JPWO2002058483A1

JPWO2002058483A1 - Milk ingredient improver and meat quality improver for animals containing hexose-derived acid

Info

Publication number: JPWO2002058483A1
Application number: JP2002558826A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 小山　公成; 公成小山; 岡田　昌昭; 昌昭岡田
Original assignee: 藤沢薬品工業株式会社
Priority date: 2001-01-24
Filing date: 2002-01-23
Publication date: 2004-05-27
Also published as: WO2002058483A1

Abstract

本発明によれば、六炭糖由来の酸、その非毒性塩および分子内エステル化合物の少なくとも１つを有効成分として含有することからなる動物用の乳成分改善剤及び肉質改善剤、該剤を添加してなる動物用の飼料等およびそれらを使用することからなる動物の乳成分改善方法及び動物の肉質改善方法が提供される。According to the present invention, an animal milk component improver and a meat quality improver comprising at least one of a hexose-derived acid, a non-toxic salt thereof and an intramolecular ester compound as an active ingredient, The present invention further provides a method for improving animal milk components and a method for improving animal meat quality, which comprise an added animal feed or the like, and the use thereof.

Description

技術分野
この発明は、動物用の乳成分改善剤及び肉質改善剤に関する。さらに詳しくは、この発明は、六炭糖由来の酸、その非毒性塩および分子内エステル化合物の少なくとも１つを有効成分として含有することからなる動物用の乳成分改善剤及び肉質改善剤、それらを添加してなる動物用の飼料等およびそれらを使用することからなる動物の乳成分改善方法及び肉質改善方法に関する。
背景技術
牛乳は、必須アミノ酸が豊富であるのみならず、通常、不足しがちなカルシウムを牛肉、鶏肉、鶏卵に比べて多く含んでおり、栄養的観点からみてほぼ完全な食品である。また、近年は牛乳としての消費に加えて、バター、チーズ、ヨーグルトをはじめとする乳製品の需要も高まっており、日常の食生活に欠かせない食品の一つとなっている。このような背景から、多様化する牛乳・乳製品に対する消費者の要求に対応し、安全で高品質な原料乳の供給が生産者に求められている。
しかし、元来、ホルスタイン種等の乳牛は比較的寒冷地に生息していた動物でもあり、２５℃を超えるような気温下では、牛乳の生産に好ましくないとされ、酷暑時には乳量の減少のみならず、牛乳中に含まれる乳脂肪、無脂固形分等の成分の割合が低下することが知られており、夏季の乳質低下が大きな問題になっている。
また、近年病原性大腸菌による食中毒をはじめとする動物由来食品を介したヒトの健康面への悪影響が問題視されており、先に述べた牛乳の栄養面からの品質のみならず、衛生面からの品質の向上も求められている。
一般に、牛乳の衛生面の評価は、細菌感染症等に起因する乳腺組織の炎症の指標である体細胞（乳腺上皮細胞、白血球等）及び細菌の数やｐＨを測定して行われており、出荷に際しては、ｐＨが適正で、体細胞数ができる限り少ないことが好ましく、これらの度合いによって出荷の可否や乳価が決まる。
上記のような要求に応えるため、栄養面においては、クロレラ抽出物、ヒドロキソコバラミン、サンフラワー油、薬草、脂肪酸カルシウム、酢酸ナトリウムなどを従来の飼料に混合して牛に与えたり、牛を遺伝的に改良したり、飼養方法を改善したりすることなどが進められているが、効果を安定的に示す手法はまだ確立されていない。また、衛生面についても、適正な飼養管理、衛生管理の徹底が謳われ、各酪農家に対する啓蒙が行われているが、更なる向上が望まれている。
