WO2004047553A1

WO2004047553A1 - Livestock feed supplement and method of using same

Info

Publication number: WO2004047553A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/037542
Authority: WO
Inventors: Douglas Hammond; Edward Cowal
Original assignee: R.A.T.E., Llc
Priority date: 2002-11-25
Filing date: 2003-11-24
Publication date: 2004-06-10
Also published as: AU2003294500A1

Abstract

A feed supplement for livestock comprising glycine, aspartic acid, calcium, manganese, magnesium, potassium, and optionally chromium. The supplement can be used to counter various types of antemortem stress that the livestock may endure.

Description

LIVESTOCK FEED SUPPLEMENT AND METHOD OF USING SAME Field of the Invention

This invention relates to livestock nutrient supplements and their use in reducing the effects of antemortem stress in livestock. Description of Related Art

Livestock can be subjected to a number of potent physiological and psychological stressors. Factors such as weaning in confined areas, withholding of feed, mixing of unfamiliar animals, fighting among animals, transporting in confined trailers, and subjecting to extreme weather are commonly reported stressors which can lead to abnormal physiology in these animals, decreased milk production, carcass loss, and degraded meat quality. Examples of such stressors are described in more detail in Schaefer et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,728,675.

The present invention is directed to a composition which reduces the effects of antemortem stress on livestock. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment

The term "livestock", as used herein and in the claims, is meant to include domestic ruminant and monogastric animals, including swine, horses, cattle (e.g., Bos taurus and Bos indicus), and domestic ungulates such as bison, sheep, lamb, deer, moose, elk, caribou and goats. The present invention includes pets, such as dogs, cats, birds, lizards, gerbils, hamsters, mice, rats, snakes and fish.

The term "antemortem stress", when used herein and in the claims broadly refers to any type of stress that livestock may undergo during the course of their life. The term includes stresses imparted to the animals during pre-slaughter treatment, including transport, holding, management, and handling. The term is also meant to include stresses imparted during other animal marketing practices, such as transporting animals for other than slaughter purposes. The term encompasses the stresses caused by extreme weather conditions (both hot and cold). The term likewise includes the stresses caused by confining the ammals in a small area, such as those feeder rooms use to wean piglets. The term also includes the stresses caused diseases, especially those associated with weight loss or wasting (such as Johne's disease).

The term "therapeutically effective amount" refers to an amount sufficient to effect treatment when administered to a livestock in need of treatment. The term "treatment" as used herein refers to the treatment of a disease or medical condition the livestock which includes:

(a) preventing the disease or medical condition from occurring, i.e., prophylactic treatment; (b) ameliorating the disease or medical condition, i.e., eliminating or causing regression of the disease or medical condition;

(c) suppressing the disease or medical condition, i.e., slowing or arresting the development of the disease or medical condition; or

(d) alleviating the symptoms of the disease or medical condition. The present invention is directed to a livestock feed supplement composition that can be used to counter the adverse effects of stress on the animal. The composition is preferably formulated as a solid nutrient supplement (e.g., pelletized or in powder form) for inclusion with the regular feed for the animal. The composition may also be formulated in a premix powder or in a liquid form for administration as a liquid consumable or as a drench. The composition may also be incorporated into a solid food such as a "power bar" for dogs and the like. To enhance palatability, a flavour agent may be included to ensure that the animal takes a sufficient amount of the supplement ad libitum. Palatability is also enhanced by formulating the supplement from ingredients which provide the amino acids and energy source in familiar forms to the animal. The composition of the present invention is comprised of electrolytes and amino acids. The electrolytes of the present invention are suitable 1 A and 2A light metals. The electrolytes are preferably selected from the group consisting of one or more of calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and chromium (Cr). Even more preferably, the composition contains calcium, manganese, magnesium, potassium and optionally chromium. The electrolytes may be provided in any pharmacologically suitable or economical form, such as water soluble salts or as chelates which release the electrolytes in solution. Most preferred combinations include calcium hydroxide (CaOH or "lime"), manganese carbonate (MnCO₃), magnesium oxide (MgO), potassium asparate, and chromium aspartate. The preferred amino acids of the present invention can include any naturally occurring or synthetic amino acid. Preferred amino acids are selected from the group consisting of one or more of glycine (Gly) and aspartic acid (Asp). The amino acids maybe delivered in any pharmacologically suitable or economical form, such as in the acid form or through a salt form (such as magnesium aspartate or potassium aspartate).

