RU2060682C1 - Method of sheep diet improvement and food addition - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture. SUBSTANCE: method involves the addition of agent that improves the diet of ruminant animals, in part, in lambs. Indicated agent contains effective amount of protected amino acid. EFFECT: increased wool rate and living animal weight, improved quality of wool and fibers. 3 cl, 7 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to a method for improving the diets of ruminants, in particular lambs, in order to increase their live weight and improve the production and quality of wool.

 Reis and Schinkel of the Australian Journal of Biological Sciences 1963 found that the administration of either L-cysteine or DL-methionine to the abomasum at a dose of 1.5 to 3 grams per day increased sheep hair growth.

 On the other hand, the addition of sulfur-containing amino acids to the diet of sheep does not have the slightest effect on wool growth, since a bacterial metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids occurs in the rumen, and only a small part of the prescribed dose remains for absorption.

 From the point of view of agricultural practice, it is impossible to administer amino acids to the abomasum of grazing livestock. To get an improvement in hair growth, it is necessary to use some means of protecting amino acids from bacterial degradation, which allows them to pass through the volume of the rumen without destruction and, at the same time, allows them to quickly release in the abomasum and / or intestines, which contributes to their absorption followed by a successful nutritional effect.

 In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of increasing wool growth in sheep, which comprises administering to the growing lamb an effective amount of a protected amino acid.

 In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for improving the quality of a sheep’s coat, which comprises administering to the growing lamb an effective amount of a protected amino acid.

 The increase in wool production is carried out by increasing the length of the wool fiber, by increasing the diameter of the wool fiber, and also by increasing the growth rate of the entire volume of wool.

 Therefore, the present invention also provides a method for increasing the length of the wool fiber and the growth rate of the total wool volume in sheep, which comprises administering to the growing lamb an effective amount of a protected amino acid.

 In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of increasing the tensile strength of a wool fiber, which comprises administering to the growing lamb an effective amount of a protected amino acid.

 When prescribing a protected amino acid, a significant increase in live weight in sheep was also observed.

 In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for increasing live weight in sheep, which comprises administering to the growing lamb an effective amount of a protected amino acid.

 In a preferred embodiment, the growing lamb is a lamb freshly weaned from mother's milk. Merino lambs are particularly preferred since the wool of these sheep is particularly valuable, however, it should be emphasized that in the case of meat breeds of sheep the use of the present invention will lead to success.

 In a preferred embodiment, the amino acid is lysine or methionine or a mixture thereof, methionine is most preferred.

 The amino acids assigned to the lamb can be protected by the method below using, for example, two types of copolymer.

The first type copolymer contains a combination of the basic amino copolymer and a hydrophobic substance whose melting temperature is higher than ^60, and / or a polymer having a limited solubility in water. The basic amine copolymer can be obtained, for example, from the reaction:
a neutral ethylene monomer such as methyl acrylate or methacrylate, styrene, acrylonitrile or vinyl acetate; and
a diethyl monomer having a basic nitrogen-containing group, such as diethylaminoethyl acrylate or methacrylate, tert-butylaminoethyl acrylate or methacrylate, morpholinoethyl methacrylate or vinyl pyridine.

 In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophobic substance is a fatty acid, a fatty ester, a fatty alcohol, paraffin, or natural or synthetic wax. In a most preferred embodiment, the hydrophobic substance is stearic acid. The water-insoluble polymer is usually a cellulose ether or ester, such as ethyl cellulose or cellulose acetate butyrate, or a polyvinyl ester, such as polyvinyl acetate. In a preferred embodiment, a mixture is used consisting of 85 weight percent of the amino acid and 15 weight percent of the coating. The coating usually contains from 10 to 30% of the basic amino copolymer and from 70 to 90% of an arbitrary mixture of a hydrophobic substance and a water-insoluble polymer.

The second type of polymer which may be used consists of a mixture of natural polymer such as zein, in combination with a hydrophobic substance having a melting point above 60 ^{° C,} and / or with a polymer insoluble in water.

