NZ239467A - Composition for treating bloat and gastric disorders in animals; contains oil (including piscine oil) and aluminosilicate; animal feedstuff - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number £39467 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Foe No. 4: $200.00 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional No: '239467/241081 Dated: 19 August 1991/19 December 1991 Improvements in Addressing Bloat & Gastric Disorders in Animals We, Moana Fertilisers Limited, a New Zealand company of Baldhill Road, R.D.I, Waiuku, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted -to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly *0 \ (described in and by the following statement: m *11 This specification relates to improvements in preparations and treatments addressing bloat, acidosis and other gastric disorders in animals.

It is envisaged that a primary use of the present invention will be in relation to ruminants and grazing animals though many aspects of the present invention will be useful for other animals.

Animals may succumb to numerous disorders or disfunctions of the digestive system, often affecting the stomach and/or intestinal regions. Bloat is one affliction affecting primarily ruminants, which if left unchecked may result in death of the animal.

A wide range of carminatives have been developed and are marketed to enable farmers to counteract this problem. Of these preparations, a large proportion are based predominantly on mineral or paraffin oils and require oral administration to the animal. Due to the enormity of this exercise for large herds, it is common that only animals exhibiting symptoms of bloat are treated. Currently there are no known preparations which may be self-administered by cattle or which are suitable for use in such a manner.

Another disfunction is acidosis. This also affects grazing animals and can be treated by the administration of alkaline agents or buffers. Trials in the United States have shown that substances such as sodium bentonite administered to cattle are useful in treating acidosis, perhaps by acting as a buffer. A major difficulty which has been experienced is in how solid powdered materials, such as sodium bentonite, can be administered to animals. Cattle in particular will resist eating these materials in the dry form and have even shown resistance to mixtures with molasses and other commonly used enticements. •> The present invention seeks to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a composition useful for addressing bloat and gastric disorders comprising an "aluminosilicate" , as herein defined, and oil.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of preparing a composition useful for addressing bloat or other gastric disorders in animals comprising the combination of oil with an "aluminosilicate" reactive towards water, and the subsequent addition of water.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a composition of substantially paste-like consistency useful for addressing bloat or other gastric disorders which comprises, a percentage by weight: 45 ± 20r'( bentonite 60 ± 25% oil which includes a piscine oil ± 8r/'t water to a combined total of 100%.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a nifthod of addressing bloat or other disorders by the application of a fluid or liquidised form of a composition, substantially as described above, to pasture or feedstuff upon which an animal will graze or feed.

While the present invention has been directed primarily towards addressing bloat and acidosis, trials have indicated that most embodiments will also be useful in addressing other gastric related disorders of livestock. The term 'gastric disorder' wherever used herein shall relate to intestinal, stomach and/or digestive disorders and disfunctions of animals. It will include (but not necessarily be limited to) in particular disorders arising from the diet or chemical imbalances in the digestive system - some examples including acidosis, bloat etc.

The term 'oil' wherever used herein shall include mineral, vegetable, animal and/or synthetic oils. Mixtures or combinations of different "oils" are also included within the term as are fluid solutions of fats or waxes in "oils".

"Piscine oil'', as used within the specification, shall refer to an "oil", wax, fat or soaps (of an "oil", wax or fat) derived from a fish or fish matter. Also 10 included are "oils", waxes, fats or soaps derived from marine cetaceans. Typically, though not necessarily, the "oils" etc. used shall be a by-product from fish processing. The "oil" (etc.) derived from a process which includes comminution, and either or both acid or alkali treatment of fish waste, has been found to be suitable.

The term 'tallow acid' wherever used within this specification, shall refer to tallow or tallow extracts which comprise a substantial portion of carboxylic and organic acids normally found in tallow (e.g. oleic palmitic, stearic, myristic and linoleic acids). Typically, a substantial proportion shall mean at least 80%.

Many "piscine oils" have exhibited properties which enhance the effectiveness of "aluminosilicate" s in treating certain gastric disorders. In fact, some "piscine oils" are effective without the presence of "aluminosilicate" materials.

To date, the more effective or useful "piscine oils" tested have been derived _ 25 from deep sea fish species. Orange Roughy has been found to be especially "N-C ^ ^suitable though Cardinal has also been seen to be useful. Consequently, ?.* -A imanv of the "piscine oils" used in the various embodiments of the invention s d' CO '■ •1 »:'v / may comprise predominantly (i.e. greater than 40% ) Orange Roughy or Cardinal oils. However, this does not preclude their total absence in a "piscine oil" as it is expected that the "oils" of other deep sea fish, as well as whale "oils", would be equally effective. It is anticipated that cod and halibut may also be useful. The use of "piscine oils" of a lesser degree of effectiveness in addressing particular disorders may be generally compensated for by variation of their proportion in any preparation, the dosage and/or application rates and/or frequency of dose of a preparation.

