WO2016007173A1

WO2016007173A1 - Ruminant feed compositions for reducing methane generation

Info

Publication number: WO2016007173A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/046378
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jayesh Ramesh Bellare; Alexander N. HRISTOV
Original assignee: Benemilk Oy
Priority date: 2014-07-11
Filing date: 2014-07-11
Publication date: 2016-01-14

Abstract

Feed compositions for ruminants are described herein, as well as methods for their preparation and use. A feed composition may include at least one feed component, at least one fatty acid component, and at least one anti-protozoan agent. The at least one fatty acid component may include at least one saturated fatty acid compound.

Description

RUMINANT FEED COMPOSITIONS FOR REDUCING METHANE GENERATION, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME

BACKGROUND

[0001] Increasing production and fat content of milk obtained from lactating ruminants have been a major goals for dairy farmers. Additional milk production per ruminant is beneficial because it results in a higher yield, thereby increasing profits. Increased milk fat is desirable because it has a higher economic value and can be used in highly desirable food products, such as cheese, yogurt, and the like. In addition, with the advent of global warming and a desire to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gases, individuals such as dairy farmers may desire to reduce their carbon footprint. One such greenhouse gas, methane, is produced naturally by ruminants via methanogenesis in the rumen and released into the atmosphere.

[0002] A common approach to increasing either or both of production and milk fat content includes adjusting feed, nutrients, elements, vitamins, supplements, and/or the like provided to the ruminant. Approaches to reducing or eliminating methane generation in the rumen have included feeding ruminants various supplements such as myristic acid and lauric acid.

[0003] However, current methods and feeds used to increase milk fat content tend to lower milk production, lower protein content, and/or have other detrimental effects on the ruminant. Furthermore, the methods and feeds often result in other undesired effects, such as increased trans fatty acid levels on the fatty acid profile of the milk fat. In addition, current methods for reducing or eliminating methane generation in the rumen have not been successful in sufficiently reducing methane release and have not resulted in an increase in milk fat content or increased milk production. SUMMARY

[0004] In an embodiment, a feed composition for ruminants may include at least one feed component, at least one fatty acid component, and at least one anti-protozoan agent. The at least one fatty acid component may include at least one saturated fatty acid compound.

[0005] In an embodiment, a method of preparing a feed composition for ruminants may include combining at least one fatty acid component, at least one feed component, and at least one anti-protozoan agent to form a mixture. The fatty acid component may include at least one saturated fatty acid compound.

[0006] In an embodiment, a method of increasing milk fat content in ruminants may include providing a feed composition to a ruminant for ingestion. The feed composition may include at least one feed component, at least one fatty acid component, and at least one anti- protozoan agent. The at least one fatty acid component may include at least one saturated fatty acid compound. The method can additionally or alternatively reduce methane production by the ruminant relative to a similar ruminant not provided the feed composition for ingestion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 depicts a flow diagram of a method of preparing a feed composition for ruminants according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] This disclosure is not limited to the particular systems, devices and methods described, as these may vary. The terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope.

[0009] As used in this document, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Nothing in this disclosure is to be construed as an admission that the embodiments described in this disclosure are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention. As used in this document, the term "comprising" means "including, but not limited to."

[0010] The following terms shall have, for the purposes of this application, the respective meanings set forth below.

[0011] A ruminant is a class of mammal with a multiple chamber stomach that gives the animal an ability to digest cellulose-based food. The stomach of a ruminant has four morphologically distinct compartments: the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum, and the abomasum. Bacteria in the rumen enable the ruminant to digest cellulose-based food by softening it and regurgitating the semi-digested mass. The regurgitate, known as cud, is then chewed again by the ruminant. Specific examples of ruminants include, but are not limited to, cattle, bison, buffaloes, yaks, camels, llamas, giraffes, deer, pronghorns, antelopes, sheep, and goats. The milk produced by ruminants is widely used in a variety of dairy-based products. Dairy cows are of considerable commercial significance for the production of milk and processed dairy products such as, for example, yogurt, cheese, whey, and ice cream.

[0012] Silage refers to a feed that includes chopped green forage, such as, for example, grass, legumes, and field corn. The silage is placed in a structure or a container that is designed to exclude air. The silage is then fermented in the structure or container, thereby retarding spoilage. Silage can have a water content of about 60% to about 80% by weight.

[0013] The present disclosure relates generally to feed compositions containing at least one feed component, at least one fatty acid component, and at least one anti-protozoan agent. The feed compositions described herein can be fed to a ruminant in order to affect milk production in the ruminant. Particularly, the feed compositions described herein may be fed to a ruminant to increase the amount of milk produced by the ruminant and/or to increase the fat content of the milk produced by the ruminant, as described in greater detail herein. The method can additionally or alternatively reduce methane production by the ruminant relative to a similar ruminant not provided the feed composition for ingestion.

[0014] When a ruminant consumes feed, the fat in the feed is modified by the rumen to provide a milk fat profile that is different from the profile of fat in the feed. All fats which are not completely inert in the rumen may decrease rumen digestibility of the feed material. Milk composition and fat quality can be influenced by the ruminant's diet. For example, oil feeding can have negative effects on both rumen function and milk formation. As a result of oil feeding, milk protein concentration is lowered, fat concentration is decreased, and the proportion of trans fatty acids is increased in ruminants. These have been connected especially to an increase in harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and to a decrease in beneficial high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in human blood when the milk is consumed. In addition, the properties of the milk fat during industrial milk processing are weakened. A high level of polyunsaturated fatty acids in milk can also cause taste defects and preservation problems. A typical fatty acid composition of milk fat may contain more than 70% saturated fatty acids, and the total amount of trans fatty acids may vary in a range of 3%-10%. When vegetable oil is added into the feed, the proportion of trans fatty acids may rise to more than 10%.

[0015] One solution to diminishing the detrimental effect of oil and fat is to prevent triglyceride fat hydrolysis. Fat hydrolysis can be decreased, for example, by protecting fats with formaldehyde treated casein. Another alternative is to make insoluble fatty acid calcium salts whereby hydrogenation in the rumen can be avoided. However, fatty acid salts have a pungent taste, which can limit their usability in feeds and can result in decreased feed intake. The salts may also impact an ability to pelletize the feed. [0016] Accordingly, the feed compositions described herein allow for the transfer of palmitic acid from the feed via the digestive tract into the blood circulation of a ruminant. This improves the energy efficiency of milk production of the ruminant. When the utilization of energy becomes more efficient, the milk production increases and the concentrations of protein and fat in the milk rise. In particular, the feed composition enhances fat synthesis in the mammary gland by bringing milk fat components to the cell. As a result, the energy- consuming synthesis in the mammary gland may not be necessary. Thus, glucose may be more efficiently used for lactose production whereupon milk production increases. The milk protein content rises because glucose need not be produced from amino acids. Thus, the ruminant may not lose as much weight at the beginning of the lactation period as compared to a ruminant not provided the feed composition.

