and edible ingredients and including an effective amount of zeolite as a supplement to said composition of nutritionally balanced and edible ,ingredients.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a fish feed and zeolite composition comprising adding said fish feed and said zeolite to a hopper, mixing said fix feed and said zeolite, grinding said fish feed and said zeolite to obtain g _ uniform size particles of said fish feed and said zeolite, adding an appropriate quantity of liquid to said uniform size particles of said fish feed and said zeolite, extruding said fish feed and said zeolite through holes to form cylindrical extrusions, severing said extruded fish feed and zeolite to form pellets, drying said pellets and storing said dried pellets of fish feed and zeolite.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with the use of drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an aquaculture environment where fish are being raised for commercial harvesting utilising the composition of fish feed and zeolite in a system wherein recirculation takes place and wherein both microscreen and biological type filters are used to cleanse and purify the recirculated water; and Figure 2 a.s diagrammatic view illustrating, inter alia, the processes used in creating the composition according to the invention which comprises a fish feed With an added and effective amount of'zeolite.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, an environment for raising fish is generally illustrated at 100 in Figure 1.
It comprises a tank diagrammatically illustrated at 101 within which fish generally illustrated at 102 are present.
The water within the tank or enclosure 101 is recirculated.
A microscreen filter 104 and a biological filter 110 are provided in the recirculation loop to cleanse the water being recirculated. Fish feed, as described in greater detail hereafter, is conveniently intermittently added to the water from feeder 111 above the tank 101 for the fish~
although manual feeding could of course could also be used which would likewise include the benefits of the invention.
The ingredients typically making up the feed used for the fishes include fish meal and fish oil which, together, comprise approximately seventy-five percent(75~) by Weight of the fish feed. In addition, wheat, corn gluten meal, soy bean meal, blood meal, methionine, various' vitamins and minerals and sorbic acid are typical ingredients as is known in the art. It will be appreciated that the quantities used can vary depending upon the size of the fish which are being fed with less feed being used for smaller fishes and more feed being used for larger growth _ g _ fishes. Likewise, it will be understood that the ratio between the various ingredients can change depending, for example, upon the age of the fish being raised in the tank 101. However, the general quantity of the ingredients and the specific identification of the ingredients is variable and is well known to those skilled in the art and need not be specifically defined here.
The combination of the aforementioned ingredients together With the addition of a zeolite additive are added to a hopper 112 (Figure 2) where they then pass to a feed mixer 113. In experiments to date, a 2~ by weight quantity of naturally occurring zeolite is added to the fish feed and has been found effective. The mixture is then passed to a grinder 114. The ground and thoroughly mixed ingredients are subsequently formed into pellets of sizes dependent upon the application intended at a forming machine 120. The formed pellets then pass to a storage hopper 121 where they may be bagged or otherwise packaged for shipment. As illustrated in Figure 2, other processing steps may be added if desired and only the principal steps have been described, The pellets of the fish feed are placed in the feeder 111 (Figure 1) located above the tank or enclosure 101. The feeder 111 is automatically activated by a _ g _ suitable timer and disperses a predetermined quantity of pellets into the tank 101 to feed the fishes 102 at desired intervals.
OPERATION
The byproducts from the fish 102 include oxygen deprived water from the gills, urine and feces. These byproducts enter the water which passes to the microscreen filter 104. The solids with ammonia adsorbed by the zeolite are removed by the microscreen filter 104 and become waste 130. The microscreen filter thereby acts as a continuous ammonia sink.
The solubles which include ammonia pass to the biofilter 110 where oxygen is added at 131 to replenish the oxygen previously used by the fishes 102 and also so that proper nitrification can occur. With nitrification completed, the non-toxic nitrates return to the environment at 132.
The zeolite Which is added to the fish feed has several significant benefits. First, since the zeolite excreted by the fishes 102 in the waste products directly absorbs ammonia from the water, the amount of ammonia a.n the water is initially and inherently reduced. This ammonia removal alone allows a greater quantity of fishes to be raised in the enclosure or tank 101 because, ordinarily, the amount of ammonia found initially in the water a.s an important limiting factor for fish production.