It is thought that part of the effectiveness of the "oils" from such fish as previously described, and the apparent greater effectiveness of the deep sea fish "oils", lies in the fact that the "oils" are similar to mineral paraffin oils in nature. Calcine "oil", which is an "oil" derived predominantly from deep sea fish, is used in some examples. The use of the various "piscine oils", and compositions containing same which are described in this specification, can exhibit enhancements over products based purely on mineral paraffin.

Usually, "piscine oils" will be supplied and used either as a purified or crude product comprising almost entirely a "piscine oil" as herein defined. However, it is also envisaged that the form in which it is supplied may be in combination with a non-aqueous carrier or diluent (e.g. an "oil", esters etc). This is perhaps especially true for "piscine oils" having a higher consistency of waxes and fats etc wherein a carrier may also act as a solvent. Whatever carrier or diluent is employed should be pharmacologically acceptable unless it is intended to be removed before administration to the animal or after the application to pasture etc (see also later).

The term "aluminosilicate" wherever used herein generally refers to an V r\v •^aluminosilicate" clay and will also include within its definition, zeolites, m u •many of which are "aluminosilicate" s or related thereto. There arc many such materials known and include, by way of example only, vermiculite, bentonite (montmorillonite), sepiolite-attapulgite, illite, chlorite, halloysite and kaolinite.

A preferred "aluminosilicate" for use in the present invention is bentonite, which generally refers to a clay comprising more than 70% montmorillonite. A preferred form of bentonite is sodium bentonite though forms having high or substantial proportions of exchangeable calcium, magnesium, hydrogen, potassium and/or ammonium cations are also acceptable to a lesser extent.

Mechanisms explaining the effectiveness of "aluminosilicate" s in the present invention are not fully understood though it is believed that desirable features for an "aluminosilicate" used in conjunction with the present invention include: a propinquity for water absorption; a moderate to high cation exchange ability; lubricating properties, especially when wet or in an animals stomach; the ability to act as a pH buffer.

Experimental trials with sodium bentonite, which exhibits the above properties, demonstrated enhanced results when present in various preparations according to the present invention. Calcium bentonite was seen to be less effective. Sodium bentonite which had been allowed to substantially adsorb water was also found to be less effective, indicating that where possible, water should be excluded from many "aluminosilicate" containing preparations. In some examples, water is included to form a paste-like consistency. Here, "oil" should normally be combined with the "aluminosilicate" prior to the addition of water or any aqueous components.

The hydrophobic "oil" will then partially shield the "aluminosilicate" from water adsorption though some adsorption may occur. In some instances this may be useful. One example to be described later relies upon the partial adsorption of water to alter the consistency of the paste to give a product in which the components are less likely to separate than some other embodiments. The presence of some water would also appear to assist dilution of the particular composition, with water, for other applications. Typically, a relatively small proportion of water adsorbable "aluminosilicate" (259c or less) is allowed to react (either physically or chemically) with water in this manner.

Further trials have indicated thus far that zeolite materials may also be used in the present invention. These may comprise a proportion of the "aluminosilicate" material or be a substitute therefor. The normal accepted definition of'zeolite' shall be used for the purposes of this specification. The lattice structure of many zeolite appears to impart some advantages to various embodiments of the present invention. Depending on the particular embodiment and the zeolite incorporated, some of the advantages previously mentioned for various "aluminosilicate" s may be enhanced or realised.

There are many commercially available zeolites. To a large extent manufacturer data sheets may be used to select appropriate zeolites for incorporation into the present invention. One particular zeolite which has been found useful is based on clinoptilolite. A commercial form is available in Australia under the trade name 'Mount Gipps Zeolite' from a company of the same name.

The open structure of most zeolites impart various characteristics to the zeolite which may include: a propinquity to adsorb molecules within a given size range, catalytic activity and ion exchange properties. Most of these w properties are well documented on a laboratory scale or in relation to the industrial processes for which zeolites are often used. While the actual mechansism of how zeolites work in the various embodiments of the present invention are not fully understood, trials to date suggest that worthwhile 5 improvements are often realisable through the incorporation of zeolite material in various embodiments of the invention.

A non-acidic additive is a pharmacologically acceptable compound (or mixture thereof) which is alkaline, amphoteric or neutral in nature. More specifically and by way of example only, a 'non-acidic additive' will often be a 10 member of a group comprising pharmacologically acceptable alkaline, amphoteric or substantially neutral carbonates, bicarbonates (hydrogen carbonates), oxides, hydroxides and oxy-sulphur salts (sulphates, sulphites etc) of metal elements (or the ammonium entity).