More specifically, the inventive composition is preferably comprised of (on a mol basis) about 40 to 80 mol% glycine, about 2 to 30 mol% aspartic acid, about 2 to 30 mol% calcium, about 2 to 30 mol% manganese, about 2 to 30 mol% magnesium, about 0.2 to 7 mol% potassium, and optionally about 0.001 to 5 mol% chromium. Even more preferably, the inventive composition is comprised of about 60 to 70 mol% glycine, about 5 to 11 mol% aspartic acid, about 8 to 13 mol% calcium, about 5 to 11 mol% manganese, about 5 to 11 mol% magnesium, about 1 to 4 mol% potassium, and optionally about 0.01 to 2 mol% chromium. An example of such a composition in accordance with the present invention is shown in Table 1 :

TABLE 1

Even more specifically, the antemortem nutrient supplement of the present invention is comprised of about 20 to 40 wt% glycine, about 30 to 50 wt% aspartic acid, about 3 to 9 wt% lime, about 2 to 8 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1 to 3 wt% magnesium oxide, about 7 to 20 wt% potassium aspartate, and optionally up to 2 wt% chromium. Even more preferably, the inventive composition is comprised of about 25 to 35 wt% glycine, about 40 to 45 wt% aspartic acid, about 5 to 7 wt% lime, about 4 to 7 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1.5 to 2.5 wt% magnesium oxide, about 10 to 15 wt% potassium aspartate, and optionally up to 1 wt% chromium. An example of such a composition in accordance with the present invention is shown in Table 2: TABLE 2

available from Premier Ingredients, Product No. 104330

²Available from Aceto Corporation, Product No. 000220

³Available from Mississippi Lime Co., Product No. 002260

⁴Available from Stauber Performance Ingredients, Inc., Product Nos. 002510, 10290

⁵Available from Monarch Nutritional Laboratories, Product Nos. 95042200 and 9152001

Although components having a wide range of particle sizes and densities are suitable for the present invention, in the preferred embodiment, the following ranges are preferred:

Table 2A

To prepare the supplement, components are mixed in a N-blender until homogeneous. The homogenous mixture is then ground to provide a uniform particle size.

A preferred liquid composition comprises about 0.3 g of the dried formula listed in Table 2 mixed with about 8 ounces of fluid. The fluid comprises about 95% by volume water, about 3% by volume flavoring (natural or artificial flavors), about 0.1% by volume preservatives (e.g. about 0.05% potassium sorbate and about 0.05% sodium benzoate) and about 0.03% citric acid. Preferred flavors are those from Flavor Concepts (Chicago, Illinois).

It should be evident to persons skilled in the art that, given the wide range in ingredient concentration efficacy and the variable consumption of solids and liquids between animals, the above preferred amounts of the electrolytes and amino acids are only approximate and will be varied depending on the type of formulation (solid vs. liquid), the nature of the ingredient (solubility etc.), the body weight of the animal, and the average solid and liquid intake of the animals. hi the preferred embodiment, at least 0.001 g/lb animal of the inventive composition is delivered to the animal per day. Theoretically, there is no maximum limit for the dosage, provided that the amount of chromium (which can be toxic at high levels) is sufficiently low. More preferably, the dosage is about 0.001 to 0.010 g/lb/day, and even more preferably about 0.002 to 0.003 g/lb/day and still even more preferably about 0.00164 g/lb/day. Thus, a 165 lb animal would most preferably receive about 0.27 g/day of the inventive composition. The composition may be delivered at once or over the course of several hours.

The solid product of the present invention is preferably formulated with typical feed carriers and binders, known in the animal feedstuffs industry. Exemplary carriers include grain or grass byproducts. The term "grain" includes such products as oats, barley, wheat, cannola, rye, sorgum, millet, corn, legumes, the latter including alfalfa and clover, and grasses including brome, timothy or fescue. Particularly preferred carriers include barley or other grains, grain or legume screenings, and oat groats.

The supplement is most preferably administered either during or before the infliction of antemortem stress factors. For example, for "transport" types of stress, the supplement is preferably administered 6-24 hours prior to transport, more preferably for a period of several days or weeks prior to transport.