一方、食肉は、現代人の食生活において欠かせない食材のひとつである。
一般的に利用される牛肉、豚肉及び鶏肉などでは、量産による低価格化の傾向がある反面、食生活の向上に伴って、より高品質の食肉を求める傾向も高まりつつある。
このような背景の中、高品質な食肉の生産体系を確立すべく、牛では後代検定、豚では系統造成事業等をとおした品種改良や人工授精、胚移植の技術による動物自体の遺伝的改良に加え、配合飼料の改良、機能性飼料の開発、肥育方式の改善等の飼養技術面での研究がなされている。
食肉は通常、筋肉への脂肪交雑、脂肪や肉の色沢、肉のきめ、しまりの程度などで評価される。脂肪や肉の色沢、きめ、しまりは脂肪交雑との相関が高いことから、現在の肉質の評価は脂肪交雑に左右され、いわゆる、さし・霜降り肉に対する評価が高く、味の良い食肉として市場での需要が大きい。
従来、これらのさし・霜降り肉を生産する方法として、濃厚飼料の多給、プロピオン酸塩の給与、飼料中ビタミンＡ量の制御、油脂類の多給、ルーメンバイパス油脂給与等が試みられている。
しかし、例えば、濃厚飼料や油脂の多給、ビタミンＡ量の制御は、牛では消化管の異常、代謝異常、夜盲症などの疾病状態を惹起し、健康面に悪影響を与えるおそれがある。加えて、これらの処理によって肉の風味や質が損なわれることも知られており、これらの技術の応用には細心の注意が必要であるため、従来技術が、さし・霜降り肉の生産に必ずしも適しているとは言いがたい。
発明の開示
上記のような状況下、本発明者らは、グルコン酸で代表される六炭糖由来の酸が、通常、乳量及び乳成分の割合が減少する酷暑時にも、乳質検査の指標とされる乳脂肪分及び蛋白質、乳糖のような無脂固形分の割合を増すとともに、体細胞数を減少させて、乳成分の質を改善すること、ならびに各種脂肪酸を多く含み、肉の色沢及び脂肪の沈着が優れた高品質な食肉が、特別な飼養方法によらなくても安定的に生産され得ることを見出し、本発明を完成するに至った。
したがって、本発明によれば、六炭糖由来の酸、その非毒性塩および分子内エステル化合物（以下、これらの化合物を総称して「六炭糖由来の酸類」という）の少なくとも１つを有効成分として含有することからなる動物用の乳成分改善剤及び肉質改善剤、それらを添加してなる動物用の飼料等およびそれらの使用による動物の乳成分改善方法及び肉質改善方法が提供される。
発明を実施するための最良の形態
この発明における六炭糖由来の酸は、Ｄ−体、Ｌ−体またはそれらの混合物のいずれでもよい。具体的には、グルカル酸、マンナル酸、グラル酸、イダル酸のような糖酸、及びグルコン酸、ガラクトン酸、マンノン酸、タロン酸、アロン酸のようなアルドン酸が挙げられるが、これらの中でもグルコン酸が特に好ましい。
これらの酸の非毒性塩としては、例えばナトリウムおよびカリウムのようなアルカリ金属との塩、カルシウムおよびマグネシウムのようなアルカリ土類金属との塩、銅、鉄または亜鉛のような遷移金属との塩が挙げられるが、ナトリウム塩およびカルシウム塩が好ましく、グルコン酸ナトリウムおよびグルコン酸カルシウムが特に好ましい。
また、前記のような酸の分子内エステル化合物としてはラクトン化合物が挙げられ、具体的にはグルコン酸の分子内エステル化合物であるグルコノデルタラクトン、グルコノガンマラクトンが挙げられ、グルコノデルタラクトンが特に好ましい。
これらの六炭糖由来の酸類は、それぞれ単独で、または任意の２種以上を組み合わせて用いることができる。具体的には、１０〜２０日程度これらの酸類を与えることによって、乳脂肪分が４〜１３％増すとともに、蛋白質が７〜８％、乳糖が４〜５％増加し、その結果、無脂固形分が５〜６％、全固形分が４〜８％増加する。また、体細胞数が投与開始日と比較して最大８０％程度も減少する。
一方、これらの酸類を１２週程度与えることによって、筋肉中の飽和脂肪酸、不飽和脂肪酸及び／又は必須脂肪酸の量の増加を伴って、脂質量が約１．５〜２．０倍増す。
一般に、不飽和脂肪酸は、脳梗塞のような血栓症の予防に有効であることが知られている一方、食肉においては肉の風味・質を改善する。不飽和脂肪酸のみの増加は、豚肉では品質の劣るいわゆる軟脂豚として評価されるが、本発明者らの研究によれば、上記の六炭糖由来の酸類の投与によって、豚肉では不飽和脂肪酸のみならず、ミリスチン酸、パルミチン酸、ヘプタデカン酸、ステアリン酸及びアラキジン酸のような飽和脂肪酸も増加した。