Some specific examples include zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium 15 oxide, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, sodium carbonate, bismuth carbonate, bismuth oxide, magnesium hydroxide magnesium sulphate, calcium sulphate etc. It is noted that the terms non-acidic, or alkaline additive shall not be limited to these specific exam pies.

Surfactant, wherever used within this specification, is defined as being a pharmacologically acceptable surfactant or detergent. The term also includes within its ambit emulsifiers or agents able to promote immiscible or partially miscible fractions to exist in suspension, or which improve the fractions' miscibility.

In some applications of the present invention it is desirable that any such emulsifiers, agents etc do not substantially improve the miscibility of ^ tjwarious components with water. This is likely to be more typical of nAl 2# S S ^ J A-' =f 9 ->>3-'' , s i ! 4 preparations to be applied to pasture where removal by rain is not desired. In these instances it may be preferable to provide known surfactants (etc.) which promote miscibility between the components of the preparation but do not substantially improve their miscibility with water (at least not for the applied product).

The term stabiliser where used within this specification shall refer to a gelling, thickening or other recognised agent able to reduce or delay separation of immiscible or partially miscible layers and fractions of a preparation. Typical stabilisers used with the present invention include tallow acids as well as waxes and fats (including those which may fall within the definition of "piscine oil") which may help increase the viscosity or thicken the preparation to a gel or paste like consistency.

The term carrier wherever used with in this specification refers to any acceptable carrier or diluent, substantially non-toxic to the animal under normal dosage rates of the invention. Where a preparation is to be applied to pasture, it is sometimes possible to use a carrier exhibiting some toxicity but which is readily removed through the action of rain, sunlight or evaporation.

Suitable carriers are generally well known and may include various oils (animal, vegetable or mineral), esters, alcohols, etc. Water may be used as a carrier or diluent in some embodiments of the invention though is generally not preferred. Many "aluminosilicate" s adsorb water resulting in a change in properties so as to exhibit reduced activity in addressing gastric disfunctions. This loss of effectiveness may also occur for lower alcohols (e.g. methanol, ethanol) dependent upon the "aluminosilicate" and as a general rule it is preferable that linear alcohols lower than C5 are excluded from use as carriers.

One aspect of the invention comprises preparations which are substantially 5 an "oil". Excluding carriers or diluents, they will comprise in excess of 70% of an "oil" as herein defined. They are also characterised in that, excluding carriers or diluents, they will include a "piscine oil" in the range of 1-100%. The remainder of the composition of such embodiments will generally comprise stabilisers or impurities.

In some embodiments other additives or medicinal preparations may be included. For the sake of simplicity of description, these predominantly oil-based embodiments shall be referred to as 'substantially solid-free' preparations though it should be appreciated that some additives included may initially be, or remain after inclusion, solids.

Another main aspect of the invention relates to preparations comprising an "oil" and an "aluminosilicate" , both being as herein defined. The "oil" need not be a "piscine oil" though embodiments including a "piscine oil" may exhibit enhanced results. Other constituents may be included in these "aluminosilicate" containing embodiments which shall be arbitrarily 20 designated 'solid-inclusive' embodiments as a distinction to the aforementioned 'substantially solid-free' embodiments. The nature of these other constituents will become apparent from the description of the invention.

Both aspects of the invention may show advantages over commonly used 25 and known carminatives, and bloat treatments as well some other preparations addressing gastric disorders.

■Jk f One improvement which may be apparent is in the method of application to stock. While various embodiments of the present invention may be used to orally dose an animal, they may also be applied to pasture upon which the animal may graze. This allows administration of the product in a continuous low-dosage manner as it is ingested by the animal when grazing. The application may be to grass, crops or other herbiage and foliage upon which the animals are allowed to feed.

Most of the known paraffin based carminative products include an emulsifier which precludes their use for application to pasture etc. The use of an emulsifier generally means the effectiveness of the treatment (if such a preparation were to be applied to pasture) is lost after rain as the emulsifier enables any paraffin "oils" or other oil-based ingredients to be washed from the grass and into the soil. Hence such products are not generally suitable for areas having a high or regular rainfall, which is generally where such treatments are most required.