Second, the addition of zeolite to fish feed increases the sedimentation rate of the feces from the fishes prior to feces removal by the microscreen filter 104.
This feces removal Will reduce the loading on the biofilter 110 which will allow more fish to be raised in and harvested from the tank 101.
A third benefit is that in recirculation type fish growing systems, such as the system 100, zeolite will increase the density of the feces which will "bulk up" the fish feces making the microscreen filter 104 used in the recirculation loop more effective by increasing the quantity of fecal material being removed from the water within enclosure 101 through the micro screen 104. This decreases the loading on the microscreen filter 104.
Fourth, zeolite has a relatively high surface area that readily accepts a biofilm. This increases the rate at which nitrification takes place at the biofilter 110 in _ 11 _ recirculation systems since the increased surface area for nitrogenous bacteria will increase the number of bacterial available for nitrification. This will increase the efficiency of the systems and allows for greater fish production since an increase in nitrification results in an increase in the rate at which ammonia is removed from the system. This allows for increased loading of the system and a concomitant increase in production.
Fifth, although the zeolite is removed by the microscreen 7.04 with the bound ammonium ions, zeolite is continuously renewed through the fish feed which is execrated by the fishes. The execrated zeolite thereby continuously acts to remove ammonia from the recirculation system by providing a perpetual sink for the ammonia. This again improves the productivity of the recirculation system.
Finally, recirculation systems such as the system 100 are highly capital intensive with similarly high operating costs. Small increases in operating efficiency which allows small increases in production will have a disproportionate effect on decreasing the cost of production. The addition of zeolite that has heretofore been explained will therefor assist in decreasing the cost of production by increasing fish production.
Although the benefits of the invention are particularly applicable and significant to recirculation type fish production environments, the benefits also accrue to other environments in which fishes may be raised such as open water environments as exist in lakes and oceans and enclosed type environments such as quarries and the like, raceways as used in governmental . Indeed, although the benefits of the invention are particularly applicable to fish harvesting environments, they may also apply to any 3.0 environment where feces contamination is of concern. Such environments would include hobble activities where fish are bred or grown, aquariums, zoos where fish are displayed and fish hatcheries Where fry are raised.
Where the toxicity of a non-aquatic environment may result from the presence of excessive or objectionable ammonia excreted by animals including mammals, birds such as are present in chicken farms and the like, it is contemplated that the ammonia toxicity, including the toxicity of objectionable odor, may be reduced by the presence of zeolite as a component of or as supplement in feed or foodstuffs.
The use of zeolite as a feed component increases the density of the feces from the fishes. Since the increased density will allow better separation of the feces from the water, the man made enclosed systems can remove the feces more easily and will thereby work more efficiently.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described, various modifications and/or improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. The invention should be limited, therefore, only in accordance with the accompanying claims.
ZEOhITE ADDITIVE FOR ANIMAh FEED AND METHOD OF USING SAME
INTRODUCTION
This invention relates to an animal feed and, more particularly, to a zeolite additive for fish feed Which additive thereby reduces ammonia in the water inhabited by the fishes within the enclosure in which the fish feed and the zeolite additive are used.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of a hydrous aluminosilicate sorbent composition as an animal feed supplement is described in United States Patent 5,140,949 (Chu et al) entitled ZEOLITE-ChAY COMPOSITION AND USES THEREOF, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The composition comprises a non-fibrous naturally occurring clay and a non-fibrous crystalline zeolite. The composition is stated to have a synergistic effect in binding ammonium rations at both high and low levels of available ammonia. The use of the dietary supplement is stated to result in improved performance (i.e., better weight gain and general improvement in health) of the animals.
The purpose of such a supplement, however, is to increase the growth rates and general health of various animals including fish, fowl, swine and chicken. It is believed that by suppressing ammonia formation in the gastrointestinal tract of mammals, the growth rate is stimulated. Others have presented similar findings by adding zeolites to animal feed which showed benefits in weight gain and general health improvements in the animals.
It is speculated that a possible physiological explanation a.s the known binding effect of NH4 ions by zeolites and the reduction of portal blood ammonia by dietary zeolites.