The invention is further illustrated in the following non-limiting examples. Example 1

In this first example, the efficacy of the composition in accordance with the invention in preventing shrink loss was tested. Shrink loss is attributable to both a loss of fill and exceptions of feces and urine as well as a loss from animal tissue. Forty-eight maturing bulls were divided into six groups of eight animals. Groups I-III (average weight 700 lbs) were "control" groups while Groups IN-NI (average weight 688 lbs) were the "test" groups.

Cattle in Groups I-III group received 4 pounds of grain (corn) per day as feed. Groups IN-NI received 4 pounds of grain per day as feed combined with 1.0 g/head/day of the composition shown in Table 2 for forty-two days. Groups IN-NI then received 4 pounds of grain mixed with 1.5 g/head/day the composition shown in Table 2 for 37 days. The following results were obtained:

TABLE 3

Control Inventive SE Probability¹

Calf weights (lb)

June 13 556 554 0.9 0.17

July 25 634 622 6.7 0.28

August 31 700 688 10.9 0.46

Gain (lb)

June 13 - July 25 77 71 5.6 0.49

July 25 - August 31 67 63 13.3 0.85

June 13 - August 31 144 133 10.9 0.53

Groups I-NI were then placed in a pen without feed or water for ten (10) hours so that the cattle were subjected to stress, and weighed every two hours. The following results were obtained:

¹ Probability there is a difference between Control and Test Composition. TABLE 4

Control Inventive SE Probability²

Weight loss (lb)³ 0-2 h 13.8 21.8 1.69 0.03 2-4 h 14.8 2.2 1.52 0.004 0-4 h 28.6 24 1.54 0.1 0-10 h 48.5 42. 2.96 0.2

Shrink, %/hour

0-2 0.99 1.61 0.122 0.023

2-4 1.08 0.14 0.113 0.004

0-4 1.03 0.88 0.04 0.054

0-10 0.75 0.66 0.04 0.2

These results show that the animals receiving the composition of Table 2 underwent significantly less shrink loss than those animals that did not receive the composition. Example 2

In this example, the efficacy of the composition in increasing milk production under stressful conditions was demonstrated. Seventy-six (76) dairy cattle (average days in milk 145.89 days) with an average weight of about 1200 lbs each received about 7 pounds of a TMR (total mix ration) and were allowed to graze. The total milk production of all of the cattle recorded on June 1 under mild weather conditions (see Table 5) was 6,227 lbs. These same cattle were then given 2.0 g/head day of the composition of Table 2 mixed in with their feed over a ten-day time period (June 22 to July 1) under stressful weather conditions (see Table 5). On day 10, the cattle produced 6,240.2 lbs of milk. Thus, the cattle produced about 1% more milk when receiving the inventive composition - even though the cattle were subjected to more stressful weather conditions.

¹ Probability there is a difference between Control and Test Composition.

³ Weight loss on August 31 after calves were placed in pens without feed or water and weighted at progressive time periods. TABLE S

Example 3

In this next example, 2000 nursing piglets (just weaned) having an average weight of about 12 lbs were divided into four groups of 500 piglets. Groups I-IU were control groups wlule Group IN was the "test" group. Each group was placed in a substantially identical feeder rooms equipped with feeder nipples. Group N received a modified version of the formulation shown in Table 2 mixed in with the water line. Specifically, the formulation was combined with citric acid on about a 1 :0.4 wt/wt ratio (i.e., about 1 g of dried powder per 0.4 g of citric acid). About 0.07 g/piglet/day of the resulting composition was fed to the piglets for 36 days. The mortality rates on day 36 were an average of 8.33 for Groups I-IU and 5 for Group 4. The trial is still ongoing at the time of filing the present application.

These results show that the present invention can be utilized to reduce piglet mortality under the stressful conditions during weaning. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the composition of the present invention has a "transport effect." More specifically, when desirable compounds (such as vitamins, minerals, nutrients, pharmaceutical compounds) are combined with the composition of the present invention, the absorption of the desirable compound is increased.