[0017] In addition, microorganisms colonizing in the rumen may participate in the digestion of basic nutrients because the microorganisms are capable of producing enzymes that are used for the digestion process. Such enzyme production may be necessary since some ruminants are incapable of synthesizing the enzymes on their own. The microbial population in the rumen may include bacteria, protozoans, fungi, and methanogens. One byproduct of digestion is hydrogen (¾). In order to allow for efficient continuation of rumen fermentation, the ¾ must be disposed. One such method of ¾ disposal includes methanogenesis. Methanogenesis may occur under anaerobic conditions at the participation of methanogens using ¾.

[0018] Methanogens are microorganisms that are directly responsible for methanogenesis. Methanogens may generally belong to the group of Archaea within the kingdom of Euryarcheota. Illustrative methanogens found in the rumen may include, but are not limited to, Methanobacterium formicicum, Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, Methanosaricina barkeri, Methanosaricina mazei, and Methanomicrobium mobile. The methanogens may have a symbiotic relationship with other organisms to result in methanogenesis. For example, a symbiotic relationship may exist between methanogens and protozoa and/or methanogens and fungi.

[0019] Similar to methanogens, protozoa also play an integral role in the process of methanogenesis in the rumen. Protozoa degrade crude fiber in the rumen, thereby releasing ¾ in the process, which is used in a horizontal hydrogen transfer by methanogens to reduce carbon (IV) oxide. Previous studies have indicated that the population of methanogens is directly related to a number of protozoans. Thus, by reducing the population of protozoans, the population of methanogens is also reduced, which leads to a decreased methane emission.

[0020] Constant temperature on Earth is maintained by a greenhouse effect in which solar radiation, upon reaching the Earth's surface, heats the surface of the Earth. Greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere absorb radiation, thereby causing an elevation of temperature in lower layers of the atmosphere. As the emission of greenhouse gas increases, the temperature in the lower layers of the atmosphere also increases. Such an increase may result in ice cap melting, which increases elevation of sea levels, continentality of climates, elongation or shortening of vegetation seasons, and/or disturbances in air circulation in the atmosphere.

[0021] The methane, once formed in the rumen, is released into the atmosphere. Because methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes to atmospheric warming, it may be desirable to reduce or eliminate methane that is released by ruminants. Accordingly, the feed compositions described herein, in addition to increasing milk fat content and milk production, are particularly formulated to reduce or eliminate methanogenesis in the ruminant, thereby reducing or eliminating an amount of methane released into the atmosphere. Such a reduction may generally be relative to a ruminant that does not receive the feed compositions described herein and/or produces a typical amount of methane. [0022] In the various embodiments described herein, the feed composition may include at least one feed component, at least one fatty acid component, and at least one anti- protozoan agent. The fatty acid component may contain at least one saturated fatty acid (such as palmitic acid) and may contain little or no unsaturated trans fatty acid, as described in greater detail herein. The fatty acid component may be present in generally any concentration, particularly at least about 10% of the feed composition. For example, the fatty acid component may be about 10% to about 90% by weight of the feed composition. In further examples, the fatty acid component may be present in the feed composition in an amount of about 30%> to about 50%>, about 40%> to about 60%>, or about 60%> to about 90%> by weight of the feed composition. Specific examples of amounts by weight of the feed composition include about 10%>, about 20%>, about 30%>, about 40%>, about 50%>, about 60%>, about 70%o, about 80%>, about 90%>, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints).

[0023] The anti-protozoan agent may be present in generally any concentration, such as equal to or less than about 10%> by weight of the feed composition. Thus, for example, the anti -protozoan agent may be about 10% to about 0.001% or less by weight of the feed composition. In further examples, the anti-protozoan agent may be present in the feed composition in an amount of about 10%> by weight, about 9% by weight, about 8% by weight, about 7%o by weight, about 6%> by weight, about 5% by weight, about 4% by weight, about 3%o by weight, about 2% by weight, about 1% by weight, about 0.1% by weight, about 0.01% by weight, about 0.001% by weight, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints).

[0024] FIG. 1 depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method of preparing a feed composition for a ruminant. In various embodiments, the feed composition may be formulated in a manner such that when it is consumed by the ruminant, the feed composition maximizes particular qualities in the milk produced by the ruminant, increases an amount of milk produced by the ruminant, and/or reduces methanogenesis in the rumen, as described in greater detail herein. In particular embodiments, the feed composition may be substantially a solid feed composition, including, but not limited to, a capsule, a tablet, a pellet, a granular material, or the like.

[0025] In various embodiments, the components described herein with respect to FIG. 1 may generally be combined in any order and/or any combination, and are not limited by the order described herein. In some embodiments, a feed composition may be prepared by providing 105 at least one feed component, providing 110 at least one fatty acid component, providing 115 at least one anti-protozoan agent, and combining 120 the feed component, the fatty acid component, and the anti-protozoan agent. In some embodiments, combining 120 the feed component, the fatty acid component, and the anti-protozoan component may form a mixture. As will be described in greater detail herein, the fatty acid component may include at least one saturated fatty acid. In some embodiments, the feed composition may include other components in addition to the feed component, the fatty acid component, and the anti- protozoan agent, as described in greater detail herein.

[0026] In various embodiments, the fatty acid component may generally include one or more free fatty acids and/or glycolipids. Free fatty acids may generally be unconjugated fatty acids, whereas glycolipids may be fatty acids conjugated with a carbohydrate. In some embodiments, the fatty acid component may be combined 120 with the other ingredients such that the fatty acid component is present in the feed composition in an amount of at least about 10% by weight of the feed composition. For example, the fatty acid component may be combined 120 with the other ingredients such that the fatty acid component is present in the feed composition in an amount of about 10% by weight to about 90% by weight or more of the feed composition. In some embodiments, the fatty acid component may be present in the feed composition in an amount of at least about 50% by weight of the feed composition. In particular embodiments, the fatty acid component may be present in the feed composition in an amount of about 10%> by weight, about 15% by weight, about 20%> by weight, about 25% by weight, about 30%> by weight, about 35% by weight, about 40%> by weight, about 45% by weight, about 50% by weight, about 55% by weight, about 60% by weight, about 65% by weight, about 70% by weight, about 75% by weight, about 80% by weight, about 85% by weight, about 90% by weight, or any value or range between any two of these values. In some embodiments, the fatty acid component may be present in the feed composition in a range within about 30% to about 50%, about 30% to about 90%, or about 40% to about 60% by weight of the feed composition.

[0027] In some embodiments, the fatty acid component may have a melting point greater than or equal to about 40°C. In some embodiments, the fatty acid component may have a melting point less than or equal to about 80°C. In some embodiments, the fatty acid component may have a melting point of about 40°C to about 80°C. In some embodiments, the fatty acid component may have a melting point of about 60°C to about 80°C. In some embodiments, the fatty acid component may have a melting point of about 63°C to about 65°C. In particular embodiments, the fatty acid component may have a melting point of about 40°C, about 45°C, about 50°C, about 55°C, about 60°C, about 65°C, about 70°C, about 75°C, about 80°C, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). In some embodiments, the melting point may be such that it is a temperature that ensures that the fatty acid is inert in the rumen environment.

