FR2685998A1 - Method of increasing, in lambs, the production of wool, its quality and the animals' weight - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of increasing wool growth in lambs, characterised in that a sufficient quantity of a protected amino acid is administered to a lamb during its growth.

Description

i

  METHOD FOR INCREASING PRODUCTION IN LAMBS

  OF WOOL, ITS ORALITY AND THE WEIGHT OF ANIMALS

  The present invention relates to a method for increasing productivity

  and the quality of the wool, as well as the weight of the lambs.

  REIS and CHINCKEL, in the Australian Journal of Biological Sciences, 1963 described the fact that injecting 1.5 g to 3 g of L-cysteine or DLmethionine into the abomasum increases the growth of wool in sheep on the other hand, the addition of sulfurous amino acids in the feed ration of sheep has little effect on the growth of sheep's wool because of the bacterial metabolism of sulfur amino acids which exists in the rumen and thus only a small proportion of the administered dose is

available for absorption.

  From an agricultural point of view, it was impossible to envisage the injection of amino acids into the abomasum for grazing animals. In order to obtain an improvement in the growth of wool, it was necessary to find means protective amino acids which allow them to cross the rumen sac without degradation while they would be released in a sufficiently rapid way in the abomasum and / or in

  the intestines to allow them to be absorbed and have a beneficial effect.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for increasing the production of wool in lamb which comprises administering a

  sufficient amount of amino acids protected in a growing lamb.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for increasing the quality of lambswool which comprises administering a

  sufficient amount of amino acids protected in a growing lamb.

  The increase in wool production is due to an increase in the

  length, diameter and speed of growth of wool in volume.

  Accordingly, the present invention also provides a method for increasing the length of the fibers of wool, the volume growth of wool which comprises administering a sufficient amount of protected amino acids to a

growing lamb.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for increasing the tensile strength (strength) of wool fibers which comprises administering a sufficient amount of protected amino acids to a growing lamb. A significant increase in the weight of lambs was also

  observed when protected amino acids were administered.

  According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for increasing the weight of lambs which comprises administering a quantity

  sufficient amino acids protected to growing lambs.

  Preferably, the growing lamb is a weaned lamb More particularly, we will prefer the weaned lamb of Merino breed because of the value of its wool But it is also recognized that animals producing meat can also benefit from the effects concerning the weight increase of the present invention. The amino acid used is preferably methionine and / or lysine, more

especially methionine.

  The amino acids administered to the lamb can be protected in the following way:

  next using, for example, two types of composition.

  The first type of composition comprises the combination of a basic amino copolymer and a hydrophobic substance whose melting point is greater than 'C and / or of a water-insoluble polymer The basic amino copolymer can be obtained, for example, starting from the reaction of: a neutral ethylenic monomer such as methyl acrylate or methacrylate, styrene, acrylonitrile or vinyl acetate and, a diethylenic monomer having a basic nitrogen group such as acrylate or diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, tert-butylaminoethyl acrylate or methacrylate, morpholino methacrylate

ethyl or vinylpyridine.

  The hydrophobic substance is preferably a fatty acid, a fatty ester, a fatty alcohol, a paraffin or a natural or synthetic wax. Preferably, the hydrophobic substance is stearic acid. The water-insoluble polymer is generally an ether or a cellulose ester such as ethylcellulose or cellulose acetate butyrate, or a polyvinyl ester such as polyvinyl acetate. A composition comprising 85% by weight of amino acid for 15% by weight of coating is preferably used. The coating generally contains 10 to 30% by weight of basic amino copolymer and 70 to 90% of an optional mixture containing

  a hydrophobic substance and a water-insoluble polymer.

  The second type of composition which can be used comprises a mixture of a natural polymer such as zein, in mixture with a hydrophobic substance

  whose melting point is above 60 ° C and / or a polymer insoluble in water.

  It is preferred to use a composition containing 10 to 90% zein and 10 to 90

  % of a hydrophobic substance and / or of a polymer insoluble in water.

  A plasticizing agent can be added to the preceding compositions. The plasticizing agents include, in particular, triacetin, propylene glycol, phthalate.

butyl and sodium oleate.

  The compositions of the coatings described above are known and have been described in European patent No 260186 for the first type of composition.

  and in European patent No 321337 for the second type.

  The protected amino acids are preferably used in the form of granules which are administered to growing lambs generally over a period of 2 or 3 months in the year. The growing lamb is administered 0.8 to 2 g of amino

  acids, and preferably 1.6 g of methionine per day and this three times a week.