また、オレイン酸とステアリン酸の比率（Ｏ／Ｓ比）は、霜降りの肉質における指標として評価されるが、六炭糖由来の酸類の投与によってＯ／Ｓ比の上昇した豚では、実際に良好な肉の色沢及び脂肪の沈着がみられた。
さらに、コレステロール低下、癌予防、血行促進、抗炎症、動脈硬化予防等の作用を有する必須脂肪酸、例えばリノール酸、リノレン酸及びドコサヘキサエン酸の量についても、六炭糖由来の酸類の投与によって筋肉中での上昇がみられた。
このような本発明の六炭糖由来の酸類は、それ自体で、または当該分野で公知の固体又は液体の賦形剤とともに、動物用の乳成分改善剤及び肉質改善剤とすることができる。
固体の賦形剤としては、例えば、乳糖、ショ糖、ブドウ糖、コーンスターチ、ゼラチン、澱粉などが挙げられる。また、液体の賦形剤としては、例えば水、グリセリン、脂肪油、ソルビトールなどが挙げられる。
本発明の乳成分改善剤及び肉質改善剤は、所望により抗菌剤、防カビ剤、駆虫剤、抗酸化剤、色素、着香料、呈味料、酵素のような通常の添加剤と混合してもよく、常法により、散剤、顆粒剤、液剤、錠剤等の形態に製剤化することができる。
これらの製剤は、それ自体を動物に投与することもできるが、動物の摂取する飼料または飲料水に配合して用いるのが好ましい。
上記の飼料および飲料水は一般に使用されているものであればよく、特に限定されない。これらの一例としては、とうもろこし、米、麦、マイロ、大豆粕、ふすま、脱脂米ぬか、魚粉、脱脂粉乳、乾燥ホエー、油脂、アルファルファミール、北洋ミール、大豆油脂、粉末精製牛脂、小麦粉、なたね油脂、肉骨粉（フェザーミール）、動物性油脂、リン酸カルシウム、コーングルテンミール、糖蜜、コーンジャームミール、炭酸カルシウム、リン酸三カルシウム、塩化ナトリウム、塩化コリン、ビタミン類（ビタミンＡ、ビタミンＢ_１、ビタミンＢ_２、ビタミンＢ_６、ビタミンＢ_１２、ビタミンＤ、ビタミンＥ、パントテン酸カルシウム、ニコチン酸アミド、葉酸等）、アミノ酸類（リジン、メチオニン等）、微量無機塩類（硫酸マグネシウム、硫酸鉄、硫酸銅、硫酸亜鉛、ヨウ化カリウム、硫酸コバルト等）、生菌剤などを適宜混合して調製した飼料が挙げられる。
六炭糖由来の酸類は、対象とする動物の種類および体重などにもよるが、通常一日当たり１５〜１５００ｍｇ／ｋｇ、好ましくは３０〜６００ｍｇ／ｋｇの割合で用いられ、動物用の飼料または飲料水に配合して用いる場合には、一般に有効成分として０．０１〜１０．０重量％、好ましくは０．０２〜４．０重量％の割合で用いることができる。特に飼料に配合して用いる場合には、通常０．１〜１０．０重量％、好ましくは０．２〜４．０重量％の割合で、飲料水に添加して用いる場合には通常０．０１〜１．０重量％、好ましくは０．０２〜０．４重量％の割合で用いることが望ましい。
この発明は、さらに前記の乳成分及び肉質の改善剤自体あるいはそれらを含む動物用飼料及び／又は飲料水を動物に与えることからなる動物の乳成分改善方法及び肉質改善方法を提供する。
いずれの方法も通常の飼育動物、例えば、牛、山羊、馬、らくだ、水牛、豚、羊のような哺乳動物のほか、鶏、鴨、七面鳥、ダチョウ、アヒルのような鳥類及びハマチ、タイ、ニジマス、ギンザケのような魚類に適用され、乳成分改善方法は牛での適用、肉質改善方法は豚、牛、鶏及び魚での適用が特に好ましい。
この発明の乳成分及び肉質の改善剤自体、ならびにそれらを含む動物用飼料及び飲料水は、これらの動物に通常の方法で与えることができる。
実施例
以下、実施例を挙げて本発明をさらに詳細に説明するが、本発明はこれらの実施例に限定されるものではない。
実施例１：
泌乳牛（各群２頭）に、グルコン酸ナトリウム（ＧＮＡ）またはグルコン酸カルシウム（ＧＣＡ）（それぞれ藤沢薬品工業（株）製）を体重１ｋｇ当たり３００ｍｇとなるよう２．０重量％の割合で、濃厚飼料（圧扁とうもろこし２７％、圧扁大麦２７％、ビートパルプペレット２３％、ルーサンペレット１１％、綿実７％及び大豆粕５％）に混合して１０日間連続して与え、投与開始前日、投与開始１０日目及び投与終了後１０日目の朝夕に搾乳された牛乳中の乳脂肪分率（表１）、蛋白質率（表２）、乳糖率（表３）、無脂固形分率（表４）及び全固形分率（表５）を、茨城県生乳検査協会にてミルコスキャン（登録商標、フォス社製、デンマーク）を用いて測定した。
なお、この試験は、７〜８月の酷暑時に実施され、期間中（７月２５日〜８月２３日の３０日間）の１日における最高気温は２５．０〜３４．５℃、最低気温は１９．７〜２６．０℃の範囲にあった。