[0028] In various embodiments, the fatty acid component may include at least one saturated fatty acid. For example, the fatty acid component may include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or more different saturated fatty acids. In some embodiments, the saturated fatty acid may be present in the fatty acid component in an amount that results in a ruminant consuming the feed composition to produce a desired quality and quantity of milk, as described in greater detail herein. Thus, in some embodiments, the saturated fatty acid may be present in any amount, such as an amount of at least about 90% by weight of the fatty acid component. In some embodiments, the saturated fatty acid may be present in an amount of about 90% by weight of the fatty acid component to about 100% by weight of the fatty acid component, including about 90%> by weight, about 91%> by weight, about 92% by weight, about 93% by weight, about 94%> by weight, about 95% by weight, about 96%> by weight, about 97% by weight, about 98% by weight, about 99% by weight, about 100% by weight, or any value or range between any two of these values. The saturated fatty acid is not limited by this disclosure and may include any number of saturated fatty acids now known or later discovered, including all derivatives thereof. For example, derivatives of a saturated fatty acid may include salts, esters, amides, carbonates, carbamates, imides, anhydrides, alcohols, and/or the like.

[0029] As used herein, a salt of the fatty acid may be any acid addition salt, including, but not limited to, halogenic acid salts such as, for example, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, and hydroiodic acid salts; inorganic acid salts such as, for example, nitric, perchloric, sulfuric, and phosphoric acid salts; organic acid salts such as, for example, sulfonic acid salts (methanesulfonic, trifluoromethane sulfonic, ethanesulfonic, benzenesulfonic, or p-toluenesulfonic), acetic, malic, fumaric, succinic, citric, benzoic, gluconic, lactic, mandelic, mucic, pamoic, pantothenic, oxalic, and maleic acid salts; and amino acid salts such as aspartic or glutamic acid salts. The acid addition salt may be a mono- or di-acid addition salt, such as a di-hydrohalogenic, di-sulfuric, di-phosphoric, or di- organic acid salt. In all cases, the acid addition salt is used as an achiral reagent which is not selected on the basis of any expected or known preference for interaction with or precipitation of a specific optical isomer of the products of this disclosure. [0030] A fatty acid ester, as used herein, means an ester of a fatty acid. For example, the fatty acid ester may be in a form of RCOOR'. R may be any saturated or unsaturated alkyl group including, without limitation, CIO, C12, C14, C16, C18, C20, and C24. R' may be any groups having from about 1 to about 1000 carbon atoms and with or without hetero atoms. In some embodiments, R' may have from about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, from about 3 to about 10 carbon atoms, or from about 5 to about 15 carbon atoms. The hetero atoms may include, without limitation, N, O, S, P, Se, halogen, Si, and B. For example, R' may be a ci-₆alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl or t-butyl; a Ci_₆alkoxyCl-6alkyl; a heterocyclyl, such as tetrahydrofuranyl; a C6-10aryloxyCi_₆alkyl, such as benzyloxymethyl (BOM); a silyl, such as trimethylsilyl, t-butyldimethylsilyl and t-butyldiphenylsilyl; a cinnamyl; an allyl; a Ci_₆alkyl which is mono-, di- or trisubstituted by halogen, silyl, cyano or Ci_₆aryl, wherein the aryl ring is unsubstituted or substituted by one, two, or three residues selected from the group consisting of Ci_₇alkyl, Ci_₇alkoxy, halogen, nitro, cyano and CF₃; or a Ci_₂alkyl substituted by 9-fluorenyl.

[0031] As used herein, a fatty acid amide may generally include amides of fatty acids where the fatty acid is bonded to an amide group. For example, the fatty acid amide may have a formula of RCONR'R". R may be any saturated or unsaturated alkyl group including, without limitation, CIO, C12, C14, C16, C18, C20, and C24. R' and R" may each be any group having from about 1 to about 1000 carbon atoms and with or without hetero atoms. In some embodiments, R' may have from about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, from about 3 to about 10 carbon atoms, or from about 5 to about 15 carbon atoms. The hetero atoms may include, without limitation, N, O, S, P, Se, halogen, Si, and B. For example, R' and R" each may be an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, an aryl, an aralkyl, a cycloalkyl, a halogenated alkyl, or a heterocycloalkyl group. [0032] A fatty acid anhydride may generally refer to a compound which results from the condensation of a fatty acid with a carboxylic acid. Illustrative examples of carboxylic acids that may be used to form a fatty acid anhydride include acetic acid, propionic acid, benzoic acid, and the like.

[0033] An alcohol of a fatty acid refers to a fatty acid having a straight chain or branched, saturated, radical groups. The fatty acid alcohol may additionally have 3-30 carbon atoms and one or more hydroxy groups. The alkyl portion of the alcohol component can be propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, iso-propyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, or the like. One of skill in the art may appreciate that other alcohol groups may also be useful in the present disclosure.

[0034] In some embodiments, the saturated fatty acid may include a palmitic acid compound. Thus, combining 120 the at least one fatty acid with the at least one feed component and the at least one anti-protozoan component may include combining palmitic acid with the feed component and the anti-protozoan component. The palmitic acid compound is not limited by this disclosure, and may include one or more of a conjugated palmitic acid, unconjugated palmitic acid, free palmitic acid, palmitic acid derivatives, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the palmitic acid compound may include at least about 70% by weight free palmitic acid, including, but not limited to, about 70%> by weight, about 75% by weight, about 80% by weight, about 85% by weight, about 90% by weight, about 95% by weight, about 100% by weight, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). Palmitic acid, also known as hexadecanoic acid, has a molecular formula of Ο¾(Ο¼)^0₂Η. Specific examples of palmitic acid derivatives may include palmitic acid esters, palmitic acid amides, palmitic acid salts, palmitic acid phosphonates, palmitic acid sulfates, palmitic acid carbonates, palmitic acid carbamates, palmitic acid imides, palmitic acid anhydrides, palmitate triglycerides, palmitate salts, and/or the like. The palmitic acid compound may be present in the fatty acid component in generally any amount, such as an amount of at least about 70% by weight of the fatty acid component, including, for example, about 70%> by weight of the fatty acid to about 100% by weight of the fatty acid, including about 70%> by weight, about 75% by weight, about 80%> by weight, about 85% by weight, about 90%> by weight, about 95% by weight, about 98%> by weight, about 99% by weight, about 100% by weight, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoint). In some embodiments, the fatty acid component may consist essentially of the palmitic acid compound. In other embodiments, the fatty acid component may consist of or be entirely composed of the palmitic acid compound.

