GB2271282A

GB2271282A - Supply of biologically beneficial substances to ruminant animals by means of a capsule containing filaments

Info

Publication number: GB2271282A
Application number: GB9319992A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Leslie Porter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-10-07
Filing date: 1993-09-28
Publication date: 1994-04-13
Also published as: NZ245076A; GB9319992D0; FR2711484A1

Abstract

An animal feed supplement constituted by a capsule or pill comprising chopped filaments of a non-toxic resin, which filaments incorporate at least one substance which is biologically beneficial to the animal such as a nutritionally beneficial trace element such as cobalt or a therapeutically beneficial ingredient such as an anthelmintic. The preferred resin is a rosin.

Description

Supply of Biologically Beneficial Substances to Ruminant Animals This invention relates generally to the supply of biologically beneficial substances to ruminant animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and deer. The biologically beneficial substances include substances with beneficial nutritional and/or therapeutic effects. More particularly, the invention relates to a pill or capsule for supplying said substances and to a method of manufacturing the pill or capsule.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a capsule or pill incorporating a multiplicity of chopped filaments, the filaments each comprising a nontoxic resin insoluble or of limited solubility in the ruminant stomachs in admixture with at least one biologically beneficial substance.

Preferably the non-toxic resin is a non-polymeric resin.

Suitable resins may be rosin or its non-polymeric derivatives.

The term "rosin" is used herein in its normally accepted sense to refer to the natural resin obtainable from pine trees or pine stumps and which primarily consists of a mixture of abietic acids and closely related compounds.

It is not polymerised, and is commercially available in its natural form as a solid prepared after drying. For the purpose of the present invention the rosin is preferably used in powdered form. One example of rosin which may be employed is a glycerol ester of gum rosin, such as that sold under the Trade Mark RECOL.

A preferred density of the filaments is in the range 2.5 to 6.5 g/ml. If filaments of a required density are not obtained as a natural outcome of production, e.g.

extrusion, a ballast material such as copper oxide or iron powder may also be incorporated, to adjust the specific gravity of the filaments to a value in the preferred range, which is most preferably 3.5 to 5.5.

It will be appreciated that the ballast material may itself be a nutritionally beneficial substance.

The biologically beneficial substance incorporated may be a nutritionally beneficial substance such as a trace element or elements or a medicinally beneficial substance such as an anthelmintic, or both. Other possible beneficial substances which may be incorporated are nutrients other than trace elements such as magnesium, calcium and/or phosphorus, as well as vitamins, aminoacids and/or fatty acids.

Especially important examples of beneficial substances which may be incorporated in the filaments are copper oxide, cobalt oxide, calcium iodate, zinc oxide and elemental selenium, zinc, manganese and iron, as well as potassium salts of iodine and zinc. Any one or any combination of these examples, which are by no means exhaustive, may be incorporated.

In use, the capsule or pill, having a soluble skin or coating such as a gelatine skin for example, first lodges in the rumeno-reticular sac. The gelatine is dissolved away and the active ingredients are gradually released from the resin filaments. The filaments persist in the ruminant gut in decreasing amounts for a period of several months. During that period the biologically beneficial substance(s) are progressively released.

In particular, filaments lodging temporarily in the rumen, reticulum and omasum at near-neutral pH, act as a reservoir of nutrients or other included substances which, if more soluble at low pH, may then be released more rapidly in the acidic environment of the abomasum.

The rate of release of the beneficial ingredient(s) from the filaments can be increased, if appropriate, by incorporation in the filaments of a non-toxic substance soluble in the rumeno-reticular sac. Many soluble substances are suitable, but glycerine is an example.

The use of such a soluble second substance may not be necessary, and when it is incorporated it will often only be incorporated in a small amount, say less than 10% of the resin content, although a higher proportion may sometimes be required.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a capsule or pill for supply to ruminant animals, which comprises drawing or extruding a non-toxic resin, preferably a non-toxic and non-polymeric rosin, having at least one biologically beneficial substance in admixture therewith, chopping the resin extrusion into filaments, and incorporating the filaments in a soluble skin such as a skin of gelatine or a soluble coating as of sugar, agar or gum.

The non-toxic resin may be extruded in any of a variety of ways, and it is to be understood that the term 11extruding?1 is to be broadly interpreted to include such methods as melt spinning.

In a preferred production process a mixture is produced of powdered resin and the beneficial ingredient(s), possibly together with a ballast material and/or releaserate control ingredient if required, which mixture is heated to softening point, typically about 1000C and then extruded. After air cooling, the extruded filaments are then chopped.

