FI122129B - animal Feed - Google Patents

Description

ANIMAL FEED

Field of the Invention 5

The present invention relates to animal feeds, and in particular to animal feed extracts and supplements for ruminants and solipeds. The invention also relates to the use of xylan and galactoglucomannan as animal feeds, and in particular as animal feed supplements and supplements. The present invention provides novel animal feeds, animal feeds and supplements based on xylan and galactoglucomannan obtained from natural sources.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Ketosis is a common disease in adult ruminants, and is most commonly found in dairy cows in the early stages of milk production, sometimes in advanced cattle. The animal typically loses its appetite and from time to time signs of nervous dysfunction are observed, including pica, abnormal licking, abnormal gait, abnormal sounds, and offensive behavior.

The pathogenesis of bovine ketosis is not completely known, but requires a combination of high fat mobilization and high glucose requirements. These cm-two states occur early in milk secretion, whereby a negative energy balance of 25 leads to fat mobilization and high synthesis of milk causes

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> - glucose requirements. Fat mobilization is associated with high serum levels of non-esterified fatty acids g. During periods of vigorous cm gluconeogenesis, a large proportion of the non-esterified fatty acids in the serum is directed to the synthesis of ketone compounds in the liver. Thus, the clinical-pathological characteristics of ketosis include high serum concentrations of unesterified fatty acids and ketone compounds and low levels of glucose 2. Said serum ketone compounds include acetone, acetoacetate, and β-hydroxybutyrate.

Ketosis, which occurs closer to the peak of milk production, usually 5 to 4 weeks after delivery, can also occur in malnourished cattle with metabolic deficiency of gluconeogenic precursors.

Ketosis is at risk in all dairy cows at an early stage of milk production, especially during the first 6 weeks. Cows with excess fat stores (body fitness points> 3.75 at the highest value of 5.0) during calving have an increased risk of ketosis compared to cows with lower body fitness scores. In lactating cows with hyperketonemia (serum concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate> 12 mg / dl), 15 have a higher risk of developing clinical ketosis. For acetoacetate and / or acetone, positive milk tests usually show clinical ketosis. Ketosis can also lead to acidosis in some cases.

The goal in the treatment of ketosis is to restore normoglycemia and to lower serum ketone compounds. Single-dose Glu co-administration generally leads to rapid recovery, especially in cases occurring near the peak of milk secretion. However, this effect is often temporary and the recurrence of the condition is common. Administration of glucocorticoids generally results in a prolonged response. Propylene glycol is often used in the treatment of h-ketosis and acts as a precursor to glucose and may be effective in the treatment of ketosis, particularly in mild cases or in combination with other therapies. An overdose of propylene glycol glycol leads to depression of the central nervous system.

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S Insulin is used to treat cases of ketosis occurring during the first weeks after calving. Insulin suppresses both mobolysis of fat and ketogenesis, but should be administered in combination with glucose or glucocorticoids to prevent hypoglycaemia.

Ketosis is typically prevented by regulating nutrition. Cows should be looked after at late stages of milk secretion, when cows often become obese. Sleep time is usually too late to reduce your body's fitness points. A critical area in preventing ketosis is maintaining and promoting the amount of food consumed. Cows seek to reduce feed intake during the last 3 weeks of gestation, and feed reduction should be minimized by dietary control. It is essential to monitor feed intake and change dosages to maximize dry matter and energy intake during late gestation. After calving, diets should contribute to a rapid and sustained increase in feed and energy consumption. Similar metabolic disorders occur in ewes and sheep.

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Metabolic disorders occur in cattle, sheep, poultry, pets and solipeds, particularly when the animal is under severe stress or when changes in feeding patterns or interruptions occur.

20 In the case of horses, examples of stress situations include horse shows and races such as show jumping races, racing races and other demanding racing events. The animal may be stressed and metabolic disturbances may also occur when the animals are kept indoors and fed only at certain times of the day, o <m, or when natural feeding methods are interrupted or exercise patterns are restricted or access to pasture is limited, co £ Some time then it has been shown that especially in sports and racing horses, £ £! as a result of increased stress, various stomach problems can even lead to ulceration of trees. Several different approaches have been proposed in the art to avoid this problem. Pharmaceuticals for horses, typically used in human medicine, have now been proposed and supplements for horse feed products have also been made available on the market.