上記の表１〜表５から明らかなように、泌乳牛にグルコン酸ナトリウムまたはグルコン酸カルシウムを投与することにより、乳脂肪分率が上昇するとともに、蛋白質率及び乳糖率が高くなり、その結果として無脂固形分率及び全固形分率の上昇が認められた。
実施例２：
泌乳牛（各群６頭）に、体重１ｋｇ当たり約２５０ｍｇ量のグルコン酸ナトリウム（藤沢薬品工業（株）製）を７００ｍＬの微温湯に混合・溶解して、１日２回朝夕の搾乳時に各７００ｍｌを２０日間連続して経口投与した。投与開始日、投与開始９日目、１７日目、投与終了１日目、５日目の朝夕に採取された牛乳中の体細胞数（表６）を、十勝農業協同組合連合会畜産検査センターにてミルコスキャン（登録商標、フォス社製、デンマーク）で測定した。

上記の表から明らかなように、泌乳牛にグルコン酸ナトリウムを投与することにより、生乳中の体細胞数が減少することが確認された。
実施例３：
豚用飼料の人工乳後期用飼料（コロミールＧＳ；日本配合飼料（株）製）及び子豚育成用飼料（子豚ＶＶ；日本配合飼料（株）製）に、飼料重量の１．０％量のグルコン酸ナトリウム（藤沢薬品工業製）を添加した（投与群）。対照として、グルコン酸ナトリウム無添加群（無投与対照群）を設けた。
上記飼料を、１群４頭（雄２頭、雌２頭）、平均体重約７ｋｇの離乳子豚に連続投与して１２週間給与した（最初の６週間は人工乳後期用飼料、後の６週間は子豚育成用飼料）。
飼育終了時に上記飼育豚の中から無作為に雄１頭、雌２頭を選抜し、解剖して背筋（ロース）及び大腿筋（モモ）の一部分を採取し、筋肉中の脂質量を基準油脂分析試験法（日本油化学会編）３．１．２−１９９６クロロホルム−メタノール混液抽出法にしたがって、脂質中の脂肪酸組成を基準油脂分析試験法（日本油化学会編）２．４．１２−１９９６三フッ化ホウ素メタノール法（４．１．２アシルグリセリン試料）によるメチルエステル化で、キャピラリーガスクロマトグラフ法にしたがって分析し、グルコン酸ナトリウム投与群と無投与群とを比較した。
キャピラリーガスクロマトグラフ法の分析条件は以下のとおりとした。
カラム：ＤＢ−２３（８０ｍｘ０．２５ｍｍ、０．２５μｍ）
カラム温度：１８０℃
注入口温度：２５０℃
検出器温度：２５０℃
キャリアーガス：ヘリウム
スプリット比：１／５０
結果を表７に示す。

表７に示すように、グルコン酸ナトリウム投与群では、無投与群に比較してロース及びモモの筋肉中の脂質量が増加していることが示された。
脂質中の脂肪酸を種類ごとに大別し、各種の全体量をグルコン酸ナトリウム投与群と無投与群とで比較した。結果を表８（ロース）及び表９（モモ）に示す（単位：ｍｇ／１００ｇ）。

実施例４：
豚用飼料の子豚育成用飼料（子豚ＶＶ；日本配合飼料（株）製）及び肉豚肥育用飼料（肉豚ＶＶ；日本配合飼料（株）製）に、飼料重量の０．１％量のグルコン酸ナトリウム（藤沢薬品工業製）を添加した飼料と無添加の飼料を、１群４頭（雄２頭及び雌２頭）の平均体重約３０ｋｇの子豚に連続して１２週間給与した（最初の６週間は子豚育成用飼料、後の６週間は肉豚肥育用飼料）。
飼育終了時に雄１頭、雌１頭を無作為に選抜し、解剖し、ロース断面について、「豚肉取引規格」（社団法人日本食肉格付協会）にしたがい肉質を分類、評価し、グルコン酸ナトリウム投与群と無投与群とを比較した（表１０）。
また、ロース及びモモの一部分を採取し、筋肉中の脂質量及び脂質の脂肪酸組成を実施例１と同様の方法で測定し、表１１の結果を得た。

表１１の結果に基づき、実施例３と同様にして、ロース（表１２）及びモモ（表１３）における脂肪酸の種類ごとの全体量、及びオレイン酸／ステアリン酸の比率（Ｏ／Ｓ比）をグルコン酸ナトリウム投与群と無投与群とで比較した（単位：ｍｇ／１００ｇ）。

