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WO2018140790A1 - Compositions pour la nutrition animale et procédés associés - Google Patents

Compositions pour la nutrition animale et procédés associés Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018140790A1
WO2018140790A1 PCT/US2018/015546 US2018015546W WO2018140790A1 WO 2018140790 A1 WO2018140790 A1 WO 2018140790A1 US 2018015546 W US2018015546 W US 2018015546W WO 2018140790 A1 WO2018140790 A1 WO 2018140790A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
carrier
fermentation product
microorganisms
composition
fermentation
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2018/015546
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English (en)
Inventor
Elizabeth WOZNIAK
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cytozyme Animal Nutrition Inc
Original Assignee
Cytozyme Animal Nutrition Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cytozyme Animal Nutrition Inc filed Critical Cytozyme Animal Nutrition Inc
Priority to US15/958,817 priority Critical patent/US10674746B2/en
Publication of WO2018140790A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018140790A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Priority to US16/860,376 priority patent/US11297851B2/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
    • A01N63/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi, animals or substances produced by, or obtained from, microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi or animals, e.g. enzymes or fermentates
    • A01N63/20—Bacteria; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
    • C05G—MIXTURES OF FERTILISERS COVERED INDIVIDUALLY BY DIFFERENT SUBCLASSES OF CLASS C05; MIXTURES OF ONE OR MORE FERTILISERS WITH MATERIALS NOT HAVING A SPECIFIC FERTILISING ACTIVITY, e.g. PESTICIDES, SOIL-CONDITIONERS, WETTING AGENTS; FERTILISERS CHARACTERISED BY THEIR FORM
    • C05G3/00—Mixtures of one or more fertilisers with additives not having a specially fertilising activity
    • C05G3/90—Mixtures of one or more fertilisers with additives not having a specially fertilising activity for affecting the nitrification of ammonium compounds or urea in the soil

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to animal nutritional supplementation, and more particularly to various animal nutrition compositions and to methods of manufacturing and using the same.
  • Buffering agents have also been used to improve the health and well-being of the animals. For instance, moderating the highly acidic environment of the gut can reduce (premature) acidic degradation of beneficial nutrients, compounds, etc. that may be included in feed or supplements. Accordingly, a larger portion of these beneficial nutrients, compounds, etc. can be available for absorption and nutritional support.
  • live, beneficial bacteria administered in the form of probiotics may not survive or grow in harsh, acidic environments, like the animal gut.
  • buffering agents often seek to increase gastric pH levels to facilitate probiotic survival and increase food conversion ratios.
  • some buffers or feeds with high buffer capacity have been shown to increase mortality rates and cause other harmful effects in animal. Low gastric pH in the stomach is known to control the bacterial populations, especially pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli. Thus, diminishing the acid level (i.e., raising the pH) in the gut can also be harmful to the animals.
  • fungal contamination and growth on animal feed products is also an issue in the current state of the art.
  • fungal contamination of feed ingredients and finished feed products, including feed additives reduces the feed value of the products and leads to economic loss for individual producers and the industry as a whole.
  • fungal contamination creates a risk to the health and reduces performance in animals that consume contaminated products. Accordingly, humans who consume such animals or products produced therefrom may be effected thereby, such as with decreased nutritional value.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure solve one or more of the foregoing or other problems in the art with nutritional products and methods of manufacturing and/or using the same (e.g., to enhance the health of an animal).
  • embodiments of the present disclosure include animal nutrition compositions, such as animal feed additives or supplements, and methods of manufacturing and/or using the same (e.g., to enhance the health of an animal).
  • Some embodiments relate to a composition that includes an animal feed mixed with an animal feed additive or supplement composition, and to methods of manufacturing and/or using the same (e.g., to enhance the health of an animal).
  • the animal feed additive (or feed supplement) composition can include a carrier and a fermentation product bound to the carrier.
  • the composition can also include a buffering agent mixed with the fermentation product-bound carrier.
  • the composition can include one or more additional ingredients.
  • the animal feed (or feed component) can comprise any suitable animal ingestible material, whether solid, liquid or other (e.g., mixture).
  • An exemplary embodiment includes a composition (e.g., an animal nutrition composition) comprising (i) a carrier, and (ii) a fermentation product applied or bound to or mixed with the carrier.
  • the composition, carrier, and/or fermentation product can be in a substantially dry and/or solid form.
  • the composition can have a moisture content between about 0.25% and about 20%.
  • the composition can have an average particle size between about 20 - 297 ⁇ .
  • the composition, carrier, and/or fermentation product can be in a fluid and/or liquid form.
  • the composition can comprise a solution, colloid, suspension, or other fluid and/or liquid mixture.
  • the carrier preferably comprising a naturally-occurring earth component.
  • the earth component can comprise one or more phyllosilicates.
  • the one or more phyllosilicates are of the 1 : 1 or 2: 1 clay mineral variety.
  • the one or more phyllosilicates are selected from the group consisting of aliettite, attapulgite, bentonite, chlorite, dickite, halloysite, hectorite, illite, kaolinite, montmorillonite, nacrite, nontronite, palygorskite, saponite, sauconite, sepiolite, serpentine, talc, and vermiculite.
  • the earth component can be in a substantially dry form and/or solid state.
  • the earth component preferably has an average particle size between about 20 - 297 ⁇ .
  • the earth component preferably has a moisture content between about 0.25% and about 20% by weight.
  • the carrier can alternatively comprise or be a fluid and/or liquid, or in a fluid and/or liquid form.
  • the carrier can comprise water.
  • the carrier can comprise liquid feed.
  • the carrier can comprise a medicament.
  • the fermentation product preferably comprises one or more anaerobic metabolite products or metabolites.
  • the metabolites or metabolite products preferably having been produced by said one or more microorganisms.
  • the fermentation product preferably comprising cellular material of the one or more microorganisms.
  • the cellular material can comprise cellular components of lysed microorganisms.
  • the cellular material can comprise cellular structural components of or produced by the one or more microorganisms.
  • the cellular structural components can include cell wall, or fragments thereof, of or produced by the one or more microorganisms.
