WO2023220279A1

WO2023220279A1 - Compositions and methods for the treatment and prevention of campylobacter infection

Info

Publication number: WO2023220279A1
Application number: PCT/US2023/021894
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea Marie BINNEBOSE; Gretel GOMEZ-JIMENEZ; Victor Leonard Joseph NSEREKO WANTATE; Kevin Townsend WATTS
Original assignee: Can Technologies, Inc.
Priority date: 2022-05-12
Filing date: 2023-05-11
Publication date: 2023-11-16

Abstract

The present disclosure provides feed additive compositions and related methods for the treatment and prevention of campylobacter infection. The feed additive compositions herein can include a microbial fermentate product. The microbial fermentate product can be present in the feed additive composition in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria in an animal. The Campylobacter bacteria can include several species, including Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus. The feed additive compositions herein can produce an inhibitory effect that includes a direct or indirect inhibition of growth of Campylobacter bacteria, where the inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria results in one or more beneficial effects for the animal. Other aspects are also included herein.

Description

COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THE

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF CAMPYLOBACTER INFECTION

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/364,585, filed May 12, 2022, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Foodbome illnesses affect approximately one in ten humans on an annual basis. Such illnesses can result in severe disease for the elderly, immunocompromised, and young children. One such illness, campylobacteriosis, can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. In the worst-case scenario, campylobacteriosis can lead to death.

[0003] Various species of Campylobacter bacteria can cause campylobacteriosis and can be found in undercooked or uncooked meat products. Campylobacter species are robust microorganisms that can colonize the intestinal tract of several types of livestock animals, such as poultry, cattle, pigs, sheep, and shellfish, where surprisingly these bacteria rarely cause disease in the animals. Campylobacter is highly prevalent in poultry populations, and when poultry animals are processed for food production, Campylobacter present in feces can contaminate meat and egg products during the various processing steps, and thus can lead to food-borne disease outbreaks in those that handle and eat these products.

[0004] Attempts using antimicrobial and vaccine compositions to control Campylobacter in animals have been unsuccessful, and in some cases have led to an increase in drug resistance. Prevention of Campylobacter is paramount at all stages of food production, including animal husbandry on farms, manufacturing, and food preparation. Thus, innovative, and easy-to- implement solutions administered through the diet of such animals for mitigating Campylobacter are needed.

SUMMARY

[0005] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a feed additive composition including a microbial fermentate product, where the microbial fermentate product is present in the feed additive composition in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria in an animal. The Campylobacter bacteria can include one or more of Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus. The inhibitory effect can include a direct or indirect inhibition of growth of Campylobacter bacteria. The inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria can result in one or more beneficial effects for the animal, where the one or more beneficial effects include improved health measures or enhanced performance measures, or a combination thereof. [0006] In an aspect, the improved health measures include a decrease in infection incidence and a decrease in infection duration. In an aspect, the improved health measures include a reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals. In an aspect, the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals results in a reduction of food-bome illness caused by Campylobacter bacteria. In an aspect, the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals can be determined by a decreased concentration of Campylobacter bacteria that comprises at least a 1 log reduction of Campylobacter bacteria in the digestive tract of the animal. In an aspect, the enhanced performance measures can include an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or any combination thereof.

[0007] In an aspect, the microbial fermentate product is a bacterial fermentate or a fungal fermentate. In an aspect, the microbial fermentate product is a postbiotic product.

[0008] In the aspects described herein, the microbial fermentate product can include a bacterial fermentate or a fungal fermentate of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus velezensis, Brevibacillus laterosporus, Candida krusei, Gluconobacter oxydans, Lactobacillus hordei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Metschnikowia lochheadii, Nocardia tenerifensis, Paenibacillus taichungensis, Pichia kluyveri, Pichia spartinae, Saccharomyces bayanus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Wickerhamiella lipohila, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus, or combinations thereof.

[0009] In an aspect, the microbial fermentate product can include a bacterial fermentate of Bacillus velezensis or Lactobacillus plantarum, or a combination thereof.

[0010] In an aspect, the feed additive compositions herein can include a solid or a liquid. In an aspect, the feed additive compositions herein include a solid composition in the form of granules, flakes, pellets, powders, tablets, capsules, cubes, crumbles, pastes, gels, or any combination thereof. In some aspects, the feed additive compositions herein include a liquid spray, a liquid water additive, a liquid drench, or a liquid water dip for application.

[0011] In an aspect, the feed additive compositions herein contain an amount of microbial fermentate product effective to produce an inhibitory effect including an inclusion rate falling within a range from 0.01 kg/tonne to 15.0 kg/tonne. L0012J In an aspect, the feed additive compositions herein can be a component of a poultry feed product. The feed additive composition or poultry feed product can be formulated for a chicken or a turkey.

[0013] In an aspect, the feed additive compositions herein have a shelf life of up to approximately 30 months. In an aspect, the feed additive compositions herein are stable from 18 °C to 45 °C.

[0014] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for feeding poultry the feed additive compositions described herein. In various aspects, the method can include feeding a chicken or a turkey the feed additive compositions described herein.

[0015] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for inhibiting the growth of Campylobacter bacteria in poultry. The method can include administering a feed additive composition including a microbial fermentate product to the poultry. The microbial fermentate product can be present in the feed additive composition in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria. The Campylobacter bacteria can include Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus. The inhibitory effect can include a direct or indirect inhibition of the growth of Campylobacter bacteria. The inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria can result in one or more beneficial effects for the poultry. The one or more beneficial effects can include improved health measures or enhanced performance measures, or a combination thereof.

[0016] In an aspect of the method, the improved health measures include a decrease in infection incidence and a decrease in infection duration. In an aspect, the improved health measures include a reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals. In an aspect, the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals results in a reduction of food-borne illness caused by Campylobacter bacteria. In an aspect, the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals can be determined by a decreased concentration of Campylobacter bacteria that comprises at least a 1 log reduction of Campylobacter bacteria in the digestive tract of the animal. In an aspect, the enhanced performance measures can include an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or any combination thereof. In an aspect, producing the inhibitory effect in poultry fed the feed additive composition is observed relative to poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition.

[0017] In an aspect, the method further can include administering the feed additive composition as a daily feed ration that is fed to the poultry on most days or on all days. The method further can include that the amount of microbial fermentate product effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria includes an inclusion rate falling within a range from 0.01 kg/tonne to 15.0 kg/tonne. The method further can include where administering the feed additive composition produces an inhibitory effect including reducing the overall number of Campylobacter bacteria present in the poultry or preventing growth of Campylobacter bacteria in the poultry. The method further can include where administering the feed additive composition results in an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or any combination thereof, upon challenge with Campylobacter bacteria.

[0018] In an aspect, administering a feed additive composition including a microbial fermentate product includes administering a feed additive composition including a bacterial fermentate of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus velezensis, Brevibacillus laterosporus, Candida krusei, Gluconobacter oxydans, Lactobacillus hordei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Metschnikowia lochheadii, Nocardia tenerifensis, Paenibacillus taichungensis, Pichia kluyveri, Pichia spartinae, Saccharomyces bayanus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Wickerhamiella lipohila, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus, or combinations thereof.

[0019] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for reducing or preventing a Campylobacter infection in poultry, including administering a feed additive composition including a microbial fermentate product to the poultry, where the microbial fermentate product is present in the feed additive composition in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria. The inhibitory effect can result in one or more beneficial effects for the poultry. The inhibitory effect can include a direct or indirect inhibition of the growth of Campylobacter bacteria. The one or more beneficial effects can include improved health measures or enhanced performance measures, or a combination thereof.

[0020] In an aspect of the method, the improved health measures include a decrease in infection incidence and a decrease in infection duration. In an aspect, the improved health measures include a reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals. In an aspect, the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals results in a reduction of food-bome illness caused by Campylobacter bacteria. In an aspect, the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals can be determined by a decreased concentration of Campylobacter bacteria that comprises at least a 1 log reduction of Campylobacter bacteria in the digestive tract of the animal. In an aspect, the enhanced performance measures can include an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or any combination thereof.

[0021] In an aspect, the method further can include challenging the poultry with Campylobacter bacteria at a concentration of from 1.0 x 10° to 1.0 x 10¹⁰ CFU in a daily ration of poultry feed per poultry. In an aspect, the method further can include where the poultry have acquired an infection with Campylobacter bacteria in their habitat in an amount effective to colonize the ceca of the poultry. The method further can include where administering the feed additive composition produces an inhibitory effect including reducing the overall number of Campylobacter bacteria present in the poultry or preventing growth of Campylobacter bacteria in the poultry.

[0022] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for enhancing performance measures in poultry. The method can include administering a feed additive composition including a microbial fermentate product to poultry, where the microbial fermentate product is present in the feed additive composition in an amount effective for enhancing performance measures in the poultry. In an aspect, the method includes enhancing performance measures in poultry that are infected with Campylobacter bacteria including Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus. In an aspect, the enhanced performance measures can include an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or any combination thereof.

[0023] In an aspect, the increase in weight can include an average weight increase of from 0.5% to 30% in a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to an average weight in a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition. In an aspect, the decrease in feed conversion ratio can include an average decrease of from 0.5% to 10% in the feed conversion ratio of a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to an average feed conversion ratio in a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition. In an aspect, the increase in egg production can include an average increase of from 0.5% to 25% in the egg production of a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition. In an aspect, the decrease in mortality can include an average decrease of from 0.5% to 40% in the mortality of a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition. In an aspect, the decrease in morbidity can include an average decrease of from 0.5% to 40% in the morbidity of a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0024] Not applicable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to various aspects of the disclosed subj ect matter. While the disclosed subject matter will be described in conjunction with the enumerated claims, it will be understood that the exemplified subject matter is not intended to limit the claims to the disclosed subject matter.