表１０に示すように、グルコン酸ナトリウム投与群では、無投与群に比較して、肉の色沢及び脂肪の沈着（筋肉内脂肪、さし、霜降りの程度）などの肉質が向上していることが確認された。
また、表１１〜表１３から、グルコン酸ナトリウム投与によって、オレイン酸、パルミトレイン酸などの不飽和脂肪酸、ミリスチン酸、パルミチン酸、ヘプタデカン酸、ステアリン酸、アラキジン酸などの飽和脂肪酸及びリノール酸、リノレン酸、ドコサヘキサエン酸などの必須脂肪酸の量が増加し、オレイン酸／ステアリン酸の比率も上昇したことが分かった。
本発明によれば、六炭糖由来の酸、その非毒性塩および分子内エステル化合物の少なくとも１つを有効成分として含有することからなる動物用の乳成分改善剤及び肉質改善剤、それらを添加してなる動物用の飼料等およびそれらを使用することからなる動物の乳成分改善方法及び肉質改善方法が提供される。
そして、本発明によれば、乳脂肪分、蛋白質及び乳糖などの無脂固形分及び全固形分が増加し、体細胞数が減少して、動物の乳成分が改善される。
また、血栓症の予防に有用な不飽和脂肪酸や、コレステロールの低下、ならびに癌予防、動脈硬化予防などに有効な必須脂肪酸の量が増すとともに、飽和脂肪酸の量も増え、肉質における指標のひとつであるオレイン酸／ステアリン酸比が高くなり、栄養学的観点からみても極めて優れた、高品質な食肉を得ることができる。TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a milk ingredient improving agent and a meat quality improving agent for animals. More specifically, the present invention relates to an animal milk component improving agent and a meat quality improving agent comprising at least one of a hexacarbon sugar-derived acid, a nontoxic salt thereof and an intramolecular ester compound as an active ingredient, And a method for improving animal milk components and meat quality by using the same.
BACKGROUND ART Milk is not only rich in essential amino acids but also contains a large amount of calcium, which is usually deficient in comparison with beef, chicken and eggs, and is almost a complete food from a nutritional point of view. In addition, in recent years, in addition to consumption as milk, demand for dairy products such as butter, cheese, and yogurt has been increasing, and it has become one of the essential foods for daily eating habits. Against this background, producers are required to supply safe and high-quality raw milk in response to consumers' demands for diversified milk and dairy products.
However, dairy cows such as the Holstein breed were originally animals that lived in relatively cold regions, and were considered unfavorable for milk production at temperatures exceeding 25 ° C. In addition, it is known that the ratio of components such as milk fat and non-fat solids contained in milk is reduced, and a decrease in milk quality in summer is a serious problem.
In recent years, adverse effects on human health through foods derived from animals such as food poisoning caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli have been regarded as a problem. There is also a demand for improved quality.
In general, the evaluation of milk hygiene is performed by measuring the number and pH of somatic cells (mammary gland epithelial cells, leukocytes, etc.) and bacteria, which are indicators of inflammation of mammary gland tissue caused by bacterial infections, When shipping, it is preferable that the pH is appropriate and the number of somatic cells is as small as possible. Depending on these degrees, the availability or the milk price is determined.
In order to meet the above demands, nutritionally, chlorella extract, hydroxocobalamin, sunflower oil, herbs, fatty acid calcium, sodium acetate, etc. are mixed with conventional feed and fed to cattle, However, methods for stably showing the effects have not yet been established. As for hygiene, proper breeding management and thorough hygiene management are declared, and dairy farmers are being enlightened, but further improvement is desired.
On the other hand, meat is one of the essential ingredients in modern people's diet.
In general, beef, pork, chicken and the like tend to be reduced in price through mass production, but with the improvement of eating habits, there is an increasing tendency to seek higher quality meat.
Against this background, in order to establish a high-quality meat production system, beef progeny tests for cattle, and genetic improvement of animals themselves through techniques such as breeding, artificial insemination, and embryo transfer for pigs through the line breeding business. In addition, research on rearing techniques such as improvement of compound feed, development of functional feed, and improvement of fattening system has been conducted.
Meat is usually evaluated by the degree of muscle cross-over, fat and meat color, meat texture, and tightness. Since the color and texture of fat and meat have a high correlation with marbling, the current evaluation of meat quality is affected by marbling, and so-called so-called marbled meat is highly evaluated as a delicious meat. Great demand in the market.
Conventionally, as a method of producing these cut and marbled meats, a large feed of concentrated feed, a supply of propionate, a control of the amount of vitamin A in the feed, a large supply of fats and oils, a supply of rumen bypass fats, etc. have been attempted. I have.
However, for example, excessive feeding of concentrated feed and oils and fats, and control of the amount of vitamin A may cause disease states such as digestive tract abnormalities, metabolic abnormalities, and night blindness in cattle, which may adversely affect health. In addition, it is known that the flavor and quality of meat are impaired by these treatments, and the application of these technologies requires careful attention. It's not always suitable.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Under the circumstances as described above, the present inventors have found that acids derived from hexose represented by gluconic acid are usually used in intense heat when the milk yield and the ratio of milk components are reduced, and the milk quality test index Increase the proportion of non-fat solids such as milk fat and protein, lactose, and reduce the number of somatic cells to improve the quality of milk components. The present inventors have found that high-quality meat excellent in deposition of swamps and fats can be stably produced without using a special feeding method, and have completed the present invention.
Therefore, according to the present invention, at least one of hexose-derived acids, non-toxic salts thereof, and intramolecular ester compounds (hereinafter, these compounds are collectively referred to as “hexose-derived acids”) is effectively used. The present invention provides an animal milk component improving agent and a meat quality improving agent which are contained as components, an animal feed and the like obtained by adding them, and an animal milk component improving method and a meat quality improving method by using them.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The hexose-derived acid in the present invention may be any of D-form, L-form and a mixture thereof. Specifically, glucaric acid, mannaric acid, glalic acid, sugar acids such as idalic acid, and gluconic acid, galactonic acid, mannonic acid, taronic acid, aldonic acids such as allonic acid, among these, among these Gluconic acid is particularly preferred.
Non-toxic salts of these acids include, for example, salts with alkali metals such as sodium and potassium, salts with alkaline earth metals such as calcium and magnesium, and salts with transition metals such as copper, iron or zinc. However, sodium salts and calcium salts are preferred, and sodium gluconate and calcium gluconate are particularly preferred.
