NZ622187B2 - Apparatus and method for promoting d-vitamin production in a living organism - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus when used to promote D-vitamin production in a non-human animal. The apparatus comprises at least one lamp assembly adapted to emit polychromatic light, wherein the polychromatic light emulates natural light. The lamp assembly also emits UV light with enhanced intensity at wavelengths between 270 nm and 315 nm. The at least one lamp assembly comprises at least one medium and/or high pressure lamp. Also disclosed are farms having at least one such apparatus installed and methods of using the apparatus to increase D-vitamin production in a non-human animal. t wavelengths between 270 nm and 315 nm. The at least one lamp assembly comprises at least one medium and/or high pressure lamp. Also disclosed are farms having at least one such apparatus installed and methods of using the apparatus to increase D-vitamin production in a non-human animal.

Description

Apparatus and method for promoting D-vitamin production in a living organism Field of invention The invention relates to an apparatus for promoting D-vitamin production in a living organism, comprising at least one lamp. The ion further relates to the use of such apparatus and a method for increasing D-vitamin production in an animal. ound of the Invention Any discussion of the prior art throughout the ication should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

It is known in the art that natural light promotes the production of D-vitamins in the human body.

In EP 1 970 423 A1 there is disclosed a fluorescent lamp for stimulating previtamin D3 production in the human skin. The lamp is a low pressure mercury discharge lamp which has a limited intensity and produces monochromatic light, i.e. just one dominant spectral line. discloses an enhanced UV-emitting scent lamp that provides a UV spectral on for simultaneously tanning of the human skin and ion of vitamin D tion in the human body. The disclosed lamp is a monochromatic low pressure lamp. Low pressure lamps only supply monochromatic light (just one dominant spectral line). In addition the power rating does not go beyond a few hundred watts which is a disadvantage if the lamps are to be installed, for example, in a cowhouse at a distance of 3 to 4 meters from the cows.

WO2010/102039 ses a method for increasing the vitamin D content of a om by exposing the mushroom to a lamp that emits UVA and UVB, but not UVC radiation. It is noted that the mushrooms are only exposed to UVA and UVB radiation but not natural light. In addition, it is noted that there is an increase in the content of D2 vitamin and for example not of the other important D vitamins, such as the D3 n.

It is known that when an animal, such as a cow, kept outside in a field in the summer where it is exposed to natural sunlight its D-vitamin status is increased and the content of D vitamin in its milk is ingly increased. As modern farming involves keeping the livestock indoor inside an animal farm production facility the natural production of D vitamin is compromised. To compensate for this on of D-vitamin to the food is used. However, it is known that the level of D-vitamin obtainable by exposing a human or an animal to ht is much higher than the level able through food additives. er, it has been discovered that the skin of a human or an animal is a much more efficient in ing D-vitamin if exposed to sunlight and that it is not possible to achieve a toxic dozes of D-vitamin when exposed to the sun.

Considering the prior art described above, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for promoting D-vitamin production in a living organism in an efficient, cost effective and reliable way. In particular, the present invention relates to increasing the production of D3 vitamin in a livestock, such as cattle, pigs, chickens and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of ding, but not limited to”. y of the invention According to a first aspect of the ion there is provided an tus when used to promote D-vitamin production in a non-human animal, said apparatus comprising at least one lamp assembly, said at least one lamp assembly is adapted to emit polychromatic light, wherein the polychromatic light at least emulates l light and emits UV light with enhanced intensity at wavelengths n 270 nm and 315 nm, wherein the at least one lamp assembly comprises at least one medium and/or high pressure lamp.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided use of an apparatus according to the invention to increase D-vitamin content in milk from a mammal, preferably a cow.

According to a third aspect of the ion there is provided use of an apparatus according to the invention to expose at least one non-human animal with polychromatic light for a predetermined amount of time daily in order to increase the t of D- vitamin in the milk produced by said at least one non-human animal. ing to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a non-human animal farm production facility, comprising at least one apparatus according to the invention which is used according to the invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a non-human animal farm production facility, comprising at least one apparatus according to the invention, when used to promote D-vitamin production in one or more birds, such as chickens or hens, said one or more birds being accommodated for production of eggs.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of increasing D- vitamin production in a non-human animal, by exposing the non-human animal to polychromatic light, wherein the polychromatic light at least emulates natural light and UV light at wavelengths n 270 nm and 315 nm.