It is to be noted that the resultant chopped filaments or fibres are desirably not of the polymeric nature of most synthetic resin fibres, in the sense that the chopped filaments or fibres produced in accordance with the present invention can readily be crushed to return to powdered form.

It will also be understood that the basis of the invention lies in the use of a non-toxic resin which is then formed into relatively fine and short filaments to enable its incorporation in the capsule. Release of the active ingredient(s) from the resin base material is aided by the relatively thin nature of these filaments.

A preferred diameter for the filaments lies in the range 0.1 to 5 mm, more preferably 0.5 to 3 mm and most preferably 0.75 to 1.5 mm, whilst a preferred average length for the filaments lies in the range 0.5 mm to 1.5 cm, more preferably 2 mm to 1 cm and most preferably 4 to 6 mm.

Some examples of capsule in accordance with the invention, manufacture thereof and results of tests are given below.

Example 1 First, for the purposes of a filament retention test, filaments 1 mm in diameter and an average 5 mm in length were prepared by extrusion of heated mixtures of powdered rosin and minerals.

Filaments were of two types, A and B.

Type A comprised 5% by weight of powdered rosin, and 85% by weight of copper oxide powder. The mixture was heated to 1000C, extruded and, after air cooling, the filaments were cut to an average length of 5 mm. Density was 4.58 kg per ml. A 4g sample, made up of 225 filaments, was employed in the test.

Type B comprised by weight 15% rosin, 5.8% potassium iodide, 11.2% cobalt oxide and 68% iron. All were in the form of fine powders. Heating, extrusion of filaments and cutting were as for Type A. A 4g sample, made up of 174 filaments, was used in the test.

Each sample was administered orally in a gelatine capsule to one adult ewe. The sheep were held in metabolism crates for 13 days, with faecal bags fitted, and fed hay.

Crates and animals were examined three times per day, to detect any regurgitated filaments. Faecal bags were emptied daily, and the contents examined by diluting with water and sieving, to detect excreted filaments.

Faecal bag collections were repeated from days 33 to 46 and 52 to 59.

Samples of Type B filaments collected in the initial 13 day period were bulked, and cobalt analyses performed.

The results showed no filaments were regurgitated by either sheep. Filaments detected in the faeces are shown in following Table 1.

Table 1 Faecal excretion of filaments Day Type A Type B 8 - 7 9 ~ 4 10 - 2 11 - 2 12 - 3 13 - 6 42 - 1 45 - 1 54 1 57 1 These results indicate that filaments of Type A were retained more effectively than Type B filaments, although retention of the Type B filaments was still fully satisfactory. Analyses of Type B filaments excreted up to Day 13 indicated an average daily release rate of 0.12% of the initial cobalt content.

Example 2 This test was an in-vitro test enabling assessment to be made of release rates of the ingredients of the filaments.

Filaments were prepared by the same method as in Example 1, by extrusion of mixed and melted powder of rosin, copper oxide and potassium iodide. Composition, by weight, was: Rosin 15% Copper 71.2% (as oxide) Iodine 0.96% (as potassium iodide) Weighed samples of filaments (1.56 to 2.01g) were placed in 4 flasks. 100 ml ofdemineralised water was added to each flask, and the pH levels adjusted with hydrochloric acid to 2.0, 2.6, 6.0 and 7.0. The flasks were shaken continuously on an orbital shaker at 110 rpm, at a temperature of 370C. At intervals of from 6 to 8 days, the total liquid contents of each flask were removed for analysis, and replaced with fresh, pH adjusted water. The content of each element in the liquid removed is a measure of the quantity of each element released from the sample of filaments during each period of observation.Percentage daily release rates were calculated for each element, based upon the initial content of the sample. Results are shown in Table 2.

Table 2 In-vitro daily release rates of copper and iodine at 4 pH levels (% of starting total released per day) Period Iodine Copper (days) pH 2.0 2.6 6.0 7.0 pH 2.0 2. 6 6.0 7.0 1- 7 0.00 0.00 5.10 5.40 4.3 0.76 0.04 0.01 7-13 0.57 2.13 2.38 2.17 0.53 0.43 0.27 0.17 13-21 0.30 0.20 0.79 0.60 0.20 0.18 0.13 0.02 21-28 0.43 2.51 0.34 0.40 0.20 0.12 0.05 0.02 28-36 0.00 0.30 0.38 0.28 0.12 0.06 0.02 0.00 36-42 0.37 0.33 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.05 0.01 0.00 42-51 0.38 0.11 0.00 0.00 0.11 0.04 0.01 0.00 51-56 0.28 0.32 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.06 0.01 0.00 56-68 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.05 0.02 0.00 These results show useful release of copper and of iodine at pHs 2.0 and 2.6, continuing for 56 days. At pHs 6.0 and 7.0, iodine was released satisfactorily for 36 days, but copper release was relatively low.