[0035] In some embodiments, the saturated fatty acid may include a stearic acid compound. The stearic acid compound is not limited by this disclosure, and may include conjugated stearic acid, unconjugated stearic acid, free stearic acid, stearic acid derivatives, and/or the like. Stearic acid, also known as octadecanoic acid, has a chemical formula of CH₃(CH₂)i6C0₂H. Specific examples of stearic acid derivatives may include stearic acid esters, stearic acid amides, stearic acid salts, stearic acid carbonates, stearic acid carbamates, stearic acid imides, stearic acid anhydrides, and/or the like. Because stearic acid in large amounts may hinder milk production capacity of the mammary gland, the amount of stearic acid may be present in the fatty acid component in an amount of about 30% or less by weight of the fatty acid component. In particular embodiments, the stearic acid compound may include about 30% by weight of the fatty acid component, about 25% by weight of the fatty acid component, about 20% by weight of the fatty acid component, about 15% by weight of the fatty acid component, about 10% by weight of the fatty acid component, about 5% by weight of the fatty acid component, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). [0036] In some embodiments, the fatty acid component may include an unsaturated fatty acid. Unsaturated fatty acid, as used herein, refers to any mono- or polyunsaturated fat, and includes unsaturated trans fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids contain at least one alkene bond and may contain two or more alkene groups in any position in the hydrocarbon chain. The unsaturation of the fatty acid may or may not be present as a conjugated system of double bonds. The type of unsaturated fatty acid present in the fatty acid component is not limited by this disclosure, and may include any type of unsaturated fatty acid now known or later discovered, including all derivatives thereof. For example, derivatives of an unsaturated fatty acid may include salts, esters, amides, anhydrides, alcohols, and/or the like, as previously described herein. In various embodiments, an amount of unsaturated fatty acid may be used in the fatty acid component to affect a desired quality of milk produced by the ruminant consuming the feed composition, as described in greater detail herein. Thus, in some embodiments, the fatty acid component may be substantially free of unsaturated fatty acids. As used herein with respect to unsaturated fatty acids, the term "substantially free" is understood to mean substantially no amount of unsaturated fatty acids or about 5% or less by weight of unsaturated fatty acids, including trace amounts of unsaturated fatty acids. Accordingly, the unsaturated fatty acid may be present in the fatty acid component in an amount of about 5% or less by weight of the fatty acid component, including about 5% or less by weight, about 4% or less by weight, about 3% or less by weight, about 2% or less by weight, about 1% or less by weight, about 0.5% or less by weight, about 0%> by weight, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints).

[0037] In some embodiments, providing 110 the at least one fatty acid component may include dispersing the fatty acid component in water to obtain a liquid suspension prior to combining 120 with the other ingredients. For example, the fatty acid component and the water may be provided 110 in a volume/volume ratio from about 1 :20 to about 1 : 1, from about 1 : 15 to about 2: 1, from about 1 : 10 to about 3: 1, including about 1 :20, about 1 : 15, about 1 : 10, about 1 :5, about 1 :3, about 1 :2, about 1 : 1, about 2: 1, about 3: 1, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints).

[0038] In some embodiments, providing 110 the at least one fatty acid component may include heating the fatty acid component to obtain a melted fatty acid component. Thus, the fatty acid component may be heated such that it reaches or exceeds a temperature that is equivalent to its melting point or such that the fatty acid component reaches a liquid or semisolid state. One illustrative temperature may be greater than or equal to about 40°C. Another illustrative temperature may be less than or equal to about 80°C. Another illustrative temperature may be about 40°C to about 80°C. Other illustrative temperatures may include about 40°C, about 45°C, about 50°C, about 55°C, about 60°C, about 65°C, about 70°C, about 75°C, about 80°C, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints).

[0039] In some embodiments, the feed component may include at least one binding agent. The binding agent may provide adhesive properties to the dietary composition, particularly so that the dietary composition does not fall apart in various forms such as pellet and tablet forms. Examples of binding agents include polysaccharides, proteins, and the like, or any combination thereof.

[0040] In some embodiments, the feed component may include at least one bulking agent. The bulking agent may generally increase the bulk of the dietary composition without affecting the taste of the dietary composition. Examples of bulking agents may include silicate, kaolin, clay, and/or the like.

[0041] In some embodiments, the feed component may include at least one filler. The filler may generally be used to increase bulk, weight, viscosity, opacity, strength, and/or the like. Examples of filler may include gluten feed, sunflower hulls, distillers grains, guar hulls, wheat middlings, rice hulls, rice bran, oilseed meals, dried blood meal, animal byproduct meal, fish byproduct meal, dried fish solubles, feather meal, poultry byproducts, meat meal, bone meal, dried whey, soy protein concentrate, soy flour, yeast, wheat, oats, grain sorghum, corn feed meal, algae meal, rye, corn, barley, aspirated grain fractions, brewers dried grains, corn flower, corn gluten meal, feeding oat meal, sorghum grain flour, wheat mill run, wheat red dog, hominy feed, wheat flower, wheat bran, wheat germ meal, oat groats, rye middlings, cotyledon fiber, and/or ground grains.

[0042] In various embodiments, the feed component may include at least one carbohydrate component and/or at least one nitrogen component, including combination components that include carbohydrates and nitrogen. The carbohydrate component is not limited by this disclosure and may include any carbohydrates or combination of carbohydrates, particularly those used in animal feed and feed compositions. In some embodiments, the carbohydrate component may generally provide a source of energy for the feed composition. Illustrative examples of carbohydrate components may include molasses, sugar beet pulp, sugar cane, wheat bran, wheat middlings, wheat mill run, oat hulls, grain hulls, soya hulls, soybean hulls, peanut hulls, wood, brewery byproducts, beverage industry byproducts, forages, roughages, grass meal, hay meal, hay, alfalfa meal, alfalfa, straw, silages, sugars, starches, cellulose, hemicellulose, wheat, corn, oats, sorghum, millet, barley, barley fiber, barley hulls, barley middlings, barley bran, malting barley screenings, malting barley and fines, malt rootlets, maize bran, maize middlings, maize cobs, maize screenings, maize fiber, millet, rice, rice bran, rice middlings, rye, triticale, brewers grain, coffee grinds, tea leaf fines, citrus fruit pulp, rind residues, algae, algae meal, microalgae, and/or the like.

[0043] The carbohydrate component may be obtained from any carbohydrate source, and thus the source is not limited by this disclosure. In some embodiments, the carbohydrate may be obtained by breaking down a complex sugar source. Illustrative carbohydrate sources may include sugar, starch, cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the carbohydrate may be obtained from various crops that contain carbohydrates. Illustrative crops may include wheat, corn, oats, sorghum, millet, barley, and/or the like.

[0044] The nitrogen source material may generally include, for example, an oilseed meal. Oilseed meal is generally derived from residue that remains after reserved oil is removed from oilseeds. The oilseed meal may be rich in protein and variable in residual fats and oils. Illustrative examples of oilseed meal include soy meal, bean meal, rapeseed meal, soybean meal, sunflower meal, coconut meal, olive meal, linseed meal, grapeseed meal, cottonseed meal, camelina meal, mustard seed meal, crambe seed meal, safflower meal, rice meal, peanut meal, corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, distillers dried grains, distillers dried grains with solubles, wheat gluten, and/or the like.

[0045] In various embodiments, providing 105 the at least one feed component may include grinding the carbohydrate component and/or the nitrogen component to obtain the feed component. In some embodiments, other portions of the feed composition may be ground in addition to the feed component. Grinding may provide various benefits, such as improving certain characteristics of the feed component and/or the feed composition formed therefrom. For instance, even and fine particle size may improve the mixing of different ingredients. According to certain embodiments, grinding may be configured to decrease a particle size of certain components of the feed composition. For example, grinding may be configured to increase the surface area open for enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract, which may improve the digestibility of nutrients. In another example, grinding may be configured to increase the palatability of the feed composition.