The composition of the present invention can be used in a variety of situations involving antemortem stress. For example, the composition can be administered to livestock prior to transportation to decrease the negative effects caused by transport. The composition of the present invention can be provided to livestock with their feed and/or water to enhance growth generally, resulting in increased weight at the time of slaughter. The composition of the present invention can also be delivered to livestock to increase milk production. The composition is also useful for decreasing piglet mortality when the piglets are weaned in confined conditions. It is also contemplated that the inventive composition could be delivered to livestock to treat Johne's disease (paratuberculosis), a chronic, debilitating wasting disease that affects the intestines of all ruminant animals.

While specific embodiments have been shown and discussed, various modifications may of course be made, and the invention is not limited to the specific examples, forms or arrangement of parts and steps described herein, except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims. Further, it will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. An antemortem nutrient supplement for livestock comprising a mixture of: one or more sources of glycine; one or more sources of aspartic acid; one or more sources of calcium; one or more sources of manganese; one or more sources of magnesium; and one or more sources of potassium.

2. The antemortem nutrient supplement for livestock of claim 1 further comprising chromium.

3. The antemortem nutrient supplement of claim 1 comprising about 40 to 80 mol% glycine, about 2 to 30 mol% aspartic acid, about 2 to 30 mol% calcium, about 2 to 30 mol% manganese, about 2 to 30 mol% magnesium, and about 0.2 to 7 mol% potassium.

4. The antemortem nutrient supplement of claim 3 further comprising about 0.001 to 5 mol% chromium.

5. The antemortem nutrient supplement of claim 1 comprising about 60 to 70 mol% glycine, about 5 to 11 mol% aspartic acid, about 8 to 13 mol% calcium, about 5 to 11 mol% manganese, about 5 to 11 mol% magnesium, and about 1 to 4 mol% potassium.

6. The antemortem nutrient supplement of claim 5 further comprising about 0.01 to 2 mol% chromium.

7. The antemortem nutrient supplement of claim 1 wherein said calcium source is lime, said manganese source is manganese carbonate, said magnesium source is magnesium oxide, and said potassium source is potassium aspartate.

8. The antemortem nutrient supplement of claim 7 comprising about 20 to 40 wt% glycine, about 30 to 50 wt% aspartic acid, about 3 to 9 wt% lime, about 2 to 8 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1 to 3 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 7 to 20 wt% potassium aspartate.

9. The antemortem nutrient supplement of claim 8 further comprising up to about 2 wt% chromium asparate.

10. The antemortem nutrient supplement of claim 7 comprising about 25 to 35 wt% glycine, about 40 to 45 wt% aspartic acid, about 5 to 7 wt% lime, about 4 to 7 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1.5 to 2.5 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 10 to 15 wt% potassium aspartate.

11. The antemortem nutrient supplement of claim 10 comprising up to about 1 wt% chromium asparate.

12. A livestock feed comprising: a grain and an antemortem nutrient supplement, said supplement comprising: one or more sources of glycine; one or more sources of aspartic acid- one or more sources of calcium; one or more sources of manganese; one or more sources of magnesium; and one or more sources of potassium.

13. The livestock feed of claim 12 wherein said supplement further comprises chromium.

14. The livestock feed of claim 12 wherein said supplement comprises about 40 to 80 mol% glycine, about 2 to 30 mol% aspartic acid, about 2 to 30 mol% calcium, about 2 to 30 mol% manganese, about 2 to 30 mol% magnesium, and about 0.2 to 7 mol% potassium.

15. The livestock feed of claim 14 wherein said supplement further comprises about and about 0.001 to 5 mol% chromium.

16. The livestock feed of claim 12 wherein said supplement comprises about 60 to 70 mol% glycine, about 5 to 11 mol% aspartic acid, about 8 to 13 mol% calcium, about 5 to 11 mol% manganese, about 5 to 11 mol% magnesium, and about 1 to 4 mol% potassium.

17. The livestock feed of claim 16 wherein said supplement further comprises about and about 0.01 to 2 mol% chromium.

18. The livestock feed of claim 12 wherein said calcium source is lime, said manganese source is manganese carbonate, said magnesium source is magnesium oxide, and said potassium source is potassium aspartate.

19. The livestock feed of claim 18 wherein said supplement comprises about 20 to 40 wt% glycine, about 30 to 50 wt% aspartic acid, about 3 to 9 wt% lime, about 2 to 8 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1 to 3 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 7 to 20 wt% potassium aspartate.