In a preferred embodiment the present invention relates to an apparatus for promoting D-vitamin production in a living organism, comprising at least one lamp assembly, said at least one lamp assembly is adapted to emit polychromatic light, wherein the polychromatic light at least emulates natural light and UV light at wavelengths between 270 nm and 315 nm, n the at least one lamp assembly comprises at least one medium and/or high re lamp.

By providing a combination of natural light and UV light at wavelengths between 270 nm and 315 nm, the production of D-vitamin in living organisms is enhanced. There is specifically the advantage in relation to the dairy farming industry that in milk producing mammals, such as cows, the min content of the milk is increased. Especially, it has been found that the n D3 content is increased, and especially that the D- vitamin content in the milk from cows is increased when exposed to polychromatic light comprising both natural light and light in at ngths between 270 nm and 315 nm.

Natural light is to be understood as sunlight as it s on the earth surface during day within the normal ions in ity and spectrum. The spectrum and intensity of sunlight varies depending on the atmosphere, ozone layer and the position of the sun, and here natural light refer to any sunlight within those normal variations.

Polychromatic light is to be understood as light exhibiting a plurality of colours, in other words that the light comprises a plurality of ngths.

In an embodiment, the polychromatic light appears to the naked eye to be continuous, such as polychromatic light at a frequency over 50Hz. The use of a flashing or pulsing light will stress the living organism. Therefore, it is an age to ensure that the light appears to be continuous to the living organism, such as an animal. This can be ensured by having a frequency above 50Hz, 100Hz, 200Hz, 500Hz, 1000Hz, 2000Hz or 3000Hz.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises means for removing light of a wavelength under 270 nm. There is health risks involved with re to light at a wavelength under 270nm. ore, living organisms, such as mammals e.g. cows, can be protected by removing the harming light. The means for removing light with a wavelength under 270nm can be a filter that is tra nsparent to light of a wavelength above 270 and opaque for wavelength under 270nm .

Adva usly, said at least one lam p assembly com prises at least one medi um pressu re la mp and/or high pressu re lam p. When using a mediu m pressu re lam p and/or high pressu re la mp, it is possible to reach higher power com pared to low pressure la mps. This is especia lly adva usly when instal ling the apparatus in an animal farm producing facility, such as a sta ble, cowhouse or pigsty or any other larger bui lding, where the apparatus supplies light to more than one animal . I n that case, the apparatus ca n be positioned at a ce of 2, 3 or 4 or more meters away from the anima ls, and in order to supply sufficient light to the animals, a high power is preferred . A mediu m pressu re la mp is to be understood as a lam p with a gas pressu re of 0.01 to 1 MPa . A high pressu re lam p is to be understood as a la mp with a gas pressu re of 3 to 10 MPa . A low pressu re la mp is to be understood as a lam p with a gas pressu re of 0.01 to 133 Pa .

I n an embodiment, said at least one lam p assembly com prises a f irst la mp emu lating natura l lig ht and a second la mp providing UV lig ht at wavelengths between 270 nm and 315 nm. In this embodiment, the first la mp can be any la mp that emulates natu ral light, such as a sulphu r lam p, and the second la mp can be a scent lam p or a mediu m pressure la mp, preferably a medi um pressure lam p with enha nced energies at wavelength between 270nm and 315nm . There can be any number of lam ps in order to secu re that the area covered by the emitted light is as extensive as possible.

I n an embodi ment, said at least one la mp assembly com prises a doped la mp, prefera bly a doped sulphur lam p, a mercu ry lam p and/or a xenon la mp, which emits natu ral light in conju nction with UV lig ht. I n this embodiment, it is possible to use only one la mp as it can provide the f ul l spectru m needed .

Adva ntageously, the doped lam p is a sul phu r lam p, a mercu ry la mp and/or a xenon lam p, doped with a meta l, non-metal or metalloids, preferably tin, lead, iron, phosphorus, sulphu r, u m, boron, silicon, germa niu m, arsenic, antimony and /or tellu riu m. Dopi ng the la mp with metal and especia lly with the mentioned meta ls will enha nce the ities of the UV lig ht at wavelengths n 270 nm and 315 nm.