  The present invention is illustrated by the following examples The examples

  are not limitative of the invention.

EXAMPLES

  The examples are described to obtain quantitative data on the effects of a dose of 2 g of product containing approximately 1.6 g of methionine per head and per day, administered 3 times per week in the form of granules in addition to the ration.

  Weaned lambs are chosen for these trials.

  In Australia, most farmers feed weaned lambs, oats, wheat or lupins every summer, so it was considered more appropriate to test the use of protected methionine as a medicinal supplement.

  for the growth of Merino lambs during their first summer.

  Merino sheep lambs were used for testing.

  The lambs were 5 months old at the start of the trials.

  In summary, the supplement in the form of granules used in this test had the following characteristics: Oats Lupins Moisture 10.8% 8.7% Dry matter 89, 2% o 91.3% Crude protein 8.4% 32.2% dry matter Digestibility 72.3% 84.4% digestible dry matter Estimate Metabolizable energy 10.6% MJ / kg DM 12.5 MJ / kg dry matter The quality of the pasture was much better than that expected for this season with 3084, 3113 and 1867 kg / ha of dry matter present during the three observations In addition the proportion of green matter was 27%, 13% and 14.7% at the time of the observation This is much more important than usual, in

  because of the many rains that affected this test.

  The effects of the protected methionine were tested at two different levels of supplement in the form of granules during each meal as follows: - Oats Lupins Small granulated diet 100 g / head + 20 g / head per meal Imported granulated diet 250 g / head + 50 g / head per meal As this food was given three times a week, the daily rate of supplement in granular form was: Oats Lupins Low diet 43 g / head / day + 8.6 g / head / day Diet high 107 g / head / day + 21.4 g / head / day It should be noted that these supplement rates are unusually low compared to the normal diet which would be approximately 200 300 g / head / day for

lambs in summer.

  The amount of protected methionine used was 2 g / head / day of product

  (approximately equivalent to 1.6 g / head / day of methionine).

  The protected methionine is added to the grain by a wet mixing technique using molasses as the agglomerating agent as follows: measured amounts of oats and lupins are added to a

  food mixer and stirred for 5 10 minutes.

  3% w / w molasses is also added to produce a

  light sticky coating of all grains.

  the necessary quantity of protected methionine microspheres is also added slowly and then continuously mixed for minutes to ensure uniform distribution of the microspheres over the

grain mixture.

  This procedure is repeated with sufficient batches to feed all

groups for 2 to 4 weeks.

  The control groups receive granules mixed with

  molasses but without protected methionine.

  The mixed food is given the same day or stored in bags up to 4 weeks before use No deterioration of the food was

  observed during storage (no mold, discoloration, odor, etc.).

  This food is pleasant to taste and all sheep quickly get used to this diet. Weight measurement and living condition The weight is determined using electronic Ruddweight scales, with an accuracy of 0.5 kg. Living conditions are also appreciated

  subjectively by the same operator each time the lambs are weighed.

  Marking of wool and measurement of its growth A fresh solution of URSOL-D is prepared in hydrogen peroxide which is administered at the base of the fibers (at the level of the skin) on the flank

  of each lamb at the start of each period of the experiment.

  The growth of the wool is therefore determined as follows: Period between the color bands (Days) Designation of the color bands Experimentation phase

40

  A B c D The growth between the colored bands

  with a Vemier caliper.

  Pre-treatment period First phase of treatment Second phase of treatment (6 weeks) Post-treatment period (mm) is measured manually

  Growth measurements are taken on unstretched wool fibers.

  Division of the wool fibers and measurement The wool fiber with its colored areas is removed after linear measurement of each interval between the colored bands, the fiber is sectioned manually into segments of 2 mm in order to obtain an average diameter of the fibers for each of the intervals between the colored bands A, B, C and D as defined above. The samples of fibers A, B, C and D are washed separately in a solvent and the distribution according to the diameter of the fibers is determined by laser (Fiber Diameter Analyzer Gerner Scientific Ltd) In most of the samples, 2000 calibration determinations of fiber were made in each

samples.

  Weight of fleece The weight of the fleece of the young sheep was recorded during shearing The weight of these fleeces represents the growth of wool over a period of 10 months from birth; during this time, the sheep received treatment, only

for 10 weeks.

  Data were analyzed to establish the effect of the compared treatment

  with control trials receiving only a grain supplement.