  • the cellular structural components can include organelle or fragments thereof, of or produced by the one or more microorganisms.
  • the cellular material can comprise genetic material of or produced by the one or more microorganisms.
  • the cellular material can comprise macromolecules of or produced by the one or more microorganisms.
  • the one or more microorganisms comprise prokaryotic bacteria.
  • the prokaryotic bacteria can be of Lactobacillus acidophilus.
  • the one or more microorganisms can include one or more microorganisms other than Lactobacillus acidophilus.
  • the one or more microorganisms can include Lactobacillus acidophilus and one or more additional microbial (e.g., bacterial) species and/or strains.
  • the cellular material can comprise cellular components of one or more yeast, fungus, and/or algae species or strains.
  • Embodiments can comprise one or more additional components.
  • Embodiments can comprise a mixture of additional components.
  • the one or more additional components can comprise (residual) supplement components.
  • the one or more additional components can be selected, independently, from the group consisting of one or more vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, amino acids, health supplements, pharmaceuticals, plant extracts (e.g., seaweed extracts), phytonutrients, carotenoids, enzymes, probiotics, lignosulfonates, and organic acids (e.g., humic acids).
  • plant extracts e.g., seaweed extracts
  • phytonutrients e.g., carotenoids
  • enzymes e.g., probiotics, lignosulfonates
  • organic acids e.g., humic acids
  • the one or more vitamins can be bound or chelated to at least one of the metabolites, preferably such that the bioavailability of the at least one of the metabolites is increased thereby
  • one or more minerals can be bound or chelated to at least one of the metabolites, preferably such that the bioavailability of the at least one of the metabolites is increased thereby.
  • Some embodiments can be substantially and/or entirely devoid of probiotic. Some embodiments can be substantially and/or entirely devoid of living microorganism of one or more variety. Some embodiments can be substantially and/or entirely devoid of probiotic and living microorganism of one or more variety.
  • Embodiments can also comprise a buffering agent mixed with the fermentation product-bound carrier.
  • the buffering agent is preferably mixed with the fermentation product-bound carrier at a ratio between about 1 : 1 and about 1 :20, fermentation product- bound carrier to buffering agent, or vice versa.
  • the buffering agent can comprise one or more granular or powdered electrolytic substances.
  • the buffering agent can preferably be selected from the group consisting of sodium sesquicarbonate, sodium carbonate, and sodium bicarbonate.
  • the buffering agent can comprise sodium sesquicarbonate.
  • the buffering agent can comprise (a mixture of) sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate.
  • the composition and/or fermentation product can comprise one or more components of a growth medium in which the one or more microorganisms were grown.
  • the composition and/or fermentation product can comprise one or more components of a growth medium in which the one or more anaerobic metabolites were produced (e.g., by the one or more microorganisms).
  • the composition and/or fermentation product can comprise one or more aerobic metabolites produced by the one or more microorganisms.
  • At least one embodiment comprises a nutrient enhanced animal feed product, comprising an animal feed component and a feed additive composition mixed with the feed component.
  • the feed additive composition can be the above-described composition.
  • the feed additive composition can comprise an (earthen) carrier and a fermentation product derived from one or more microorganisms, the fermentation product being bound to the carrier.
  • the nutrient enhanced animal feed product, feed additive composition, and/or the feed component can have a moisture content between about 0.25% and about 20% by weight.
  • the feed additive composition can be mixed with the feed component at a ratio of approximately 0.05 - 50 kg of the feed additive composition per metric ton (or tonne) of the feed component.
  • Some embodiments include a method of manufacturing an animal feed supplement.
  • the method can include applying a fermentation product to a carrier to form a combination product.
  • the fermentation product can bind to the carrier forming a fermentation product-bound carrier.
  • the method can also include mixing the combination product with a buffering agent to form a buffered combination product.
  • the method can include mixing one or more additional ingredients with the fermentation product, the combination product, and/or the buffered combination product.
  • Some embodiments include a method of manufacturing a supplemented animal feed product.
  • the method can include mixing an animal feed supplement with an animal feed component.
  • Certain embodiments can also include packaging the combination product, buffered combination product, and/or supplemented animal feed product, such as in a sealed and/or air-tight container.
  • An exemplary embodiment can comprise a method of manufacturing a composition, comprising (i) providing a fermentation product and a carrier, as described above, and (ii) forming a combination product by applying the fermentation product to the carrier, preferably at a ratio of approximately 1 : 1 by weight, more preferably such that the fermentation product binds to the carrier.
  • the fermentation product preferably comprises a liquid suspension medium having cellular material of one or more (single-celled) microorganisms and/or one or more anaerobic and/or optional aerobic metabolites of or produced by the one or more microorganisms disposed therein.
  • applying the fermentation product to the carrier comprises fluidly applying the fermentation product in a substantially liquid (suspension) form to the carrier in a substantially dry, solid form, preferably at a ratio of approximately 1 : 1 by weight.
  • Certain embodiments can further comprise one or more steps selected from the group consisting of (i) mixing the carrier, preferably at a speed between about 10-200 rpm, while applying the fermentation product, (ii) applying a flow of air to the combination product or fermentation product-bound carrier, preferably over a period of time between about 12 - 120 hours and/or until the combination product has a moisture content between about 0.25% and about 20% by weight, (iii) mixing the combination product or fermentation product-bound carrier, preferably at a speed between about 10-200 rpm, while applying the flow of air, (iv) maintaining the combination product or fermentation product-bound carrier at a temperature below about 60°C, more preferably below about 55°C, still more preferably below about 50°C, still more preferably below about 45°C, still more preferably below about 40°C, still more preferably below about 38°C, and (v) maintaining the combination product or fermentation product-bound carrier at a pH between about 2 - 10, preferably between about 2 - 8, more preferably between about 2
  • At least a portion of the fermentation product physically and/or chemically reacts with and/or binds to the carrier, preferably by adsorption to a surface of the carrier and/or absorption below the surface of the carrier.