[0046] Grinding may be performed by various grinding devices known to those having ordinary skill in the art, such as a hammer mill, a roller mill, a disk mill, or the like. The feed composition and/or portions thereof (such as the nitrogen component or the carbohydrate component) may be ground to various sizes. Size can be measured in any number of ways, such as particle size (for instance, measured in millimeters), mesh sizes, surface areas, or the like. According to some embodiments, the feed composition and/or portions thereof may be ground to an average particle size of about 0.05 mm to about 3 mm. In some embodiments, the average particle size may be about 0.1 mm to about 3 mm. More particularly, the feed composition may be ground to produce a granular material having an average particle size of about 0.05 mm, about 0.1 mm, about 0.2 mm, about 0.5 mm, about 1 mm, about 2 mm, about 3 mm, or any value or range between any two of these values. In some embodiments, the feed composition may be ground so that about 20% to 50%> of the ground feed composition is retained by a mesh having openings with a size of about 3 mm and about 70%> to about 90%> of the ground feed composition is retained by a mesh having openings with a size of about 1 mm. In some embodiments, the feed composition and/or various portions thereof may have a varying distribution of particle sizes based upon the ingredients. For example, in embodiments containing one or more wheat ingredients, the particle size may be distributed so that about 95% of the ground wheat ingredients are retained by a mesh having openings with a size of about 0.0625 mm and about 65% of the ground wheat ingredients are retained by a mesh having openings with a size of about 1 mm. In another example, such as embodiments containing one or more barley ingredients, the particle size may be distributed so that about 95% of the ground barley ingredients are retained by a mesh having openings with a size of about 0.0625 mm and about 60% of the ground barley ingredients are retained by a mesh having openings with a size of about 1 mm. The varying mesh sizes of each ingredient may be independent of mesh sizes for other ingredients. In some embodiments, the granular material or powder obtained from grinding may be used in subsequent processes such as molding, extrusion, and/or tableting, as described in greater detail herein. [0047] Granular material, as used herein, refers to a conglomeration of discrete solid, macroscopic particles and is meant to encompass a wide variety of material types, shapes, and sizes. Granular material includes powders as a subset, but also includes groups of larger particles. Granular material may be particularly well-suited for tableting and encapsulation, as well as molding.

[0048] The anti-protozoan agent is not limited by this disclosure and may include any class of agents used to combat protozoa, including agents now known, later developed, or later discovered. For example, an anti-protozoan agent may be any pharmaceutical, bacterium, fungus, virus, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the anti-protozoan agent may be an agent that is configured to reduce microorganisms that produce methane and/or participate in methanogenesis in a rumen of a ruminant. For example, certain protozoa may have a symbiotic relationship with various methanogens such as Methanobacterium formicicum, Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, Methanosaricina barkeri, Methanosaricina mazei, and Methanomicrobium medium. Without the protozoa, the methanogens may be unable to survive and/or unable to effectively produce methane. Thus, by reducing or eliminating protozoa, methanogens may also be reduced or eliminated, thereby reducing or eliminating methane production as a byproduct. Illustrative anti-protozoan agents may include, but are not limited to, eflornithine, furazolidone, melarsoprol, ornidazole, paromonycin sulfate, pentamidine, pyrimethanmine, imidazole, atovaquone, any derivative thereof, and any combinations thereof. Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize other anti-protozoan agents that may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0049] In various embodiments, the anti-protozoan agent may be present in the feed composition in an amount equal to or less than about 10% by weight of the feed composition, including, for example, about 10%, about 9%, about 8%, about 7%, about 6%, about 5%, about 4%, about 3%, about 2%, about 1%, about 0.5%, about 0.1%, about 0.01%, about 0.001 ) or less, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). Thus, combining 120 the at least one anti-protozoan agent with the at least one feed component and the at least one fatty acid component may be completed such that the anti- protozoan agent is present in the mixture in an amount of 10% or less by weight of the mixture.

[0050] Such an amount of anti-protozoan agent may generally be an effective amount in reducing and/or eliminating microorganisms and/or the effects of microorganisms in the rumen, particularly microorganisms that participate in methanogenesis. In some embodiments, an effective amount may generally be determined based upon a measurement of particular microorganisms found in the rumen that are known or suspected to participate in methanogenesis, such as, for example, the microorganisms described herein. Thus, a cell culture may be obtained from the rumen to be used in such a measurement. In some embodiments, an effective amount may be determined based upon a measurement of an amount of methane released by the ruminant. Such a measurement may be obtained in any number of ways now known or later developed for measuring methane release.

[0051] Measurement and verification of a reduction in methane and/or methanogenesis may generally be completed relative to ruminants that do not receive the feed compositions described herein. For example, a measurement of methane emission in ruminants may be completed by feeding a first subset of ruminants the feed composition described herein, feeding a second subset of ruminants another feed composition, such as, for example, a standard TMR feed, and measuring the amount of methane that is released from both subsets to determine an average amount that is reduced in the ruminants receiving the feed compositions described herein. [0052] In some embodiments, the anti-protozoan agent may be provided in the form of a commercially available anti-protozoan agent, including, but not limited to, premix compositions, tablets, capsules, additives, and/or the like. One specific example is a gelatin capsule containing the anti-protozoan agent. In other embodiments, the anti-protozoan agent may be formulated for the feed composition.

[0053] In various embodiments, one or more additional ingredients may be added 125 to the mixture. The additional ingredients may be added, for example, to increase the processability of the feed composition, to make the feed composition more desirable to the ruminant, to deliver various nutrients to the ruminant, and/or the like. The additional ingredients may be added 125 at substantially the same time as other processes described herein, may be added subsequent to other processes described herein, may be added prior to other processes described herein, or may be added during other processes described herein. Illustrative examples of other ingredients that may be added 125 include at least one glucogenic precursor, at least one vitamin, carnitine, at least one amino acid, at least one mineral, and the like, or any combination thereof. Any number and combination of ingredients may be added 125 to the mixture. The additional ingredients may generally be added 125 in amounts that provide beneficial nutritional and dietary needs of the ruminant that consumes the dietary composition. For example, other ingredients may include an amino acid and a mineral, each in an amount sufficient to meet beneficial nutritional and/or dietary needs of the ruminant.

[0054] The at least one glucogenic precursor may include at least one of glycerol, propylene glycol, molasses, propionate, glycerine, propane diol, calcium propionate, propionic acid, octanoic acid, steam-exploded sawdust, steam-exploded wood chips, steam- exploded wheat straw, algae, algae meal, microalgae, and/or the like. The at least one glucogenic precursor may generally be included in the dietary composition to provide an energy source to the ruminant so as to prevent gluconeogenesis from occurring within the ruminant's body.

[0055] The at least one vitamin may include any combination of vitamins including, without limitation, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, and/or the like. The at least one vitamin may include any vitamins from each particular vitamer group, including A vitamins, B vitamins, C vitamins, D vitamins, E vitamins, K vitamins, and/or the like. Specific examples of B vitamins include thiamine (vitamin Bi), riboflavin (vitamin B₂), niacin (vitamin B₃), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B₆), biotin (vitamin B₇), folic acid (vitamin B9), cobalamin (vitamin B₁₂), and choline (vitamin

[0056] One additional ingredient that may be added 125 is carnitine. Carnitine may be included in the feed composition to aid in the breakdown of fatty acids to generate metabolic energy in the ruminant. In some embodiments, carnitine may be provided as a portion of a carnitine premix composition.