20. The livestock feed of claim 19 wherein said supplement further comprises up to about 2 wt% chromium asparate.

21. The livestock feed of claim 18 wherein said supplement comprises about 25 to 35 wt% glycine, about 40 to 45 wt% aspartic acid, about 5 to 7 wt% lime, about 4 to 7 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1.5 to 2.5 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 10 to 15 wt% potassium aspartate.

22. The livestock feed of claim 21 wherein said supplement comprises up to about 1 wt% chromium asparate.

23. The livestock feed of claim 12 wherein said grain is selected from the group consisting of oats, barley, wheat, cannola, rye, sorgum, millet, corn, legumes, and grasses.

24. The livestock feed of claim 12 comprising about 2 to 6 kilograms of grain per about 0.15 to 10.0 g of antemortem nutrient supplement.

25. The livestock feed of claim 24 comprising about 4 to 5 kilograms of grain per about 0.2 to 5.0 g of antemortem nutrient supplement.

26. A method of treating livestock that will or is undergoing antemortem stress, said method comprising administering a pharmaceutically acceptable and effective amount of an antemortem nutrient supplement, wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises: one or more sources of glycine; one or more sources of aspartic acid; one or more sources of calcium; one or more sources of manganese; one or more sources of magnesium; and one or more sources of potassium.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises chromium.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 40 to 80 mol% glycine, about 2 to 30 mol% aspartic acid, about 2 to 30 mol% calcium, about 2 to 30 mol% manganese, about 2 to 30 mol% magnesium, and about 0.2 to 7 mol% potassium.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises about 0.001 to 5 mol% chromium.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 60 to 70 mol% glycine, about 5 to 11 mol% aspartic acid, about 8 to 13 mol% calcium, about 5 to 11 mol% manganese, about 5 to 11 mol% magnesium, and about 1 to 4 mol% potassium.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises about 0.01 to 2 mol% chromium.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein said calcium source is lime, said manganese source is manganese carbonate, said magnesium source is magnesium oxide, and said potassium source is potassium aspartate.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 20 to 40 wt% glycine, about 30 to 50 wt% aspartic acid, about 3 to 9 wt% lime, about 2 to 8 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1 to 3 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 7 to 20 wt% potassium aspartate.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises up to about 2 wt% chromium asparate.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 25 to 35 wt% glycine, about 40 to 45 wt% aspartic acid, about 5 to 7 wt% lime, about 4 to 7 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1.5 to 2.5 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 10 to 15 wt% potassium aspartate.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises up to about 1 wt% chromium asparate.

37. The method of claim 25 wherein said animal is administered at least about 0.002 to 0.003 g of antemortem nutrient supplement for each pound that the animal weighs.

38. The method of claim 25 wherein said animal is administered the antemortem nutrient supplement daily for at least one week.

39. The method of claim 25 wherein said supplement is administered in the livestock's drinking water.

40. A method of reducing shrink loss in livestock caused by antemortem stress comprising feeding the livestock a livestock feed prior to undergoing said stress, wherein said livestock feed comprises a grain and an a pharmaceutically acceptable and effective amount of antemortem nutrient supplement, and wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises: one or more sources of glycine; one or more sources of aspartic acid; one or more sources of calcium; one or more sources of manganese; one or more sources of magnesium; and one or more sources of potassium.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises chromium.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 40 to 80 mol% glycine, about 2 to 30 mol% aspartic acid, about 2 to 30 mol% calcium, about 2 to 30 mol% manganese, about 2 to 30 mol% magnesium, and about 0.2 to 7 mol% potassium.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises about 0.001 to 5 mol% chromium.

44. The method of claim 40 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 60 to 70 mol% glycine, about 5 to 11 mol% aspartic acid, about 8 to 13 mol% calcium, about 5 to 11 mol% manganese, about 5 to 11 mol% magnesium, and about 1 to 4 mol% potassium.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises about 0.01 to 2 mol% chromium.

46. The method of claim 40 wherein said calcium source is lime, said manganese source is manganese carbonate, said magnesium source is magnesium oxide, and said potassium source is potassium aspartate.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 20 to 40 wt% glycine, about 30 to 50 wt% aspartic acid, about 3 to 9 wt% lime, about 2 to 8 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1 to 3 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 7 to 20 wt% potassium aspartate.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises up to about 2 wt% chromium asparate.