[0026] As described above, Campylobacter bacteria in poultry can lead to campylobacteriosis disease in humans. Campylobacter is one of the leading causes of human gastrointestinal disease worldwide and poultry products contribute to a significant number of such infections. As the poultry industry shifts from the use of antibiotics to control Campylobacter infection in poultry, there exists a need to develop alternative interventions to control the prevalence of Campylobacter bacteria in poultry and the habitat in which they live. While it will be appreciated that Campylobacter infection is generally nonpathogenic to poultry and other livestock animals, in some aspects vanous species of Campylobacter bacteria can cause clinical or subclinical infection in poultry depending on age or comorbidities. In accordance with various aspects herein, feed additive compositions and methods for feeding poultry are included to prevent or reduce Campylobacter prevalence in poultry, as well as to enhance performance measures in the animals. [0027] The present disclosure provides feed additive compositions that can include a microbial fermentate product in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against a population of Campylobacter bacteria in an animal. The Campylobacter bacteria can be naturally acquired in an animal’s habitat in an amount effective to colonize the ceca of the animal, or the Campylobacter bacteria can be acquired by challenging an animal in a controlled setting. The present disclosure provides the feed additive compositions in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria by reducing or preventing colonization with Campylobacter bacteria through growth inhibition. It will be appreciated that while Campylobacter bacterial infection in poultry rarely causes disease in these animals, the Campylobacter bacteria are found to colonize the ceca of the poultry. The effective amount of feed additive composition in the diet can directly or indirectly inhibit the growth of Campylobacter bacteria and confer one or more beneficial effects to the animal(s).

[0028] As used herein, a “beneficial effect” can refer to one or more improved health measures or one or more enhanced performance measures in an animal or group of animals. Various improved health measures can include a decrease in infection incidence, a decrease in infection duration, and an improvement of the overall wellbeing of the animals. As used herein, an improved health measure further can include a reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals to reduce the incidence of food-bome illness caused by Campylobacter bacteria. Various enhanced performance measures can include an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or any combination thereof. In various aspects, the beneficial effects observed herein can be a direct or indirect result of the inhibition of the growth of Campylobacter bacteria. Both improved health measures and enhanced performance measures are described in more detail elsewhere herein.

[0029] As used herein, “microbial fermentate product” can refer to a composition containing one or more of non-viable microorganism(s), spores produced by fermentation of said microorganism(s) prior to inactivation, and metabolites produced by fermentation of said microorganism(s) prior to inactivation. For example, a microorganism can be subject to a fermentation process to form a fermentate which, after inactivation, includes non-viable microorganisms, spores, cell fractions, and metabolites (e.g., fatty acids, polysaccharides, phenols, peptides, proteins, vitamins, amino acids, and the like) obtained from the fermentation process. Various spore-forming microorganisms suitable for generating the microbial fermentate products herein can generate spores during fermentation. Spores generated during fermentation can remain a component of the microbial fermentate product, or they can be removed from the microbial fermentate product. Various non-spore forming microorganisms suitable for generating the microbial fermentate products herein do not generate spores, and any fermentates produced by non-spore forming microorganisms can be referred to further herein as a “postbiotic product.” The microbial fermentate product herein can be a bacterial fermentate or a fungal fermentate, where the fungal fermentate further can include a yeast fermentate

[0030] Examples of microorganisms suitable for generating the microbial fermentate products herein include, but are not limited to, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus velezensis, Brevibacillus laterosporus, Candida krusei, Gluconobacter oxydans, Lactobacillus hordei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Metschnikowia lochheadii, Nocardia tenerifensis, Paenibacillus taichungensis, Pichia kluyveri, Pichia spartinae, Saccharomyces bayanus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Wicker hamiella lipohila, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus, alone or in any combination thereof. In some aspects, the suitable bacteria can include Bacillus velezensis and Lactobacillus plantarum, alone or in any combination thereof. The microbial fermentate products are suitable for use in the methods described elsewhere herein.

Feed Additive Compositions

[0031] The feed additive compositions herein can include a microbial fermentate product or they can include a microbial fermentate product plus other components as described below. The feed additive compositions can include a microbial fermentate product in the feed additive composition in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria in poultry. The inhibitory' effect against Campylobacter bacteria can result in one or more beneficial effects for the animals feed the feed additive compositions, as will be discussed in more detail below.

[0032] The feed additive compositions can be fed directly to poultry or they can be fed to poultry as a component of a poultry feed. The feed additive compositions can be in any suitable form, including a solid or a liquid. For example, the feed additive composition can be a solid composition in the form of granules, flakes, pellets, powders, tablets, capsules, cubes, crumbles, pastes, gels, and the like. In various aspects, the feed additive composition can be a dry solid. In some aspects, the feed additive composition can be a liquid spray, a liquid water additive, or a liquid water dip bath for application to a feed product. In various aspects, the food additive compositions herein can include a liquid drench. It will be appreciated that the liquid drench can include one or more of a suspension, a solution, or an emulsion. In some aspects, the feed additive compositions herein can include a mixture of a solid and liquid component. The feed additive composition can be suitable for administration in the diet of various species of poultry as described in more detail below.

[0033] The feed additive compositions herein can have both shelf-life stability and temperature stability. The feed additive compositions herein further can be stable during processing and storage. The feed additive compositions can have a shelf life of approximately 24 months. In various aspects, the feed additive compositions can have a shelf life of up to approximately 30 months. In various aspects, the feed additive compositions can be stable at any storage temperature from 18 °C to 45 °C. In various aspects, the feed additive compositions herein further can be stable at various additional storage temperatures ranging from -80 °C to 18 °C. In various aspects, the feed additive compositions herein further can be stable at processing temperatures that meet or exceed 90 °C during processing, such as during pelleting, extrusion, and the like.

[0034] The amount of feed additive composition administered in the diet of an animal can vary depending on the stage of animal growth and the nutritional requirements of the animal. The amount of feed additive composition can be determined based on the concentration of microbial fennentate product required to provide an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria. In various aspects, the inhibitory effect can be a direct or indirect inhibition of the growth of Campylobacter bacteria. In various aspects, the microbial fermentate products herein produce an inhibitory effect against various species of Campylobacter bacteria, including, but not to be limited to Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter concisus, Campylobacter curvas, Campylobacter fetus, Campylobacter helveticus, Campylobacter hepaticus, Campylobacter hyointestinalis Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter lari, Campylobacter upsaliensis, and Campylobacter ureolyticus .

[0035] In an aspect, the amount of feed additive composition used herein can be determined based on the concentration of microbial fermentate product required to provide an amount effective to inhibit the growth of Campylobacter bacteria. In various aspects, the microbial fermentate products herein can be used in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus.

[0036] In various aspects, the feed additive compositions herein can include a microbial fermentate product that is sorbed by a carrier and fed to an animal. The microbial fermentate products can be absorbed by a earner matenal, adsorbed by a earner matenal, or both. Suitable carriers for use herein can include, but are not limited to, soy hulls, wheat hulls, or combinations thereof. In some aspects, the carrier can include an inert insoluble fiber carrier such as a cellulose powder, hemicellulose, lignin, or combinations thereof. In some aspects, the carrier can include a mineral such as a calcium carbonate. The microbial fermentate products herein can be sorbed by the carriers, including absorbed or adsorbed, in any ratio suitable to transport the effective amount to the ceca of poultry. In some aspects, the feed additive compositions herein can be added as a component of a poultry feed and then fed to an animal.

[0037] The microbial fermentate product herein can be added to the diet of poultry in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria. In various aspects, the microbial fermentate product can be present at an amount effective at a concentration of from 0.01 kg/tonne, 0.05 kg/tonne, 0.10 kg/tonne, 0.15 kg/tonne, 0.20 kg/tonne, 0.25 kg/tonne, 0.30 kg/tonne, 0.35 kg/tonne, 0.40 kg/tonne, 0.45 kg/tonne, 0.50 kg/tonne, 0.55 kg/tonne, 0.60 kg/tonne, 0.65 kg/tonne, 0.70 kg/tonne, 0.75 kg/tonne, 0.80 kg/tonne, 0.85 kg/tonne, 0.90 kg/tonne, 0.95 kg/tonne, 1.0 kg/tonne, 1.25 kg/tonne, 1.5 kg/tonne, 1.75 kg/tonne, 2.0 kg/tonne, 2.25 kg/tonne, 2.5 kg/tonne, 3.0 kg/tonne, 3.5 kg/tonne, 4.0 kg/tonne, 4.5 kg/tonne, 5.0 kg/tonne, 5.5 kg/tonne, 6.0 kg/tonne, 6.5 kg/tonne, 7.0 kg/tonne, 7.5 kg/tonne, 8.0 kg/tonne, 8.5 kg/tonne, 9.0 kg/tonne, 9.5 kg/tonne, 10.0 kg/tonne, 10.5 kg/tonne, l l.O kg/tonne, 11.5 kg/tonne, 12.0 kg/tonne, 12.5 kg/tonne, 13.0 kg/tonne, 13.5 kg/tonne, 14.0 kg/tonne, 14.5 kg/tonne, or 15.0 kg/tonne, or can be any amount falling within a range of any of the forgoing. In some aspects, the microbial fermentate product can be added to the diet of an animal at an inclusion rate that can include more than 15.0 kg/tonne microbial fermentate if such an inclusion rate does not preclude the animal from being supplied the nutritional requirements necessary to promote and maintain the normal growth and health of the animal. In some aspects, it will be understood that for various control treatment groups no microbial fermentate product is included in the diet of untreated poultry for the sake of comparison. Various beneficial effects and the measurement thereof are discussed elsewhere herein. As used herein, the terms “inclusion rate,” and “amount effective,” are used interchangeably unless otherwise noted.

Poultry Feed

[0038] The feed additive compositions herein can be administered directly to any suitable poultry species or can be administered to poultry as a component of a poultry feed. The poultry feed suitable for use herein can be a complete poultry feed to which the feed additive composition is added. A complete poultry feed can include a nutritionally adequate feed for poultry that is compounded to be fed as the sole ration and can maintain life and/or promote growth and production without any additional substances being consumed except water. Complete poultry feeds can be compounded mixtures containing any combination of nutrients, as described below, plus various energy sources such as grains, fat, and protein. In addition, various major vitamins and minerals can be added to the complete poultry feed. A complete poultry feed can include ingredients such as, but not to be limited to, soybean, com, wheat, soybean meal, meat and bone meal, fats and oils (e.g., soya oil), limestone, monocalcium phosphate (CaHiPiOs). sodium bicarbonate (NaHCOi), sodium chloride (NaCl), ammino acids (e.g., L-lysine HC1, DL- methionine, and L-threonine), vitamins (e.g., vitamin A (retinyl-acetate), vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), vitamin E (DL-a-tocopherol), vitamin K3 (menadione), vitamin Bl (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine-HCL), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), vitamin b3 (niacin), D-pantothenic acid, vitamin B9 (folic acid), vitamin B9 (biotin), salts, organic acids, choline chloride (C5H14CINO), potassium iodide (KI), ferrous(II) sulfate monohydrate oxide (FeSO4.H2O), cupric sulfate (CUSO4.5H2O), manganese (II) oxide (MnO), zinc sulfate (ZnSCh.fbO), sodium selenite (Na2SeOi), enzymes, phytase, and various combinations thereof.