In fish farms or aquaculture generally where water supply is usually a limiting factor for fish production, the presence of ammonia in the water within which the fish are raised is a problem of significant concern. If the ammonia buildup can be reduced, additional fish can be raised since the buildup of ammonia is often the limiting factor for fish production. In recirculation systems which rely on biological filters to detoxify ammonia, the efficiency of the system can be improved by decreasing the amount of ammonia that has to be detoxified. Adsorption of ammonia by zeolite and removal of the zeolite in a microscreen prior to the biological filter effectively decreases the load of ammonia on the filter. Because the zeolite is perpetually added to the feed and is concurrently being removed by the microscreen filter it functions similarly to an ammonia sink. When recireulation systems are used for recirculating water, the above-identified problems axe exacerbated since recirculation type systems have high capital and operating costs. Significant reductions in production costs could be realised by increasing fish production.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for reducing the ammonia toxicity in an environment where ammonia is excreted by an animal, said method comprising adding an effective amount of zeolite as a component of or as a supplement to a feed or foodstuff.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for reducing the quantity of ammonia in a recirculating water type fish enclosure wherein fish are raised for harvesting,, said method comprising adding an effective amount of zeolite to a fish feed to form a composition and feeding said composition of said zeolite and said fish feed to fishes within said recirculating type fish enclosure thereby to reduce said quantity of said ammonia in said recirculated water.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for increasing the sedimentation rate of feces from fishes raised for harvesting within an enclosure with water therein Wherein said water of said enclosure i.s recirculated, said method comprising adding an effective amount of zeolite to a fish feed to form a composition and feeding said composition of said fish feed and zeolite to said fish in said enclosure.
According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for decreasing the use of oxygen in oxidation of ammonia a.n an environment for raising fishes comprising the steps of feeding said fishes a fish feed which includes an effective quantity of zeolite for increasing ammonia removal from said environment thereby reducing said use of said oxygen in said oxidation of said ammonia.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a composition used for the feeding of fishes comprising adding an effective amount of zeolite to a fish feed.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a product produced by one of the foregoing methods.
According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a fish feed used for consumption by fishes being raised for harvesting in an enclosure containing water, said fish feed comprising a composition of nutritionally balanced and edible ingredients and including an effective amount of zeolite as a supplement to said composition of nutritionally balanced and edible ,ingredients.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a fish feed and zeolite composition comprising adding said fish feed and said zeolite to a hopper, mixing said fix feed and said zeolite, grinding said fish feed and said zeolite to obtain g _ uniform size particles of said fish feed and said zeolite, adding an appropriate quantity of liquid to said uniform size particles of said fish feed and said zeolite, extruding said fish feed and said zeolite through holes to form cylindrical extrusions, severing said extruded fish feed and zeolite to form pellets, drying said pellets and storing said dried pellets of fish feed and zeolite.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with the use of drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an aquaculture environment where fish are being raised for commercial harvesting utilising the composition of fish feed and zeolite in a system wherein recirculation takes place and wherein both microscreen and biological type filters are used to cleanse and purify the recirculated water; and Figure 2 a.s diagrammatic view illustrating, inter alia, the processes used in creating the composition according to the invention which comprises a fish feed With an added and effective amount of'zeolite.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, an environment for raising fish is generally illustrated at 100 in Figure 1.
It comprises a tank diagrammatically illustrated at 101 within which fish generally illustrated at 102 are present.
The water within the tank or enclosure 101 is recirculated.
A microscreen filter 104 and a biological filter 110 are provided in the recirculation loop to cleanse the water being recirculated. Fish feed, as described in greater detail hereafter, is conveniently intermittently added to the water from feeder 111 above the tank 101 for the fish~
although manual feeding could of course could also be used which would likewise include the benefits of the invention.
The ingredients typically making up the feed used for the fishes include fish meal and fish oil which, together, comprise approximately seventy-five percent(75~) by Weight of the fish feed. In addition, wheat, corn gluten meal, soy bean meal, blood meal, methionine, various' vitamins and minerals and sorbic acid are typical ingredients as is known in the art. It will be appreciated that the quantities used can vary depending upon the size of the fish which are being fed with less feed being used for smaller fishes and more feed being used for larger growth _ g _ fishes. Likewise, it will be understood that the ratio between the various ingredients can change depending, for example, upon the age of the fish being raised in the tank 101. However, the general quantity of the ingredients and the specific identification of the ingredients is variable and is well known to those skilled in the art and need not be specifically defined here.