 In a preferred embodiment, a composite material is used containing from 10 to 90% zein and from 10 to 90% hydrophobic substance and / or water-insoluble polymer.

 A plasticizing agent may be added to the above composite materials. Plasticizing agents include, in particular, triacetin, propylene glycol, butyl phthalate and sodium oleate.

 The composite materials used for the coating and the above described are known, for the first type of composite material they are described in European Patent No. 260186, and for the second type of composite material they are described in European Patent No. 321337.

 In a preferred embodiment, the protected amino acids are drug granules which feed the growing lambs for 2 to 3 months a year. In a preferred embodiment, the growing lamb is prescribed to take the amino acid three times a week, so that 0.8 to 2 g of the amino acid, more preferably 1.6 g of methionine, falls on each day.

 The present invention is illustrated by the following examples. The examples should not be construed as limiting the invention in any way.

 Experimental details of examples.

 The examples contain quantitative data on the effect of a dose of 2 g (approximately 1.6 g methionine) daily on each head and administered three times a week in the form of drug granules.

 Growing lambs weaned from mother's milk were selected for the experiment.

 Most Australian farmers feed their growing lambs with oats, wheat or lupins during the summer. Therefore, the first summer of such lambs was chosen as the most favorable time period for conducting an experiment on the use of protected methionine in the form of drug granules for feeding lambs weaned from mother's milk.

 For the experiments we used lambs of the breed “fine-woolen merino”.

 At the beginning of the experiment, the lambs were 5 months old.

The granular preparations used in this experiment in brief form have the following characteristics:
Oatmeal Lupine Feed
Humidity 10.8% 8.7%
Dry matter 89.2% 91.3%
Crude protein 8.4% 32.2% dry matter
Digestibility 72.3% 84.4% easy
digestible dry
Substances Estimated Metabolic
applicable energy 10.6% MI / kg 12.5% MI / kg dry
dry matter
Pasture conditions were much more favorable compared with what was expected for this season, and were characterized by the data of three observations with the values of dry matter constituting 3084, 3113 and 1867 kg / ha. According to the data of three observations, the proportion of green mass was 27, 13, and 14.7%. This is much higher than normal due to the rains unusual for this time of the year, which influenced the performance of the described experiment.

The effect of protected methionine was tested for two different types of granular additives at each feed, as follows:
Oatmeal Lupine Feed
Low granulated 100 g / h head +20 g / h per feed
feed additives
Highly granulated 250 g / h +50 g / h per feed
feed additives
Since feeding was carried out three times a week, the average daily intake of granular supplements was:
Oatmeal Lupine Feed
Low granulated 43 g / h / day +8.6 g / h / day
additives
Highly granulated 107 g / h / day +21.4 g / h / day
additives
It should be noted that these are unusually low dosages of granular feed additives for lambs weaned from mother’s milk during the summer compared to conventional industrial dosages of approximately 200-300 grams per head daily.

 The daily dosage of protected methionine per head was 2 g (which is approximately equivalent to a dose of 1.6 g / head methionine).

Protected methionine was added to the granules using a wet mixing method using liquid molasses as a binding agent as follows:
Measured amounts of oat and lupine feed are added to the universal mixer and mixed for 5-10 minutes.

 3% W / W black molasses is also added to provide all the pellets with a slightly sticky coating.

 Then, the proper amount of dry protected methionine in the form of beads is slowly added and stirring is continued for another 10 minutes until the microspheres are evenly distributed over the granular mixture.

 This procedure is repeated until a sufficient feed is obtained to feed all groups of animals for a period of 2 to 4 weeks.

 Control groups of animals received granulated food mixed with black molasses without the addition of protected methionine.

 Mixed feed is served on the day of preparation or left in storage boxes for up to four weeks. During storage of the feed no deterioration was observed (i.e., no mold, neoplasm, discoloration, odor, etc.).