49. The method of claim 46 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 25 to 35 wt% glycine, about 40 to 45 wt% aspartic acid, about 5 to 7 wt% lime, about 4 to 7 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1.5 to 2.5 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 10 to 15 wt% potassium aspartate.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises up to about 1 wt% chromium asparate.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein said livestock is administered about 0.001 to 0.010 g/lb/day of antemortem nutrient supplement for each pound that the livestock weighs.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein said livestock is administered at least about 0.002 g/lb/day of antemortem nutrient supplement for each pound that the livestock weighs.

53. The method of claim 49 wherein said livestock is administered the antemortem nutrient supplement daily for at least one week.

54. The method of claim 49 wherein said supplement is administered in the livestock's drinking water.

55. The method of claim 40 wherein said livestock comprises cattle.

56. The method of claim 40 where said grain is selected from the group consisting of oats, barley, wheat, cannola, rye, sorgum, millet, corn, legumes, and grasses.

57. The method of claim 40 wherein said livestock feed comprises about 2 to 6 kilograms of grain per about 0.15 to 10.0 g of antemortem nutrient supplement.

58. The method of claim 40 wherein said livestock feed comprises about 4 to 5 kilograms of grain per about 0.2 to 5.0 g of antemortem nutrient supplement.

59. A method of increasing the production of milk production in livestock comprising feeding the livestock a livestock feed, wherein said livestock feed comprises a grain and a pharmaceutically acceptable and effective amount of an antemortem nutrient supplement comprising: one or more sources of glycine; one or more sources of aspartic acid; one or more sources of calcium; one or more sources of manganese; one or more sources of magnesium; and one or more sources of potassium.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises chromium.

61. The method of claim 59 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 40 to 80 mol% glycine, about 2 to 30 mol% aspartic acid, about 2 to 30 mol% calcium, about 2 to 30 mol% manganese, about 2 to 30 mol% magnesium, and about 0.2 to 7 mol% potassium.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises about 0.001 to 5 mol% chromium.

63. The method of claim 59 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 60 to 70 mol% glycine, about 5 to 11 mol% aspartic acid, about 8 to 13 mol% calcium, about 5 to 11 mol% manganese, about 5 to 11 mol% magnesium, and about 1 to 4 mol% potassium.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises about 0.01 to 2 mol% chromium.

65. The method of claim 59 wherein said calcium source is lime, said manganese source is manganese carbonate, said magnesium source is magnesium oxide, and said potassium source is potassium aspartate.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 20 to 40 wt% glycine, about 30 to 50 wt% aspartic acid, about 3 to 9 wt% lime, about 2 to 8 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1 to 3 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 7 to 20 wt% potassium aspartate.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises up to about 2 wt% chromium asparate.

68. The method of claim 65 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 25 to 35 wt% glycine, about 40 to 45 wt% aspartic acid, about 5 to 7 wt% lime, about 4 to 7 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1.5 to 2.5 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 10 to 15 wt% potassium aspartate.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises up to about 1 wt% chromium asparate.

70. The method of claim 59 wherein said livestock is administered about 0.001 to 0.004 g/lb/day of antemortem nutrient supplement for each pound that the livestock weighs.

71. The method of claim 59 wherein said livestock is administered about 0.002 to 0.003 g/lb/day of antemortem nutrient supplement for each pound that the livestock weighs.

72. The method of claim 59 wherein said livestock is administered the antemortem nutrient supplement daily for at least one week.

73. The method of claim 59 wherein said supplement is administered in the livestock's drinking water.

74. The method of claim 59 wherein said livestock comprises cattle.

75. The method of claim 59 wherein said about 0.2 to 5.0 g of antemortem nutrient supplement are fed to the livestock per day.

76. A method of decreasing the mortality of livestock being weaned in a confined area, said method comprising administering a pharmaceutically acceptable and effective amount of an antemortem nutrient supplement to said livestock, said antemortem nutrient supplement comprising: one or more sources of glycine; one or more sources of aspartic acid; one or more sources of calcium; one or more sources of manganese; one or more sources of magnesium; and one or more sources of potassium.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises chromium.