Cough in horses is defined as abdominal pain but is a clinical symptom 5 and not a diagnosis. The term cough can encompass all forms of gastrointestinal pain that cause pain, as well as other causes of stomach pain not involving the gastrointestinal tract.

The most common forms of colic are by their nature related to the gastro-intestinal tract, and 10 of them are due in most cases of colon disorders. There are a number of different causes of a stroke, some of which can prove fatal without surgical intervention. Surgery for acne is usually expensive because it is a major surgical procedure on the stomach and often requires intensive care. In domesticated horses, cough is the main cause of premature death. 15

WO 03/005834 describes a high fat animal feed in the form of pellets. It was stated in the publication that hemicellulose, and in particular corn envelope hemicellulose, has good properties as a binder in amounts ranging from 0 to 10% by weight in high fat feeds, thereby providing sufficient interparticle consistency. Said hemicellulose was obtained as a liquid fraction from the alkaline digestion of agricultural waste containing hemicellulose, such as corn husk. The said feed also contains fat, a solid source of nutrients, a protein source and a fiber source.

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GB 2 406 516 discloses a complementary feed composition in particular

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> - for horses to treat stomach ulcers. Said composition includes a dry source (cut grass or a processed source of hemicellulose, etc.), a vegetable glue source (mucopolysaccharides, whole fat flaxseeds or the like, g obtained by dispersing mucus in water), a fat source to obtain ήπι ο ° 30. saved fat with triglycerides and low in free fatty acids (linseed oil, rapeseed oil, etc.) plus optional sources of phospholipids, 5 antioxidants and protein sources. This composition is shown to maintain normal gastric function in horses when fed between meals. It requires vigorous chewing, which in turn produces a large volume of saliva in the horse, has a long gastric residence time and provides 5 additional gastric buffering effects.

It has been proposed in the industry to include wood molasses in the diet of ruminants. Virtanen, AI, New Views in Cattle Feeding, Agrochimica XI, 4-5, Giugno-Agosto (1967) has conducted experiments on milk producing cows using feed containing wood hemicellulose combined with urea as the sole nitrogen source and added to barley , oats, sugar beet pulp, fiber and oats. As a result of this diet, cow's milk production increased and milk sugar levels increased.

15 Wood molasses are obtained from wood species, especially hardwoods such as birch, maple and beech, but also softwood. Wood molasses is often described as a water soluble hemicellulose extract of wood. The wood molasses is typically a syrup or powder and can be made from wood at elevated temperature and pressure. It typically contains about 50-60% by weight of hemicellulose at a solids content of 20, and comprises an almost identical distribution of 5-carbon and 6-carbon sugars, and about half of these sugars are simple sugars. Simple sugars (low molecular weight carbohydrates) are not a desirable source of energy in animal feeds because they can cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels and are metabolized to unwanted fat, which increases fat stores. Wood molasses cp 25 may also contain unwanted impurities such as furfyral, depending on the manufacturing process.

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cm Hemi-cellulose can also be obtained from other plant-based materials such as g) various parts of grains, bagasse, coconut shells, cotton seed shells, corn, o 30, etc.

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From the foregoing, it can be seen that there is an obvious need to provide novel animal feeds for ruminants and monogastric animals, and in particular animal feed wounds and supplements that can be used to prevent and treat metabolic disorders in an animal and / or when the animal needs feed. . New sources of energy are also needed for animal feed for ruminants and monogastric animals.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION One object of the invention is animal feed, in particular an animal feed extension and a supplement for ruminants and monogastric animals.

Another object of the invention is animal feed, in particular animal feed and a supplement for high energy nutrient ruminants and monogastric animals.

Still another object of the invention is animal feed, in particular animal feed and supplement for ruminants and monogastric animals, for the treatment and prevention of metabolic disorders in the animal.

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It is another object of the invention to provide a process for preparing an animal feed composition, in particular an animal feed extension and a filler for ruminants and solipeds.