A further aspect of the present invention is the use of an appa ratus as described herein to increase D-vita min production in animals, such as cows. The apparatus as described above can be used to enhance the D-vita min production within the living orga nism of an anima l.

Thus, the D-vita min t in the meat form the animals exposed to the appa ratus described above. This can prevent humans eating the meat from sufferi ng from vitamin D deficiency. These animals can be birds, such as chickens and/or mam mals, such as cows, pigs, goats and/or lam bs.

The ion also concerns the use of an apparatus as described to increase D-vita min content in milk from a mam mal, prefera bly a cow. Increasing the vita min D content in milk by using of the present invention has the adva ntage that huma ns consu ming the milk can prevent vita min D deficiency. In parts of the earth away from eq uator, the daytime lig ht can be limited duri ng winter. This is, for exa mple, the case in northern Europe during the months November to March. During that time, the lack of exposu re to the sun can cause people to suffer from vita min D deficiency. I n any case the sun is only importa nt if the cows are outside. I n Northern Eu rope, and other ind ustrialised countries at the same latitude north or south, the majority of milk cows are inside a cowhouse and as a consequence do not prod uce D vita mins in thei r milk unless the animals are exposed to the polychromatic light ed by an apparatus according to the first aspect of the present ion . Thus, by the invention a com pensation for the lack of natu ra l sunlig ht is provided, whereby the ed milk is natu ra lly ed with a D-vita min content also at winter and thereby help preventing the lack of vita min D in the huma n body of the people dri nking the milk. This is pa rticu la rly adva us in on to organic farmi ng where artificial nutritious food supplements are not allowed . By the present invention, the D-vita min content is kept at a high level t any dieta ry supplements to the anima l food whereby the anima ls are farmed orga nica lly.

An additiona l aspect of the present invention is an animal farm prod uction facility com prising at least one apparatus according to the present invention . As the appa ratus emits both visible lig ht and UV light, an anima l farm production facility with the appa ratus of the present invention does not need any additional lig htening system . The present ion ca n substitute the conventional illu mination of the cow house which saves money at insta llation as only one illu mination system is needed .

I n accordance with this aspect, an animal farm production facility, wherein one or more livestock are accommodated for tion of one or more farm products, might involve the lig hting appa ratus throughout the enti re building or it cou ld be one or more la mps in the ceili ng lig hti ng amongst traditional lighting facilities. Accordi ng to the ion, the animal farm production facility cou ld also include one or more cows which are accom modated for prod uction of milk, where the lig ht sou rce is provided in relation to a milki ng station or the like.

I n general, it is realised that the effect of increasing the D-vita min will benefit the health of the livestock. The anima ls will thereby achieve a better immune defence system, whereby less or no antibiotics is needed in the animal farmi ng production, just as a better animal e is achieved and less envi ronmenta l impact, just as a natura l D-vita min source is provided for humans when utilising the invention in an animal farm prod uction.

By the invention, it is also realised that the using the apparatus in an anima l farm production is beneficia l to birds, such as chickens or hens, for prod uction of eggs. The promotion of D- vita min in the eggs increases the nutritiona l value of the eggs as a human food sou rce.

As a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of increasing D-vita min prod uction in an animal, by exposing the anima l to polychromatic lig ht, wherei n the polychromatic light at least es natura l light and UV lig ht at wavelengths between 270 nm and 315 nm . In particu la r, the invention also concerns a method for si ng D-vita min content in milk, preferably cow mil k, by exposing an animal, preferably cow, prod ucing said milk to polychromatic light, wherein the polychromatic light at least emulates natu ra l lig ht and UV light at wavelengths n 270 nm and 315 nm . By using the method, it is possible to increase vita min D content in milk which is beneficial to the milk consu mer. Lack of vita min D can lead to health problems, such as impaired bone mineralization, and bone softeni ng diseases. Those deficiencies can be avoided if milk with increased vitamin D content is consu med .