The combination of the aforementioned ingredients together With the addition of a zeolite additive are added to a hopper 112 (Figure 2) where they then pass to a feed mixer 113. In experiments to date, a 2~ by weight quantity of naturally occurring zeolite is added to the fish feed and has been found effective. The mixture is then passed to a grinder 114. The ground and thoroughly mixed ingredients are subsequently formed into pellets of sizes dependent upon the application intended at a forming machine 120. The formed pellets then pass to a storage hopper 121 where they may be bagged or otherwise packaged for shipment. As illustrated in Figure 2, other processing steps may be added if desired and only the principal steps have been described, The pellets of the fish feed are placed in the feeder 111 (Figure 1) located above the tank or enclosure 101. The feeder 111 is automatically activated by a _ g _ suitable timer and disperses a predetermined quantity of pellets into the tank 101 to feed the fishes 102 at desired intervals.
OPERATION
The byproducts from the fish 102 include oxygen deprived water from the gills, urine and feces. These byproducts enter the water which passes to the microscreen filter 104. The solids with ammonia adsorbed by the zeolite are removed by the microscreen filter 104 and become waste 130. The microscreen filter thereby acts as a continuous ammonia sink.
The solubles which include ammonia pass to the biofilter 110 where oxygen is added at 131 to replenish the oxygen previously used by the fishes 102 and also so that proper nitrification can occur. With nitrification completed, the non-toxic nitrates return to the environment at 132.
The zeolite Which is added to the fish feed has several significant benefits. First, since the zeolite excreted by the fishes 102 in the waste products directly absorbs ammonia from the water, the amount of ammonia a.n the water is initially and inherently reduced. This ammonia removal alone allows a greater quantity of fishes to be raised in the enclosure or tank 101 because, ordinarily, the amount of ammonia found initially in the water a.s an important limiting factor for fish production.
Second, the addition of zeolite to fish feed increases the sedimentation rate of the feces from the fishes prior to feces removal by the microscreen filter 104.
This feces removal Will reduce the loading on the biofilter 110 which will allow more fish to be raised in and harvested from the tank 101.
A third benefit is that in recirculation type fish growing systems, such as the system 100, zeolite will increase the density of the feces which will "bulk up" the fish feces making the microscreen filter 104 used in the recirculation loop more effective by increasing the quantity of fecal material being removed from the water within enclosure 101 through the micro screen 104. This decreases the loading on the microscreen filter 104.
Fourth, zeolite has a relatively high surface area that readily accepts a biofilm. This increases the rate at which nitrification takes place at the biofilter 110 in _ 11 _ recirculation systems since the increased surface area for nitrogenous bacteria will increase the number of bacterial available for nitrification. This will increase the efficiency of the systems and allows for greater fish production since an increase in nitrification results in an increase in the rate at which ammonia is removed from the system. This allows for increased loading of the system and a concomitant increase in production.
Fifth, although the zeolite is removed by the microscreen 7.04 with the bound ammonium ions, zeolite is continuously renewed through the fish feed which is execrated by the fishes. The execrated zeolite thereby continuously acts to remove ammonia from the recirculation system by providing a perpetual sink for the ammonia. This again improves the productivity of the recirculation system.
Finally, recirculation systems such as the system 100 are highly capital intensive with similarly high operating costs. Small increases in operating efficiency which allows small increases in production will have a disproportionate effect on decreasing the cost of production. The addition of zeolite that has heretofore been explained will therefor assist in decreasing the cost of production by increasing fish production.
Although the benefits of the invention are particularly applicable and significant to recirculation type fish production environments, the benefits also accrue to other environments in which fishes may be raised such as open water environments as exist in lakes and oceans and enclosed type environments such as quarries and the like, raceways as used in governmental . Indeed, although the benefits of the invention are particularly applicable to fish harvesting environments, they may also apply to any 3.0 environment where feces contamination is of concern. Such environments would include hobble activities where fish are bred or grown, aquariums, zoos where fish are displayed and fish hatcheries Where fry are raised.