 The mixed feed is very tasty and all the sheep quickly get used to the feeding procedure.

 Measurement of weight and conditional label.

 Live weight was determined using the electronic Raddway scale with an accuracy of ± 0.5 kg. In all cases when weight was measured, conditional labels were subjectively evaluated by the same operator.

 Marking wool and measuring the increase in length.

 At the beginning of each experiment, a mark was made on the side of each sheep using freshly prepared hydrogen peroxide of the URSOL-D brand at the very base of the wool fibers (i.e., at the skin level).

Therefore, the increase in the length of the wool was determined as follows:
Period between stained Segment designation Experience phase
strips (days) of the painted strip
51 A Period
preceding
experience
35 V first phase
of experience
40 s second phase
experience (6 weeks)
30 D Period after
of experience
The increase in length between the colored strips (mm) was determined by manual measurements using a Werner device.

 When measuring lengths, unstretched wool fibers were used.

 Sectioning of wool fibers and measurement.

 Woolen fiber with dyed stripes was removed after linear measurement of the intervals between dyed strips, the fiber was manually partitioned into 2 mm segments to obtain an average fiber diameter for the above defined intervals A, B, C and D between dyed strips.

 Samples of fibers A, B, C, and D were washed separately in a solvent, and then, using the laser projection apparatus (Fiber Diameter Analyzer, Gerner Science LTD), the fiber diameter distribution was determined.

 In most cases, 2000 fiber diameter determinations were performed for each fiber.

 The weight of the fleece.

 The weight of the rune was recorded when shearing the sheep. The weight of the rune corresponds to its growth in just 10 months from the moment of birth; it was at this time that the sheep were tested for 10 weeks.

 To evaluate the effects of the test compared with the control group of animals, the data obtained for both levels of the granular preparation were analyzed.

In addition, a retrospective covariance analysis of the growth rate of live weight and the total volume of wool was performed using the following covariances:
a. live weight before the test.

 b. the rate of increase in body weight for the period preceding the test.

 in. the growth rate of the total fiber volume for the period preceding the test.

Now examples will be described with reference to the accompanying graphs, on which are presented:
Figure 1 changes in live weight in comparison for control animals and animals treated with protected methionine in the form of low-granulated or highly granulated additives;
FIG. 2 differences in the growth rate between control animals and animals that received protected methionine in the form of low-granulated or highly granulated additives;
FIG. 3 distribution of live weight values for control animals and animals treated with protected methionine in the form of low-granulated and highly granulated additives for 4 weeks and for 10 weeks;
FIG. 4 distribution of live weight values at various time points in comparison for control animals and animals treated with protected methionine in the form of highly granular additives;
Figure 5 the effect of the experience with the participation of protected methionine on the conditional label;
6 the effect of the experiment with the participation of protected methionine on the weight of the rune; and
FIG. 7 influence of the experiment with the participation of protected methionine on the growth rate of the coat length.

 The whole set of measurements for animals.

 PRI me R 1. Live weight and growth rate. According to measurements made immediately before the start of the test, between the groups there were no significant differences in live weight.

 During the first five weeks from the start of the test, in the test groups, the values of live weight increased more rapidly compared with the control groups, regardless of the degree of granularity of feeding.

 The growth rate, measured over the same period, for the group of animals treated with the protected material as a highly granular preparation was 24.7% higher compared to the corresponding control group. The growth rate measured over the same period for the group of animals treated with protected methionine as a low-granulation preparation was 18.0% higher compared to the corresponding control group. Thus, after 4 weeks of testing, the group of animals that received protected methionine as a highly granulated preparation was heavier than the control group, although this is only relevant for the group that received low-granulated food.

 For the second five-week test period, the growth rates in the groups of animals treated with protected methionine were also higher compared to the control group of animals. The growth rate measured over this period was 81.3% higher for the group of animals that received protected methionine with highly granulated food, compared with the control group of animals that received highly granulated food.

