IE80569B1

IE80569B1 - Animal feed composition

Info

Publication number: IE80569B1
Application number: IE940955A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Robert John Thompson; Timothy John Francis Fawcett
Original assignee: Af Plc
Priority date: 1993-12-11
Filing date: 1994-12-06
Publication date: 1998-09-23
Also published as: GB9325401D0; GB2284532B; GB2284532A; GB9424369D0

Abstract

A method of increasing the glucose in the bloodstream of an animal comprises feeding the animal with a torrefied cereal product, preferably one dispersed within a solid edible carrier such as molasses.

Description

ANIMAL FEED COMPOSITION This invention relates to animal feed compositions. The compositions of this invention are of particular use in connection with the feeding of female sheep (ewes) and more particularly pregnant ewes.

Many ewes suffer from pregnancy toxaemia (twin lamb disease) during the final four to six weeks before lambing. It is believed that this condition is caused by there being too low a concentration of glucose in the bloodstream of the ewe. The unborn lambs have a high requirement for glucose and this requirement takes priority. At the same time the lambs tend to squash the rumen of the ewe as they grow, making it very difficult for the ewe to produce the glucose from its normal intake of fodder.

Twin lamb disease can occur in ewes which are too thin and also those which are too fat. It is aggravated by physical and environmental stress.

In order to attempt to increase the amount of glucose in the bloodstream of an animal, it is known to provide to the animal glucose blocks which are in solid form and comprise perhaps about 95% glucose. Although the animal readily assimilates a feed in this form, by no means all the glucose so assimilated finds its way into the bloodstream. This is because a substantial proportion of the glucose is broken down in the rumen of the animal, volatile acids being produced.

It is also known to feed animals with molasses but this foodstuff does not result in a substantial increase of glucose in the bloodstream. 8056$ It has now been surprisingly discovered that a very effective way of increasing the glucose in the bloodstream of an animal is to provide to the animal a torrefied cereal product.

Torrefication is a process of heating the cereal, which takes the moisture content of the cereal down and causes the starch in the cereal to have its composition altered. This makes a high proportion of the cereal starch resistant to digestion in the rumen, but quickly digestible in the small intestine.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composition comprising a torrefied cereal product for use as an aid in the prevention of pregnancy toxaemia in pre-natal ewes.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composition comprising a torrefied cereal product for use as an aid in the prevention of pregnancy toxaemia in post-natal ewes.

The cereal used in the present invention may be any suitable cereal and a particular example is barley. It has been found that the feeding of torrefied barley to pregnant ewes results in a substantial increase in the concentration of glucose in the bloodstream. It is believed that this is because the starch in the barley passes undigested through the rumen of the ewe, but is rapidly broken down to glucose once it reaches the intestine. The glucose is then absorbed into the bloodstream.

It is preferred that the torrefied cereal product is dispersed within a suitable carrier, preferably such that the whole is in solid form. In this case the preferred carrier is » f molasses, (other feed ingredients could be used), the cereal product being dispersed throughout a solid block of molasses. . 35 The molasses may be enriched with minerals, vitamins and trace elements. The block may be provided within a suitable container and will remain in place until it has been totally consumed. The molasses/cereal product dispersion may be loaded Into the container in flowable form and allowed to solidify therein.

The cereal product, provided as a loose, dry mix, or even in liquid form, is liable to be at least partially lost by being blown away with the wind, eaten by birds or in any other way. The feed block of the invention is weatherproof and bird proof. Furthermore the molasses makes the product more palatable to the animal by giving it a sweet taste.

Preferably the molasses block contains up to 70% by weight of the cereal product. More preferably the molasses block contains up to 50% by weight of the cereal product and most preferably the molasses block contains about 40% by weight of the cereal product.

By way of example, an animal feed composition according to the present invention is in the form of a solid molasses block containing about 40% by weight of torrefied barley as · well as vitamins and trace elements. The block contains the following materials, percentages being by weight:Torrefied Barley 40% Vitamins & trace elements 2% Calcium Limestone 5% Molasses 45.4% Magnesium mineral 2.5% Sodium Chloride (salt) 5.0% Spice, flavours, preservative (calcium propionate) balance Amounts of particular, materials within the block are as follows, percentages again being by weight:- Sucrose 22% Vitamin A 15,000 iu/kg Cobalt lOmg/kg Zinc 90mg/kg Magnesium 1.2% Vitamin D3 3,000 iu/kg Manganese 250mg/kg Selenium 0.2mg/kg Sodium 2% Vitamin E 5 iu/kg Iodine lOmg/kg The molasses block is provided within a container having a lid. It is supplied to pregnant ewes and those In early lactation in order to aid in the prevention of pregnancy toxaemia (twin lamb disease). To provide the feed to the animal, the lid is removed and the container is placed indoors or outside at the rate of around one container per 30 ewes per week. The bucket is provided with a handle which may be removed in order to facilitate access to its contents. The handle may be replaced at any time if desired.

Claims

1. A composition comprising a torrefied cereal product for use as an aid in the prevention of pregnancy toxaemia in prenatal ewes.

2. A composition comprising a torrefied cereal product for use as an aid in the prevention of pregnancy toxaemia in postnatal ewes.

3. A composition according to claim 1 in which the cereal product is barley.

4. A composition according to any of the preceding claims in which the torrefied cereal product is dispersed within an edible carrier.

5. A composition according to claim 4 in which the carrier is such that it forms a solid block with the torrefied cereal product dispersed therethrough.

6. A composition according to claim 5 in which the carrier is molasses.

7. A composition according to claim 6 in which the molasses is enriched with minerals, vitamins and trace elements.

8. A composition according to any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the block has been formed from a liquid which has been allowed to solidify within a suitable container.

9. A composition according to any of claims 5 to 8 wherein the block contains up to 70% by weight of the cereal product.

10. A composition according to claim 9 wherein the block comprises up to 50% by weight of the cereal product.

11. A composition according to claim 10 wherein the block contains about 40% by weight of the cereal product.

12. A composition according to claims 1 or 2 and substantially as herein described.

13. A composition substantially as described in the specific 5 example for use as an aid in the prevention of pregnancy toxaemia in pre-:natal ewes.

14. A composition substantially as described in the specific example for use as an aid in the prevention of pregnancy 10 toxaemia in post-natal ewes.