  In addition, a retrospective analysis with covariance is carried out on the increase in weight as well as on the speed of growth of the volume of the wool using the following parameters: a weight of the animal during pre-treatment b speed of weight growth during the pre-treatment period

  c growth rate of fiber volume during the pre-

  treatment The examples which will be described below will be illustrated by the diagrams in which: FIG. 1 shows the changes in weight between the treatment based on protected methionine and the control lambs fed on a granulated diet in

small or large quantity.

  Figure 2 shows the differences in growth rate between protected methionine treatment and diet-fed control lambs

  granulated in small or large quantities.

  Figure 3 shows the weight distribution of the animals after treatment with protected methionine compared with the control lambs during the pre-treatment period, after 4 weeks of treatment and at the end of the 10 weeks of treatment for animals receiving a granulated diet in small or large quantities. Figure 4 shows the weight distribution of animals at different times during treatment with protected methionine in comparison with animals

  control receiving a granulated diet in low or large quantity.

  Figure 5 shows the effects of treatment with protected methionine on

living conditions.

  Figure 6 shows the effects of treatment with protected methionine on the weight of the fleece; and Figure 7 shows the effects of treatment with protected methionine on

the length of the wool.

MEASUREMENTS ON ALL ANIMALS

  Example 1 Weight and growth rate The weights of the animals were not significantly different between the

groups at the start of treatment.

  In the period of the first 5 weeks after the start of treatment, the weights of the animals increase more rapidly for the group treated than for the

  test groups without taking into account the quantity of food.

  The growth rate measured during the same period for the group treated with protected methionine and receiving a large granulated diet is 24.7% greater than for the test group The growth rate of the group treated with protected methionine and receiving a low granular diet during the same period is 18.0% larger than for the test group So after 4 weeks of treatment the group treated with protected methionine was heavier than the test group, this was more significant for the group receiving a diet

granulated in low quantity.

  In the second six-week period, the growth rate of the groups supplied with protected methionine is also higher than the control group The growth rate measured during this period is higher by 81.3% for the group treated with protected methionine and receiving a granulated diet in large quantities compared to the test group. The growth rate over the same period was + 19.2 g / day for the groups treated with protected methionine compared with a weight loss of the order of -2.49 g / day for the control group. at the end of the six weeks of treatment, the two groups treated are 1.5 to 2.0 kg heavier than the groups of

control.

  At the end of the post-treatment period, there is still a significant difference in weight in favor of the group treated with protected methionine compared to the control groups This advantage is lost after the post-treatment period at which time no difference in significant weight between the two groups is

related.

  The graphical representations of this data are shown in the Figures

1 and 2.

  Example 2 Weight distribution Farmers whose merino lambs are born in the spring are interested in the fact that their lambs reach a minimum weight of 20 kg before the dry period in late summer Lambs who have not reached this weights have a great risk

  mortality because they are less able to withstand the climatic conditions of summer.

  If the fall rains are late, these animals are particularly threatened.

  In this trial, the stocking rates were relatively low and the pastures of late spring and early summer were of better quality than expected. Consequently, the average weight of the whole herd is generally higher than that

  normally reached for lambs born in spring in this type of test.

  It was nevertheless interesting to examine the effects of treatment with

  protected methionine on the weight distribution of animals.

  It is apparent from Figures 3 and 4 that the treatment with protected methionine results in a change in the distribution of weights towards higher weight categories. This is particularly evident with regard to the reduction in the quantities of animals for the animal categories of 20-25 kg and 25-30 kg and

  an increase (doubling) for the animal category of 35-40 kg.

  The result of 18 to 81% Io of increase in the growth rate during the treatment period is very important This has implications for the use of the

  product to increase the growth rate of young sheep.

  EXAMPLE 3 Effect on the living conditions of weaned lambs As expected from the positive effect of the treatment on

  weight gain, an effect also appeared on living conditions.

  Before treatment there was no significant difference in

  living conditions in the different groups.

  4 weeks after the start of treatment the living conditions of the group of weaned lambs treated with protected methionine are significantly better

than those in the untreated group.

  This difference is maintained for 10 weeks after the start of the

  treatment and continues for one month after treatment.

  These differences are sufficient to be appreciated by men experienced in the field of animal husbandry, who often say that "the animals treated are in better condition than the animals of the control groups" This is very important for farmers who like to see their animals get fat, or for the

  less maintain their condition during the summer and fall.

  Data on living conditions are shown in Figure 5.