Ideally any preparation for pasture application should be hydrophobic and most "oils" exhibit this characteristic. Consequently embodiments of the present invention used in such a manner will not include any surfactant or stabiliser which significantly increases the miscibility of the "oil" fraction (and especially the "piscine oil" fraction) of any preparation with respect to water. It is noted that it is not normally desirable to produce a totally hydrophobic preparation as this may form a coating over grass or foliage preventing its normal growth. A substantially pure "piscine oil" based on Orange Roughy and/or Cardinal has been found to have a satisfactory balance between retention after moderate rain and gentle removal so as not to noticeably interfere with growth of pasture. If heavier, more hydrophobic or more adherent (to foliage) oils are used, care should be taken to achieve *p.nly a partial coverage of foliage after application. 11 Typically the preparations applied to pasture will either be embodiments comprising substantially an "oil" and/or an "aluminosilicate" . As the preparation is not administered directly to the animal it is perhaps preferable that a greater percentage of an 'active' ingredient, i.e. "piscine oil" or "aluminosilicate" , is present in the preparation. Excluding any carriers or diluents, the preparation should comprise a minimum of 5% of "piscine oil" up to 100% for predominantly "oil" based embodiments. With reference to the foregoing discussion, the remainder will comprise predominantly an "oil" (i.e. greater than 70% total "oil" content excluding carriers or diluents). Other additives may be included, such as non-acidic additives, "aluminosilicate" s etc. which will be described further in relation to solid-inclusive embodiments for pastoral application.

Solid-inclusive embodiments can also be employed though the inclusion of solid or suspended matter may influence the suitability of certain types of spray or application equipment. Solid material, which may exist as a suspension or otherwise within the preparation, is generally of a finer average particle size than is acceptable for pastes and drenches. These requirements will influence the grade of components chosen. The carrier, diluents and vehicle for the "aluminosilicate" may act as a hydrophobic barrier for the "aluminosilicate" . The adverse effect of water on some "aluminosilicate" s has already been mentioned. Oils, for instance, be repelling rain water may help keep pasture applied "aluminosilicate" s active for a longer period. The "oils" (and other components) may also act as a 'glue' to help prevent the "aluminosilicate" coating any foliage from being washed away too rapidly by rain.

WThile the application of "aluminosilicate" or alkaline additive containing ^preparations to the pasture may not always be the most efficient way of administering these materials to an animal (and thus economics of the exercise can be a consideration), this method of application can ensure that animals are continually administered with a low dose during grazing. In this manner the preparation finds use in a preventative, rather than curative, role. It may provide a more time-efficient vehicle, than individual dosing, for farmers to ensure their stock remain healthy. Furthermore it allows stock to be administered the preparation more frequently than dosed preparations which are typically of short term duration.

Currently many "aluminosilicate" materials are available relatively economically and it would not always be prohibitively expensive to spray areas of pasture with solid-inclusive preparations. Other advantages which may result from administration of the present invention may further offset costs.

Apart from the general improvement in health, and relative freedom from gastric disorders, in animals one other potentially realisable advantage has been observed in relation to grazing animals. In New Zealand it is unusual for farmers to supplement the diet of grazing animals with grain or any other feedstock, which contrasts with many overseas practices. Consequently, New Zealand herds derive their energy requirements from the conversion of protein in the relatively high protein levels of New Zealand grasses. A possible link exists between the continual low-dosage administration of "aluminosilicate" s such as sodium bentonite and the more efficient use of protein by the animal. Advantages would generally be realised in greater productivity, especially in milk production by dairy cattle. The present invention therefore provides an effective means of providing a low -dosage substantially continuous administration of "aluminosilicate" s to animals, there currently being no known practical method of doing so.

The combination of an "oil" and "aluminosilicate" yields a preparation which is relatively resistant to being washed from grass and crops after rain. The "oil" acts to some extent as a binder and the hydrophobic nature of the "oil" (see above) resists washing of the preparation from the foliage though care should be taken not to create an impermeable film which significantly affects plant growth. The "oil", which coats the "aluminosilicate" particles, also acts as a barrier to their being wetted by water. This helps preserve the effectiveness of any "aluminosilicate" used. A "piscine oil" (of predominantly Orange Roughy and/or Cardinal) in combination with an "aluminosilicate" has been found to be satisfactory.

Thus the present invention may provide a remarkably effective way of administering continual low doses of "aluminosilicate" , alkaline additives or in fact any other solid trace element or compound to grazing animals. The relatively small amount of solid material applied to foliage provides a vehicle whereby animals will ingest a substance normally unpalatable in its dry pure form. Most animals will consume enough foliage to ingest sufficient quantities of "piscine oil" and/or "aluminosilicate" daily for the preparation to have a useful effect. Furthermore it is extremely unlikely that enough could be ingested (in this manner) for any toxic effects of the relatively non-toxic components to become apparent.

It should be appreciated that the pasturally applied preparations will often be diluted for spray or other application. Choice of carriers and diluents are generally within the guidelines for carriers and diluents discussed previously. Preliminary trials have also demonstrated that emulsifiers are not necessary for the "piscine oif'-containing embodiments when applied to M n pasture though could, theoretically be included. The result is that, once applied, substantially emulsifier-free preparations are normally less susceptible to washing from the pasture or foliage by rain and into the s"oil".