[0057] In some embodiments, the at least one amino acid may be an essential amino acid, including any combination of leucine, lysine, histidine, valine, arginine, threonine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, methionine, and tryptophan, as well as any protected form or any derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the at least one amino acid may be a non-essential amino acid, including any combination of alanine, asparagine, aspartate, cysteine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine, as well as any protected form or any derivative thereof. The at least one amino acid, any protected form thereof, and/or any derivative thereof may also include amino acids, protected forms, and derivatives of both non-essential and essential amino acids. The at least one amino acid may further be a common amino acid or an uncommon amino acid, as well as any protected form or derivative thereof. Common amino acids are generally recognized as a class of amino acids most commonly found in nature, which includes glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, methionine, cysteine, serine, threonine, arginine, lysine, histidine, proline, glutamate, aspartate, glutamine, and asparagine. In contrast, uncommon amino acids include any other amino acid not listed above. The at least one amino acid may generally be included in the feed composition to provide a nutritional aid in various physiological processes in the ruminant, such as, for example, increasing muscle mass, providing energy, aiding in recovery, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the at least one amino acid may be obtained from an amino acid premix composition.

[0058] The at least one mineral may be any mineral that is a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) mineral or a combination of such minerals. The at least one mineral may further be obtained from any mineral source that provides a bioavailable mineral. In some embodiments, the at least one mineral may be one or more of calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, selenium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, iodine, molybdenum, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the at least one mineral may be selected from one or more of a sodium salt, a calcium salt, a magnesium salt, a cobalt salt, a manganese salt, a potassium salt, an iron salt, a zinc salt, copper sulfate, copper oxide, selenium yeast, a chelated mineral, and/or the like. Illustrative sodium salts include monosodium phosphate, sodium acetate, sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, disodium phosphate, sodium iodate, sodium iodide, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium sulfate, sodium selenite, and/or the like. Illustrative calcium salts include calcium acetate, calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, calcium gluconate, calcium hydroxide, calcium iodate, calcium iodobehenate, calcium oxide, anhydrous calcium sulfate, calcium sulfate dehydrate, dicalcium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, and/or the like. Illustrative magnesium salts include magnesium acetate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, and/or the like. Illustrative cobalt salts include cobalt acetate, cobalt carbonate, cobalt chloride, cobalt oxide, cobalt sulfate, and/or the like. Illustrative manganese salts include manganese carbonate, manganese chloride, manganese citrate, manganese gluconate, manganese orthophosphate, manganese oxide, manganese phosphate, manganese sulfate, and/or the like. Illustrative potassium salts include potassium acetate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium chloride, potassium iodate, potassium iodide, potassium sulfate, and/or the like. Illustrative iron salts include iron ammonium citrate, iron carbonate, iron chloride, iron gluconate, iron oxide, iron phosphate, iron pyrophosphate, iron sulfate, reduced iron, and/or the like. Illustrative zinc salts include zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc chloride, zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, and/or the like.

[0059] In various embodiments, the feed composition may be processed 130. In some embodiments, processing 130 may be completed prior to one or more other processes described herein to prepare various portions of the feed composition for mixing and/or the like. In other embodiments, processing 130 may be completed after one or more of the other processes described herein to prepare a final product. In some embodiments, processing 130 may include forming the feed composition into a capsule, a shell, a pellet, a tablet, a granular material, and/or the like. Processing 130 may include pressing, molding, extruding, grinding, pelleting, encapsulating, granulating and/or the like. Pressing may include, for example, applying a pressure to an amount of the feed composition. Molding may include, for example, open molding, compression molding, injection molding, centrifugal molding, or the like. Extruding may include, for example, forming an amount of the feed composition by forcing the feed composition through a die having a desired shape and size.

[0060] In various embodiments, additional steps may be completed 135 to reach the final feed composition. For example, the feed composition and/or portions thereof (such as the mixture) may be dried. Drying may generally be completed to remove any excess water or other undesired materials, as well as to provide a material that is suitable for encapsulation, pelleting, extrusion, grinding, pressing, and/or the like.

[0061] In various embodiments, a method of increasing milk fat content in ruminants may include providing at least the feed composition as described herein to the ruminant for ingestion. In some embodiments, the feed composition may be provided to the ruminant in an amount such that the ruminant receives at least about 10 grams of fatty acid per kilogram of milk produced by the ruminant each day. The amount may be based on the previous day's milk production by the ruminant, an average day based on the previous week's milk production by the ruminant, an average day based on the previous month's milk production by the ruminant, an average production of milk by the ruminant when not provided with the feed composition, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the ruminant may be provided with about 0.5 kg to about 1.5 kg of the feed composition each day, including about 0.5 kg, about 0.75 kg, about 1.0 kg, about 1.25 kg, about 1.5 kg, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). In some embodiments, the ruminant may be provided with additional amounts of the feed composition to make up for portions of the feed composition that are not consumed by the ruminant, such as amounts that are spilled by the ruminant when consuming the feed composition, amounts that are consumed by other animals, and/or the like.

[0062] In some embodiments, consumption of the feed composition by the ruminant may result in increased milk production and/or increased fat content of the milk produced. These increases may generally be relative to a similar ruminant that does not receive the feed composition, an average of similar ruminants not receiving the feed composition, an average of the milk production quantity and fat content of the same ruminant when not provided the feed composition, and/or the like. In particular embodiments, the milk production may increase by an amount of at least about 1%. In some embodiments, the milk production may increase by an amount of about 1% to about 10%, including about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%), about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, or any value or range between any two of these values. In particular embodiments, the milk fat content may increase by an amount of at least about 10%. In some embodiments, the milk fat content may increase by an amount of about 10% to about 15%, including about 10%, about 11%, about 12%), about 13%), about 14%, about 15%, or any value or range between any two of these values.

[0063] In some embodiments, providing the feed composition to the ruminant for the ruminant to consume may result in a decrease in a number of microorganisms that produce methane in the rumen. In some embodiments, such a decrease may be relative to a similar ruminant not provided with the feed composition. In other embodiments, such a decrease may be relative to the same ruminant before the ruminant consumes the feed composition. A decrease in the number of microorganisms may be measured by any means now known or later developed, such as, for example, obtaining rumen cell cultures from the ruminant and/or the like.

EXAMPLES

Example 1 : Making a Feed Composition

[0064] A feed composition to be fed to ruminants is made using a process of combining a fatty acid component, a feed component, and an anti-protozoan agent to form a mixture into a granular material that can be fed directly to a ruminant. Prior to mixing, the fatty acid component is heated to a temperature of about 63°C so that it melts and can be easily mixed with the other ingredients. In addition, the feed component is ground prior to mixing. The feed component is ground using a standard commercial grinder so that it has an average particle size of about 3 mm. The anti-protozoan agent is obtained from a commercially available source in a gelatin capsule formulation. [0065] The fatty acid component is in an amount that is about 45% by weight of the feed composition. The fatty acid component includes about 95% by weight of a palmitic acid composition, about 5% by weight of a stearic acid composition, and substantially no unsaturated trans fatty acids. The feed component is in an amount that is about 50% by weight of the feed composition. The feed component is a mixture that includes sugar beet pulp, wheat bran, grass meal, straw, algae, hay, rapeseed meal, corn gluten feed, a binding agent, and a bulking agent. The anti-protozoan agent, a combination of melarsoprol and pentamidine, is present in an amount in that is about 3% by weight of the feed composition. The remaining 2% of the feed composition includes a mixture of vitamin A, vitamin D, riboflavin, folic acid, various essential amino acids, various sodium salts, manganese chloride, and zinc acetate.