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Another object of the invention is the use of xylan as a component in animal feed and as an animal feed supplement and supplement for ruminants and solipeds.

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Yet another object of the invention is the use of galactoglucomannan as a component in animal feed and as an animal feed extender and supplement for ruminants and solipeds.

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Yet another object of the invention is the use of mixtures of xylan and galactoglucomannan as a component in animal feed and as an animal feed extender and supplement for ruminants and solipeds.

The features of the invention are set forth in the claims.

DEFINITIONS Here, xylan refers to a set of polymeric pentoses of heteropolysaccharides that make up building materials for plant cell walls. All xylan fractions and subgroups, such as arabinoglucuronoxylan and glucuronoxylan, are understood to belong to the xylan family.

Herein, galactoglucomannan is understood to mean the set of polymeric hexoses of heteropolysaccharides that make up the building blocks of plant cell walls. All galactoglucomannan fractions and subgroups are understood to belong to the galactoglucomannan family.

Summary of the Invention 20

The present invention relates to animal feeds, and in particular to animal feed supplements and supplements for ruminants and monogastric animals which comprise xylan or galactoglucomannan or mixtures thereof. The invention also relates to the use of xylan or galactoglucomannan g 25 or mixtures thereof in animal feed and animal feed compositions, in particular co animal feed supplements and supplements, which can be used in the treatment and prevention of x metabolic disorders in animals and in

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ergia-containing nutrients for ruminants and solipeds. Examples of ruminants and monogastric animals are ribbons for meat production.

g 30 dat, dairy cattle, musk ox, deer, reindeer, sheep, pigs, cu poultry, pets and ungulates such as horses and ponies, etc.

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The animal feed or animal feed composition suitably contains from 0.005 to 40% by weight of xylan and galactoglucomannan or a mixture thereof.

Xylan and galactoglucomannan are polymers belonging to the family of plant-derived polymeric heteropolysaccharides, including wood species. Xylan and galactoglucomannan can be conveniently obtained from side streams of paper and pulp processes, such as side streams derived from hardwood or softwood pulp processes, or mixtures thereof.

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Patterning

Figure 1 shows the cumulative gas production for xylan and galactoglucomannan during 9 hours of rumen fermentation.

Figure 2 shows the dynamics of gas production in the case of xylan and galactoglucomannan during rumen fermentation for 0-3 hours.

Figure 3 shows the dynamics of gas production for xylan and galactoglucomannan during rumen fermentation for 3-6 hours.

Figure 4 shows the gas production dynamics of xylan and galactoglucomannan-20 during 6-9 hours of rumen fermentation.

Figure 5 shows the formation of short chain fatty acids in the case of xylan and galactoglucomannan.

Fig. 6 shows the formation of volatile fatty acids in the case of xylan and galactoglu-cm.

Figure 7 shows the formation of lactic acid in the case of xylan and galactoglucomannan -f.

Figure 8 shows the effect of xylan and galactoglucomannan on rumen pH.

cm Figure 9 shows the formation of propionic acids in the case of xylan and galactoglucomannan, o.

Figure 10 shows the formation of acetic acid in the case of xylan and galactoglucomannan.

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Figure 11 shows the formation of butyric acid in the case of xylan and galactoglucomannan.

Figure 12 shows the effect of xylan and galactoglucomannan on rumen microbial growth.

Figure 13 shows the effect of xylan and galactoglucomannan on digestible neutral surfactant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It has surprisingly been found that certain polymeric pentoses and hexoses, i.e., xylan and galactoglucomannan, are particularly suitable as components in animal feeds and animal feed compositions, as animal feed extensions and supplements and as feed components for ruminants and monogastric animals. Specifically, ruminants and monogastric animals such as solipeds, goats and sheep have adapted to digest high-fiber plant material as sources of energy and protein.