The various embodiments of the present invention may also be applied to 5 crops or feed stocks for animals. This again provides a mechanism for ensuring a low continual dose of a preparation to an animal. A further advantage may also be realised, that being that "aluminosilicate" containing preparations appear to exhibit some ability to absorbing or counteracting mycotoxins present in the feed.

Treatment of food may be made during its preparation - e.g. an item having food value containing at least 2% of a "piscine oil", or of an item having food value containing at least 2% of an "oil" (preferably a "piscine oil") and at least 0.5% of an "aluminosilicate" . These components may be incorporated into known processes for manufacturing animal feeds. It is envisaged that 15 typically pellet or biscuit type feeds will be most amenable to this process. Other additives such as commonly included in other forms of the invention may also be present.

Alternatively, a preparation according to the present invention may be applied to prepared or conventional animal feed. Various methods 20 including spray application, mixing etc may be employed. Salting feed with food value items (such as described in the preceding paragraphs) is also possible.

Another distinction between some forms of the present invention and most other products is that most fish oils are also a very good source of vitamins, 25 especially vitamins A and D. A supplementary feature of the present N.j.jjWttion therefore is that an improvement in the general health of the stock , o» ^ v, h ? may often be realised. Being a natural product, complications with regulatoiy authorities involving the administration of synthetic additives to animals may be avoided.

A further form that the present invention may take is that of a bolus. In this case the proportion of fluid to solid components is varied to obtain an acceptable pill or bolus. Many "aluminosilicate" s show some binding ability and thus separate binders may not always be required to obtain an acceptable bolus. If necessary, however, known binders may be employed.

Fillers could also be included, and these would include recognised filler materials. This could include for instance, calcium carbonate or calcium sulphate, which may be present already as a non-acidic additive.

The choice of fillers and binders may also be such so as to slow digestion or dissolution of the bolus within the animal. Known lipophilic, or more particularly hydrophobic substances (e.g. some metal stearates) may be employed in this regard. Many other hydrophobic substances such as oils <as herein defined) could be chosen to slow digestion/dissolution. Higher viscosity oils, waxes or relatively indigestible oils could be employed in this regard. Relatively indigestible substances (to the particular animal concerned) would be known to a skilled reader and will not be described in detail here. All of these modifications help ensure the resulting slow-release bolus remains operative over a longer period of time.

To more fully illustrate the present invention, several examples of various embodiments will now be described by way of example only. Where appropriate, additional comments have been provided to more fully outline the potential scope and applications of the present invention. It should be realised however that the scope of the present invention need not be limited lo the examples which are given, these being merely representative of l^krinus aspccts of the invention.

The "piscine oil" used in the following examples is a crude "oil" comprising at least 70% of oils derived from Orange Roughy and/or Cardinal. If other, or a greater quantity of other, oils are used then it may be necessary to alter the dosage and administration frequency in the examples quoted herein.

The oils used in the following examples are either a pharmacologically acceptable mineral paraffin "oil" or a light vegetable "oil" (e.g. sunflower, maize, soya etc.). If other oils are used then quantities may need to be altered accordingly (e.g. higher viscosity oils may require a greater proportion to achieve the desired consistency).

The "aluminosilicate" used in the following examples is a dry powdered form of sodium bentonite. If other "aluminosilicate" s are employed then quantities may need be altered (generally increased) to gain an equivalent degree of effectiveness.

The non-acidic additives used in the following examples is a mixture of zinc 1:1 oxide and magnesium oxide (or magnesium hydroxide). It is noted that zinc oxide may be toxic and care should be taken that a toxic quantity is administered to the particular type of animal. Toxicity data for most animals is publicly available. As the non-acidic additives may be used to counter increased or abnormal gastric acidity, it may be desirable to increase their proportion, or the proportion of alkaline components (e.g. MgO) in the preparation. Other non-acidic additives may also require adjustment of quantities.

The stabiliser used in the examples is a commercial tallow acid which encompasses a wide selection of compounds. The quantities are generally 21 chosen to obtain the desired consistency of final preparation.

It is also noted that, unless specified, the percentages given shall be as a percentage, by weight of the entire preparation (which represents a total of \J00r/f ) in which there arc no carriers or diluents present. 17 - ; A l EXAMPLE 1 A substantially solid free preparation suitable for application to pasture but also amenable to direct dosing of animals.

General composition 1A -100% "piscine oil" 0-95% Oil Specific composition IB 100% "piscine oil" wherein at least 70% thereof derived from Orange Roughy For spray application, compositions 1A and IB may require the addition of a carrier or diluent. With reference to the foregoing description of the specification, this carrier or diluent should be non-aqueous and exhibit hydrophobic properties. The carrier may be to reduce the viscosity of the preparation to a level acceptable for the application equipment or to extend the preparation.