Adva ntageously, the polychromatic light appears to the naked eye to be continuous, such as polychromatic lig ht with a freq uency over 50Hz. I n order to avoid stressing the anima ls, the lig ht should appea r to be conti nuous to the animal . A stressed anima l can resu lt in a decreased milk prod uction and is therefore not desira ble. The freq uency ca n for exa mple be above 50Hz, 100Hz, 200Hz, 500Hz, , 2000Hz or 3000Hz.

Preferably, the anima l is only exposed to lig ht at a wavelength over 270 nm. Light in the UV range can be harmful to living sms. Therefore, it is desi rable to limit the re of the anima ls to light at a ngth under 270. This can for exa mple be ed by using a filter which remove light under the desired wavelength and/or designing the light emitter in such a way that no lig ht under 270nm is produced .

I n an embodiment, polychromatic lig ht is provided by a plu rality of la mps. This ca n make the insta llation easier and in addition it is possible to t urn off only some of the la mps. This can be adva ntageous, if for exa mple a f irst la mp for natu ra l lig ht and a second la mp for the light at wavelengths between 270 nm and 315 nm are used . Then the lig ht having wavelengths between 270 nm and 315 nm ca n be t urned on for only a limited time for exam ple 2 to 3 hours every day and the natu ral light ca n be on the enti re day and be used as the prima ry ill umination of the building .

It is fou nd that in order for the anima l to promote a satisfactory D-vita min production, the animal needs only to be exposed for a ermi ned amou nt of time daily, such as 30 minutes daily, 60 minutes daily, 90 minutes daily or 120 minutes daily.

Description of the gs The invention will in the fol lowi ng be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanyi ng drawings, in which : Fig . 1 shows a gra ph of a spectru m for a doped mercu ry UV lam p; Fig . 2 shows a gra ph of a spectru m for sulphu r la mps; Fig . 3A and 3B show a schematic side and top view - respectively - of a la mp assembly according to an embodi ment of the present invention; Fig . 4 shows a schematic front view of a la mp assem bly accordi ng to an embodi ment of the t ion; Fig . 5 shows a graph showing test resu lts; Fig . 6 shows a com pa rative test of D3 vita min contents in pigs; and Fig . 7 shows a comparative test between natu ra l exposu re and exposu re to lightning from a la mp according to the invention .

Fig . 1 shows intensities as a function of wavelength of a doped mercu ry UV lam p. As can be seen, there is lig ht in the range from approxi mately 250 nm and up. A line is shown at 270 nm beca use a filter can be insta lled in order to remove lig ht under that wavelength .

Fig . 2 shows a gra ph for sul phu r la mps of different powers. The spectru m is very simila r to daytime sola r light at the earth's surface. Therefore, a sulphu r la mp can be used to provide natu ra l lig ht. Sulphu r la mps are known in the art and will not be described in detail . As ca n be seen, there is little UV light. UV lig ht is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of n lOnm and 400nm . A sulphur lam p can be doped with meta ls in order to achieve lig ht emission as close to natu ra l lig ht as technica lly possible.

A la mp assem bly ing to the present invention can be a com bination of the doped UV la mp and a mercu ry lam p, as an alternative the sulphur lam p described above ca n be used .

If the la mp assem bly com prises these two lam ps, it is possi ble to reg ulate the UV and the natu ra l light independently. As an exam ple, such a la mp assem bly ca n be installed in an anima l farm prod uction building, then the mercu ry la mp ca n be used as i llumination to represent the daytime and so that the farmer ca n work in the animal farm prod uction facility, such as a building accommodating cows. The UV lam p can then be turned on and off for only a limited amou nt of time each day, for exam ple 1, 2 or 4 hou rs every day. By using the natu ra l lig ht lam p (here exemplified as a mercu ry la mp) as illu on in the building no other lig hting lation is needed . Hence, the costs of the norma l i llumination can be reduced .

I n another embodiment the la mp assem bly com prises one doped mercu ry la mp. The lam p can be doped with, for exam ple Iron, tin, lead, phosphorus, sulphur, seleni um, boron, silicon, germa niu m, arsenic, anti mony and /or tellu riu m. Such a lam p both emulates natu ra l lig ht and has enhanced intensities in the UV area . The light with wavelength under 270 nm ca n then removed by use of a f ilter. When using such a la mp there is used only one la mp needs to be insta lled as it ca n be used as norma l ill umination . I n addition it will enhance the vita min D production in living organisms exposed to its lig ht. This mea ns that a farmer only needs to instal l this type of lam ps in his livestock accom modating production facilities in order to increase the vita min D content of the produced milk.