Examples of the intramolecular ester compound of the acid include a lactone compound, specifically, glucono delta lactone and glucono gamma lactone, which are intramolecular ester compounds of gluconic acid, and glucono delta lactone. Is particularly preferred.
These hexose-derived acids can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Specifically, by giving these acids for about 10 to 20 days, the milk fat content is increased by 4 to 13%, the protein is increased by 7 to 8%, and the lactose is increased by 4 to 5%. Solids increase 5-6%, total solids 4-8%. In addition, the number of somatic cells is reduced by up to about 80% as compared with the day of starting administration.
On the other hand, when these acids are given for about 12 weeks, the amount of lipids increases about 1.5 to 2.0 times with an increase in the amount of saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids and / or essential fatty acids in muscle.
Generally, unsaturated fatty acids are known to be effective in preventing thrombosis such as cerebral infarction, but improve the flavor and quality of meat in meat. The increase in unsaturated fatty acids alone is evaluated as a so-called soft fat pig of inferior quality in pork, but according to the study of the present inventors, the administration of the above-mentioned hexose-derived acids caused the increase in unsaturated fatty acids in pork. Not only did the levels of saturated fatty acids such as myristic acid, palmitic acid, heptadecanoic acid, stearic acid and arachidic acid increase.
In addition, the ratio of oleic acid to stearic acid (O / S ratio) is evaluated as an index in the quality of marbled meat. In pigs whose O / S ratio has been increased by administration of hexose-derived acids, actually good results are obtained. There was a flesh color and fat deposition.
Furthermore, the amount of essential fatty acids having effects such as cholesterol lowering, cancer prevention, blood circulation promotion, anti-inflammation, and prevention of arteriosclerosis, for example, linoleic acid, linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, are also increased in the muscle by administration of hexose-derived acids. On the rise.
Such hexose-derived acids of the present invention can be used as an animal milk component improver and meat quality improver by themselves or together with a solid or liquid excipient known in the art.
Examples of solid excipients include lactose, sucrose, glucose, corn starch, gelatin, starch and the like. Liquid excipients include, for example, water, glycerin, fatty oil, sorbitol and the like.
The milk component improver and the meat quality improver of the present invention may be mixed with usual additives such as antibacterial agents, fungicides, anthelmintics, antioxidants, pigments, flavors, flavors and enzymes, if desired. It can be formulated into powders, granules, liquids, tablets and the like by a conventional method.
These preparations can be administered to animals themselves, but are preferably used in the form of feed or drinking water consumed by animals.
The above feed and drinking water are not particularly limited as long as they are commonly used. Examples of these include corn, rice, wheat, milo, soybean meal, bran, skim rice bran, fish meal, skim milk powder, dried whey, oil and fat, alfalfa meal, northern sea meal, soybean oil, powdered refined beef tallow, flour, rapeseed oil, meat bone meal (Feather meal), animal fat, calcium phosphate, corn gluten meal, molasses, corn germ meal, calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphate, sodium chloride, choline chloride, vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin B _1, vitamin B _2, Vitamin B ₆ , vitamin B ₁₂ , vitamin D, vitamin E, calcium pantothenate, nicotinamide, folic acid, etc., amino acids (lysine, methionine, etc.), trace inorganic salts (magnesium sulfate, iron sulfate, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate) , Potassium iodide, cobalt sulfate, etc.) Yibin mixed feed prepared like.
The hexose-derived acids are usually used at a rate of 15 to 1500 mg / kg, preferably 30 to 600 mg / kg per day, depending on the kind and weight of the target animal, and are used for animal feed or drink. When used in water, it can be used as an active ingredient in a proportion of generally 0.01 to 10.0% by weight, preferably 0.02 to 4.0% by weight. In particular, when used in a feed, it is usually 0.1 to 10.0% by weight, preferably 0.2 to 4.0% by weight. It is desirably used at a rate of 01 to 1.0% by weight, preferably 0.02 to 0.4% by weight.
The present invention further provides an animal milk component improving method and a meat quality improving method comprising providing the above-mentioned milk component and meat quality improving agent itself or an animal feed and / or drinking water containing the same to the animal.
Both methods are usually domestic animals, for example, mammals such as cows, goats, horses, camels, buffaloes, pigs, sheep, birds such as chickens, duck, turkey, ostrich, duck and hamachi, Thailand, It is applied to fish such as rainbow trout and coho salmon, and it is particularly preferable to apply the method for improving milk components to cows and to apply the method for improving meat quality to pigs, cows, chickens and fish.
The milk component and meat quality improving agent of the present invention itself, as well as animal feed and drinking water containing them, can be given to these animals in a usual manner.
EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited to these Examples.
Example 1
To lactating cows (two per group), sodium gluconate (GNA) or calcium gluconate (GCA) (manufactured by Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) was added at a rate of 2.0% by weight so as to be 300 mg / kg body weight. Mixed with concentrated feed (compressed corn 27%, compressed barley 27%, beet pulp pellets 23%, lusan pellets 11%, cottonseed 7% and soybean meal 5%) and given for 10 consecutive days, the day before the start of administration , Milk fat fraction (Table 1), protein fraction (Table 2), lactose fraction (Table 3), non-fat solid fraction in milk milked in the morning and evening on the 10th day after the start of administration and 10 days after the end of the administration (Table 4) and the total solid content (Table 5) were measured by the Ibaraki Prefectural Raw Milk Inspection Association using Milkoscan (registered trademark, manufactured by FOS, Denmark).
This test was conducted during the extremely hot summer months of July and August. During the period (30 days from July 25 to August 23), the maximum temperature was 25.0 to 34.5 ° C, and the minimum temperature was 15.0 ° C. Was in the range of 19.7-26.0 ° C.