EXAMPLE 2 Solid inclusive preparations suitable for application to pasture but also amenable to direct dosing of animals.

General composition 2A 0-99.9% "oil" which may include 0-100% "piscine oil" 0.1-70% "aluminosilicate" Specific composition 2B 0-99.9% "oil" which may include 0-100% "piscine oil" ^ 0.1-24% "aluminosilicate" v Specific composition 2C 92-96% "piscine oil" wherein at least 70% thereof derived from Orange Roughy 4-8% Sodium bentonite in a dry form Specific composition 2D 159c "piscine oil" wherein at least 70% thereof derived from Orange Roughy 77-81% light paraffin or vegetable oil 4-89t Sodium bentonite Specific composition 2E 95% light paraffin or vegetable oil % Sodium bentonite Specific composition 2F 95% light paraffin or vegetable oil % "aluminosilicate" comprising clinoptilolite For spray application, compositions 2A - 2E may require the addition of a carrier or diluent. With reference to the foregoing description of the specification, this carrier or diluent should be non-aqueous and exhibit hydrophobic properties. The carrier may be to reduce the viscosity of the preparation to a level acceptable for the application equipment or to extend the preparation.

• "Si 19 EXAMPLE 3 Solid inclusive preparations directed more towards the dosing of animals.

General composition 3A 0-85% "oil" which may include 0-100% "piscine oil" -98% "aluminosilicate" Specific composition 3B % "piscine oil" wherein at least 70% thereof derived from Orange Roughy 25-55% light paraffin or vegetable oil -60% sodium bentonite - proportion varied to achieve desired paste-like consistency.

Specific composition 3C 40-70% light paraffin or vegetable oil -60% sodium bentonite - proportion varied to achieve desired paste-like consistency.

Specific composition 3C 40-70% light paraffin or vegetable oil 30-60% sodium bentonite -60% "aluminosilicate" containing clinoptilolite.

The proportion of "aluminosilicate" , the major solid material in the preparations, should be adjusted to obtain the desired paste-like consistency for application. The viscosity of the oils chosen, and proportion thereof which comprise contained waxes or fats, will also affect the consistency of the resulting preparation.

EXAMPLE 4 Solid inclusive preparations directed more towards the dosing of animals but which may also be directed towards application to pasture. Examples 4 are directed more towards prevention and/or cure of acidosis or disorders relating to acid imbalances in the gastric system.

General composition 4A 0-99.99% preparation from any one of examples 1-3 >0.019r non-acidic additive Preparations for application to pasture will generally have a lower proportion of non-acidic additive (see for instance example 4B which may also be directly dosed to an animal). Suitable carriers and diluents may be added to the preparation before application.

General composition 4B 0-99.99% preparation from any one of examples 1-3 0.01-509r non-acidic additive General composition 4C 0-99.9% "piscine oil" 0-99.9% Oil 0.1-70%- "aluminosilicate" 0.1-70% non-acidic additive Specific composition 4D -15% "piscine oil" wherein at least 70% thereof is derived from Orange Roughy 43-73%' light paraffin or vegetable oil 21 -30'\ sodium bentonite and/or clinoptilolite in a substantially dry form (vary to adjust consistency of preparation) 10% magnesium oxide 2% zinc oxide EXAMPLE 5 These preparations are based on the previous examples 1-4 but include the presence of other additives.

General composition 5A This is in relation to a preparation containing a stabiliser which for most preparations will be a thickening or gelling agent. 0.1-99.999% preparation from any one of examples 1-5 (other than 5A) 0.001-99.9% stabiliser Specific composition 5B 95-99% preparation from any one of examples 1-5 (other than 5B) 1-5% tallow acids General composition 5C This is in relation to a preparation containing a surfactant. Common commercial surfactants which are pharmacologically acceptable may be used. 95-99.999% preparation from any one of examples 1-5 (other than 5C) 0.001-5% surfactant General composition 5D 0.00.1-99.999% preparation from any one of examples 1-5 (other than 5D) 0.001-99.999% carrier or diluent '/> General composition 5E 0.001-99.999% preparation from any one of examples 1-5 (other than 5E) 0.001-99.999% carrier or diluent 0.001-99.999% any other additive EXAMPLE 6 These preparations relate to items having a food value.