Where the toxicity of a non-aquatic environment may result from the presence of excessive or objectionable ammonia excreted by animals including mammals, birds such as are present in chicken farms and the like, it is contemplated that the ammonia toxicity, including the toxicity of objectionable odor, may be reduced by the presence of zeolite as a component of or as supplement in feed or foodstuffs.
The use of zeolite as a feed component increases the density of the feces from the fishes. Since the increased density will allow better separation of the feces from the water, the man made enclosed systems can remove the feces more easily and will thereby work more efficiently.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described, various modifications and/or improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. The invention should be limited, therefore, only in accordance with the accompanying claims.
Claims (30)
1. Method for reducing the ammonia toxicity in all environment where ammonia is excreted by an animal, said method comprising adding an effective amount of zeolite as a component of or as a supplement to a feed or foodstuff.
2. Method of reducing ammonia toxicity as in claim 1 wherein said ammonia toxicity is in an aquatic environment where fishes are raised for production, said method comprising the steps of adding said effective amount of zeolite to a fish feed to form a composition and feeding said zeolite and fish feed composition to said fishes in a predetermined quantity thereby reducing the ammonia produced by said fish and entering said aquatic environment.
3. Method as in claim 2 wherein said fishes are raised for commercial production.
4. Method as in claim 3 wherein said aquatic environment is a recirculating type fish enclosure.
5. Method as in claim 3 wherein said aquatic environment is an open water type enclosure including lakes, quarries and/or oceans.
6. Method as in claim 1 wherein said animal is birds.
7. Method as in claim 1 wherein said animal is mammals.
8. Method as in claim 7 Wherein said mammal is humans.
9. Method as in claim 1 wherein said animal is reptiles.
10. Method as in claim 1 wherein said animal is fishes.
11. Method as in claim 10 wherein said fishes are crustaceans.
12. Method as in claim 11 wherein said crustaceans are one of crabs, lobsters, prawns or shrimp.
13. Method for reducing the quantity of ammonia in a recirculating water type fish enclosure wherein fish are raised for harvesting, said method comprising adding an effective amount of zeolite to a fish feed to form a composition and feeding said composition of said zeolite and said fish feed to fishes within said recirculating type fish enclosure thereby to reduce said quantity of said ammonia in said recirculated water.
14. Method as in claim 13 wherein said harvesting is commercial harvesting.
15. Method for increasing the sedimentation rate of feces from fishes raised for harvesting within an enclosure with water therein wherein said water of said enclosure is recirculated, said method comprising adding an effective amount of zeolite to a fish feed to form a composition and feeding said composition of said fish feed and zeolite to said fish in said enclosure.
16. Method as in claim 15 wherein said harvesting is commercial harvesting.
17. Method for decreasing the use of oxygen in oxidation of ammonia in an environment for raising fishes comprising the steps of feeding said fishes a fish feed which includes an effective quantity of zeolite for increasing ammonia removal from said environment thereby reducing said use of said oxygen in said oxidation of said ammonia.
18. Method of forming a composition used for the feeding of fishes comprising adding an effective amount of zeolite to a fish feed.
19. Method of forming a composition as in claim 18 wherein said effective amount of zeolite is approximately 2% by weight of said fish feed.
20. Method as in claim 19 wherein said zeolite is naturally occurring zeolite.
21 Method as in claim 19 wherein said zeolite is synthetic zeolite.
22. Product produced by any one of the methods of claims 18 through 21.
23. Fish feed used for consumption by fishes being raised for harvesting in an enclosure containing water, said fish feed comprising a composition of nutritionally balanced and edible ingredients and including an effective amount of zeolite as a supplement to said composition of nutritionally balanced and edible ingredients.
24. Fish feed as in claim 23 wherein said zeolite comprises approximately 2% by weight of said composition of nutritionally balanced and edible ingredients.