As is clear from the above Tables 1 to 5, administration of sodium gluconate or calcium gluconate to lactating cows increases the milk fat fraction and increases the protein ratio and lactose ratio, and as a result, An increase in the non-fat solid content and the total solid content was observed.
Example 2:
About 250 mg / kg body weight of sodium gluconate (manufactured by Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) was mixed and dissolved in lactating cows (six in each group) in 700 mL of slightly warm water, and 700 ml of milk was added twice a day during morning and evening milking. Was orally administered for 20 consecutive days. The number of somatic cells in milk (Table 6) collected on the first day of administration, the ninth and seventeenth day of administration, the first day of administration, and the first and fifth days of morning and evening on the morning and evening of the fifth day were determined by the Tokachi Agricultural Cooperative Association Livestock Testing Center. And Mircoscan (registered trademark, manufactured by FOS, Denmark).

As is clear from the above table, it was confirmed that the administration of sodium gluconate to lactating cows reduced the number of somatic cells in raw milk.
Example 3
1.0% of the weight of the feed for late-stage artificial milk (Colomir GS; Nippon Combined Feed Co., Ltd.) and piglet rearing feed (Pig VV; Nippon Combined Feed Co., Ltd.) Sodium gluconate (manufactured by Fujisawa Pharmaceutical) was added (administration group). As a control, a group without sodium gluconate (a control group without administration) was provided.
The above-mentioned feed was continuously administered to weanling piglets (4 males (2 males, 2 females) per group) weighing about 7 kg and fed for 12 weeks. Weekly feed for raising piglets).
At the end of breeding, one male and two females were randomly selected from the above breeding pigs, dissected and a part of the back muscle (loin) and thigh muscle (peach) was collected, and the amount of lipids in the muscle was determined as a standard fat and oil. Analytical test method (edited by the Japan Oil Chemists 'Society) 3.1.2-1996 According to the chloroform-methanol mixed liquid extraction method, the fatty acid composition in lipids was determined by the standard oil and fat analysis test method (edited by the Japan Oil Chemists' Society) 2.4.12- Methyl esterification by the 1996 boron trifluoride methanol method (4.1.2 acylglycerin sample) was analyzed according to capillary gas chromatography to compare the sodium gluconate administration group with the non-administration group.
The analysis conditions for capillary gas chromatography were as follows.
Column: DB-23 (80mx0.25mm, 0.25μm)
Column temperature: 180 ° C
Inlet temperature: 250 ° C
Detector temperature: 250 ° C
Carrier gas: helium split ratio: 1/50
Table 7 shows the results.

As shown in Table 7, it was shown that the amount of lipids in the loin and peach muscles was increased in the sodium gluconate administration group as compared to the non-administration group.
Fatty acids in lipids were roughly classified by type, and the total amount of each type was compared between the sodium gluconate administration group and the non-administration group. The results are shown in Table 8 (loin) and Table 9 (peach) (unit: mg / 100 g).