[0039] Methods of preparing poultry feed are described, for example, in Feeding Poultry: The Classic Guide to Poultry Nutrition for Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, Geese, Gamebirds, and Pigeons, G.F. Heauser, Norton Creek Press, 2003 and Commercial Poultry Nutrition, 3^rd Edition, Leeson et al., University Books, 2005.

[0040] The total protein in the poultry feed can be from about 10 wt.% to about 40 wt.%, from about 12 wt.% to about 35 wt.%, from about 15 wt.% to about 30 wt.%, or from about 16 wt.% to about 26 wt.%. Total protein in the poultry feed can be from 5 wt.%, 6 wt.%, 7 wt.%, 8 wt.%, 9 wt.%, 10 wt.%, 11 wt.%, 12 wt.%, 13 wt.%, 14 wt.%, 15 wt.%, 16 wt.%, 17 wt.%, 18 wt.%, 19 wt.%, 20 wt.%, 21 wt.%, 22 wt.%, 23 wt.%, 24 wt.%, 25 wt.%, 26 wt.%, 27 wt.%, 28 wt.%, 29 wt.%, 30 wt.%, 31 wt.%, 32 wt.%, 33 wt.%, 34 wt.%, 35 wt.%, 36 wt.%, 37 wt.%, 38 wt.%, 39 wt.%, or 40 wt.% of the poultry feed, or can be any amount falling within a range of any of the forgoing. The total protein in the poultry feed can be variable depending on the formulation and intended use of the feed.

[0041] Total fat (e.g., oil, fat, and/or lipids) in the poultry feed can be from about 0.5 wt.% to about 10 wt.%, from about 1.0 wt.% to about 8 wt.%, from about 1.5 wt.% to about 7 wt.%, or from about 3 wt.% to about 6 wt.%. Total fat in the poultry feed can be from 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0%, 3.5%, 4.0%, 4.25%, 4.5%, 4.75%, 5.0%, 5.25%, 5.5%, 5.75%, 6.0%, 6.5%, 7.0%, 7.5%, 8.0%, 8.5%, 9.0%, 9.5%, or 10.0% by percent weight of the poultry feed, or can be any amount falling within a range of any of the forgoing. The total fat in the poultry feed can be variable depending on the formulation and intended use of the feed. For example, a poultry feed formulated for a chicken can include from about 1.5 wt.% to about 10.0 wt.% fat. A poultry feed formulated for a turkey can include from about 0.5 wt.% to about 10.0 wt.% fat.

[0042] The feed additive compositions herein can be any suitable feed product designed for mixing with another composition, such as a base feed, to form the poultry feed. The feed additive composition further can include a premix, a concentrate, a base mix, a supplement, a top dress, or a combination thereof. L0043J A base feed can be a commercially available feed or other animal feed. A base feed suitable for poultry can refer to a ration that contains any of the various cereal grains, their byproducts, and other sources of primary nutrition (e.g., fat, starch, and protein) such as barley, blood meal, bone meal, corn (e.g., whole or meal), poultry meal, hominy, soybeans (e.g., whole or meal), tallow, wheat (e.g., whole, bran, or middlings), or a combination thereof.

[0044] A premix can be a composition that can include vitamins, minerals, appropriate medications, carriers, and combinations thereof, and are typically less than 1 wt.% of the diet but can be higher. The carrier can increase bulk to improve distribution in compounding to prepare a more complete feed material. Such premixes can be used to formulate concentrates and complete feeds.

[0045] A concentrate can be a composition that can include high-protein feed components and can also include vitamins, minerals, appropriate medications, and combinations thereof. A concentrate is typically 5 wt.% to 40 wt.% of the diet but can be higher or lower. A concentrate can include additives. Concentrates can be used to make complete feeds by adding available grams or other energy sources. An additive can include an ingredient or a chemical preparation or combination of ingredients which is added to the base feed to fulfill a specific nutritional requirement. It can be used in micro quantities and may have no nutritional value but is added to the feed to improve its quality' and efficacy . Feed additives can include, but are not limited to, acidifiers, antioxidants, aromatics, deodorizing agents, flavor enhancers, mold inhibitors, pellet binders, preservatives, sweeteners, toxin binders, and the like.

[0046] A base mix can be similar to a supplement but can contain just a portion of the animal’s (e.g., the poultry's) protein requirements, so it can be used with high protein ingredients and grain (e.g., ground gram and protein source, such as soybean meal) to form the poultry feed. A base mix can include a mixture of one or more macro-mineral sources and one or more micro-ingredient sources such as vitamin premixes, trace mineral premixes, essential amino acids and feed additives, that when mixed with sources of protein and energy form a complete feed.

[0047] A supplement can include a feed ingredient, or a chemical preparation or combination of feed ingredients, intended to supply any deficiencies in an animal (e g., poultry) feed and/or improve the nutritive balance or performance of the animal or poultry feed.

[0048] A top dress can include a supplement that can be added at specific time intervals to the bird’s ration to provide a specific supplement or supplements over a time period that makes it inconvenient or difficult to include in a complete feed. L0049J The feed additive compositions herein can be added to a premix, a concentrate, a supplement, a top dress, or a base mix that is added to a poultry feed and can be formulated such that the feed additive composition is any suitable proportion of the diet, such as 30 wt.% or less of the poultry feed, or 10 wt.% or less of the poultry feed. In various aspects, the feed additive compositions herein can make up any suitable proportion of the diet, such as from 0. 1 wt.% to 30 wt.%, 1 wt.% to 30 wt.%, 1 wt.% to 15 wt.%, 1 wt.% to 5 wt.%, 15 wt.% to 30 wt.%. In various aspects, the feed additive compositions herein can make up any suitable proportion of the diet, such as from about 1 wt.%, 2 wt.%, 3 wt.%, 4 wt.%, 5 wt.%, 6 wt.%, 8 wt.%, 10 wt.%, 12 wt.%, 14 wt.%, 16 wt.%, 18 wt.%, 20 wt.%. 22 wt.%, 24 wt.%, 26 wt.%, 28 wt.%, or 30 wt.% of the poultry feed, or can be any amount falling within a range of any of the forgoing. It will be appreciated that in some aspects, the feed additive composition can be present at greater than 30 wt.% of the poultry' feed.

[0050] The feed additive compositions described herein can form any suitable proportion of a poultry feed as a portion of a premix, base mix, concentrate, supplement, top dress, or a combination thereof. The feed additive composition can be about 0.01 wt.% to about 99.9 wt.%, about 0.1 wt.% to about 95 wt.%, or about 0.5 wt.% to about 90 wt.% of the poultry feed, such that the final poultry feed includes 0.01 kg/tonne to 15.0 kg/tonne of the feed additive composition. It will be appreciated that the amount of microbial fermentate product present in the feed additive compositions and effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria can include a concentration falling within the range from 0.01 kg/tonne to 15.0 kg/tonne. Furthermore, the amount of microbial fermentate product effective to produce a beneficial effect, including improved health measures and enhanced performance measures, in animals infected with Campylobacter bacteria can include a concentration falling within a range from 0.01 kg/tonne to 15.0 kg/tonne.

[0051] For example, the microbial fermentate product can be added to a poultry feed in an amount effective to produce one or more beneficial effects in an animal infected with Campylobacter bacteria In various aspects, the microbial fermentate product can be added to a poultry feed at concentrations including from 0.01 kg/tonne, 0.05 kg/tonne, 0.10 kg/tonne, 0.15 kg/tonne, 0.20 kg/tonne, 0.25 kg/tonne, 0.30 kg/tonne, 0.35 kg/tonne, 0.40 kg/tonne, 0.45 kg/tonne, 0.50 kg/tonne, 0.55 kg/tonne, 0.60 kg/tonne, 0.65 kg/tonne, 0.70 kg/tonne, 0.75 kg/tonne, 0.80 kg/tonne, 0.85 kg/tonne, 0.90 kg/tonne, 0.95 kg/tonne, 1.0 kg/tonne, 1.25 kg/tonne, 1.5 kg/tonne, 1.75 kg/tonne, 2.0 kg/tonne, 2.25 kg/tonne, 2.5 kg/tonne, 3.0 kg/tonne, 3.5 kg/tonne, 4.0 kg/tonne, 4.5 kg/tonne, 5.0 kg/tonne, 5.5 kg/tonne, 6.0 kg/tonne, 6.5 kg/tonne, 7.0 kg/tonne, 7.5 kg/tonne, 8.0 kg/tonne, 8.5 kg/tonne, 9.0 kg/tonne, 9.5 kg/tonne, 10.0 kg/tonne, 10.5 kg/tonne, 11.0 kg/tonne, 11.5 kg/tonne, 12.0 kg/tonne, 12.5 kg/tonne, 13.0 kg/tonne, 13.5 kg/tonne, 14.0 kg/tonne, 14.5 kg/tonne, or 15.0 kg/tonne, or can be any amount falling within a range of any of the forgoing. It will be understood that for various control treatment groups, no microbial fermentate product is included in the diet of untreated poultry for the sake of comparison.

[0052] The inclusion rate of the microbial fermentate products suitable for use herein can be expressed as kg/tonne, Ib/ton, or wt.%. It will be appreciated that a kg/tonne value can be converted to a wt.% by dividing the kg/tonne value by 1000 and multiplying the resulting value by 100. It will be appreciated that a “tonne” is also referred to in the art as a “metric ton,” where the value of a tonne is equivalent to approximately 1000 kg (i.e., 2204.62 pounds). Unless otherwise noted, as used herein the value for “ton” present in the units Ib/ton is equivalent to approximately 2000 pounds.

Poultry Animals

[0053] The feed additive compositions herein can be formulated for use in any suitable species of poultry and at any suitable life stage. The term “poultry” as used herein, refers to domestic fowls, including chickens, turkey s, geese, ducks, ostriches, quails, and pheasants raised to produce meat or eggs. Poultry can include birds characterized as “broilers,” defined as birds reared for meat production, and can also include birds characterized as “layers,” defined as birds reared for laying eggs. Poultry further can include birds characterized as “breeders,” defined as birds that have reached the age of sexual maturity and can lay eggs. In some aspects, the poultry described herein can be selected from the group including a chicken, a turkey, a duck, and a goose. In some aspects, the poultry is a chicken. As used herein, the terms “chicken,” “broiler chicken,” “broiler,” “layer,” and “bird,” are used interchangeably unless otherwise noted.