78. The method of claim 76 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 40 to 80 mol% glycine, about 2 to 30 mol% aspartic acid, about 2 to 30 mol% calcium, about 2 to 30 mol% manganese, about 2 to 30 mol% magnesium, and about 0.2 to 7 mol% potassium.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises about 0.001 to 5 mol% chromium.

80. The method of claim 76 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 60 to 70 mol% glycine, about 5 to 11 mol% aspartic acid, about 8 to 13 mol% calcium, about 5 to 11 mol% manganese, about 5 to 11 mol% magnesium, and about 1 to 4 mol% potassium.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises about 0.01 to 2 mol% chromium.

82. The method of claim 76 wherein said calcium source is lime, said manganese source is manganese carbonate, said magnesium source is magnesium oxide, and said potassium source is potassium aspartate.

83. The method of claim 82 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 20 to 40 wt% glycine, about 30 to 50 wt% aspartic acid, about 3 to 9 wt% lime, about 2 to 8 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1 to 3 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 7 to 20 wt% potassium aspartate.

84. The method of claim 83 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises up to about 2 wt% chromium asparate.

85. The method of claim 82 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 25 to 35 wt% glycine, about 40 to 45 wt% aspartic acid, about 5 to 7 wt% lime, about 4 to 7 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1.5 to 2.5 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 10 to 15 wt% potassium aspartate.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises up to about 1 wt% chromium asparate.

87. The method of claim 85 wherein said livestock is administered about 0.001 to 0.010 g/lb/day of antemortem nutrient supplement for each pound that the livestock weighs.

88. The method of claim 87 wherein said livestock comprises piglets, and each piglet is administered about 0.07 g/piglet of antemortem nutrient supplement.

89. The method of claim 85 wherein said livestock is administered the antemortem nutrient supplement daily for at least two weeks.

90. The method of claim 85 wherein said supplement is administered in the livestock's drinking water.

91. A method of treating Johne's disease in livestock comprising administering a pharmaceutically acceptable and effective amount of an antemortem nutrient supplement to said livestock, wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises: one or more sources of glycine; one or more sources of aspartic acid; one or more sources of calcium; one or more sources of manganese; one or more sources of magnesium; and one or more sources of potassium.

92. The method of claim 91 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises chromium.

93. The method of claim 91 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 40 to 80 mol% glycine, about 2 to 30 mol% aspartic acid, about 2 to 30 mol% calcium, about 2 to 30 mol% manganese, about 2 to 30 mol% magnesium, and about 0.2 to 7 mol% potassium.

94. The method of claim 93 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises about 0.001 to 5 mol% chromium.

95. The method of claim 91 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 60 to 70 mol% glycine, about 5 to 11 mol% aspartic acid, about 8 to 13 mol% calcium, about 5 to 11 mol% manganese, about 5 to 11 mol% magnesium, and about 1 to 4 mol% potassium.

96. The method of claim 95 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises about 0.01 to 2 mol% chromium.

97. The method of claim 91 wherein said calcium source is lime, said manganese source is manganese carbonate, said magnesium source is magnesium oxide, and said potassium source is potassium aspartate.

98. The method of claim 97 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 20 to 40 wt% glycine, about 30 to 50 wt% aspartic acid, about 3 to 9 wt% lime, about 2 to 8 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1 to 3 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 7 to 20 wt% potassium aspartate.

99. The method of claim 98 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement further comprises up to about 2 wt% chromium asparate.

100. The method of claim 97 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises about 25 to 35 wt% glycine, about 40 to 45 wt% aspartic acid, about 5 to 7 wt% lime, about 4 to 7 wt% manganese carbonate, about 1.5 to 2.5 wt% magnesium oxide, and about 10 to 15 wt% potassium aspartate.

101. The method of claim 100 wherein said antemortem nutrient supplement comprises up to about 1 wt% chromium asparate.

102. The method of claim 100 wherein said livestock is administered about 0.001 to 0.010 g/lb/day of antemortem nutrient supplement for each pound that the livestock weighs.

103. The method of claim 100 wherein said livestock is administered the antemortem nutrient supplement daily for at least two weeks.

104. The method of claim 100 wherein said supplement is administered in the livestock's drinking water.