Example 4:
0.1% of the feed weight in pig feed for piglet rearing (piglet VV; manufactured by Nippon Combined Feed Co., Ltd.) and pork fattening feed (meat pork VV; manufactured by Nippon Combined Feed Co., Ltd.) Feed with and without sodium gluconate (manufactured by Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) was fed to piglets with an average weight of about 30 kg per group for 4 weeks (2 males and 2 females) for 12 weeks. (The first 6 weeks were for feeding piglets and the last 6 weeks were for feeding pigs.)
At the end of breeding, one male and one female are randomly selected, dissected, and the loin section is classified and evaluated for meat quality according to the "Pork Trade Standards" (Japan Meat Rating Association), and sodium gluconate is administered. The group and the non-administration group were compared (Table 10).
Further, a part of the loin and peach were collected, and the amount of lipid in the muscle and the fatty acid composition of the lipid were measured in the same manner as in Example 1, and the results in Table 11 were obtained.

Based on the results in Table 11, the total amount of each type of fatty acid in the loin (Table 12) and peach (Table 13) and the ratio of oleic acid / stearic acid (O / S ratio) were determined in the same manner as in Example 3. A comparison was made between the sodium gluconate administration group and the non-administration group (unit: mg / 100 g).

As shown in Table 10, in the sodium gluconate administration group, meat quality such as flesh color and fat deposition (intramuscular fat, cutout, degree of marbling) is improved as compared with the non-administration group. It was confirmed that.
Also, from Tables 11 to 13, the administration of sodium gluconate allows administration of unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid and palmitoleic acid, saturated fatty acids such as myristic acid, palmitic acid, heptadecanoic acid, stearic acid and arachidic acid, and linoleic acid and linolenic acid. It was found that the amount of essential fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid increased and the ratio of oleic acid / stearic acid also increased.
According to the present invention, an animal milk component improver and a meat quality improver comprising at least one of a hexacarbon sugar-derived acid, a non-toxic salt thereof and an intramolecular ester compound as an active ingredient, The present invention also provides a method for improving animal milk components and a method for improving meat quality, comprising using such a feed for animals and the like.
According to the present invention, non-fat solids such as milk fat, protein and lactose and total solids are increased, somatic cell count is reduced, and milk components of animals are improved.
In addition, the amount of unsaturated fatty acids useful for preventing thrombosis, the amount of essential fatty acids effective for lowering cholesterol, preventing cancer and preventing arteriosclerosis, and the amount of saturated fatty acids also increase. A certain oleic acid / stearic acid ratio is increased, and it is possible to obtain high quality meat which is extremely excellent from a nutritional point of view.

Claims

An dairy component and / or meat quality improving agent for animals, comprising as an active ingredient at least one of an acid derived from hexose, a nontoxic salt thereof and an intramolecular ester compound.

A milk ingredient improving agent for animals, comprising as an active ingredient at least one of a hexose-derived acid, a non-toxic salt thereof, and an intramolecular ester compound.

A meat quality improving agent for animals, comprising as an active ingredient at least one of an acid derived from hexose, a non-toxic salt thereof and an intramolecular ester compound.

The agent according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the acid derived from hexose is gluconic acid.

The agent according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the non-toxic salt of the acid derived from hexose is sodium gluconate or calcium gluconate.

The agent according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the intramolecular ester compound of an acid derived from hexose is glucono delta lactone.

The milk component is improved by increasing milk fat, protein, lactose, non-fat solids and / or total solids, or decreasing the number of somatic cells. The milk component improving agent for animals according to the above.

The improvement in meat quality for animals according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 6, wherein the improvement in meat quality is found in an increase in lipids accompanying an increase in the amount of saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids and / or essential fatty acids in muscle. Agent.

An animal obtained by adding an animal milk component and a meat quality improving agent comprising at least one of a hexose-derived acid, a nontoxic salt thereof and an intramolecular ester compound as an active ingredient to feed or water. For feed or drinking water.

The animal feed or drinking water according to claim 9, wherein the active ingredient is added in an amount of 0.01 to 10.0% by weight.

A milk ingredient improving agent for animals containing as an active ingredient at least one of an acid derived from hexose, a non-toxic salt thereof and an intramolecular ester compound, or an animal feed obtained by adding the agent to feed or water Alternatively, a method for improving animal milk components, which comprises providing drinking water to the animal.

A meat quality improving agent for animals containing, as an active ingredient, at least one of an acid derived from hexose, a non-toxic salt thereof and an intramolecular ester compound, or an animal feed or an animal feed obtained by adding the agent to feed or water. A method for improving animal meat quality comprising providing drinking water to an animal.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, comprising providing the animal with the active ingredient at a rate of 15 to 1500 mg / kg / day.

The method according to claim 11 or 13, wherein the animal is a cow.

14. The method for improving meat quality of an animal according to claim 1, 2 or 13, wherein the animal is a pig, a cow, a chicken or a fish.