The xylan or galactoglucomannan or mixtures thereof may be added to the daily feed of the animals as such or in liquid or powder form, or may be included in the animal feed extender or supplement or animal feed additive in an amount of 0.005-40% by weight, optionally with suitable carriers and additives known in the art. and used as a component in animal feeds and animal feed compositions in an amount ranging from 0.005 to 40% by weight. These polymeric substances, xylan and galactoglucomannan, are particularly suitable components for ruminants and monogastric animals, including

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> - cattle for meat production, dairy cattle, musk oxen, deer, reindeer, sheep, goats and solipeds such as horses and ponies, etc., in daily nutrition for poultry, pigs and LO for pet food,

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Xylan and galactoglucomannan are high-purity, high-energy carbohydrate foods. Because they are polymeric compounds, they are metabolized more slowly, resulting in a more stable energy source over a longer period of time. They can partially or even completely replace cereal-based nutrients or feed, and in some cases replace carbohydrates with xylan and / or galactoglucomannan,

Xylans and galactoglucomannans are heteropolysaccharides which are naturally occurring carbohydrate-based polymers of hemicellulose. The major building blocks of xylan and galactoglucomannan are pentoses and hexoses, but may additionally contain other groups. The weight average molecular weight Mw of xylan ranges from 5000 to 100,000 g / mol and the weight average molecular weight Mw of galactoglucomannan ranges from 5000 to 100,000 g / mol, as determined by size exclusion chromographic method, SEC Size-Exclusion Chromatogaphy, known for the determination of polymeric moieties.

Xylan and galactoglucomannan can be obtained from plant-based materials using any method known in the art. In particular, the side streams of the paper and pulp processes contain hemicellulose fractions which can be further processed into xylan and galactoglucomannan. The pulps obtained from hardwood and softwood contain significant amounts of hemicellulose, but hardwood pulp and softwood pulp differ both in the amount of hemicellulose it contains and in its chemical composition. In deciduous trees, glucon o ronooxylan is the predominant hemicellulose, whereas conifers mainly contain galactoglucomannan.

co g There are three general types of chemical pulp known in the art: cm (1) Kraft pulp produced by the decomposition of wood chips at elevated temperatures with g sodium hydroxide aqueous solution, o 30 (2) Kraft pulp typically produced by decomposition of wood chips at temperatures above about 120 ° C and sodium hydroxide. solution.

11 (3) Sulphite pulp produced by the decomposition of wood with sulfur dioxide and bases.

Bleaching of pulp usually involves treatment with oxidizing agents such as Hapel, la, peroxide, chlorine or chlorine dioxide. Conventionally, the pulp is treated with 5 chlorine and then extracted with lye and finally treated with hypochlorite. Alkaline extraction with cold lye removes xylan from the pulp in an efficient manner.

It is generally known that hemicellulose can be dissolved in aqueous solutions under alkaline conditions. FI 55516 describes a process in which pulp obtained from a leaf-10 wood is extracted with an aqueous solution of NaOH to obtain an extract containing high amounts of xylan followed by precipitation of the hemicelluloses with carbon dioxide.

US 4,181,796 provides a process in which plant-based raw materials such as hardwood, straw, bagasse, cereal husks, corn cob waste or corn straw are treated with saturated steam at a temperature of 160-230 ° C to decompose the plant-based raw material into water. which contains xylans, among other compounds. The xylans can be separated using strongly basic ion exchange resins in the OH form.

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Also known in the art are processes involving oxidative or reducing steps, complex formation and membrane separation techniques for producing hemicelluloses.

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<? Xylan and galactoglucomannan are also particularly suitable for the prophylaxis and treatment of ketosis in ruminants such as bovine, ovine and caprine. When xylan or galactoglucomannan or mixtures thereof are added to the animal's daily diet, they act as a high-energy g energy source which is metabolized more slowly than, for example, o 30 carbohydrates in cereals, and further enhances and modifies rumen fermentation. the levels of short chain fatty acids are increasing.

In monogastric animals, xylan and galactoglucomannan, especially xylan, are not degraded in the small intestine but in the large intestine, which makes them particularly suitable for the prevention of metabolic disorders such as equine cough. In addition, since xylan fermentation products such as butyrates are absorbed in the colon of monogastric animals, 20% or more of the animal's daily energy may be derived from xylan. Xylan and galactoglucomannan also modify and improve fermentation in the gut of a monogastric animal. In addition, very low levels of lactic acid are obtained as fermentation products from xylan.