The following table includes exam ples of different lam p types that ca n be used in a lam p assem bly.

With use of exam ples of the la mps in the table different embodi ments of a lam p ly can be made.

The fol lowing table has exam ples of la mp assem blies made from the lam p types from the above shown table.

Lamp and combinations of lamps no. no.

Lam p ly A 4 Lam p assembly B 5 Lam p assembly C 6 Lam p assembly D 9 Lam p ly E 10 Lam p assembly F 2 4 Lam p assembly G 2 5 Lam p assembly H 2 6 Lam p assembly I 2 9 Lam p assembly J 2 10 Lam p assembly K 3 Lam p assembly L 5 Lam p assembly M 7 Lam p assembly N 8 Lam p assembly 0 11 Thus, the la mp assem blies A to J are a com bination of two la mp types and the lam p assem blies K to O only use one la mp.

As the lam p assem bly is to be used as lig hting, it is red that the lighting appears to be continuous. A pulsed lam p will not only stress the animals but also make it difficu lt for the farmer to work, most of the known UV and natura l light lam ps are to some extend pulsed but as long as the pulses are higher tha n 50Hz it will appea r to both animals and humans to be continuous.

The fig ures 3A, 3B and 4 show a lam p assem bly according to an embodi ment of the invention, where a mediu m and/or high pressu re la mp 1 is accommodated in a la mp house 8 . The la mp 1 has a set of electrodes 2 at each end which are fitted to electrica l power supplies 3 and mou nted with electrica l insu lation sockets 4 in the la mp house 8 . The lam p house 8 has side reflectors 5 on each side of the lam p 1, a reflector 6 curved behi nd the la mp 1, and with an optica l edge filter 7 in front of the la mp 1. Outside the tor 6 on the la mp house 8 an electronic control box 9 is provided with cable connections 11 provided thereon . On the rear of the outside of the la mp house 8 a venti lator 10 is provided whereby the tem perature of the la mp assem bly may be controlled .

I n an embodiment, the la mp assem bly has a la mp that can e both natu ral lig ht and UV lig ht at the same time. Such a la mp can be a y, sulphu r, xenon la mp doped with meta l, non-metals or metalloids, for exa mple, any com bination of tin (Sn), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), phosphorus (P), sulphu r (S), u m (Se), boron (B), silicon (Si), germa niu m (Ge), arsenic (As), anti mony (Sb) and /or tellu riu m (Te) .. These elements can enha nce the intensities in the 270nm to 315 nm range.

A test of an embodiment of the invention has been performed . Here, the UV la mp having the spectru m as shown in fig . 1 was used together with a sulphur lam p to illu minate cows. The la mp assem bly was insta lled 3 to 3.5 meters from the cows in the test. The la mp was t urned on for 30 minutes every 24 hou rs. This was repeated for 28 days. The test was performed on fou r cows, having the num bers : 5895, 6142, 6238 and 2023 . The cows were milked every day and the n D3 content of the milk was measu red for each of the fou r cows. The resu lt of the test is shown in fig . 5 . It can be seen that the content of D3 vita min increases from about 3 ng/m l to about 25 ng/m l. This is a substa ntia l increase in the D vita min content of the milk.

Besides increasing the content of D3 vitamin in the produced milk in cattle farming, it is rea lised that the UV lam p arra ngement according to the invention may also increase the D vita min content in other anima ls. As shown in fig . 6, a study of D vita min status in pigs clea rly shows an increase in the content of D vita min when the pigs are exposed to the UV la mp arrangement ing to the invention (lots #92 and #94) compared to the anima ls given D3 vita min in their food (lots #91 and #93) .