 The growth rate over the same period of time in the group of animals treated with protected methionine with low-granulated feed was +19.2 g / day compared with a weight loss of -2.49 g / day in the control group. Thus, by the end of the second five-week test period, both test groups were 1.5-2.0 kg heavier compared with the corresponding control groups of animals.

 By the end of the period after the test, in terms of live weight, a significant difference still remained with the preference of the groups of animals treated with protected methionine over the control groups. This advantage was lost much later than the post-trial period, when significant differences in live weight between the groups were no longer observed.

 A graphical representation of this data is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

 PRI me R 2. Distribution of live weight values. Breeders raising merino lambs born in the spring know very well that before the onset of the hot dry period of late summer, the live weight of the lambs should be at least 20 kg. Lambs weaned from breast milk who do not reach this weight are at serious risk of dying because they are less prepared to deal with stress associated with climatic conditions and malnutrition during the summer. A special danger arises for such animals in those cases when autumn rains are late.

 During the present experiment, the pasture of late spring and early summer was in a much better condition than usual. Therefore, the average live weight of the whole herd was higher than usual in lambs born in the area selected for the experiment.

 Nonetheless, it was interesting to test the effect of the protected methionine test on the distribution of live weight values.

 As follows from figure 3 and 4, the result of the test involving protected methionine is a shift in the distribution of live weight values in the direction of higher weight categories. However, if the same shift in frequency distribution was also observed for a lighter herd, this is significant evidence that trials with protected methionine are a way to increase the growth of lambs weaned from mother's milk and the potential survival of such lambs during summer period.

 It is very important that during the test period, the growth rate increases from 18 to 81%. This serves as the basis for using the product to increase the growth rate in young sheep.

 PRI me R 3. The effect on the conditional label of lambs weaned from mother's milk. As would be expected under the conditions of a positive effect of the test on the growth rate and live weight, a significant effect of the test on the conditional mark was also observed.

 Before the start of the test, significant differences in the relative marks between different groups of animals were not observed.

 Four weeks after the start of the test, the relative marks of lambs treated with protected methionine were significantly higher than in the corresponding control groups.

 This difference persisted for 10 weeks from the start of the test and continued for another month after completion of the test.

 These differences were noticeable by a qualified label processor in the field, who often said that "the test animals are in better condition than the control." This is important for farmers who like to see their animals grow well or, in extreme cases, maintain their condition during the summer and autumn.

 Data on conditional labels are presented graphically in FIG. 5.

 PRI me R 4. The effect of protected methionine on the weight of the rune. The values of the fat-free fleece were obtained by cutting and correspond to approximately 10 months of hair growth from birth. The weight values correspond to the entire rune, but do not include abdominal wool, which is removed on the cutting bench.

 Weight values for abdominal hair were recorded for the selected 23 animals in each group did not differ significantly.

 The test lasted for approximately 10 weeks from a total growth period of 10 months.

 A test involving protected methionine significantly increased the weight of the non-fat-free fleece in lambs receiving both high-granular and low-granulated food.

 The weight gain of the fleece was 220 g / head (9.1%) for animals receiving low-granulated food, and 180 g / head (7.3%) for animals receiving high-granulated food.

 Data on these measurements are shown in Fig.6.

 Fiber growth dynamics for dyed strip fibers.

 PRI me R 5. Linear growth and the rate of linear growth. The absolute values of the distances (mm) between the leading edges of successive colored bands were measured twice for 150-200 animals in each group.

 Length growth rates (mm / day) were calculated by dividing the absolute distances by the number of days between the overlapping of each strip.

 During the observations preceding the test, the increase in the length of the coat did not show a noticeable dependence on the granularity level of the feed of animals from the groups tested with the participation of protected methionine.

 Feeding with protected methionine led to a significant increase in the absolute length of the coat and the growth rate of the coat during the first four weeks of the test. In the group receiving low-granulated food, the increase was 6.0% in relation to the control group, and in the group receiving high-granulated food, it was 5.8% in relation to the control group.