  • Embodiments can further comprises mixing the combination product with a buffering agent, as described above, preferably at a ratio between about 1 : 1 and about 1 :20, fermentation product-bound carrier to buffering agent, or vice versa, to form a buffered combination product, the buffered combination product preferably having a moisture content between about 0.25% and about 20%) by weight and/or having one or more properties described above.
  • Some embodiments comprise mixing one or more additional ingredients or supplement components with one or more of the fermentation product, fermentation product-bound carrier, combination product, and/or buffered combination product.
  • the one or more additional supplement components can be selected, independently, from the group consisting, independently, of vitamin(s), mineral(s) or trace mineral(s), amino acid(s), health supplement(s), pharmaceutical(s), nutraceutical(s), plant(s) or plant part(s), plant product(s) or extract(s), herb(s), phytonutrient(s), carotenoid(s), enzyme(s), probiotic(s), lignosulfonate(s), and organic acid(s).
  • Certain embodiments can be substantially and/or entirely devoid of probiotic and/or living microorganism of one or more variety.
  • Some embodiments include packaging the combination product, fermentation product-bound carrier, and/or buffered combination product, preferably so as to inhibit substantial absorption or loss of moisture by the packaged combination product.
  • An exemplary method of manufacturing a composition comprises (i) fluidly applying a substantially liquid fermentation product to a substantially solid earthen carrier, preferably at a ratio of approximately 1 : 1 by weight, such that the fermentation product binds to the carrier, preferably by adsorption to a surface of the carrier and/or absorption below the surface of the carrier, the carrier preferably comprising one or more phyllosilicate materials, preferably of 1 : 1 or 2: 1 clay mineral variety, the fermentation product preferably comprising a mixture of (i) one or more non-living and/or non-viable microorganisms, (ii) anaerobic and/or aerobic metabolites produced by said one or more microorganisms, and (iii) a liquid suspension medium in which the metabolites were produced by said one or more microorganisms, (ii) mixing the carrier, preferably at a speed between about 10-200 rpm, while applying the fermentation product, (iii) applying a flow of air to the fermentation product-
  • At least one embodiment includes a method of producing a nutrient enhanced animal feed product, the method comprising providing an animal feed component and mixing the animal feed component with the feed additive composition, as described above.
  • the method can include forming the feed additive composition, as described above, and/or mixing the feed component with the feed additive composition at a ratio of approximately 0.05 - 50 kg of the feed additive composition per metric ton of the feed component.
  • the nutrient enhanced animal feed product, feed component, and/or feed additive composition can be in a substantially solid state, preferably having a moisture content between about 0.25% and about 20%) by weight.
  • Embodiments can also include packaging the nutrient enhanced animal feed product, preferably so as to inhibit substantial absorption or loss of moisture.
  • An exemplary method of producing a nutrient enhanced animal feed product comprises combining a substantially liquid fermentation product with a substantially dry and/or solid earthen carrier such that the fermentation product binds to the carrier, preferably by adsorption to a surface of the carrier and/or absorption below the surface of the carrier, the carrier preferably having an average particle size between about 20 - 297 ⁇ and/or a moisture content between about 0.25% and about 20%, the carrier preferably comprising one or more phyllosilicate materials, preferably of 1 : 1 or 2: 1 clay mineral variety, the fermentation product preferably comprising a mixture of (i) one or more non-living and/or non-viable microorganisms, (ii) anaerobic and optionally aerobic metabolites produced by said one or more microorganisms, and (iii) a liquid suspension medium in which the metabolites were produced by said one or more microorganisms.
  • the combining step is as described above.
  • the method can further comprise optionally mixing the fermentation product- bound carrier with a buffering agent, preferably at a ratio of between about 1 : 1 to about 1 :20, fermentation product-bound carrier to buffering agent, to form a buffered combination product
  • the buffering agent comprises one or more granular or powdered electrolytic substances, preferably selected from the group consisting of sodium sesquicarbonate, sodium carbonate, and sodium bicarbonate, optionally mixing one or more additional supplement components with one or more of the fermentation product, the fermentation product-bound carrier, and the buffered combination product, the one or more additional supplement components selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, amino acids, health supplements, pharmaceuticals, plant extracts (e.g., seaweed extract), phytonutrients, carotenoids, enzymes, probiotics, lignosulfonates, and organic acids (e.g., humic acids), and mixing an animal feed component with one or more of the fermentation product-bound carrier, preferably at a ratio of approximately 0.05 - 50
  • Additional embodiments include a method of enhancing the health of an animal.
  • the method can include administering an effective amount of an animal feed supplement composition to the animal so as to improve one or more health indicators of the animal or animal population (e.g., as compared to a control).
  • the one or more health indicators can be selected from the group consisting of gut lesion count and/or size, gut bacteria count, plate count, and/or size, animal weight and/or body mass, feed consumption, feed conversion and/or feed conversion ratio (consumed feed-to-body weight (or body weight gain) ratio or feed/gain ratio), life span and/or mortality, metabolism and/or metabolic rate, digestion, nitrogen retention, milk production (in mammals), milk quality (as measured by milk fat and/or protein content, etc.), overall health and appearance, and so forth.
  • the method can comprise enhancing, improving, or increasing body weight or weight gain, reducing feed consumption and/or improving feed conversion ratios (especially under biotic and abiotic stress conditions), reducing mortality (and/or mortality rates in a population), reducing incidence and/or size of gut lesions, reducing counts, plate counts, size, and/or other incidents of bacteria (e.g., E.coli, Salmonella, etc.), improving nitrogen retention, increasing milk production in mammals, improving milk quality (increased fat and/or protein content, etc.) in mammals, improving metabolizable energy levels, improving digestion, improving overall health and appearance, and so forth.
  • bacteria e.g., E.coli, Salmonella, etc.
  • An exemplary method of enhancing the health of an animal comprises administering an effective amount of an animal feed additive composition to the animal so as to improve one or more health indicators of the animal or animal population.
  • the composition and one or more health indicators can be as described above.
  • the step of administering can comprise feeding the feed additive composition to the animal such that the animal ingests the effective amount of the animal feed additive composition.