Fig . 7 shows the D3 vita min content in the ed milk of cows - both tiona l cattle and orga nic bread cattle - when exposed to natu ral sunlight during the winter and during the sum mer in comparison with an exposu re to the lig hting of the UV la mp arrangement according to the invention for a ermi ned amou nt of time every day. As shown in fig . 7, studies also revea l that it is sufficient to expose the animals, such as cows, for 30 minutes every day in order to achieve the d result to reproduce the D3 vita min content natu ral ly occu rring duri ng summer when the anima ls are free-ranging outside and thereby exposed to sunlig ht. I n pa rticu la r these studies reveal that by the present invention it is possi ble to reproduce the same high amou nt of D3 vitamin content in milk as in the milk from orga nica lly farmed cows during summer but all arou nd the year.

Claims (22)

Claims

1. Apparatus when used to promote D-vitamin production in a non-human animal, said apparatus comprising at least one lamp assembly, said at least one lamp assembly is adapted to emit polychromatic light, wherein the polychromatic 5 light at least emulates natural light and emits UV light with enhanced intensity at wavelengths between 270 nm and 315 nm, wherein the at least one lamp assembly comprises at least one medium and/or high pressure lamp.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the polychromatic light appears to the naked eye to be continuous, such as polychromatic light at a frequency over 10 50Hz.

3. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, n the apparatus comprises means for removing light of a wavelength under 270 nm.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one lamp assembly comprises at least one first lamp emulating natural light 15 and the least one medium and/or high re lamp providing UV light at wavelengths between 270 nm and 315 nm.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one lamp assembly ses a doped lamp, preferably a doped sulphur lamp, a mercury lamp and/or a xenon lamp, which emits natural light in 20 ction with UV light.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the doped lamp is a r lamp, a mercury lamp and/or a xenon lamp, doped with a metal, non-metal or metalloids, preferably tin, lead, iron, phosphorus, sulphur, selenium, boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony and/or tellurium. 25

7. Use of an tus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6 to increase D- vitamin content in milk from a non-human , ably a cow.

8. Use of an apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6 to expose at least one non-human animal with polychromatic light for a predetermined amount of time daily in order to increase the content of D-vitamin in the milk produced by said at least one non-human animal.

9. A man animal farm production facility, comprising at least one apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6 which is used according to 5 claim 7 or claim 8.

10. A man animal farm tion facility according to claim 9, wherein one or more livestock are accommodated for production of one or more farm products.

11. A non-human animal farm production facility according to claim 10, wherein 10 one or more cows are accommodated for production of milk.

12. A non-human animal farm production facility, comprising at least one tus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6, when used to promote D- vitamin production in one or more birds, such as chickens or hens, said one or more birds being accommodated for production of eggs. 15

13. A non-human animal farm production facility according to claim 10, n one or more pigs are accommodated.

14. A method of increasing D-vitamin production in a non-human animal, by exposing the non-human animal to polychromatic light, wherein the polychromatic light at least emulates natural light and UV light at wavelengths 20 n 270 nm and 315 nm.

15. A method according to claim 14, whereby the polychromatic light appears to the naked eye to be continuous, such as polychromatic light with a frequency above 50Hz.

16. A method according to claim 14 or claim 15, whereby the non-human animal is 25 only exposed to light at a wavelength above 270 nm.

17. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, whereby the polychromatic light is provided by a plurality of lamps.

18. A method ing to any one of claims 14 to 17, whereby the non-human animal is exposed for a predetermined amount of time daily, such as 30 minutes daily, 60 minutes daily, 90 minutes daily, 120 minutes daily, or up to 24 hours. 5

19. Apparatus when used to promote D-vitamin production in a living organism according to claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the examples but excluding comparative examples.

20. Use of an apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8, substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the examples but excluding 10 comparative examples.

21. A non-human animal farm production facility, according to any one of claims 9 to 13, substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the examples but excluding comparative examples.

22. A method of increasing D-vitamin tion in a man animal, according 15 to claim 14, substantially as herein described with nce to any one or more of the examples but excluding comparative examples. 2012/067482 35000 30000 —||lk 25000 _I-mll||l 20000 15000 _‘|Illlll‘!|¥l'l'JIII‘L“I, 10000 _Mllll 5000 _IW.‘J 150 200 250 300 350 400 WO 41389 .mmcSO_>>o__m> HEE N £mc¢6>m>> .OE ®3