 These stimulating effects increased in the second phase of the trial. So, over the past six weeks of testing, for lambs treated with protected methionine with low-granulated feed, the hair length was 8.1% longer than for lambs from the corresponding control group, and for lambs treated with protected methionine with high-granulated feed, the length of the coat was 10.5% more than for lambs from the corresponding control group.

 The effect of the test on the growth rate of wool length for lambs fed low-granulated and high-granulated food is presented in Fig.7.

 PRI me R 6. The effect of the test with the participation of protected methionine on the tensile strength of the wool of lambs.

 (a). Fleece grown only during the test.

 In order to evaluate the effect of top dressing with protected methionine on wool growth during the test period, rune samples were tested by attaching the fibers to devices such as DB2 and DB4.

 Thus, only the wool that grew during the test period was tested for strength.

 In this second analysis of the test results with the participation of protected methionine, it was shown that the tensile strength increased by 9.9% (-4.25 N (ktex) for the group receiving low-granulated food, and 2.1% (0.97 N (ktex) for the highly granulated food group.

 This effect was almost imperceptible within the groups receiving food of a certain degree of granularity, and was distinguishable when both types of food were taken.

 Although the effect was quantitatively small enough, since the fleece in this test had relatively good strength properties, it is possible that it turns out to be important in a thin-fiber rune in which the strength of the fiber depends on the quality of the feed.

 Covariance analysis.

 PRI me R 7. Coordination with live weight and growth rate for the period preceding the test. Comparison of figures 1 and 2 indicate very small differences in live weight and growth rate of live weight for the test and control groups of lambs during the period immediately preceding the start of the test.

 In order to check whether such differences could influence the interpretation of the test effects at a later time, in the period preceding the test, a statistical analysis was performed several times in which height and live weight were used as covariances before the test. Prior to the use of each covariance, checks were made for the presence of interactions and for the uniformity of the slopes of the interactions.

 The performed covariance analysis confirms that the effect of the test on the growth rate is statistically significant regardless of whether or not the growth rate or live weight values used were appropriate for the period before the test began.

 Specialists in this field of activity should be obvious that the invention described in this patent is subject to change and modification. It should be understood that the invention includes all such changes and modifications. The invention also includes all steps, salient features, composite materials and compounds related to or noted in this specification, as well as all possible combinations of the steps and salient features.

Claims (11)

 1. A method of improving the diets of sheep, especially lambs, comprising introducing into their diet an effective amount of an amino acid to improve live weight gain and improve growth and quality of wool, characterized in that the amino acid is introduced into the diet in a protected form, while the amino acid is protected by a polymer resistant to exposure to an alkaline pH environment to release amino acids at acidic pH or in the intestines of an animal  2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said lambs are just weaned from mother's milk. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said polymer protecting the amino acid is a layer comprising a basic amino copolymer and a hydrophobic substance with a melting point above 60 ^° C and / or a copolymer insoluble in water. 4. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1 to 3, characterized in that the protective layer includes a zein-based copolymer and a hydrophobic substance with a melting point above 60 ^° C and / or a water insoluble copolymer.  5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the protective layer includes styrene vinyl pyridine copolymer in association with a hydrophobic substance and a copolymer insoluble in water.  6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the hydrophobic substance is stearic acid.  7. The method according to p. 5 or 6, characterized in that the water-insoluble copolymer is ethyl cellulose.  8. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1 to 7, characterized in that the amino acid is methionine or lysine.  9. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1 to 8, characterized in that the amino acid is methionine.  10. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1 to 9, characterized in that the effective amount of the amino acid is 1.6 g per day three times a week.  11. A feed additive to increase wool production and improve wool quality especially in lambs, including an amino acid, characterized in that the amino acid is protected by a hydrophobic layer comprising an alkaline pH resistant polymer to release the amino acid at an acidic pH or in the intestines of the animal.

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