[0054] Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) suitable for use in herein can include, but are not limited to, breeds and strains such as Hy-Line, Lohmann, H&N, Hendrix, Ross, Cobb, Hybro, Heritage, Hubbard, ISA, Shaver, Arbor Acres, Indian River, Peterson, and Dekalb.

[0055] Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo domes ficus} suitable for use herein can include, but are not limited to, breeds and strains such as Broad Breasted White, Nicholas, British United Turkeys, Hybrid Turkeys, Broad Breasted Bronze, and Standard Bronze. Methods for Feeding Poultry

[0056] The present disclosure provides methods for feeding poultry the feed additive compositions described herein. The methods for feeding poultry can include feeding an animal or group of animals a microbial fermentate product in the feed additive composition in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria to provide a beneficial effect to the poultry The beneficial effect can be determined as one or more improved health measures or enhanced performance measures, or a combination thereof, in an animal or group of animals infected with Campylobacter bacteria. In various aspects, a beneficial effect resulting from an enhancement in performance measures can be a direct result of a beneficial effect due to improved health measures in animals infected with Campylobacter bacteria. In other aspects, a beneficial effect resulting from an enhancement in performance measures can be an indirect result of a beneficial effect due to improved health measures in animals infected with Campylobacter bacteria. In yet other aspects, a beneficial effect resulting from an enhancement in performance measures can be a direct or an indirect result, or both, of a beneficial effect due to improved health measures in animals infected with Campylobacter bacteria. It will be appreciated that the beneficial effects described herein can be observed in poultry infected with Campylobacter bacteria even if no pathogenic symptoms are present in the poultry. It will further be appreciated that in various instances, animals that are not infected with Campylobacter bacteria can also exhibit a beneficial effect when fed the feed additive compositions herein, including one or more improved health measures or enhanced performance measures, or a combination thereof.

Beneficial Effects

[0057] Producing a beneficial effect in an animal can be a result of the direct or indirect inhibition of the growth of Campylobacter bacteria in response to the administration of the feed additive compositions herein. In an aspect, the beneficial effects against Campylobacter bacteria can be measured in the animal(s) as one or more improved health measures or enhanced performance measures. In various aspects, the improved health measures can include a decrease in infection incidence, a decrease in infection duration, and an improvement of the overall wellbeing of the animals. The improved health measure further can include a reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals to reduce the incidence of food- borne illness caused by Campylobacter bacteria.

[0058] The improved health measures can include a decrease in infection incidence and a decrease in infection duration in an animal. The improved health measures can include a reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals. A decrease in infection incidence, a decrease of infection duration, and a reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in the animals can improve the health and wellbeing of the animals as compared relative to a corresponding method using poultry feed that does not include the feed additive compositions. In some aspects the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals can result in a reduction of food-borne illness caused by Campylobacter bacteria. The reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals can be determined by a measuring a decreased concentration of Campylobacter bacteria that includes at least a 1-log reduction of Campylobacter bacteria in the digestive tract of the animal. In some aspects, the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals can be determined by a measuring a decreased concentration of Campylobacter bacteria that includes at least a 2-log reduction of Campylobacter bacteria in the digestive tract of the animal. The reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals can be determined by a measuring a decreased concentration of Campylobacter bacteria that includes at least a 1-log or 2-log reduction of Campylobacter bacteria in the digestive tract of the animal can be measured relative to a corresponding method using poultry feed that does not include the feed additive compositions.

[0059] The beneficial effects against Campylobacter bacteria can also be measured in the animal(s) as one or more enhanced performance measures. Poultry fed the feed additive compositions by the methods herein can exhibit enhanced performance measures, including an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or any combination of these traits when infected with Campylobacter bacteria The enhanced performance measures in poultry fed the feed additive compositions herein can include an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or combinations thereof, relative to poultry fed a feed lacking the feed additive compositions. Birds fed the feed additive compositions by the methods herein further can exhibit prevention of infection with Campylobacter bacteria or improved treatment efficacy and/or reduction of severity of colonization when colonized with Campylobacter bacteria. The enhanced performance measures described herein can be observed in poultry infected with Campylobacter bacteria through a challenge in a controlled setting or in poultry infected Campylobacter bacteria in their habitat in an amount effective to colonize the ceca of the poultry. It will be appreciated that the enhanced performance measures described herein can be observed in birds fed the feed additive compositions herein even when the birds are not infected with Campylobacter bacteria in an amount effective to colonize the ceca of the poultry.

[0060] The methods described herein can increase the weight of poultry fed the feed additive compositions. The weight can be increased by at least 0.5%, at least 1%, at least 2%, at least 3%, at least 4%, at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, or at least 30%, or any amount falling within a range of the forgoing, relative to poultry fed an equivalent poultry feed lacking the feed additive compositions. For example, the increase in weight can include an average weigh increase of from at least 0.5% to 30%, or from at least 0.5% to 10%, or from at least 10% to 30% in a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to an average weight in a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition.

[0061] Weight of individual birds can be measured using standard weighing techniques at any predetermined time interval over the course of the lifespan of the bird. By way of example, birds can be weighed at birth and then weighed each day following birth until the animal expires. In some aspects, the birds can be weighed twice a day, every other day, weekly, or monthly during the lifespan of the bird. Weight can be compared across treatment groups and to controls not fed the feed additive compositions over one or more time periods during the lifespan of a bird(s). Comparison of weight gain at various time intervals, across treatment groups, and to controls (e.g., both positive and negative controls) can be made to determine the effect of a given feed additive composition on weight gain.

[0062] The methods described herein can decrease the feed conversion ratio of poultry fed the feed additive compositions. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) is the measure of an animal(s) efficiency at converting the total amount of feed that the animal(s) consumes over a given period of time against the total weight output (including body mass and/or eggs produced) that the animal(s) gains from consuming the feed during the given period of time. FCR is a unitless value that correlates to the amount of total weight output as measured by body mass and/or eggs produced by the animal(s) fed the feed additive compositions. FCR can be determined using the following formula:

[0063] Various factors can affect FCR, including, but not to be limited to the age of an animal or population of animals, feed quality, genetic makeup of the animal(s), type of animal, water consumption, environmental conditions, and animal management practices. FCR ratios for poultry treated with the microbial fermentates herein can include, but are not to be limited to, FCR ratios of from 0.5 to 10, or from 0.5 to 5. In various aspects, the FCR for poultry feed the feed additive compositions herein can be from 1.300 to 1.800. In various aspects the FCR can be reported as points from 0.5 to 10. It will be appreciated that a lower feed conversion ratio can correlate to a greater efficiency by the animal(s) at converting the total amount of feed consumed over a known period of time into total weight output (e.g., as measured by body mass and/or egg production). [0064] The feed conversion ratio can be decreased by at least 0.5%, at least 1.0%, at least 1.5% at least 2%, at least 3%, at least 4%, at least 5%, at least 6%, at least 7%, at least 8%, at least 9%, or at least 10%, or any amount falling within a range of the forgoing, relative to the feed conversion ratio in poultry fed an equivalent poultry feed lacking the feed additive compositions. For example, the decrease in feed conversion ratio can include an average feed conversion ratio decrease of from 0.5% to 10% in a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to an average feed conversion ratio in a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition.

[0065] The methods described herein can increase egg production of the poultry. Egg production can be increased by at least 0.5%, at least 1.0%, at least 1.5% at least 2%, at least 3%, at least 4%, at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, or at least 25%, or any amount falling within a range of the forgoing, relative to poultry fed an equivalent feed lacking the feed additive compositions. For example, the increase in egg production can include an average increase of from at least 0.5% to 25%, or from at least 0.5% to 10%, or from at least 10% to 25% in the egg production of a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition.

[0066] Egg production can be calculated over the course of the lifespan of the birds being fed the feed additive compositions herein. Egg production can be determined by monitoring and recording the number of eggs laid by each individual bird or of the number of eggs laid by the entire flock of birds. In some aspects, the number of eggs laid by each individual bird, or the entire flock of birds, can be recorded once a day, every other day, weekly, or monthly during the lifespan of the birds. Comparison of egg production at various intervals, across treatment groups, and to controls (e.g., both positive and negative controls) can be made to determine the effect of a given feed additive composition on egg productivity.

[0067] The methods described herein can decrease mortality of the poultry. Mortality can be decreased by at least 0.5%, at least 1.0%, at least 2%, at least 3%, at least 4%, at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 30%, or at least 40%, or any amount falling within a range of the forgoing, relative to poultry fed an equivalent poultry feed lacking the feed additive compositions. For example, the decrease in mortality can include an average decrease of from at least 0.5% to 40%, or from at least 0.5% to 10%, or from at least 10% to 40% in the mortality of a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition.

[0068] Mortality can be monitored over the course of a lifespan of the birds being fed the feed additive compositions herein. Mortality can be recorded as the death of one bird or a percentage of a population of birds. Comparison of mortality at various intervals, across treatment groups, and to controls (e.g., both positive and negative controls) can be made to determine the effect of a given feed additive composition on mortality over the course of a treatment.

[0069] The methods described herein can decrease morbidity in the poultry. For example, morbidity can be decreased by at least 0.5%, at least 1.0%, at least 2%, at least 3%, at least 4%, at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 30%, or at least 40%, or any amount falling within a range of the forgoing, relative to poultry fed an equivalent poultry feed lacking the feed additive compositions. For example, the decrease in morbidity can include an average decrease of from at least 0.5% to 40%, or from at least 0.5% to 10%, or from at least 10% to 40% in the morbidity of a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition.

[0070] Morbidity' can be monitored over the course of a lifespan of the birds being fed the feed additive compositions herein. Morbidity can include the incidence of one or more type of illness identified by various symptoms of necrotic enteritis or other illness, including but not to be limited to, inactivity, hstlessness, diarrhea, bloody stools, lesions, cloudy eyes, pus in the eyes, tissue mass, scaly legs, loss of appetite, respiratory distress, paralysis, and the like. Morbidity' can be recorded as symptomatic illness in one bird or a percentage of a population of birds exhibiting symptomatic illness. Comparison of morbidity at various intervals, across treatment groups, and to controls (e.g., both positive and negative controls) can be made to determine the effect of a given feed additive composition on morbidity.