  • the administering step can comprise mixing the feed additive composition with an animal feed component, preferably at a ratio of approximately 0.05 - 50 kg of the composition per metric ton of the feed component and feeding the animal with the mixture of the feed additive composition and feed component such that the animal ingests the effective amount of the animal feed additive composition.
  • the animal comprises a broiler chicken.
  • the feed component can comprise one or more chicken feeds selected from the group consisting of a starter feed, a grower feed, and a finishing feed.
  • the chicken can be subjected to biotic or abiotic stress conditions.
  • the method can include reducing gut lesion formation in the animal by a statistically significant amount, preferably by at least (or a minimum of) 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, or 50% as compared to a control.
  • the method can include reducing gut bacteria (e.g., gut E.
  • the method can include increasing body weight of the animal by a statistically significant amount, preferably by at least (or a minimum of) 0.75%, 1%, 1.25%, 1.5%, or 2%, as compared to a control.
  • the method can include decreasing feed conversion (or consumed feed-to-body weight) ratio or mortality- adjusted feed conversion ratio in the animal by a statistically significant amount, preferably by at least (or a minimum of) 3.5%, 3.75%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 15%, or 20%, as compared to a control.
  • the method can include increasing life span (or decreasing mortality) of the animal by a statistically significant amount, preferably by at least (or a minimum of) 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, or 50%, as compared to a control.
  • the microbial fermentation product-bound carrier resists, inhibits, and/or reduces fungal growth on animal feed components with which it is mixed or combined.
  • some embodiments include an antifungal or fungal growth-inhibiting composition (e.g., feed additive composition having antifungal and/or fungal growth-inhibiting properties).
  • the antifungal or fungal growth-inhibiting composition can comprise a microbial fermentation product-bound carrier (with or without the buffering agent), as described herein.
  • the antifungal or fungus-resistant composition can include or be added to an animal feed component or product.
  • the antifungal or fungal growth-inhibiting composition can reduce the growth of fungus on the animal feed component or product.
  • Some embodiments can include a method of reducing or inhibiting fungal growth on animal feed or animal feed products. The method can comprise combining a microbial fermentation product-bound carrier (with or without the buffering agent) to the animal feed or animal feed product.
  • the microbial fermentation product-bound carrier (with or without the buffering agent) can reduce or inhibit fungal growth on the animal feed or animal feed product (e.g., by at least, greater than, between, and/or about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, or 99%), for or within a period of time, as compared to a control and/or the animal feed or animal feed product alone (i.e., without the microbial fermentation product-bound carrier mixed therewith)).
  • the microbial fermentation product-bound carrier (with or without the buffering agent) can protect against and/or inhibit (e.g., reduce, decrease, attenuate, prevent, etc.) fungal contamination, infection, and/or growth on the animal feed or animal feed product for or within a period of time.
  • the period of time can be by at least, greater than, between, and/or about 1-52 weeks, or any amount of time or range of time therebetween.
  • the method can include producing the microbial fermentation product-bound carrier (with or without the buffering agent), such as by applying (e.g., dry-binding) the microbial fermentation product to the carrier and optionally adding the buffering agent thereto.
  • the method can include administering a mixture of the microbial fermentation product-bound carrier (with or without the buffering agent) and the animal feed or animal feed product to an animal.
  • the method can reduce rates of fungal infection, disease, and/or mortality in animals to which the product is administered, as compared to a control or animal (or population) to which the product is not administered.
  • Some embodiments may include any of the features, options, and/or possibilities set out elsewhere in the present disclosure, including in other aspects or embodiments of the present disclosure. It is also noted that each of the foregoing, following, and/or other features described herein represent a distinct embodiment of the present disclosure. Moreover, combinations of any two or more of such features represent distinct embodiments of the present disclosure. Such features or embodiments can also be combined in any suitable combination and/or order without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Thus, each of the features described herein can be combinable with any one or more other features described herein in any suitable combination and/or order. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific combinations of exemplary embodiments described in detail herein.
  • Figure 1 depicts a diagrammatic flow chart illustrating a method of manufacturing and administering an animal feed supplement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the words “can” and “may” are used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must).
  • the terms “including,” “having,” “involving,” “containing,” “characterized by,” variants thereof (e.g., “includes,” “has,” and “involves,” “contains,” etc.), and similar terms as used herein, including the claims, shall be inclusive and/or open-ended, shall have the same meaning as the word “comprising” and variants thereof (e.g., “comprise” and “comprises”), and do not exclude additional, un-recited elements or method steps, illustratively.
  • disclosure of an illustrative measurement that is less than or equal to about 10 units or between 0 and 10 units includes, illustratively, a specific disclosure of: (i) a measurement of 9 units, 5 units, 1 units, or any other value between 0 and 10 units, including 0 units and/or 10 units; and/or (ii) a measurement between 9 units and 1 units, between 8 units and 2 units, between 6 units and 4 units, and/or any other range of values between 0 and 10 units.
  • binding, coupling, attaching, connecting, and/or joining can comprise mechanical, physical, and/or chemical association.
  • mixing indicates a physical combining or combination of two or more components.
  • the physical combining or combination results in a (chemical and/or physical) reaction.
  • Such chemical reactions can be evidenced by a change in the chemical composition, pH, or other indicator relative to the components prior to being mixed (or as expected after being mixed absent the reaction).
  • mixing and/or mixed components can include reacting and/or reacted components in certain embodiments. Accordingly, reference to mixing or mixed components includes a reference to reacting or reacted components.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure include animal feed products compositions, and kits, and methods and/or processes for making and using the same.
  • embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an animal feed additive or a composition that includes an animal feed mixed with an animal feed additive, and to methods of manufacturing and/or using the same (e.g., to enhance the health of an animal).
  • the animal feed additive (or feed supplement) can include a carrier and a fermentation product bound to the carrier.
  • the additive can also include a buffering agent mixed with the fermentation product-bound carrier.
  • the supplement can include one or more additional ingredients.
  • Other embodiments include a supplemented animal feed product that includes an animal feed component mixed with an animal feed supplement.