0.001 to 40% by weight, preferably 1 to 20% by weight, of xylan and / or galactoglucomannan may be added to the animal's daily nutrition as such, as an aqueous solution, as an animal feed additive or component, as a feed additive or as a feed supplement.

By administering xylan and galactoglucomannan to ruminants, they improve almost all parameters related to rumen performance. They provide 20 alternative and additional sources of energy for the animal, and especially for ruminal digestion in ruminants.

i-Xylan and galactoglucomannan accelerate microbial activity in the rumen and cv improve the utilization of protein and energy, leading to improved animal welfare, milk production and growth. Xylan and galactoglucose

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> - mannan increases gas production in the rumen, indicating improved digestion in the rumen, which typically correlates with improved animal productivity and cv health. Xylan and galactoglucomannan improve the energy balance of the rumen by stimulating the production of short-chain fatty acids, especially vinegar 30. Both xylan and galactoglucomannan increase biomass synthesis, with galactoglucomannan at significantly higher doses. Ruminants are capable of breaking high-protein rumen microbes and utilize released amino acids for their own protein synthesis. Thus, increased microbial growth in the rumen correlates with increased productivity of the animal. Xylan and galactoglucomannan improve the thawing rate in the digestion of neutral fibers, which significantly increases animal performance and milk production.

The digestion process of feed in ruminants begins in a special digestive unit called the rumen. Pötsi is a very specific microbial fermenter 10 where a large number of different microbes break down plant material and convert it into a more appropriate form of energy and protein. Therefore, microbiological activity of the rumen is of primary importance in determining the performance and productivity of the ruminant.

15 A method to simulate rumen has now been developed that accurately measures the most important parameters related to rumen performance. This rumen mimicking system measured the following parameters related to rumen performance: • Gas production kinetics, which generally indicate the rate and extent at which solids are digested by rumen bacteria. It is interpreted normally that faster gas production kinetics and higher total volume mean better thawing. Increased thawing in the rumen typically correlates with improved animal productivity and health, o 'M · Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are the major end-metabolisers produced by rumen bacteria. SCFAs co are absorbed through the epithelium of the rumen and are used by the animal as its main sources of energy. Normally, higher total production of SFCA acids refers to the animal's improved energy balance and performance.

g · SCFA profiles and their percentages. SCFAs at 30 include many chemical formations such as acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, lactate esters of fatty acids, and their isomers.

14 These groups have different roles in the animal. For example, lactates tend to lower rumen pH and cause acidosis, which lowers animal productivity and may cause permanent damage to the animal's rumen epithelium. In contrast, propionate typically has a positive effect on animal performance, milk production, and is capable of inhibiting ketosis, which is a serious disorder in high performing animals. The strong production of butyrate and acetate tends to increase the fat content of milk.

• Increase in microbial density (i.e., microbial biomass) is an indicator of animal protein intake, as rumen bacteria are the major source of protein for ruminants. Higher protein production correlates with higher milk volume and higher milk protein content.

• Digestion rate of neutral surfactant (NDF) (mainly hemicellulose) digestion. NDF is the main source of energy and nutrients for rumen bacteria and is also the cheapest nutrient component in ruminant feed. Thus, the high melting rate of NDF fibers is a desirable feature in ruminant feeds.

It was found that xylan and galactoglucomannan act as a source of carbohydrates which produce a more stable, slower and linear response than many other polymeric hemicellulose compounds.

cu In accordance with the invention, xylan and galactoglucomannan or mixtures thereof may be used as feed supplements for administration to ruminants and monogastric animals.

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> - daily or continuously if necessary. Xylan and galactoglucomannan g have a mild taste and thus no additives are required to improve palatability.

Xylan and / or galactoglucomannan can, if desired, be formulated into liquid, suitably aqueous solutions, concentrates, powders, animal feed additives, animal feeds and o 30 animal feed supplements and compositions using suitable carriers and additives well known in the art and used as animal feeds.