[0071] Feeding poultry' with the feed additive compositions can begin upon hatching and can extend throughout an animal’s lifecycle. Feeding poultry the feed additive compositions can also be performed over a narrower time span or life stage. It will be appreciated that the feed additive compositions can be administered as a daily feed ration that is fed to the poultry on most days or on all days. In various aspects, the feed additive composition can be administered to the poultry one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven days of the week, or a range falling within any of the forgoing, for a predetermined time span, or for the life of the animal.

[0072] The feed additive compositions herein can be fed to the animal(s) during any of its discrete life stages, throughout the lifespan of the animal, or only when the animal has an active infection. By way of example, in some aspects the feed additive compositions can be fed at any inclusion rate described herein to an animal throughout the duration of an active infection and until the infection is cleared, where the animal can then be switched back to a diet that lacks the feed additive compositions. In some aspects, the feed additive compositions herein can be fed prophylactically to the animals to prevent disease. In some aspects, the feed additive compositions herein can be fed prophylactically to the animals at a first inclusion rate, and if the animals become infected with a pathogen the animal could be switched to a diet including a feed additive composition at a second inclusion rate, where the second inclusion rate is higher than the first inclusion rate. Once an animal clears an infection consuming a diet at a second inclusion rate, the animal can be returned to a diet at a first inclusion rate or a diet having no feed additive composition included therein. The first inclusion rate and second inclusion rate can include any inclusion rate or a range of inclusion rates as described elsewhere herein.

[0073] The methods herein can include feeding poultry a feed additive composition directly and/or feeding poultry a poultry feed containing the feed additive composition. The feed additive compositions fed to the poultry can include one or more microbial fermentate products, or it can include one or more microbial fermentate products plus other components as described elsewhere herein. The methods of feeding the poultry herein can inhibit the growth of Campylobacter bacteria in the poultry. In an aspect, the amount of feed additive composition can be determined based on the concentration of microbial fermentate product required to provide an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria, such as directly or indirectly inhibiting the growth of Campylobacter bacteria. The methods using the feed additive compositions herein can provide various advantages to poultry as compared to corresponding methods using poultry feed that does not include the feed additive compositions. The methods using the feed additive compositions herein can produce a beneficial effect in an animal fed the feed additive composition as observed relative to poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition.

[0074] The methods herein can include any suitable methods of administering the feed additive compositions to poultry. In some aspects, the methods herein are directed to administering the feed additive compositions chickens or turkeys. The methods can include mixing the feed additive compositions with a base feed, a premix, a concentrate, a base mix, a supplement, a top dress, or a combination thereof as described elsewhere herein, and providing the mixture to poultry for ingestion. In some aspects, the methods can include administering the feed additive compositions directly to poultry for ingestion. The methods can include administering a feed additive composition at a concentration in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria in a range from 0.01 kg/tonne, 0.05 kg/tonne, 0.10 kg/tonne, 0.15 kg/tonne, 0.20 kg/tonne, 0.25 kg/tonne, 0.30 kg/tonne, 0.35 kg/tonne, 0.40 kg/tonne, 0.45 kg/tonne, 0.50 kg/tonne, 0.55 kg/tonne, 0.60 kg/tonne, 0.65 kg/tonne, 0.70 kg/tonne, 0.75 kg/tonne, 0.80 kg/tonne, 0.85 kg/tonne, 0.90 kg/tonne, 0.95 kg/tonne, 1.0 kg/tonne, 1.25 kg/tonne, 1.5 kg/tonne,

I.75 kg/tonne, 2.0 kg/tonne, 2.25 kg/tonne, 2.5 kg/tonne, 3.0 kg/tonne, 3.5 kg/tonne, 4.0 kg/tonne, 4.5 kg/tonne, 5.0 kg/tonne, 5.5 kg/tonne, 6.0 kg/tonne, 6.5 kg/tonne, 7.0 kg/tonne, 7.5 kg/tonne, 8.0 kg/tonne, 8.5 kg/tonne, 9.0 kg/tonne, 9.5 kg/tonne, 10.0 kg/tonne, 10.5 kg/tonne, 11.0 kg/tonne,

I I.5 kg/tonne, 12.0 kg/tonne, 12.5 kg/tonne, 13.0 kg/tonne, 13.5 kg/tonne, 14.0 kg/tonne, 14.5 kg/tonne, or 15.0 kg/tonne, or any amount falling within a range of any of the forgoing. It will be understood that in some aspects, such as for various control treatment groups, no feed additive composition is included in the diet of poultry. In some aspects, the methods can include use of a feed additive compositions in the diet of an animal at an inclusion rate that can include more than 15.0 kg/tonne feed additive composition as long as the inclusion rate does not preclude the animal from being supplied the nutritional requirements necessary to promote and maintain the normal growth and health of the animal.

[0075] The methods herein can include inhibiting the growth of Campylobacter bacteria in poultry. The methods can include feeding poultry by administering the feed additive composition containing a microbial fermentate product to the poultry. The microbial fermentate product can be present in the feed additive compositions administered to the poultry in an amount effective to produce an inhibitoiy effect against Campylobacter bacteria, where the inhibitory effect results in one or more beneficial effects for the poultry. In various aspects, administering the feed additive composition can produce an inhibitory effect including reducing the overall number of Campylobacter bacteria present in the poultry or preventing growth of Campylobacter bacteria in the poultry. The feed additive compositions can be administered to poultry in an amount effective to directly or indirectly inhibit the growth of Campylobacter bacteria. The Campylobacter bacteria include one or more of species of Campylobacter bacteria, including, but not to be limited to Campylobacter coll, Campylobacter concisus, Campylobacter curvas, Campylobacter fetus, Campylobacter helveticus, Campylobacter hepaticus, Campylobacter hyointestinalis Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter lari, Campylobacter upsaliensis, and Campylobacter ureolyticus.

[0076] The methods described herein can reduce or prevent a Campylobacter infection in poultry. Administering the feed additive composition containing a microbial fermentate product to the poultry as described herein can reduce or prevent a Campylobacter infection in the poultry. The microbial fermentate product can be present in the feed additive compositions administered to the poultry in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria, where the inhibitor effect results in one or more beneficial effects for the poultry. When poultry fed the feed additive compositions described herein are challenged with or infected via an environmentally acquired infection in their habitat with Campylobacter bacteria, the incidence of an infection in the poultry can be reduced relative to incidence of an infection in poultry fed a poultry feed lacking the feed additive compositions. For example, incidence of Campylobacter infection can be reduced at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, or at least 70%, or any amount falling within a range of the forgoing, as compared to the incidence of Campylobacter infection in poultry fed a feed lacking the feed additive compositions. In various aspects, the incidence of Campylobacter infection can be reduced to more than 70%.

[0077] The methods described herein can treat or reduce the severity of a Campylobacter infection. Administering the feed additive composition containing a microbial fermentate product to the poultry as described herein can reduce the severity of a Campylobacter infection in the poultry. The microbial fermentate product can be present in the feed additive compositions administered to the poultry in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria, where the inhibitory effect results in one or more beneficial effects for the poultry. The severity of a Campylobacter infection can be measured as the mortality rate, or culling rate, of birds infected with Campylobacter bacteria. For example, a reduction in the mortality rate can indicate a reduction in the severity of a Campylobacter infection. The methods described herein can treat a Campylobacter infection in poultry by reducing one or more symptoms of the infection, reducing mortality rate, reducing the morbidity rate, or increasing the number of birds that clear the infection.

[0078] The methods described herein include a method for enhancing performance measures in poultry. The method can include administering a feed additive composition including a microbial fermentate product to poultry, where the microbial fermentate product is present in the feed additive composition in an amount effective for enhancing performance measures in the poultry. In an aspect, the method includes enhancing performance measures in poultry that are infected with Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus. In an aspect, the enhanced performance measures include an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or any combination thereof. The enhanced performance measures are described in more detail elsewhere herein.

[0079] The methods herein can include challenging a population of poultry with Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus at an amount of from 1.0 * 10° to 1.0 * 10¹⁰ colony forming units (CFU) in a dietary ration of an animal, or of from 1.0 x 10³ to 1.0 x 10⁹ CFU, or from 1.0 x 10⁸ to 60.0 x 10⁸ CFU in 1-3 ml volumes mixed into from 15 to 30 grams of poultry feed per bird. For example, the methods can include challenging a population of poultry with Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus at an amount of from at least 1.0 x 10°

CFU, at least 1.0 x 10¹ CFU, at least 1.0 x 10² CFU, at least 1.0 x 10³ CFU, at least 1.0 x 10⁴

CFU, at least 1.0 x 10⁵ CFU, at least 1.0 x 10⁶ CFU, at least 1.0 x 10⁷ CFU, at least 1.0 x 10⁸

CFU, at least 1.5 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 2.0 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 2.5 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 3.0 x 10⁸

CFU, at least 3.5 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 4.0 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 4.5 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 5.0 x 10⁸

CFU, at least 5.5 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 6.0 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 6.5 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 7.0 x 10⁸

CFU, at least 7.5 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 8.0 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 8.5 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 9.0 x 10⁸

CFU, at least 9.5 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 10 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 20 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 30 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 40 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 50 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 60 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 70 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 80 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 90 x 10⁸ CFU, at least 1.0 x 10⁹ CFU, at least 1.0 x 10¹⁰ CFU, or an amount falling within a range of any of the forgoing, in a daily ration of poultry feed per bird. In various aspects, the poultry feed used to deliver the dose of Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus does not contain a feed additive composition.

[0080] In some aspects, the dose of Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus can be administered directly to each bird in an enclosure, such as via oral gavage. In some aspects, the dose of Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus can be administered directly to each bird in an enclosure, such as via oral gavage. In some aspects, the dose of Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus can be administered directly to a predetermined number of birds per enclosure, where those birds are then returned to the enclosure with any remaining non-infected birds, and where the directly infected birds act as seeder birds that then go on to infect the remainder of birds in the enclosure through direct contact or through indirect contact such as through excrement in the environment. It will be appreciated that challenging a population of poultry can be performed using any strain of Campylobacter bacteria, or mixtures thereof, as described elsewhere herein.