  • Some embodiments include a method of manufacturing an animal feed supplement.
  • the method can include applying a fermentation product to a carrier to form a combination product.
  • the fermentation product can bind to the carrier to form a fermentation product-bound carrier.
  • the fermentation product can react with the carrier.
  • the method can also include mixing the combination product with a buffering agent to form a buffered combination product.
  • the method can include mixing one or more additional ingredients with the fermentation product, combination product, and/or buffered combination product.
  • Some embodiments include a method of manufacturing a supplemented animal feed product. The method can include mixing an animal feed supplement with an animal feed component.
  • the animal feed component can be in solid form (e.g., animal food), liquid form (e.g., water), or other form (e.g., mixture). Certain embodiments can also include packaging the combination product, buffered combination product, and/or supplemented animal feed product, such as in a sealed, air-tight container.
  • Additional embodiments include a method of enhancing the health of an animal.
  • the method can include administering an effective amount of an animal feed supplement composition to the animal so as to improve one or more health indicators of the animal or animal population (e.g., as compared to a control).
  • the animal feed supplement composition can be administered to the animal by mixing the animal feed supplement (in granular, powdered, pellet, tablet, or other form) with an animal feed or feed component, such as food or water, or any other suitable method.
  • the one or more health indicators can be selected from the group consisting of (decreased) gut lesion count and/or size, (decreased) gut bacteria count and/or size, (increased) weight gain, (enhanced) feed conversion ratio (i.e., the measure of an animal's efficiency in converting feed mass into body mass or weight), (decreased) mortality, and (decreased) mortality-adjusted feed/gain ratio.
  • carrier and similar terms refer to a component adapted for conveying a substance.
  • the carrier component can comprise a solid, dry, and/or substantially dry carrier.
  • the carrier can comprise an organic and/or earthen carrier, comprising one or more organic and/or earth components or materials.
  • Earthen carriers, components, and/or materials can include, for example, phyllosilicate(s) (e.g., of potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), and/or aluminum (Al)).
  • the phyllosilicate can be of the chlorite, clay, mica, or serpentine variety.
  • the carrier can comprise one or more 1 : 1 or 2: 1 clay mineral phyllosilicates.
  • Exemplary carriers can comprise, without limitation, aliettite, attapulgite, beidellite, bentonite, biotite, calcium silicate, calcium stearate, chlorite (e.g., clinochlore, chamosite, nimite, pennantite, and/or zinc, lithium, and/or calcium species thereof), cookeite, diatomite and/or other diatomaceous earth products, dickite, glauconite, halloysite, hectorite, hydrophobic silica, illite, kaolin, kaolinite, montmorillonite, muscovite, nacrite, nontronite, palygorskite, phyllite, saponite, sauconite, sepiolite, sericite, serpentine, smectite, talc, tonstein, and vermiculite.
  • chlorite e.g., clinochlore, chamosite,
  • Carriers can be or comprise a naturally-occurring material or component.
  • Other carriers can be or comprise an artificial and/or synthesized material or component.
  • Carriers can also include (dried) plant materials and/or extracts, e.g., meal, flour, protein powders, seaweed, and so forth.
  • the carrier can have a moisture content of less than about 20% by weight, less than about 15%> by weight, less than about 10%> by weight, less than about 5%) by weight, less than about 3% by weight, less than about 2% by weight, or less than about 1%) by weight.
  • the carrier can have a moisture content between about 0.25% and about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, between about 0.5% and about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, between about 1% and about 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, or between about 2% and about 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight.
  • the term "substantially dry carrier” refers to a carrier having one or more of the foregoing moisture contents. Such substantially dry carriers can be understood generally to be solid, dry substances, while still having at least some moisture associated therewith.
  • the carrier can be in powdered, granular, and/or particulate form or have an average particle size between about 20 - 297 ⁇ (e.g., corresponding to approximately 625 - 50 mesh). In at least one preferred embodiment, the carrier can have an average particle size of about 74 ⁇ (or about 200 mesh) +/- 20%, 15%, 10%, 8%, or 5%. In certain embodiments, the solid carrier can be sized (e.g., by milling, crushing, grinding, etc.) to a suitable average particle size. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the solid carrier can be a mined and milled earth component having a suitable average particle size.
  • the carrier component can also or alternatively comprise a liquid or liquid composition (e.g., solution, suspension, colloid, mixture, etc.).
  • exemplary liquid carriers include, without limitation, water, a water source, a water supply, a liquid feed, an oil, medicaments, or any suitable liquid composition or carrier, such as a solvent (of a solution), a continuous phase (of a colloid), an external phase (of a suspension), etc.
  • the carrier can comprise any suitable material adapted for or capable of conveying a substance.
  • the carrier can be ingested by an animal.
  • the carrier can be edible and adapted to be consumed by the animal.
  • the carrier can be known to be consumed by the animal.
  • a (microbial, bacterial, yeast, fungal, etc.) "fermentation product” or similar term refers to a resultant of at least a period of anaerobic metabolism or cellular respiration (e.g., by one or more microorganisms), as understood by those skilled in the art, and not merely bulk or other growth (e.g., of such microorganism(s) on or in a growth medium).
  • the fermentation product can also result from (one or more periods of) aerobic metabolism.
  • the fermentation product can comprise a condensed and/or extracted fermentation product, a presscake, fermentation solubles, a fermentation extract, dried fermentation solubles, liquid fermentation product, dried fermentation biomass, or a combination thereof.
  • liquid fermentation product refers to a fermentation product in liquid form.
  • the liquid fermentation product can be or comprise components of a liquid fermentation culture (e.g., a whole or complete microbial fermentation suspension culture), including a (at least partially spent or post-fermentation) liquid culture medium or component(s) thereof, one or more microorganisms and/or cellular material (e.g., structural components) thereof, one or more (fermentation, anaerobic, aerobic, and/or other) metabolites (produced by the microorganisms, and other components as known in the art.
  • a liquid fermentation culture e.g., a whole or complete microbial fermentation suspension culture
  • a microorganisms and/or cellular material e.g., structural components
  • transfermentation, anaerobic, aerobic, and/or other metabolites produced by the microorganisms, and other components as known in the art.