General composition 6A A biscuit or pellet including at least 2% of a "piscine oil" General composition 6B A biscuit or pellet including at least 2% of a "piscine oil" and at least 0.5% of an "aluminosilicate" 'Z>> h '' Specific composition 6C A biscuit or pellet including at 2-10% of a "piscine oil" and 0.5-25% of a substantially dry form of sodium bentonite Specific composition 6D A biscuit or pellet including at 2-10% of a "piscine oil" and 0.5-25% of a substantially dry form of sodium bentonite and/or clinoptilolite EXAMPLE 7 These preparations relate to a bolus.

General composition 7A A bolus including at least 2% of an "oil" and at least 0.5% of an "aluminosilicate" General composition 7B A bolus including at least 2% of an "oil", at least 0.5% of an "aluminosilicate" and at least 0.5% of a non-acidic additive General composition 7C A bolus including at least 2% of a "piscine oil" and at least 0.5% of an "aluminosilicate" .

General composition 7D A bolus including at least 2% of a "piscine oil", at least 0.5% of an "aluminosilicate" and at least 0.5% of a non-acidic additive.

EXAMPLE 8 f -.These preparations relate to pH adjusted preparations. Here the pH may be adjusted by altering the nature or proportion of "aluminosilicate" s and/or ridn-acidic additives. For instance, sodium bentonite often exhibits a pH of '21 " li between S.0-10.5. Alternatively other pharmacologically acceptable pH altering substances may be included.

General composition 8A A preparation, bolus or foodstuff according to any one of examples 1 through 7 whose pH lies within the range 8.0-12.5.

EXAMPLE 9 This example describes a composition of paste-like consistency. Trials have indicated that the components are relatively stable, with respect to separating out. The proportions should be substantially within the ranges quoted - and excess of "oil" or water may lead to settling or separation of components.

There is also a preferred method for the preparation of the compositions of this example. As water is included, it is preferred that the "oil" is added first to partially shield the "aluminosilicate" (if it interacts with water) from excess or rapid (before there can be adequate blending) water adsorption. There is still partial water adsorption for water-reactive "aluminosilicate" s though this has been found, at least for sodium bentonite, to improve the consistency and physical properties of the paste.

The composition comprises the blending, in the preferred order discussed above, the following constituents: 45 ± 20% bentonite 60 ± 25% "oil" which includes a "piscine oil" ± 8% water to a combined total of 100%.

In a preferred embodiment of this example, the "oil" comprised a calcine "oil" based predominantly on Orange Roughy.

Ah a variation, an amino-sucro-Iinoleate or Iinoleate derivative may be included. This is generally combined with the "oil" prior to addition of the bentonite and water. A preferred range is 0.1-5% with 2% being used in a preferred embodiment of this example.

Other components may be included, including fillers or non-acidic components.

Application of the foregoing compositions (or any other according to the present invention) may be according to (though not necessarily restricted to) 10 one of the following methods which are described in relation to typical New Zealand dairy or beef cattle.

METHOD 1 A preparation according to any one of examples 1-5, is administered orally at between 0 and 400 mis per beast. On average 40 mis is administered to a If) beast exhibiting mild symptoms of bloat or acidosis. The dosage may be increased for more advanced symptoms. For oral administration to prevent bloat, a dose of 20-40 mis per beast is adequate.

Unfortunately, it is not normally possible to single dose a beast for an extended period of time. The effectiveness of the present invention generally 20 requires the continued repeated application of the various embodiments. In this regard method 2 is preferred for preventative measures.

According to method 1, the preparation is administered 1-2 times per day or at whatever more frequent or extended interval as may be required.

METHOD 2 2f> A second method of administration is an i|57lirect method requiring the application of a preparation such as may' be descrjJbe^l in any one of t> rv> > O examples 1 through 4 to food stuff which will be ingested by the animal. This may be through the application to pasture, crops intended for consumption by a grazing animal or other food intended for consumption. It is noted however that the present invention is not generally suitable for water trough application as eventual separation or the different fluid intake of individual stock may result in different beasts receiving differing dosage rates. The general layout of most farm water troughs is such that application to the food stuff is a more reliable method of administration. Further, most "aluminosilicate" containing embodiments preclude their use with water.

Typical application to a pasture is by spray. The amount of preparation applied is such that the "piscine oil" component applied to each hectare is 5 litres. It is noted however that between 0 and 20 litres per hectare may be suitable (excluding carriers or diluents).

This may be adjusted slightly for non grass crops intended for cattle consumption. The effect of the crop in causing the symptoms of bloat in an animal may also be taken into consideration.

A diluted paste such as described in example 9, or indeed a liquidised or fluidised form of any of the compositions described may be applied to pasture upon which a targeted animal may graze, or feedstuff upon which it will feed. / 27 0 15 METHOD 3 Here animals may be feed with feedstock according to examples 6. This may supplement normal grazing, be the sole feedstock or be used to salt non-treated feedstock.