[0081] Challenging a population of poultry with Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus can include administering an amount of from 1.0 x 10° to 1.0 x 10¹⁰ CFU, of from 1.0 x 10³ to 1.0 x 10⁹ CFU, or from 1.0 x 10⁸ CFU to 60.0 x 10⁸ CFU of Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus in 1-3 ml volumes mixed into from 15 to 30 grams in a daily ration of poultry feed per bird. The birds can be allowed to consume the mixture for anywhere from 0.5 to 4 hours post administration and then returned to the diet containing the feed additive compositions. In some aspects, the birds can have their feed trays emptied for 0 to 8 hours prior to administration of the mixture containing Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus. It will be appreciated that a challenge with Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus, or any other type of Campylobacter bacteria, can include a challenge in a controlled setting where the bacteria are administered directly to the poultry. While in some aspects herein the poultry can acquire Campylobacter infection during a challenge in a controlled setting, in other aspects the poultry treated with the feed additive compositions herein can acquire an infection with Campylobacter bacteria in their habitat. It will be appreciated that naturally acquired Campylobacter bacteria can include those acquired in the animals’ habitat where the bacteria are ingested in an amount effective to colonize the ceca of the animal(s). The beneficial effects described using the feed additive compositions herein can be observed in poultry infected with Campylobacter bacteria through a challenge in a controlled setting and in poultry infected with Campylobacter bacteria via an environmentally acquired infection in their habitat in an amount effective to colonize the ceca of the poultry.

EXAMPLES

[0082] Various aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood by reference to the following Examples which are offered by way of illustration. The present disclosure is not to be limited to the Examples given herein.

Example 1: Microbial Strains

[0083] Bacterial and fungal strains for generating the microbial fermentate products herein include one or more of: Bacillus cereus, Bacillus velezensis, Brevibacillus laterosporus, Candida krusei, Gluconobacter oxydans, Lactobacillus hordei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Metschnikowia lochheadii, Nocardia tenerifensis, Paenibacillus taichungensis, Pichia kluyveri, Pichia spartinae, Saccharomyces bayanus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Wickerhamiella lipohila, and Wicker hamomyces anomalus. All microbial strains listed were sourced from Cargill, Inc. (Wayzata, MN) unless otherwise indicated.

Example 2: Preparation of Microbial Fermentates for /n Vitro Analysis

[0084] For in vitro analysis, microbial derived fermentates of the various microbial strains described in Example 1 were prepared in 250 ml baffled shake flasks as follows. Bacterial cultures were grown in TSB (Tryptic Soy Broth) containing the following composition: Bacto™ Tryptone (Pancreatic Digest of Casein, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA USA) 17.0 g/L, Bacto™ Soytone (Peptic Digest of Soybean Meal, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA USA) 3.0 g/L, glucose 2.5 g/L, sodium chloride 5.0 g/L, and dipotassium hydrogen phosphate 2.5 g/L. Overnight seed cultures were generated using 13 ml round bottom tubes containing 3 ml of TSB medium. Seed culture medium was inoculated with fresh biomass from a single colony sampled from prepared agar plates using an inoculation loop. Seed cultures were incubated for 18-24 hours in a shaker at 250 rpm, 30 °C, and 75% humidity. Any fungal-derived fermentates using the various microbial strains described in Example 1 were prepared in YPD Medium (Yeast Extract Peptone Dextrose, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA USA) under the same environmental conditions unless otherwise indicated.

[0085] Working cultures for obtaining fermentates were generated using 250 ml baffled shake flasks containing 50 ml of either TSB or YPD medium that were inoculated at initial ODeoo (i.e., optical density at 600 nm) of 0. 1 using an inoculum from the overnight seed cultures. Working cultures were incubated on an agitation shaker at 250 rpm, 30 °C, and 75% humidity for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the agitation was turned off in the shaker and the cultures were incubated for an additional 24 hours. After 48 hours post inoculation, the 250 ml flasks were removed from the shaker and heated to 60 °C and held at that set point for one hour to heat inactivate the microbial culture biomass. Fermentates were packaged and stored at -80 °C until further chemical and biological characterization. Upon use in the in vitro analyses herein, the fermentates were thawed and heated to 75 °C for 15 min for an additional heat inactivation step. The contents were then split between 4 tubes, vortexed, and used immediately or stored at -20 °C for additional future use and testing. Example 3: Growth Inhibition of Campylobacter jejuni by Microbial Fermentates

[0086] The assay described in this example includes a single dose screening assay that evaluates the minimum inhibitory concentrations of microbial fermentates shown to inhibit Campylobacter growth against the bacterial fermentates, as described in Example 1 and prepared in Example 2.

[0087] For screening by plating assay, dilutions of various fermentates in Bolton Broth medium with Campylobacter bacterial suspension were analyzed. For each fermentate assayed, a treatment series of dilutions was included as outlined according to the experimental design in Table 1.

Table 1. Treatment Series Experimental Design

[0088] Various controls were also included in the assay. A positive control containing 3.9 ml of Bolton Broth and 100 pl of 1 x 10⁶ CFU/ml Campylobacter jejuni bacterial culture (a final bacterial cell concentration of approximately 5 x 10’ CFU/ml) was included. For each fermentate assayed, a control tube was included having 3.8 ml of Bolton Broth medium and 200 ul of each respective fermentate to monitor for possible background contamination in the samples and medium. A blank tube containing 4 ml of Bolton Broth was included as a blank control.

[0089] The treatment series of tubes were placed into a microaerobic incubator at 42 °C for 48 hours. Following incubation, the treatment tubes were removed from incubation, serially diluted at a 1 : 10 ratio ((i.e. , 10 percent volume (10% v/v))) six times in 0.1% peptone, and 100 pl was plated onto RAPID' Campylobacter Medium (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.) agar plates. The bacterial plates were incubated at 42 °C in the microaerobic chamber for 24-48 hours. Following incubation in the microaerobic incubator, colonies on each plate were counted, converted to log value, and findings were recorded. [0090] The bacterial fermentates tested in this example exhibited a minimum of a l-log reduction in colony forming units (CFU) against Campylobacter when compared to an untreated control. In general, the bacterial fermentates exhibited a minimum of a 2-log reduction in colony forming units (CFU) against Campylobacter when compared to an untreated control.

[0091] Exemplary results from using bacterial fermentates from Bacillus cereus, Bacillus velezensis, Brevibacillus laterosporus, Gluconobacter oxydans, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Wickerhamiella lipohila to determine their effects on the growth of Campylobacter jejuni are presented in Table 2. Samples were run in triplicate (n=3), and results are reported as average CFU/ml of Campylobacter jejuni at a fermentate dilution of 10% v/v.

Table 2. Effects of Various Bacterial Fermentates on the Growth of Campylobacter jejuni in a Direct Plating Assay

[0092] All bacterial fermentates tested in this example, except Bacillus cereus, exhibited a minimum of a 1-log reduction in colony forming units (CFU) against Campylobacter jejuni growth when compared to an untreated control. In many cases, the bacterial fermentates exhibited a minimum of a 2-log reduction in colony forming units (CFU) against Campylobacter jejuni growth when compared to an untreated control. Example 4: Growth Inhibition of Campylobacter jejuni by Microbial Fermentates - Dose Titration Assay

[0093] The assay described in this example includes a dose titration assay that evaluates the effects of various microbial fermentates against Campylobacter jejuni using bacterial strains described in Example 1 and prepared according to Example 2.

[0094] Campylobacter jejuni bacterial cultures were prepared in 250 ml baffled shake flasks containing 50 ml of sterile, supplemented Bolton Broth (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). The flasks were inoculated using a single colony that was picked from a culture plate, and grown overnight for 72 hours in an anaerobic chamber supplemented with 85 % N, 10 % CO₂ and 5 % H at 250 rpm and 39 °C. Following incubation, the culture was diluted to an OD₆₀₀ of 0. 1 in sterile, supplemented Bolton Broth medium using a clean cuvette in an optical spectrophotometer. [0095] Each well of the first row of a 96-well round bottom microtiter plate was prepared with 160 pl of sterile, supplemented Bolton Broth medium. For each fermentate sample assayed, a 20 pl aliquot at a 1 :10 ratio, or 0.1 dilution (i.e., 10 percent volume (10% v/v)), was added to three replicate wells and incubated at 39 °C for 48 hours. Approximately 5 x 10⁴ CFU of Campylobacter bacteria in 10 pl of sterile, supplemented Bolton Broth medium was added to each well. Control samples were included in the assays as a non-inoculated dilution series containing no fermentate. A “negative control plate” without bacterial culture was also included to monitor for sterility.

[0096] After incubation of Campylobacter with the bacterial fermentates at 39 °C for 48 hours, direct plating of each Campylobacter sample was performed using serial dilutions of each sample and streaking cultures onto selective and differential Bolton Broth plating medium. The bacterial plates were incubated at 37 °C in an anaerobic chamber for 48 hours. Following incubation, colonies on each plate were counted, converted to log value, and findings were recorded.

[0097] Exemplary results from using bacterial fermentates from Acetobacter peroxydans, Bacillus velezensis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, to determine their effects on the growth of Campylobacter jejuni are presented in Table 3. Samples were run in triplicate (n=3), and results are reported as average CFU/ml of Campylobacter jejuni at fermentate dilutions of 40 % v/v, 20 % v/v, 10 % v/v, 5 % v/v, 2.5 % v/v, and 1 .25 % v/v. Table 3. Effects of Various Bacterial Fermentates on the Growth of Campylobacter jejuni in a Serial Dilution Assay

[0098] The bacterial fermentates tested in this example exhibited a minimum of a 1-log reduction in colony forming units (CFU) against Campylobacter jejuni growth when compared to an untreated control. In many cases, the bacterial fermentates exhibited a minimum of a 2-log reduction in colony forming units (CFU) against Campylobacter jejuni growth when compared to an untreated control.

Example 5: Analysis of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of Microbial Fermentates on Growth Inhibition of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter helveticus

[0099] The assay descnbed in this example includes a dose titration assay that evaluates the minimum inhibitory concentrations of microbial fermentates required to inhibit Campylobacter growth using fermentates from bacterial strains as described in Example 1 and prepared according to Example 2.

[0100] Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter helveticus bacterial cultures were initiated using one or more colonies that were picked from a culture plate and placed into 250 ml baffled shake flasks containing 50 ml of sterile, supplemented Bolton Broth (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MN, USA) and grown overnight in an anaerobic chamber supplemented with 7.5 % CO2 and 5 % H at 37 °C for 48 hours The culture was diluted to an ODeoo of 0.1 in sterile, supplemented Bolton Broth medium using a clean cuvette and an optical spectrophotometer.