  • the microbial fermentation product can be processed (e.g., purified, filtered, isolated, separated, etc.) or crude (e.g., unprocessed).
  • the fermentation product can comprise the substantially unpurified resultant of microbial anaerobic (and optionally aerobic) metabolism, including one or more (fermentation) metabolites, a (liquid) fermentation medium (e.g., remaining after a fermentation process), and/or microbial cellular and/or structural components (e.g., whole cell lysate).
  • the fermentation product includes one or more microorganisms and/or cellular material, such as cellular structural components, including cell wall or fragments thereof, organelle or fragments thereof, and so forth, genetic material, macromolecules, or other component thereof.
  • microorganism such as cellular structural components, including cell wall or fragments thereof, organelle or fragments thereof, and so forth, genetic material, macromolecules, or other component thereof.
  • the terms "microorganism,” “microbial organism,” “microbe,” and the like refer to a species or strain of bacteria, archaea, certain protozoa, fungi, such as yeast, mold, etc., and algae, whether single-celled or multi- cellular organism, whether prokaryotic or eukaryotic, as understood by those skilled in the art.
  • the fermentation product includes (whole-cell) lysed microorganisms.
  • the one or more microorganisms may include any number of microorganism species or strains, including, without limitation, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or any other number of discrete (e.g., separately identifiable) microorganism strains or species.
  • Exemplary bacteria can include, without limitation: a species or strain of Acetobacter, including species aceti, xylinum, suboxydans, and so forth; a species or strain of Bacillus, including species apiaries, azotofixans, brevis, cereus, circulans, coagulans, laterosporus, lentus, licheniformis, macerans, marinus, megaterium, pasteurii, polymyxa, pulvifaciens, pumilus, schlegelii, sphaericus, stearothermophilus, subtilis, thiaminolyticus, thuringiensis, tusciae, and so forth; a species or strain of Bacteroides, including species amylophilus, contlosus, ruminocola, suis, and so forth; a species or strain of Bifidobacterium, including species adolescentis, animalis, bifidum, infantis, longum,
  • Other embodiments include, for example, a species or strain of Streptomyces, including species natalensis, chattanoogensis, griseus, and so forth; a species or strain of Xanthomonas, including species campestris, and so forth; a species or strain of Rhizopus, including species niveus, and so forth; a species or strain of Micrococcus, including species lysodeikticus, and so forth; a species or strain of Bacillus, including species cereus, and so forth; and/or a species or strain of Leuconostoc, including species citovorum, dextranicum, and so forth.
  • Streptomyces including species natalensis, chattanoogensis, griseus, and so forth
  • a species or strain of Xanthomonas including species campestris, and so forth
  • a species or strain of Rhizopus including species niveus, and so forth
  • the fermentation product can include Lactobacillus acidophilus and/or cellular or structural components thereof, and one or more additional microbial (e.g., bacterial, fungal, yeast, mold, algae) species or strains (such as one or more of those listed herein) and/or cellular or structural components thereof.
  • additional microbial e.g., bacterial, fungal, yeast, mold, algae
  • strains such as one or more of those listed herein
  • the one or more microorganisms do not include a bacteria or bacterial species or strain or are substantially devoid of bacteria and/or cellular or structural components thereof.
  • the fermentation product can be a fungal (e.g., yeast and/or mold) fermentation product that is substantially devoid of bacteria and/or cellular or structural components thereof.
  • Exemplary fungi can include, without limitation, yeast of phyla Ascomycota, such as Saccharomycotina and/or Taphrinomycotina (e.g., Schizosaccharomycetes), and/or phyla Basidiomycota, such as Agaricomycotina (e.g., Tremellomycetes) and/or Pucciniomycotina (e.g., Microbotryomycetes).
  • yeast of phyla Ascomycota such as Saccharomycotina and/or Taphrinomycotina (e.g., Schizosaccharomycetes)
  • phyla Basidiomycota such as Agaricomycotina (e.g., Tremellomycetes) and/or Pucciniomycotina (e.g., Microbotryomycetes).
  • Exemplary yeast can include a species or strain of Candida (previously known as Torulopsis) including species utilis, glabrata, guilliermondii, lipolytica, pseudotropicalis, and so forth; a species or strain of Kluyveromyces including species lactis, and so forth; and/or a species or strain of Saccharomyces, including species cerevisiae, boulardii, fragilis, and so forth.
  • Candida previously known as Torulopsis
  • Torulopsis including species utilis, glabrata, guilliermondii, lipolytica, pseudotropicalis, and so forth
  • Kluyveromyces including species lactis, and so forth
  • Saccharomyces including species cerevisiae, boulardii, fragilis, and so forth.
  • Exemplary fungi can further include a species or strain of Aspergillus, including species niger, orizae (or oryzae), and so forth; a species or strain of Penicillium including specise roquefortii, and so forth; a species or strain oiMucor, including species miehei, pusillus, and so forth; a species or strain of Morteirella, including species vinaceae, and so forth; a species or strain of Endothia, including species parasitica, and so forth; and/or a species or strain of Rhizomucor, including species miehei, and so forth.
  • Aspergillus including species niger, orizae (or oryzae), and so forth
  • Penicillium including specise roquefortii, and so forth
  • oiMucor including species miehei, pusillus, and so forth
  • a species or strain of Morteirella including species vinaceae,
  • the fermentation product can be a bacterial fermentation product that is substantially devoid of fungi, yeast, mold, and/or cellular or structural components of any one or more of the foregoing.
  • Some embodiments can be substantially devoid of mold and/or cellular or structural components thereof.
  • the fermentation product can be a bacterial and/or yeast fermentation product that is substantially devoid of mold and/or cellular or structural components thereof.
  • Some embodiments can be substantially devoid of algae and/or cellular or structural components thereof.
  • Certain embodiments can include at least one bacterial species or strain, at least one fungal (or yeast, or mold) species or strain, and/or at least one algae species or strain.