Alternatively animals may be administered a bolus. This may range from daily through to monthly depending on need, composition and size of the bolus.

METHOD 4 Advantages may be realised in the general health of cattle through the administering of up to 400g per day of "aluminosilicate" (in one of the "aluminosilicate" containing preparations herein) with experiments indicating a nominal daily dosage being approximately 100-200g for a substantially dry form of sodium bentonite.

It is a further consideration the present invention that various preparations may be used for human consumption. While oils such as Cod-Liver "oil" and Halibut "oil" have long been used as a source of vitamins and as a general tonic in humans, the use of oils of the deep sea fishes such as Cardinal and Orange Roughy have not been generally realised. Hence "oil" from Orange Roughy when suitably refined may find application in humans for the treatment and relief of mild gastric disorders as well as been an alternative valuable vitamin source. It is also noted that the deep sea fishes tend to exhibit a lower concentration of the heavy metals than fish '^bund at lesser depths.

Claims (30)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A composition useful for addressing bloat and gastric disorders, said composition being of a fluid or paste-like consistency and comprising: 4-70fY "aluminosilicate", as defined on page 5 of the specification; 30-96r;r "oil", as defined on page 4 of the specification, and 0-33r; other components; to a total of 100% by weight

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the "aluminosilicate" comprises a bentonite.

A composition as claimed in claim 2 in which the bentonite is sodium bentonite or has predominantly sodium cations. -1.

A composition as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the "aluminosilicate" is a zeolite. f).

A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the "oil" comprises or includes a "piscine oil", as defined on page 4 of the specification. (i.

A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the "oil" comprises a "calcine oil".

7. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the "oil" comprises an oil derived substantially from the species of fish known as Orange Roughy.

8. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which one of the other non-aqueous components includes an emulsifier. ^ O 1 > 1' u | n o » j i\ ii I ^ *> 2J) / " ,

9. A composition as claimed in claim S in which the emulsifier is predominantly an aniino-sucro-linoleate or a linoleic acid derivative.

10. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which also includes a non-acidic substance, as herein defined.

11. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which also includes a tallow acid.

12. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which includes a carrier or diluent.

13. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which includes an "aluminosilicate" which has been partially swollen by the adsorption of water.

14. A biscuit or pellet for addressing bloat and gastric disorders comprising, as a percentage of total weight: 2-10% piscine oil as defined on page 4 of the specification, and 0.5-25% "aluminosilicate", as defined on page 5 of the specification

15. A method of preparing a composition useful for addressing bloat or other gastric disorders in animals, comprising the combination of "oil" (as defined on page 4 of the specification) with an "aluminosilicate" (as defined on page 5 of the specification) reactive towards water, and the subsequent addition of water and in which the proportions of components is such as to allow react ion of 25% or less of total weight of "aluminosilicate" with the added water. 1(>.

A method as claimed in claim 15 in which the "oil" is a "piscine oil" (as defined on page 4 of the specification). ; 5. > i r c ■ 30

17. A method as claimed in either claim 15 or claim 16 in which the "aluminosilicate" is predominantly a bentonite.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 in which the "aluminosilicate" is predominantly sodium bentonite.

19. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15 through 18 in which, by weight, the relative proportion of the "aluminosilicate" , "oil" and water is: 45±20% bentonite, 60±25% "oil", and 15±8% water, to a combined total of 100%.

20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15 through 19 in which an emulsifier is included.

21. A composition prepared by a method as claimed in any one of claims 15 through 20.

22. An animal foodstuff into which an "aluminosilicate" (as defined on page 5 of the specification) and a "piscine oil" (as defined on page 4 of the specification) has been incorporated.

23. An animal foodstuff, as claimed in claim 22, in which the "aluminosilicate" is a bentonite.

24. An animal foodstuff, as claimed in claim 23, in which the bentonite is predominantly sodium bentonite.

25. A method of addressing bloat or other gastric disorders by the oral or anal administration of a composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 through u 14 or in any one of claims 21 through 24. i . J J 31 m

26. A method of addressing bloat or other disorders by the application of a composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 through 13 or in claim 21 to pasture or feedstuff upon which an animal will graze or feed.

27. A composition of fluid or pastelike consistency for addressing bloat and gastric disorders, substantially as described herein with reference to the contained examples.

2S. An animal foodstuff for use in addressing bloat and gastric disorders and which comprises an "aluminosilicate" and "piscine oil", substantially as described herein with reference to the contained examples.

29. A method of preparing a composition or feed, substantially as described herein with reference to the contained examples.

30. A ipethod of addressing bloat or other gastric disorders, substantially as described herein with reference to the contained examples. Moana Fertilisers Limited by their Attorneys c " \ 'L \ rV.-, i J'jl) ' / 32