  EXAMPLE 4 Effect of Protected Methionne on the Weight of Wool The weight of non-degreased wool was obtained during shearing and represents approximately 10 months of wool production from birth The undue weight of all the fiber up to edge but does not include the wool that is under the

belly of the animal.

  The weight of the wool under the animal's belly is taken from a sample of

  23 animals in each group and is not significantly different.

  The treatment was applied over a period of approximately 10 weeks

  over a total growth period of 10 months.

  il Treatment with protected methionine significantly increases the weight of lambs' wool, both for low-pellet and

for rich diets.

  The increases in the weight of the wool are 220 g / hg (9.1%) for animals required to eat a low diet and 180 g / hd (7.3% o) for animals

at high speed.

  The influence of this regime is presented graphically in Figure 6.

  Speed of fiber growth on the samples between the colored bands Example 5 Linear growth The absolute distance (mm) between the edges of the successive colored bands

  is measured in duplicate for 150-200 animals in each group.

  The rate of increase in fiber length (mm / day) is calculated by dividing the absolute distance by the number of days between the application of

each colored strip.

  The increase in fiber length was not significantly different between the low and high regimes or in the groups treated with

  methionine protected during the pretreatment period.

  The feeding with protected methionine brings a significant increase in the absolute length of the wool and the speed of increase in the length of the fiber measured during the first 4 weeks of treatment For the weak diet the increase is 6 0.0% compared to the control group while for the high regime the increase is 5.8% compared to the control group. This stimulating effect is increased in the second phase of the treatment. Thus during the 6 weeks of treatment the weaned lambs receiving methionine and a weak diet have an increase in wool length of 8.1% higher than the control group and the weaned lambs in the rich diet and methionine show 10.5% fiber length growth

  higher than the control group.

  The effects of treatment on the length of wool for weaned lambs

  depending on the regime are shown in Figure 7.

  EXAMPLE 6 Effect of Protected Methionine on the Solidity of the Wool of Weaned Lambs Fleece Growing Only During the Treatment Period To assess the effects of protected methionine on the growth of wool during the treatment period, the fleece samples are retested by placing the clamps on the bands B and D. The solidity of the wool having grown only during the period of

treatment is measured.

  In this second analysis, treatment with methionine showed an increase in solidity of 9.9% (+ 4.25 N / ktex) for the weak diet and 2.1%

for the rich diet.

Claims (12)

  1 Method for increasing the growth of wool in a lamb, characterized in that a quantity of lamb is administered during growth   sufficient of a protected amino acid.   2 Method for increasing the quality of wool in a lamb, characterized in that a quantity of lamb is administered during growth   sufficient of a protected amino acid.   3 Method for increasing the length of the wool fiber in a lamb, characterized in that a growing lamb is administered a   sufficient amount of a protected amino acid.   4 Method for increasing the speed of wool growth in a lamb, characterized in that a growing lamb is administered a   sufficient amount of a protected amino acid.   Method for increasing the solidity of wool in a lamb, characterized in that a quantity administered to a lamb during growth is administered   sufficient of a protected amino acid.   6 Method for increasing the weight of a lamb characterized in that a sufficient quantity of a lamb is administered to a growing lamb protected amino acid.   7 Method according to any one of the preceding claims   characterized in that the growing lamb is a weaned lamb.   8 Method according to any one of the preceding claims o   the amino acid is protected by a polymer which is resistant to alkaline p H but releases   the amino acid at an acid p H or in the intestine.   9 Method according to any one of the preceding claims o   the amino acid is protected by a layer composed of a basic amino copolymer and a hydrophobic substance, the melting point of which is greater than 60 ° C. and / or a water insoluble polymer.   Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 o   the amino acid is protected by a layer composed of zein and a hydrophobic substance whose melting point is greater than 60 ° C and / or of a water-insoluble polymer 11 Method according to claim 9, where the amino acid is protected by a layer composed of a styrene-vinylpyridine copolymer associated with a substance   hydrophobic and a water insoluble polymer.   12 Method according to claims 9 to 11, o the hydrophobic substance is stearic acid.   13 Method according to claims 10 to 11, o the insoluble polymer in water is ethylcellulose.   14 Method according to any one of the preceding claims o   the amino acid is methionine and / or lysine.   Method according to any one of the preceding claims o the amino acid is methionine.   16 Method according to any one of the preceding claims o the   sufficient amount of amino acid is 1.6 g per day three days per week.