The invention is further illustrated by the following example, which, however, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Example 1. An assay simulating a Pöts

Feed 10 The feed was used for simulation of rumen at 1 g (dry matter) / container fill level and consisted of 50% commercial blend of feed and 50% fresh feed. Samples of fresh feed were taken and immediately after sampling, fresh feed was packed anaerobically in glass containers and stored at + 4 ° C to prevent possible aerobic contamination processes. Both feed components were weighed separately in a Kus-15 simulation vessel.

Products to be tested

The substances were tested at two dose levels (Level A: Simulation Doses, Level B: Actual Feeding Doses), shown in Table 1 below, which shows a list of treatments, dose levels, and their estimated daily dosage for actual feeding use. The estimated daily dose is based on the assumption that the average cow consumes 10 kg of dry matter per day.

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9 25 Table 1 .______ £ 2 Level AI LevelA2 Level A3 Level B1 Level B2 Level B3 x mg / g mg / g__mg / g__g / day__g / day__g / day £ Xylan 1Ö 50 1Ö 1ÖÖ 500 1000 CM_______

Galactoglu-10 50 100 100 500 1000 S myan o o

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The simulation protocol

The feed components and test products were weighed into serum bottles and then rinsed with ECU passed through a hot copper catalyst to remove the last O2, and the bottles were sealed with thick butyl rubber stoppers. Anaerobic and reduced buffer solution and fresh rumen fluid (1:40 final dilution) were added to the serum pulp 5s using strict anaerobic techniques. Gas production was measured after a simulation at 37 ° C for 3, 6 and 9 hours.

After 10 to 9 hours of incubation, samples from the simulation dishes were analyzed for pH, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and total bacterial counts were calculated.

Total bacterial counts were counted by flow cytometry using staining with DNA-specific dye Syto 24, and the settings were adjusted to allow bacterial counts. SCFAs were analyzed by gas chromatography using a column packed for analysis of free acids. Acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, 2-methylbutyric acid, valeric acid, isovalentic acid and lactic acid were analyzed. The pH was measured with specific electrodes.

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Analysis of neutral detergent fibers (NDF)

The melting rate of the fibers was measured by measuring the residual neutral surfactant fiber (NDF) after 24 hours of fermentation. To measure NDF, extraction buffer was added to the simulation flasks, the flasks incubated at 100 ° C,

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The filtrate was passed through a 100 µm sieve, rinsed with boiling water and then with co-acetone. The sieves were then dried and the dry matter weighed.

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£ The residual dry matter contains unmelted cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin fractions from feed.

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Statistical analysis

Three levels of test compounds were selected so that the effects of the dose on rumen fermentation could be effectively investigated. The assumption was linear dose-dependency of the response of the rumen fermentation parameters to the test compounds. To test this assumption, linear dose models were fitted for each test compound for each rumen fermentation parameter. Because the compounds tested with some parameters produced similar responses at all levels tested, stepwise models were also used to indicate a situation where all levels of the test compound produce a similar response. In addition, the Dunnett's test was used to express the levels of the compounds tested, at which levels the response significantly differed from that observed in the control treatment.

Results Figure 1 shows that both xylan and galactoglucomannan increase total gas production during rumen fermentation and, in particular, galactoglucomannan in a dose-dependent manner increase total gas production during 9 hours rumen fermentation. In addition, the gas production dynamics shown in Figures 2-4 show that both xylan and galactoglucomannan increase gas production, and in particular galactoglucomannan was able to increase gas production throughout the 9-hour rumen simulation period. This indicates that both xylan and galactoglucomannan, especially galactoglucomannan, are good sub-substrates for rumen microbes and are consumed extensively during the microbial fermentation process, where they are very energy sources in ruminant feeds. Increased gas production of 25 indicates that the digestion of food in the rumen has improved. Oh-

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> - A better digestion of food in the rumen typically correlates with the animal's higher g productivity and state of health.

cm LO Xylan and galactoglucomannan improve the energy balance of the rumen by stimulating o 30 short-chain fatty acid production. Short chain fatty acids (SCLAs) are the primary source of energy for ruminants. The rumen microbes synthesize SCLA-18 acids, which are absorbed through the rumen epithelium into the bloodstream and subsequently converted to energy in various metabolic processes. Thus, the elevated SCFA levels shown in Figure 5 demonstrate that xylan and galacto-glucomannan are capable of improving ruminant performance by increasing their energy intake. Typically, the rate of production of SCFA acids positively correlates with the higher kinetics of rumen gas production, which is true for galactoglucomannan but not for xylan. It is likely that high levels of pentose sugars in xylan direct rumen metabolism to less gas-producing pathways compared to the gas produced by galactoglu-10 commandant hexose sugars.