[0101] Each well of a 96-well round bottom microtiter plate was prepared for the bacterial fermentates. The bacterial fermentates were added to individual wells of the first column of the 96-well plate in the following volumes (percent volume (% v/v) for final dilutions in parenthesis): 80 pl (40% v/v dilution), 40 pl (20% v/v dilution), 20 pl (10% v/v dilution), 10 pl (5 % v/v dilution), 5 pl (2.5 % v/v dilution), 2.5 pl (1.25 % v/v dilution), and 1.25 pl (0.625 % v/v dilution). Each well of the first row of a 96-well round bottom microtiter plate was prepared with 180 pl of sterile, supplemented Bolton Broth medium. For each fermentate sample assayed, a 20 pl aliquot at a 1: 10 ratio, or 0.1 dilution, was added to three replicate wells and incubated at 37 °C for 48 hours. Approximately 5 x 10⁵ CFU of Campylobacter in 10 pl of sterile, supplemented Bolton Broth medium was added to each well. Control samples were included in the assays as a non- inoculated dilution series containing no fermentate. A “negative control plate” without bactenal culture was also included to monitor for sterility.

[0102] After incubation of Campylobacter strains with the bacterial fermentates at 39 °C for 48 hours, direct plating of each Campylobacter sample was performed using serial dilutions of each sample into selective and differential plating media (Bolton Broth, Thermo Fisher Scientific). The bacterial plates were read at 600 nm to determine average Campylobacter bacteria quantity in CFU/ml. After determining the ODeoo, results were converted to log value, and findings were recorded.

[0103] Exemplary results from using bacterial fermentates of Lactobacillus paracasei and Bacillus velezensis (strains 1, 2, and 3) to determine their effects on the growth of Campylobacter jejuni are presented in Table 4. Results are reported as average percent decrease in Campylobacter jejuni growth relative to the positive control. The positive control included a non-treated dilution series using PBS and differential plating medium that was inoculated at the same levels as the fermentate treatment samples.

Table 4. Concentration Effects of Various Bacterial Fermentates on the Growth of Campylobacter jejuni

[0104] The bacterial fermentates tested in this example, including Lactobacillus paracasei, and Bacillus velezensis (strains 1, 2, and 3) exhibited a significant percent decrease in the growth of Campylobacter jejuni as compared to an untreated positive control dilution series.

[0105] Results from using bacterial fermentates of Lactobacillus paracasei and Brevibacillus laterosporus (strains 1 and 2) to determine their effects on the growth of Campylobacter helveticus are presented in Table 5. Results are reported as average percent decrease in Campylobacter helveticus growth relative to the positive control. The positive control included a non-treated dilution series using PBS and differential plating medium that was inoculated at the same levels as the fermentate treatment samples.

Table 5. Concentration Effects of Various Bacterial Fermentates on the Grow th of

Campylobacter helveticus

[0106] The bacterial fermentates tested in this example, including Lactobacillus paracasei and Brevibacillus laterosporus (strains 1 and 2) exhibited a significant percent decrease in the growth of Campylobacter jejuni as compared to an untreated positive control dilution series.

Example 6: Preparation of Microbial Fermentates for ZB Vivo Analysis

[0107] For in vivo analysis, bacterial microbial fermentates of the various microbial strains described in Example 1 were prepared in a 2 L stirred bioreactor as follows. Bacterial cultures were grown in TSB (Tryptic Soy Broth) containing the following composition: Bacto™ Tryptone (Pancreatic Digest of Casein, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA USA) 17.0 g/L, Bacto™ Soytone (Peptic Digest of Soybean Meal, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA USA) 3.0 g/E, glucose 2.5 g/L, sodium chloride 5.0 g/L, and dipotassium hydrogen phosphate 2.5 g/L. Overnight seed cultures were generated using 500 ml baffled shake flasks with 100 ml of TSB medium. Seed culture medium was inoculated with fresh biomass of a single colony from prepared agar plates using an inoculation loop. Seed cultures were incubated for 18-24 hours in a shaker at 250 rpm, 30 °C and 75% humidity.

[0108] Working cultures for obtaining fermentates were generated using 2 L stirred bioreactors containing 2 L of TSB medium that were inoculated at initial ODeoo of 0.1 using an inoculum from the overnight seed cultures. Working cultures were incubated in the stirred bioreactor at 700 revolutions per minute (rpm) while aerated, with a gas flow rate of 0.25 VVM (vessel volume per minute; i.e., 0.5 SLMP (standard liters per minute)), at 30 °C for 24 hours. A 50% solution of anti-foaming agent (Ivanhoe 1163B, Ivanhoe Industries, Inc.; Zion, Illinois, USA) was added to the bioreactor at a 0.1% flow rate during the incubation to prevent excess foaming in the bioreactor vessel. After 24 hours, the agitation and aeration were turned off in the bioreactor and the cultures were incubated for an additional 24 hours. After 48 hours post inoculation, 2 L vessels were heated to 60 °C and held at that set point for one hour to heat inactivate the microbial culture biomass. Fermentates were packaged and stored at -80 °C until further chemical and biological characterization.

[0109] The 2 L volumes of bacterial fermentates were dried and prepared for storage until use in animal studies. Before drying, each bacterial fermentate was mixed with a soy hull (or other suitable) carrier in a 1: 1 ratio on a dry matter basis. The soy hulls were sized at approximately 1.0 mm in diameter. The bacterial fermentates, were then individually mixed thoroughly and dried in an oven at 60 °C. Drying time varied between 24 hours to up to 5 days depending on volume of bacterial fermentate to be dried. After incubation, the dried fermentate mixture was ground using a grinder equipped with a 0.5 mm screen until uniform consistency was achieved. In at least some batches, a tracer compound, such as a metal oxide, was added at to the dried bacterial fermentate compositions of approximately 5 g per inclusion rate of product. Fully dried bacterial fermentates were stored in polymeric air-tight packaging, labeled, and stored in a -20 °C freezer until use.

Example 7; Analysis of Microbial Fermentates on Campylobacter jejuni Reduction in an Infection Model in Broiler Chickens

[0110] Assay s described in this example evaluated the effects of microbial fermentates from Bacillus velezensis and Lactobacillus plantarum on Campylobacter jejuni reduction in broiler chickens.

[0111] Male broiler chickens were obtained as 120-day old broilers from a commercial hatchery and housed in a biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) animal facility. Upon arnval to the BSL-2 site, the birds were swabbed in the cloaca to determine that they were free of Campylobacter bacteria. All birds in this study were negative, thus confirming a Campylobacter -free status.

[0112] The birds were randomly separated into six treatment groups having 20 birds per group. The groups included a control feed group inoculated via oral gavage, a control feed group inoculated using a seeder bird model, a Bacillus velezensis fermentate feed group inoculated via oral gavage, a Bacillus velezensis fermentate feed group inoculated using a seeder bird model, a Lactobacillus plantarum fermentate feed group inoculated via oral gavage, and a Lactobacillus plantarum fermentate feed group inoculated using a seeder bird model. The groups that were challenged by oral gavage with Campylobacter jejuni are referred to herein as the “oral gavage group” for each respective treatment feed group. The groups that were challenged by the seeder bird model include those that where two birds in each seeder group were challenged via oral gavage and are referred to herein as the “seeder group” for each respective treatment feed group. In each seeder group, the two challenged birds were tagged for identification purposes and returned to their respective group cage to allow for comingling with the remaining 18 birds that were not challenged in their groups. The treatment groups are outlined in Table 6.

Table 6. Treatment Groups - Experimental Design

[0113] The feed was provided to the birds during the study ad libitum. Birds were transitioned from starter feed to grower feed at two weeks of age. For each treatment group the birds were challenged at day 21 as outlined in Table 6, using an inoculum of approximately 4.0 x 10⁶ CFU of Campylobacter jejuni via oral gavage. Following challenge, the birds were allowed to continue to consume their individual treatment diets.

[0114] One week following inoculation, or day 28 of the study and four weeks of age, ten chickens from each group were randomly selected, necropsied, and the cecal contents of each were collected for cultures and enumeration of Campylobacter jejuni. Bacterial samples were obtained from one or more locations along the ceca of the animals. Seed cultures were initiated using an inoculum of the obtained samples in supplemented Bolton Broth medium and grown overnight for 72 hours in an anaerobic chamber supplemented with 85 % N, 10 % CO2 and 5 % H while shaking at 250 rpm and 39 °C. Following incubation, the culture was diluted to an ODeoo of 0.1 in sterile Bolton Broth and plated by the direct plating assay using the analysis as described in Example 3 herein. The remainder of the birds were necropsied and tested for the presence of Campylobacter jejuni at six weeks of age. Bird body weight was measured at the beginning of the trial, at day 28 for the initial group of ten randomly selected birds, and as at the end of the treatment course on day 28. Weights of the birds during the study are reported in Table 9, below.

[0115] Campylobacter colony counts. At four weeks of age, or seven days post challenge, the mean log CFUs/gram of feces among the oral gavage challenged groups ranged from 7.2 to 7.7 and the differences were not statistically different (Table 7). Among the seeder birds challenged groups at four weeks of age, the mean log CFUs/gram feces ranged from 6.7 to 7.3 and the differences across treatments groups are not statistically significant (Table 8). At six weeks of age, or 21 days post challenge, the mean log CFUs/gram of feces among the oral gavage challenged groups ranged from 6.1 to 6.4, and there were no statistically significant differences (Table 7). However, for the seeder birds challenged groups at six weeks of age, the mean log CFUs/gram of feces ranged from 5.3 to 6.8, and the CFUs in the Bacillus velezensis fermentate and Lactobacillus plantarum fermentate feed groups were significantly lower than the CFUs in the control group, as shown in Table 8.

Table 7. Campylobacter Colony Counts (Log CFU/g) Oral Gavage Challenge

Table 8. Campylobacter Colony Counts (Log CFU/g) Seeder Bird Challenge

[0116] Weight gain. The oral gavage treated and seeder bird treated groups for each feed were combined for weight gain analysis. At four weeks of age, the average weights for the control, Bacillus velezensis fermentate, and Lactobacillus plantarum fermentate feeds were 1.65, 1.62, and 1 64 kg, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference among the feed treatments (Table 9). At six weeks of age, the average weights for control, Bacillus velezensis fermentate, and Lactobacillus plantarum feeds were 2.55, 2.98, and 2.93 kg, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant as shown in Table 9.

Table 9. Average Weight of Study Birds at 4 and 6 Weeks of Age

[0117] Mortality. During the experiment, four birds from the control died, five birds from the Bacillus velezensis group died, and four birds from the Lactobacillus plantarum group died. The majority the deaths in the birds occurred prior to Campylobacter inoculation. As such, the mortality rates did not show statistically significant differences among the feed groups.