25. Method as in claim 3 wherein said aquatic environment is a man made enclosure.
26. Method as in claim 25 wherein said man made enclosure a hatchery raceway, a floating cage or a land based tank.
27. Method as in claim 13 wherein said harvesting may be conducted by governmental organisation.
28. Method as in claim 27 wherein said governmental organisation is a fish hatchery.
29. Method of manufacturing a fish feed and zeolite composition comprising adding said fish feed and said zeolite to a hopper, mixing said fix feed and said zeolite, grinding said fish feed and said zeolite to obtain uniform size particles of said fish feed and said zeolite, adding an appropriate quantity of liquid to said uniform size particles of said fish feed and said zeolite, extruding said fish feed and said zeolite through holes to form cylindrical extrusions, severing said extruded fish feed and zeolite to form pellets, drying said pellets and storing said dried pellets of fish feed and zeolite.
30. Product produced by the method of claim 29.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US72152500A | 2000-11-22 | 2000-11-22 | |
| US09/721,525 | 2000-11-22 | ||
| PCT/CA2001/001639 WO2002041703A2 (en) | 2000-11-22 | 2001-11-22 | Zeolite additive for animal feed and method of using same |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2429392A1 true CA2429392A1 (en) | 2002-05-30 |
Family
ID=24898324
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002429392A Abandoned CA2429392A1 (en) | 2000-11-22 | 2001-11-22 | Zeolite additive for animal feed and method of using same |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2002221372A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2429392A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2002041703A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7713562B2 (en) | 2003-09-04 | 2010-05-11 | Rose Acre Farms, Inc. | Animal feed and methods for reducing ammonia and phosphorus levels in manure |
| US10694722B1 (en) | 2015-05-21 | 2020-06-30 | Atlantic Sapphire IP, L.L.C. | Systems and methods of intensive recirculating aquaculture |
| US11484015B2 (en) | 2015-05-21 | 2022-11-01 | Atlantic Sapphire Ip, Llc | Systems and methods of intensive recirculating aquaculture |
| US11627729B2 (en) | 2015-05-21 | 2023-04-18 | Atlantic Sapphire Ip, Llc | Transfer assembly and system for aquaculture |
| US11596132B2 (en) | 2015-05-21 | 2023-03-07 | Atlantic Sapphire Ip, Llc | Transfer assembly and system for aquaculture |
| US10959411B2 (en) | 2018-01-04 | 2021-03-30 | Atlantic Sapphire IP, L.L.C. | Bottom grading apparatuses for aquaculture systems |
| US11425895B2 (en) | 2020-03-05 | 2022-08-30 | Atlantic Sapphire Ip, Llc | Method for optimization of filtration in an aquaculture system |
| US11662291B1 (en) | 2021-02-03 | 2023-05-30 | Atlantic Sapphire Ip, Llc | System and method for feed validation measurement |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS59113853A (en) * | 1982-12-20 | 1984-06-30 | Toshihisa Mori | Additive for fish feed |
| US5140949A (en) * | 1989-09-19 | 1992-08-25 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Zeolite-clay composition and uses thereof |
| JPH05276879A (en) * | 1992-04-02 | 1993-10-26 | Shinkiyou Sangyo Kk | Feed for marine product |
| AU696420B2 (en) * | 1993-10-14 | 1998-09-10 | Westway Feed Products, Inc. | Process for preparing rigid animal feedblocks |
| JPH07115916A (en) * | 1993-10-29 | 1995-05-09 | Nippon Oil & Fats Co Ltd | Feed composition |
| JP3428126B2 (en) * | 1993-12-20 | 2003-07-22 | 株式会社秋田食肉卸センター | Livestock rearing methods and feed |
| CN1269154A (en) * | 1999-04-02 | 2000-10-11 | 王洪章 | Concentrated layer feed |
-
2001
- 2001-11-22 CA CA002429392A patent/CA2429392A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-11-22 AU AU2002221372A patent/AU2002221372A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-11-22 WO PCT/CA2001/001639 patent/WO2002041703A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2002041703A2 (en) | 2002-05-30 |
| AU2002221372A1 (en) | 2002-06-03 |
| WO2002041703A3 (en) | 2002-09-06 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20051122 |