  • the one or more microorganisms may be beneficial, as understood by those skilled in the art, and/or may be generally recognized as safe (GRAS - an American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designation, which indicates that a substance added to a food is considered safe by experts, and so is exempted from the usual Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) food additive tolerance requirements), as understood by those skilled in the art.
  • FDA American Food and Drug Administration
  • the fermentation product can be substantially devoid of harmful and/or non-GRAS microorganisms, such as E. coli, salmonella, listeria, and/or Campylobacter, and/or cellular or structural components thereof.
  • the fermentation product can also be substantially devoid of certain (harmful) species or strains of Mycobacterium, Clostridium, Pseudomonas, Shigella, etc., and/or cellular or structural components thereof.
  • Some embodiments can also or alternatively include one or more non-GRAS microbes, including without limitation one or more of the non-GRAS microbes disclosed herein.
  • the one or more microorganisms of the fermentation product can be in a spore form, a vegetative form, a metabolic form, or a combination thereof.
  • the one or more microorganisms of the fermentation product can be non-living, non-viable, non-metabolic, and/or lysed.
  • the fermentation product can comprise one or more non-living, non-viable, non-metabolic, and/or lysed microorganism, or cellular material (e.g., cell structural components) thereof.
  • the fermentation product can be substantially devoid of one or more or any living (e.g., metabolic, dormant, sporulated, etc.) microorganisms.
  • the fermentation product can comprise or be comprised of less than about 50%, less than about 40%, less than about 30%), less than about 25%, less than about 20%, less than about 15%, less than about 10%, less than about 5%, less than about 1%, less than about 0.5%, less than about 0.25%, less than about 0.1%, less than about 0.05%, less than about 0.01%, or less living or viable microorganisms.
  • probiotic products or direct-fed microorganism (DFM)-containing products may comprise live cultures, a source of live or viable, naturally occurring microorganisms, etc.
  • some embodiments of the present disclosure can include a microbial fermentation product that is substantially or entirely devoid of live or viable microorganisms (of one or more varieties).
  • the microorganisms can be intentionally killed and/or inactivated (e.g., by lysing, such as by sonication, vigorous mixing or blending, heat inactivation, pH inactivation, and so forth), as known in the art.
  • lysing such as by sonication, vigorous mixing or blending, heat inactivation, pH inactivation, and so forth
  • the fermentation product can also include a liquid (fermentation) medium (e.g., remaining after a fermentation process).
  • the fermentation product can comprise a resultant of microbial liquid suspension culture grown in anaerobic (and optionally aerobic) conditions.
  • the medium can include a liquid base component, such as water or a nutrient broth (e.g., Lysogeny Broth (LB), M9, fluid thioglycollate medium (FTM), NZ, NZY, or NZYM broths, SOB, SuperBroth, 2X YT, MOPS, SOC, TB, and so forth).
  • a liquid base component such as water or a nutrient broth (e.g., Lysogeny Broth (LB), M9, fluid thioglycollate medium (FTM), NZ, NZY, or NZYM broths, SOB, SuperBroth, 2X YT, MOPS, SOC, TB, and so forth).
  • LB Lysogeny Broth
  • the medium can also include one or more nutrient, growth, and/or other components (e.g., remaining after the fermentation process), such as (i) a carbon source (e.g., carbohydrate, such as glucose, sucrose, fructose, lactose, galactose, etc.), (ii) (inorganic) nitrogen source (e.g., ammonium, urea, etc.), (iii) protein or amino acid source (e.g., synthetic proteins or amino acids, natural, plant- and/or animal-derived proteins or amino acids, such as whey, milk, or milk-based product, etc.), (iv) vitamin (e.g., thiamine (Vitamin Bi), riboflavin (Vitamin B 2 ), niacin (Vitamin B 3 ), choline (Vitamin B 4 ), pantothenic acid (Vitamin B 5 ), pyridoxal (Vitamin B 6 ), biotin (Vita
  • salt(s) thereof e.g., molybdate, cellulite, sulfate, chloride, propionate, etc.
  • salt e.g., potassium phosphate, sodium phosphate, sodium chloride, ammonium chloride, magnesium sulfate, calcium chloride, etc.
  • plant including a component, part, or extract thereof (e.g., seaweed, such as kelp (e.g., brown algae (Phaeophyceae), such as Ascophyllum nodosum, optionally in meal form (e.g., dried and ground), (xi) yeast or extract thereof, (xii) enzyme, and/or (xiii) any other suitable (fermentation) culture component, as known to those skilled in the art.
  • seaweed such as kelp (e.g., brown algae (Phaeophyceae), such as Ascophyllum nodosum, optionally in meal form (e.g., dried and ground)
  • yeast or extract thereof e
  • certain fermentation products can specifically exclude one or more of the foregoing or other known culture components (e.g., serum, growth factor, hormone, enzyme, antibiotic, beef extract, whole blood, heat-treated blood, etc.).
  • one or more components found in the medium can be added to the medium before, during, and/or after one or more growth phases of the culture.
  • one or more components found in the medium can be produced by the microbes growing in the fermentation culture (e.g., as (fermentation) metabolites).
  • the fermentation product can include one or more metabolites.
  • the one or more metabolites comprise fermentation or other metabolites produced by the microorganisms (e.g., during anaerobic and optionally aerobic metabolism).
  • Microbial fermentation metabolites can include, without limitation, one or more organic acids (e.g., lactic acid, humic acid, carboxylic acid (e.g., carbonic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, etc.), citric acid, salicylic acid, ascorbic acid, and so forth) amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, fatty-acids, enzymes, vitamins, and/or any other microbial metabolite component, as known to those skilled in the art.
  • organic acids e.g., lactic acid, humic acid, carboxylic acid (e.g., carbonic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, capro
  • the metabolite(s) can be nutritionally beneficial to one or more animals (e.g., birds, mammals, etc.).
  • the fermentation product can include one or more microorganism waste products.
  • the metabolite(s) can be or comprise one or more microorganism waste products.