[0066] The resulting feed composition is packaged into bulk shipping containers that can be stored and/or shipped to distributors. The distributors will divide the bulk amounts into suitable amounts that are sold to end users such as dairy farmers and/or the like. Once the end user receives the feed composition, he/she may provide the feed composition to one or more ruminants.

Example 2: Feeding a Dairy Cow

[0067] A feed composition as described in Example 1 is provided to a dairy cow for consumption each day. A dairy cow that has a normal (untreated) average daily production of 30 kg milk is provided with the feed composition each day for a month to increase the milk fat and the quantity of the milk produced. At the end of the month, it is observed that she produces 12% more milk than she did previously and the milk that she produces contains 10% more milk fat content than the milk she produced previously. In addition, a cell culture of her rumen indicates a 10% reduction of protozoa that produce methane than was present prior to consumption of the feed composition. Example 3 : Providing to a Large Group of Cows

[0068] The feed composition as described in Example 1 is provided to a large group of cows on a commercial dairy farm to confirm its effectiveness in increasing milk production, increasing milk fat content, and reducing methane emissions. A group of 200 dairy cows from the commercial dairy farm are selected at random to provide a wide variety of variation in various characteristics, such as breed, weight, age of the cow, and the like. The 200 cows are divided into two groups: a sample cow group of 100 cows and a control cow group of 100 cows. Each day, the sample cow group is provided with the feed composition ad libitum. The control cow group is fed a standard, commercially-available total mixed ration (TMR) feed. The 200 cows are monitored for the amount of feed and/or feed composition consumed, changes in weight, an amount of milk the cow produces each day, the composition of the milk produced by the cow each day, and the amount of methane she releases from her bowels each day. Monitoring continues for a period of 60 days. A comparison of the two groups of cows over this period of time shows a statistically significant increase in milk production, an increase in milk fat content, and a decrease in methane release from the group that consumed the feed composition over the control group that received the commercially-available TMR feed.

[0069] In the above detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be used, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

[0070] The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particular methods, reagents, compounds, compositions or biological systems, which can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

[0071] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

[0072] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (for example, bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (for example, the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," et cetera). While various compositions, methods, and devices are described in terms of "comprising" various components or steps (interpreted as meaning "including, but not limited to"), the compositions, methods, and devices can also "consist essentially of or "consist of the various components and steps, and such terminology should be interpreted as defining essentially closed-member groups. It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (for example, "a" and/or "an" should be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (for example, the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, et cetera" is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (for example, " a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, et cetera). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, et cetera" is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (for example, " a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, et cetera). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

[0073] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

[0074] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, et cetera As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, et cetera As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as "up to," "at least," and the like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member. Thus, for example, a group having 1-3 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, or 3 cells. Similarly, a group having 1-5 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cells, and so forth.

[0075] Various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, each of which is also intended to be encompassed by the disclosed embodiments.

Claims

CLAIMS What Is Claimed Is:

1. A feed composition for ruminants, the feed composition comprising:

at least one feed component; at least one fatty acid component comprising at least one saturated fatty acid compound; and at least one anti-protozoan agent.

2. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one feed component comprises at least one carbohydrate component, at least one nitrogen component, or a combination thereof.

3. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one feed component comprises at least one of sugar beet pulp, sugar cane, wheat bran, wheat middlings, wheat mill run, oat hulls, grain hulls, soya hulls, soybean hulls, peanut hulls, wood, brewery byproducts, forages, roughages, grass meal, hay meal, alfalfa meal, alfalfa, straw, algae, or hay.

4. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one feed component comprises a carbohydrate obtained from at least one of a sugar, a starch, cellulose, or hemicellulose.

5. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one feed component comprises a carbohydrate obtained from at least one of wheat, corn, oats, sorghum, millet, or barley.

6. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one feed component comprises at least one of soy meal, bean meal, rapeseed meal, sunflower meal, coconut meal, olive meal, linseed meal, grapeseed meal, cottonseed meal, camelina meal, mustard seed meal, crambe seed meal, safflower meal, rice meal, peanut meal, corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, distillers dried grains, distillers dried grains with solubles, or wheat gluten.

7. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid component is present in the feed composition in an amount of at least about 10% by weight of the feed composition.

8. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the saturated fatty acid compound comprises a palmitic acid compound.

9. The feed composition of claim 8, wherein the palmitic acid compound comprises free palmitic acid.

10. The feed composition of claim 8, wherein the palmitic acid compound comprises at least about 70% by weight free palmitic acid.

11. The feed composition of claim 8, wherein the palmitic acid compound comprises a palmitic acid derivative selected from a palmitic acid ester, a palmitic acid amide, a palmitic acid salt, a palmitic acid phosphonate, a palmitic acid sulfate, a palmitic acid carbonate, a palmitic acid carbamates, a palmitic acid imide, a palmitic acid anhydride, palmitate triglyceride, palmitate salt, or any combination thereof.

12. The feed composition of claim 8, wherein the palmitic acid compound is present in the fatty acid component in an amount of at least about 70% by weight of the fatty acid component.

13. The feed composition of claim 8, wherein the palmitic acid compound is present in the fatty acid component in an amount of at least about 80% by weight of the fatty acid component.

14. The feed composition of claim 8, wherein the palmitic acid compound is present in the fatty acid component in an amount of at least about 90% by weight of the fatty acid component.

15. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid component further comprises an unsaturated trans fatty acid in an amount of about 5% or less by weight of the fatty acid component.

16. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid component further comprises an unsaturated trans fatty acid in an amount of about 4% or less by weight of the fatty acid component.

17. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid component further comprises an unsaturated trans fatty acid in an amount of about 3% or less by weight of the fatty acid component.

18. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid component further comprises an unsaturated trans fatty acid in an amount of about 2% or less by weight of the fatty acid component.

19. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid component further comprises an unsaturated trans fatty acid in an amount of about 1% or less by weight of the fatty acid component.

20. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid component further comprises an unsaturated trans fatty acid in an amount of about 0.5% or less by weight of the fatty acid component.

21. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid component is substantially free of unsaturated trans fatty acids.

22. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid component further comprises a stearic acid compound in an amount of about 30% or less of by weight of the fatty acid component.

23. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid component has a melting point of about 60°C to about 80°C.

24. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid component has a melting point of about 63°C to about 65°C.

25. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid component has a melting point greater than or equal to about 40°C.

26. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the anti-protozoan agent reduces microorganisms participating in methanogenesis in a rumen of the ruminant.

27. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the anti-protozoan agent is present in the feed composition in an amount of about 10% or less by weight of the feed composition.

28. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the anti -protozoan agent comprises at least one of eflornithine, furazolidone, melarsoprol, ornidazole, paromonycin sulfate, pentamidine, pyrimethanmine, imidazole, atovaquone, or a derivative of any of the foregoing.

29. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one glucogenic precursor.

30. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one of glycerol, propylene glycol, molasses, propionate, glycerine, propane diol, or calcium propionate.

31. The feed composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, or vitamin K.

32. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one B vitamin selected from thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid, cobalamin, or choline.

33. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising carnitine.

34. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one of an essential amino acid, a non-essential amino acid, a common amino acid, an uncommon amino acid, or a derivative of any of the foregoing.

35. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one of leucine, lysine, histidine, valine, arginine, threonine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan, any protected form of any of the foregoing, any derivative of any of the foregoing, or any combination thereof.

36. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one ion of calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, iodine, molybdenum, or any combination thereof.

37. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one sodium salt selected from monosodium phosphate, sodium acetate, sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, disodium phosphate, sodium iodate, sodium iodide, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium sulfate, and sodium selenite.

38. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one calcium salt selected from calcium acetate, calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, calcium gluconate, calcium hydroxide, calcium iodate, calcium iodobehenate, calcium oxide, anhydrous calcium sulfate, calcium sulfate dehydrate, dicalcium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, and tricalcium phosphate.

39. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one magnesium salt selected from magnesium acetate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, and magnesium sulfate.

40. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one cobalt salt selected from cobalt acetate, cobalt carbonate, cobalt chloride, cobalt oxide, and cobalt sulfate.

41. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one manganese salt selected from manganese carbonate, manganese chloride, manganese citrate, manganese gluconate, manganese orthophosphate, manganese oxide, manganese phosphate, and manganese sulfate.

42. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one potassium salt selected from potassium acetate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium chloride, potassium iodate, potassium iodide, and potassium sulfate.

43. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one iron salt selected from iron ammonium citrate, iron carbonate, iron chloride, iron gluconate, iron oxide, iron phosphate, iron pyrophosphate, iron sulfate, and reduced iron.

44. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one zinc salt selected from zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc chloride, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfate.

45. The feed composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one of copper sulfate, copper oxide, selenium yeast, and a chelated mineral.

46. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one feed component comprises at least one of a binding agent, a bulking agent, or a filler.

47. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one feed component comprises at least one of a polysaccharide or a protein.

48. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one feed component comprises one or more of silicate, kaolin, or clay.

49. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one feed component comprises one or more of gluten feed, sunflower hulls, distillers grains, guar hulls, wheat middlings, rice hulls, rice bran, oilseed meals, dried blood meal, animal byproduct meal, fish byproduct meal, dried fish solubles, feather meal, poultry byproducts, meat meal, bone meal, dried whey, soy protein concentrate, soy flour, yeast, wheat, oats, grain sorghum, corn feed meal, rye, corn, barley, aspirated grain fractions, brewers dried grains, corn flower, corn gluten meal, feeding oat meal, sorghum grain flour, wheat mill run, wheat red dog, hominy feed, wheat flower, wheat bran, wheat germ meal, oat groats, rye middlings, cotyledon fiber, algae meal, and ground grains.

50. The feed composition of claim 1, wherein the feed composition is a premix composition.

51. A method of preparing a feed composition for ruminants, the method comprising:

combining at least one fatty acid component, at least one feed component, and at least one anti-protozoan agent to form a mixture, wherein the fatty acid component comprises at least one saturated fatty acid compound.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the at least one feed component comprises at least one carbohydrate component, at least one nitrogen component, or a combination thereof.

53. The method of claim 51, further comprising grinding a carbohydrate component to obtain the at least one feed component.

54. The method of claim 51, further comprising grinding a nitrogen component to obtain the at least one feed component.

55. The method of claim 51, further comprising grinding a combination of a carbohydrate component and a nitrogen component to obtain the at least one feed component.

56. The method of claim 51, further comprising dispersing the at least one fatty acid component in water to obtain a liquid suspension prior to combining.

57. The method of claim 51, further comprising heating the at least one fatty acid component to obtain a melted fatty acid component prior to combining.

58. The method of claim 51, further comprising processing the mixture, wherein processing comprises at least one of pressing, extruding, grinding, or pelleting the mixture into at least one tablet, at least one capsule, at least one pellet, or a granular material.

59. The method of claim 51 , further comprising drying the mixture.

60. The method of claim 51, wherein combining the at least one fatty acid component, the at least one feed component, and the at least one anti-protozoan agent comprises combining the at least one fatty acid component, the at least one feed component, and the at least one anti-protozoan agent such that the fatty acid component is present in the mixture in an amount of at least about 10% by weight of the mixture.

61. The method of claim 51, wherein combining the at least one fatty acid component, the at least one feed component, and the at least one anti-protozoan agent comprises combining a palmitic acid compound, the at least one feed component, and the at least one anti-protozoan agent.

62. The method of claim 51, wherein combining the at least one fatty acid component, the at least one feed component, and the at least one anti-protozoan agent comprises combining the at least one fatty acid component, the at least one feed component, and the at least one anti-protozoan agent such that the anti-protozoan agent is present in the mixture in an amount of about 10% or less by weight of the mixture.

63. The method of claim 51, further comprising combining at least one B vitamin with the mixture, wherein the at least one B vitamin comprises thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid, cobalamin, or choline.

64. The method of claim 51, further comprising combining at least one vitamin with the mixture, wherein the at least one vitamin comprises vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, or vitamin K.

65. The method of claim 51 , further comprising combining at least one amino acid with the mixture, wherein the at least one amino acid comprises leucine, lysine, histidine, valine, arginine, threonine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan, any derivative thereof, or a combination thereof.

66. The method of claim 51, further comprising combining at least one mineral with the mixture, wherein the at least one mineral comprises calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, iodine, molybdenum, or a combination thereof.

67. A method of increasing milk fat content in ruminants, the method comprising: providing a feed composition to a ruminant for ingestion, wherein the feed composition comprises: at least one feed component, at least one fatty acid component comprising at least one saturated fatty acid compound, and at least one anti-protozoan agent.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein providing the feed composition to the ruminant comprises providing about 0.5 kg to about 1.5 kg of feed composition to the ruminant daily.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein providing the feed composition to the ruminant comprises providing the feed composition to the ruminant at an amount such that the ruminant receives at least about 10 grams of saturated fatty acid per kilogram of milk produced by the ruminant per day.

70. The method of claim 67, wherein providing the feed composition to the ruminant results in at least one of an increase in production of milk by the ruminant or an increase in a fat content in the milk produced by the ruminant, relative to a similar ruminant not provided the feed composition.

71. The method of claim 67, wherein providing the feed composition to the ruminant results in at least one of: an at least about 1% increase in production of milk by the ruminant or an at least about 10% increase in a fat content in the milk produced by the ruminant, relative to a similar ruminant not provided the feed composition.

72. The method of claim 67, wherein providing the feed composition to the ruminant results in a decrease in a number of microorganisms present in a rumen of the ruminant that produce methane, relative to a similar ruminant not provided the feed composition.