[0118] For all three oral gavage challenged groups, there was a general trend of decline in CFU counts toward the end of the experiment, but there were no significant differences among the feed products. For the seeder birds co-mingled groups, the Campylobacter colonization levels in the Bacillus velezensis and Lactobacillus plantarum groups declined over time, but not in the control group, resulting in statistically significant differences in the CFU number at the end of the study.

[0119] The overall weight gam was on par with the standard growth rate of broiler chickens. The combined data showed that control produced less weight gain than the Bacillus velezensis and Lactobacillus plantarum groups but made comparison to the control difficult since the weight gains for the two groups of the control group varied substantially for unknown reasons.

[0120] In this document, the terms “a,” “an,” or “the” are used to include one or more than one unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or” unless otherwise indicated. All publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference is to be considered supplementary to that of this document: for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls. [0121 J Values expressed in a range format are to be interpreted in a flexible manner to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range were explicitly recited. For example, a range of “about 0. 1% to about 5%” or “about 0. 1 % to 5 %” is to be interpreted to include not just about 0.1 % to about 5 %, but also the individual values (e.g., 1 %, 2 %, 3 %, and 4 %) and the sub-ranges (e g., 0.1 % to 0.5 %, 1.1 % to 2.2 %, 3.3 % to 4.4 %) within the indicated range. The statement “about X to Y” has the same meaning as “about X to about Y,” unless indicated otherwise. Likewise, the statement “about X, Y, or about Z” has the same meaning as “about X, about Y, or about Z,” unless indicated otherwise. [0122] Unless expressly stated, ppm (parts per million), percentage, and ratios are on a by weight basis. Percentage on a by weight basis (% w/w) is also referred to as weight percent (wt.%) or percent by weight (% wt.) herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A feed additive composition comprising: a microbial fermentate product; wherein the microbial fermentate product is present in the feed additive composition in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria in an animal.

2. The feed additive composition of claim 1, wherein the Campylobacter bacteria comprises Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus.

3. The feed additive composition of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the inhibitory effect comprises a direct or indirect inhibition of growth of Campylobacter bacteria.

4. The feed additive composition of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria results in one or more beneficial effects for the animal.

5. The feed additive composition of claim 4, wherein the one or more beneficial effects comprise improved health measures or enhanced performance measures, or a combination thereof.

6. The feed additive composition of claim 5, wherein the improved health measures comprise a decrease in infection incidence and a decrease in infection duration.

7. The feed additive composition of claim 5, wherein the improved health measures comprise a reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals.

8. The feed additive composition of claim 7, wherein the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals results in a reduction of food-bome illness caused by Campylobacter bacteria. The feed additive composition of claim 7, wherein the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals can be determined by a decreased concentration of Campylobacter bacteria that comprises at least a 1 log reduction of Campylobacter bacteria in the digestive tract of the animal. The feed additive composition of claim 5, wherein the enhanced performance measures comprise an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or any combination thereof. The feed additive composition of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the microbial fermentate product is a bacterial fermentate or a fungal fermentate. The feed additive composition of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the microbial fermentate product is a postbiotic product. The feed additive composition of any one of claims 1-12, wherein the microbial fermentate product comprises a bacterial fermentate or a fungal fermentate of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus velezensis, Brevibacillus laterosporus, Candida krusei, Gluconobacter oxydans, Lactobacillus hordei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Metschnikowia lochheadii, Nocardia tenerifensis, Paenibacillus taichungensis, Pichia kluyveri, Pichia spartinae, Saccharomyces bayanus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Wickerhamiella lipohila, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus, or combinations thereof. The feed additive composition of any one of claims 1-13, wherein the microbial fermentate product comprises a bacterial fermentate of Bacillus velezensis or Lactobacillus plantarum, or a combination thereof. The feed additive composition of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the feed additive composition comprises a solid or a liquid.

16. The feed additive composition of any one of claims 1-15, wherein the feed additive composition comprises a solid composition in the form of granules, flakes, pellets, powders, tablets, capsules, cubes, crumbles, pastes, gels, or any combination thereof.

17. The feed additive composition of any one of claims 1-16, wherein the feed additive composition comprises a liquid spray, a liquid water additive, a liquid drench, or a liquid water dip for application.

18. The feed additive composition of any one of claims 1-17, wherein the amount of microbial fermentate product effective to produce an inhibitory effect comprises an inclusion rate falling within a range from 0.01 kg/tonne to 15.0 kg/tonne.

19. The feed additive composition of any one of claims 1-18, wherein the feed additive composition is a component of a poultry feed product.

20. The feed additive composition of claim 19, wherein the feed additive composition or poultry feed product is formulated for a chicken or a turkey.

21. The composition of any one of claims 1-20, wherein the feed additive composition has a shelf life of up to approximately 30 months.

22. The composition of any one of claims 1-21, wherein the feed additive composition is stable from 18 °C to 45 °C.

23. A method for feeding poultry comprising feeding the poultry the feed additive composition of any one of claims 1 -22.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the poultry is a chicken or a turkey.

25. A method for inhibiting growth of Campylobacter bacteria in poultry comprising: administering a feed additive composition comprising a microbial fermentate product to the poultry; wherein the microbial fermentate product is present in the feed additive composition in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the Campylobacter bacteria comprises Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus.

27. The method of any one of claims 25 or 26, wherein the inhibitory effect comprises a direct or indirect inhibition of the growth of Campylobacter bacteria.

28. The method of any one of claims 25-27, wherein the inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria results in one or more beneficial effects for the poultry.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more beneficial effects comprise improved health measures or enhanced performance measures, or a combination thereof.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the improved health measures comprise a decrease in infection incidence and a decrease in infection duration.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the improved health measures comprise a reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals results in a reduction of food-borne illness caused by Campylobacter bacteria.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals can be determined by a decreased concentration of Campylobacter bacteria that comprises at least a 1 log reduction of Campylobacter bacteria in the digestive tract of the animal.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the enhanced performance measures comprise an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or any combination thereof. The method of any one of claims 25-34, wherein producing the inhibitory effect in poultry fed the feed additive composition is observed relative to poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition. The method of any one of claims 25-35, wherein the feed additive composition is administered as a daily feed ration that is fed to the poultry on most days or on all days. The method of any one of claims 25-36, wherein the amount of microbial fermentate product effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria comprises an inclusion rate falling within a range from 0.01 kg/tonne to 15.0 kg/tonne. The method of any one of claims 25-37, wherein administering the feed additive composition produces an inhibitory effect comprising reducing the overall number of Campylobacter bacteria present in the poultry or preventing growth of Campylobacter bacteria in the poultry. The method of any one of claims 25-38, wherein administering the feed additive composition results in an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or any combination thereof, upon challenge with Campylobacter bacteria. The method of any one of claims 25-39, wherein the microbial fermentate product comprises a bacterial fermentate or a fungal fermentate of Acetobacter peroxydans, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus velezensis, Brevibacillus laterosporus, Candida krusei. Gluconobacter oxydans, Lactobacillus hordei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Metschnikowia lochheadii, Nocardia tenerifensis, Paenibacillus taichungensis, Pichia kluyveri, Pichia spartinae, Saccharomyces bayanus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Wickerhamiella lipohila, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus, or combinations thereof. A method for reducing or preventing a Campylobacter infection in poultry comprising: administering a feed additive composition comprising a microbial fermentate product to the poultry; wherein the microbial fermentate product is present in the feed additive composition in an amount effective to produce an inhibitory effect against Campylobacter bacteria; and wherein the inhibitory effect results in one or more beneficial effects for the poultry.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the inhibitory effect comprises a direct or indirect inhibition of the growth of Campylobacter bacteria.

43. The method of any one of claims 41 or 42, wherein the one or more beneficial effects comprise improved health measures or enhanced performance measures, or a combination thereof.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the one or more beneficial effects comprise improved health measures or enhanced performance measures, or a combination thereof.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the improved health measures comprise a decrease in infection incidence and a decrease in infection duration.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the improved health measures comprise a reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals results in a reduction of food-borne illness caused by Campylobacter bacteria.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the reduction or prevention of the presence of Campylobacter bacteria in animals can be determined by a decreased concentration of Campylobacter bacteria that comprises at least a 1 log reduction of Campylobacter bacteria in the digestive tract of the animal.

49. The method of any one of claims 41-48, wherein the enhanced performance measures comprise an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or any combination thereof.

50. The method of any one of claims 41-49, wherein the poultry' have been challenged with Campylobacter bacteria at a concentration of from 1.0 x 10° to 1 .0 x 10¹⁰ CFU in a daily ration of poultry feed per poultry.

51. The method of any one of claims 41-50, wherein the poultry' have acquired a Campylobacter infection in their habitat in an amount effective to colonize the ceca of the poultry.

52. The method of any one of claims 41-51, wherein administering the feed additive composition produces an inhibitory effect comprising reducing the overall number of Campylobacter bacteria present in the poultry or preventing growth of Campylobacter bacteria in the poultry.

53. A method for enhancing performance measures in poultry comprising: administering a feed additive composition comprising a microbial fermentate product to poultry, wherein the microbial fermentate product is present in the feed additive composition in an amount effective for enhancing performance measures in the poultry.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the Campylobacter bacteria comprises Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter helveticus.

55. The method of any one of claims 53 or 54, wherein the enhanced performance measures comprise an increase in weight, a decrease in feed conversion ratio, an increase in egg production, a decrease in mortality, a decrease in morbidity, or any combination thereof.

56. The method of any one of claims 53-55, wherein the increase in weight comprises an average weight increase of from 0.5% to 30% in a population of poultry' fed the feed additive composition as compared to an average weight in a population of poultry' fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition. The method of any one of claims 53-56, wherein the decrease in feed conversion ratio comprises an average decrease of from 0.5% to 10% in the feed conversion ratio of a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to an average feed conversion ratio in a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition. The method of any one of claims 53-57, wherein the increase in egg production comprises an average increase of from 0.5% to 25% in the egg production of a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition. The method of any one of claims 53-58, wherein the decrease in mortality comprises an average decrease of from 0.5% to 40% in the mortality of a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition. The method of any one of claims 53-59, wherein the decrease in morbidity comprises an average decrease of from 0.5% to 40% in the morbidity of a population of poultry fed the feed additive composition as compared to a population of poultry fed a diet lacking the feed additive composition.