Filaments lodging temporarily in the rumen, reticulum and omasum at near-neutral pH, act as a reservoir of nutrients or other included substances which, if more soluble at low pH, may then be released more rapidly in the acidic environment of the abomasum.

Example 3 In this in-vitro test, filaments were prepared as in Examples 1 and 2, comprising rosin and beneficial subtances.

Composition, by weight, was: Rosin 15% Iodine 4.2E (as KI) Selenium 0.8% (elemental) Copper 62.4% (as oxide) A 2.01g sample of filaments was shaken in like manner to Example 2, at 110 rpm and at 37cm, in 100 ml of water and hydrochloric acid, at pH 2.3.

Replacement and analyses of the liquid at 7 to 11 day intervals permitted calculation of percentage daily release rates for each element.

The results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3 In-vitro daily release rates of iodine, selenium and copper (at pH 2.3) (% of starting total released per day) Period Iodine Selenium Copper 1-11 days 1.23 0.02 0.21 11-20 days 1.11 - 0.17 20-28 days 0.07 0.28 0.32 28-35 days 0.3 0.31 0.35 Results show useful release of iodine, selenium and copper until at least 35 days, under the conditions of the test.

Similar in-vitro tests have been completed with different combinations of the elements copper, cobalt, selenium, iodine, zinc, manganese and iron. The elements, or salts of the elements, as powder or fine granules, were mixed with powdered rosin, melted and extracted to form filaments, as in the examples described.

The chemical forms of the elements tested were: Copper : oxide, iodide Cobalt : oxide Selenium : sodium selenate, elemental selenium Iodine : potassium iodide, copper iodide, zinc iodide, potassium iodate, calcium iodate Zinc : elemental zinc, zinc iodide Manganese : elemental manganese Iron : elemental iron All forms gave a degree of prolonged release of the element tested. The most preferred forms were copper oxide, cobalt oxide, calcium iodate or zinc iodide equally,and elemental selenium, zinc, manganese and iron. Potassium salts of iodine and elemental zinc, when combined, were associated with slow visible changes in stored samples, and rapid release in vitro and in vivo of all included elements.

Further tests carried out in like manner have shown that beneficial substances other than trace elements may be included in the filaments. Other possible beneficial substances are major elements such as magnesium, calcium and/or phosphorus, and other nutrients such as vitamins, amino-acids and/or fatty acids, and/or medicinal substances such as an anthelmintic or growth-promoting substance.

Claims

1. A biologically beneficial feed supplement for ruminant animals, comprising a capsule or pill incorporating a multiplicity of chopped filaments, the filaments each comprising a non-toxic resin insoluble or of limited solubility in the ruminant stomachs in admixture with at least one biologically beneficial substance.

2. A feed supplement according to claim 1, wherein the non-toxic resin is a non-polymeric resin.

3. A feed supplement according to claim 2, wherein the non-toxic resin is a non-toxic and non-polymeric rosin.

4. A feed supplement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the biologically beneficial substance is a nutritionally beneficial trace element.

5. A feed supplement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the trace element is one or a combination of compounds of the elements copper, cobalt, selenium, iodine, zinc, manganese and iron.

6. A feed supplement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the biologically beneficial substance is a therapeutically beneficial substance.

7. A feed supplement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rosin filaments also incorporate a ballast material.

8. A feed supplement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ballast material is copper oxide or iron powder or zinc.

9. A feed supplement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the filaments are produced by drawing or extrusion and subsequently chopped.

10. A feed supplement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the diameter of the filaments lies in the range 0.1 to 5 mm and their average length lies in the range 0.5 mm to 1.5 cm.

11. A feed supplement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the filaments have a density in the range 2.5 to 6.5 g/ml.

12. A method of manufacturing a capsule or pill for supply to ruminant animals, which comprises drawing or extruding a non-toxic resin having at least one biologically beneficial substance in admixture therewith, chopping the resin extrusion into filaments, and incorporating the filaments in a soluble skin or coating.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the filaments are produced by heating to softening point a mixture of powdered rosin and at least one beneficial substance, extruding the soft mixture and chopping the extruded filaments.