GB2396810A

GB2396810A - Bird Feed

Info

Publication number: GB2396810A
Application number: GB0329072A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Cleeve; Nicholas John Larkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-20
Filing date: 2003-12-16
Publication date: 2004-07-07
Also published as: GB0229658D0; GB0329072D0

Abstract

A bird feed including lactoferrin, for feeding to bird and particularly chicks to provide enhanced protection from infections and diseases. L-glutamine, glutamine peptide, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and plant extracts are also included in the feed.

Description

Bird Feed The present invention relates to feed for birds and in

particular chicks.

Birds, including chicks are prone to diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and parasites. Particular problems are cause by Rotavirus, Mycoplasma and Hexamita. Rotavirus effects the gut and is known to weaken the immune systems and leaves the birds to other infections, in particular Hexamita, regularly leading to their deaths. These diseases are most prevalent where birds are 0 reared in intensive production for use in the human food chain and shooting. It is known to incorporate antibiotics into the feed of these birds and chicks to try and prevent outbreaks of disease. However, the most conimon antibiotic and effective antibiotic, Dimetridazole (Emtryl), will no longer be available in the UK for this purpose.

Mammals produce milk to feed their babies, and the first milk produced by a mother, colostrum, is significantly different from rest of the milk. In particular it is higher in materials to protect the infant from infections and diseases. One known constituent of milk and in particular colostrum is lactoferrin.

Lactoferrin is known in the treatment of disease in mammals and in particular is known for the treatment of allergic conditions, in particular skin disorders and arthritis. In addition lactoferrin in know to be anti-oxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, immune cohancing and probiosis.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved bird feed.

According to the invention there is provided an ingredient or additive for bird food including lactoferrin.

While the lactoferrin may be fed at a rate of between 0.03mg per 50g live weight of bird and 30mg per 50g live weight of bird, typically the lactoferrin will be fed at a rate of Img per 50g live weight of bird.

Preferably the ingredient or additive will further include L-glutamine.

Additionally or alternatively the ingredient or additive will include glutamine pcptide.

Usually the feed will include further vitamins, minerals, trace element and/or plant extracts.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of lo protecting bird from disease comprising the steps of feeding to the bird a feed including lactoferrin.

Typically the lactoferrin will be fed at a rate of between 0.03mg and 30mg per 50g live bird weight. Preferably the feed rate will be of the order of lmg per 50g live bird weight.

Preferably the feed includes L-glutamine.

Additionally or alternatively the feed may include glutamine-peptide.

Usually the feed will also include vitamins, minerals, trace elements and/or plant extracts.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described.

Pathogenic organisms cause tissue damage and cell death, usually by the generation of free radicals, and in particular oxygen free radicals. Various substances are used in the body to scavenge oxygen free radicals before they damage cells and tissues. These include vitamins A, C and E, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, flavanoids, enzymes including hydrogen peroxide removing enzymes, and lactoferrin and other metal binding proteins. While some of these substances arc produced in the body, many can only be obtained from food. For example, glutathione is produced partly by the body via L-glutamine.

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein found in colostrum and is a prebiotic. It is believed that it assists in maintaining a balance between "healthy" and "harmful" gut flora. "Healthy" gut flora is essential for digestion of food. However, the environment that is suitable for "healthy" gut flora, when the normal stable homeostasis is lost, rapidly becomes suitable for "harmful" gut flora. This can consequently cause disease throughout the body; interalia gut inflammation, leading to poor metabolism and weight loss. It has been shown that lactoferrin has significant antiviral, bacteriostatic, bactericidal and immune-modulating properties.

As discussed, gut flora are essential for a good immune system and metabolism. The disinfectants used in the industrial scale rearing of birds are known to destroy such miro-flora, the "healthy" gut flora. Feeding a variety of yeasts to birds will help replace the micro-flora destroyed by the use of disinfectants. This is particularly important to chicks that must acquire micro-flora from the environment to enable then to digest their food and activate their immune system. Phosphatidyl choline and other phospholipids, essential components of cell walls, are known to assist in the transport of flavanoids into the intestines, and in the healing process in the gut. As a result phospholipids have been shown to provide weight gain in birds and increase feed to weight gain ratios.

The invention is suitable for feeding to all birds are part of their diet, and is particularly useful for poultry, for example chickens and pheasants. Lactoferrin in combination with a variety of other substances discussed above, is fed to chicks as day olds. Typically the feed rate will be approximately lmg per 50g of live bird weight, but may be between 0.03 mg and 30 mg per 50g live bird weight.

L-glutamine can also be added to the bird feed. A typical feed rate is 4mg per 50g live bird weight, but may be fed at a higher or lower rate. In addition glutamine peptide may be included in the feed. A typical feed rate would be 8mg per 50g live bird weigh. However, this may be fed at a higher rate.

It is believed that the lactoferrin, L-glutamine and glutamine peptide act together with the bird's immune system to prevent infection and disease. It is further believed that the 1-glutamine has a synergistic effect with the lactoferrin to further support the bird's immune system A typical composition would include lactoferrin, L-glutamine, glutamine- s peptide, vitamins A, C and E, minerals, trace elements such as copper, cobalt, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium and zinc, yeasts, and various plant extracts providing flavanoids and other natural products.

The feed will generally be made into pellet form for mixing with grain and lo other foodstuffs.

Alternatively a liquid from can be made, for addition to water stations for the birds to drink. In addition, the liquid composition can be sprayed onto the chicks and their bedding. The chicks will preen themselves and peck at the bedding, thereby ingesting the composition.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above- described embodiment. For instance, the lactoferrin may be fed to the bird in other formulations, and in particular additional or alternative ingredients may be added to the feed.

Claims

CLAIMS: I. An ingredient or additive for bird food including lactoferrin.
2. An ingredient as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lactoferrin is fed at a rate of between 0.03mg per 50g live weight of bird and 30mg per 50g live weight of bird.

s
3. An ingredient or additive as claimed in claim I wherein the lactoferrin is fed at a rate of Img per 50g live weight of bird.
4. An ingredient or additive as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, further including L-glutamine.
5. An ingredient or additive as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 4, further including lo glutamine-peptide.
6. An ingredient or additive as claim in any preceding claim, further including vitamins, minerals, trace element and/or plant extracts.
7. A method of protecting bird from disease comprising the steps of feeding to the bird a feed including lactoferrin.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lactoferrin is fed at a rate of between 0.03mg and 30mg per 50g live bird weight.
9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lactoferrin is fed at a rate of the order of lmg per 50g live bird weight.
10. A method as claimed in claim 7, claim 8, or claim 9, wherein the feed further includes L-glutaminc.
1 1. A method as claimed in any one of claim 7 to 10, wherein the feed further includes glutamine-peptide.
12. A method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the feed further includes vitamins, minerals, trace elements and/or plant extracts.