SCFA acids are composed of two components, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and lactic acid. VFAs are stable end products of rumen fermentation and are therefore readily available to the host animal. However, lactic acid is a temporary intermediate product of rumen-15 fermentation. Its production is typically boosted by high-energy feeds and its accumulation can lead to a condition known as rumen acidosis. Pelvic acidosis causes severe rumen insufficiency, impaired animal performance, and even permanent damage to the rumen epithelium. Figures 6 and 7 show that xylan and galactoglucomannan mainly increase VFA levels in rumen, but not lactic acid. Xylan and galacto-glucomannan likewise have only minor effects on rumen pH, as can be seen in Figure 8, which means that there is no immediate risk of rumen acidosis when used in rumen.

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As shown in Figure 9, xylan and galactoglucomannan reduce

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> - slightly propionic acid production as well as butyric acid production seen in Fig. 11. Xylan and galactoglucan mannan mainly increase acetate production in the rumen as can be seen in Fig. 10. The anaerobic LO metabolism of carbohydrates typically produces two stable major metabolites Hit, position 30 and butyrate. Acetate is readily available to the host animal for use in energy production, and butyrate tends to increase the fat content of milk. Thus, the dose-dependent increase in acetate caused by xylan and galactoglucomannan demonstrates their suitability as novel sources of feed energy.

Both xylan and galactoglucomannan increase biomass synthesis, galacto-5 glucomannan at significantly higher doses. The rumen microbes have a high protein content and therefore ruminants have developed the ability to break down rumen microbes and utilize the released amino acids for their own protein synthesis. Thus, the increased growth of rumen microbes correlates with the higher productivity of the animal and the increased protein content of the milk. Figure 10 12 shows that higher concentrations of galactoglucomannan in particular increase rumen microbial growth.

Xylan and galactoglucomannan improve the digestion rate of neutral fibers (NDF). Animal performance and milk production korre-15 strongly contributed to the melting rate of NDF fibers in the rumen. The higher the melting rate of NDF fibers, the more milk is produced. Figure 13 shows that both xylan and galactoglucomannan achieve significantly higher melting rates of NDF fibers.

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Claims (12)

An animal feed composition, characterized in that the animal feed composition is an animal feed additive, an animal feed extension or an animal feed supplement and that the animal feed composition comprises xylan, galactoglucomannan or a mixture thereof of wood origin. Animal feed composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the animal feed composition contains from 0.001 to 40% by weight of xylan or galactoglucomannan or a mixture thereof. An animal feed composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the xylan has a weight average molecular weight Mw of 5000 to 100,000 g / mol. 15 An animal feed composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the xylan is selected from arabinoglucuronoxylan and glucuronoxylan. Animal feed composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the galactoglucomannan has a weight average molecular weight Mw of 5000 to 100,000 g / mol. cm An animal feed composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the animal is a ruminant or a monogastric animal. c/o Use of wood-derived xylan or galactoglucomannan or mixtures thereof in animal feed compositions selected from, or as components in, animal feed supplements, animal feed meal and animal feed additives. o o {M Use according to claim 7, characterized in that the xylan or galactoglucomannan or mixtures thereof are used in an amount in the range of 0.001 to 40% by weight. Use according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the xylan has a weight average molecular weight Mw of 5000 to 100000 g / mol. Use according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the xylan is selected from the group consisting of arabinoglucuronoxylan and glucuronoxylan. 10 Use according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the galacto-glucomannan has a weight average molecular weight Mw of 5000 to 100,000 g / mol. 15 Use according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the animal is a ruminant or a monogastric animal. δ {M h- · o co X en CL {M δ σ> o o {M