  • the fermentation product can be substantially devoid of antimicrobials (e.g., bacteriocins, antibiotics, hydrogen peroxide, and so forth); certain enzymes (e.g., proteases, amylases, lipases, glycosidases, DNA and/or RNA polymerases), and so forth.
  • the metabolites can be at least partially purified (e.g., away from undesirable matter, such as waste products, fermentation medium, microbial cellular and/or structural material, etc.).
  • the metabolites can be substantially unpurified in one or more embodiments.
  • the substantially unpurified metabolites can be disposed in the microbial organisms and/or the (liquid) fermentation medium (e.g., outside of the microbial organisms).
  • the microorganisms can be lysed (e.g., such that substantially all of the metabolites are free in solution (i.e., not contained within the microorganisms)).
  • the fermentation product can comprise a mixture (e.g., solution, colloid, suspension, colloidal suspension, emulsion, etc.) of post-fermentation liquid medium, one or more microbial fermentation metabolites (e.g., anaerobic and/or aerobic metabolic products), and microbial cellular and/or structural components (e.g., whole cell lysate).
  • the mixture can be crude, raw, and/or substantially unpurified.
  • Exemplary fermentation methods, parameters, etc. include those known to those skilled in the art.
  • the fermentation product can be prepared by one or more fermentation processes, including growing of one or more microbial (e.g., bacterial) species or strains or cell lines on a solid growth medium, as known in the art.
  • the microbial culture can be grown in natural and/or ambient conditions in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the culture can be grown in artificial and/or optimized conditions.
  • the microbial cultures can be grown at a biologically-suitable temperature (e.g., between about 20-50 degrees Celsius (°C) or between about 30-40°C), acidity (pH) (e.g., about 3.0 - 8.0), etc.
  • the growth medium can include one or more of the above-described or other medium components, including, without limitation, a (substantially solid) base component (e.g., agar or other suitable base component), nutrient, growth, and/or other components (e.g., carbon and/or (inorganic) nitrogen source, vitamin, mineral, trace element, essential element, amino acid, amino acid source, salt, yeast extract, and/or any other culture component, as known to those skilled in the art.
  • the microbial culture can be grown in aerobic and/or anaerobic conditions.
  • the fermentation process can also include inoculating one or more (of the) viable microorganisms or microbial lines (or colonies thereof) into a liquid growth medium (e.g., to form a starter suspension culture), as known in the art.
  • a liquid growth medium e.g., to form a starter suspension culture
  • Liquid (suspension) cultures can also be grown in natural and/or ambient or artificial and/or optimized conditions, as described above.
  • the liquid growth medium can include one or more of the above-described or other medium components.
  • the viable starter culture (or a suitable portion thereof, including a whole fraction, extract, cell pellet, etc. thereof) can be transferred into liquid fermentation medium (e.g., to form a liquid fermentation culture).
  • the liquid fermentation medium and/or culture can be disposed in a bioreactor, flask, or other suitable growth container.
  • the liquid fermentation medium and/or culture can include one or more of the above-described or other medium components.
  • the liquid fermentation culture can also be grown in natural and/or ambient or artificial and/or optimized conditions, as described above.
  • the one or more viable microorganisms or microbial lines (or colonies thereof) can be inoculated directly into a liquid fermentation medium.
  • the fermentation culture can be grown under anaerobic and/or aerobic conditions for a first period of time and/or under first fermentation conditions, as known in the art and described herein.
  • the fermentation culture can be grown for between about 0.5 days and about 5 days, at a temperature between about 10-50 °C, and/or at a pH between about 2 - 10.
  • the fermentation culture can be grown under anaerobic and/or aerobic conditions for a second period of time and/or under second fermentation conditions, as known in the art and described herein.
  • the second period of time can be between 0.5 days and about 5 days.
  • the second fermentation conditions can include a temperature between about 10-50 °C, a pH between about 2 and about 10, etc.
  • the second period of time and/or second fermentation conditions can be different than the first period of time and/or first fermentation conditions.
  • the fermentation culture (or suitable portion thereof) can be transferred into the second fermentation conditions and/or a second fermentation medium.
  • the second fermentation medium can be disposed in a bioreactor, flask, or other suitable growth container and/or can include one or more of the above-described or other medium components.
  • the fermentation process can also include additional period(s) of time, fermentation condition(s), fermentation media, etc., as known in the art and described herein.
  • the fermentation culture can be or comprise a microbial fermentation product and/or can be optionally and/or additionally processed to form a microbial fermentation product.
  • the (anaerobically and/or aerobically metabolic) microorganisms of the fermentation culture can be intentionally killed and/or inactivated (e.g., by lysing, such as by sonication, vigorous mixing, or blending, heat inactivation, pH inactivation or killing, and so forth), as known in the art.
  • fermentation metabolites disposed within the microbial cells or organisms of the fermentation culture can thereby be released into the medium (e.g., such that the metabolites are free in solution or other liquid medium type).
  • the non-living, non-viable, non-metabolic, and/or lysed microorganism, or cellular material (cell structural components) thereof can be retained in the liquid fermentation medium or at least partially (e.g., substantially and/or completely) removed therefrom (e.g., via (ultra) centrifugation, filtration, etc.).
  • the fermentation product comprises a whole-cell and/or whole-culture lysate of the fermentation culture (e.g., without substantial removal, purification, isolation, etc.
  • the fermentation product can be in a substantially liquid (suspension, solution, colloid, gel, slurry, etc.) form and/or can include one or more components of a microbial fermentation culture (e.g., prepared as described herein and/or as known in the art).
  • the fermentation product can comprise a liquid suspension comprising the substantially unpurified resultant of microbial anaerobic and optionally aerobic metabolism, including (i) substantially all of the (fermentation) metabolites produced by the fermentation culture, (ii) the liquid fermentation medium in which the fermentation culture was grown (e.g., remaining after a fermentation process), and (iii) a whole-cell lysate the microorganisms or culture, including all of the microbial cellular and/or structural components of the microorganisms grown in the fermentation culture.
  • the fermentation product can be in substantially solid form (e.g., dried, freeze- dried, vacuum-dried, heat-dried, dehydrated, extracted, etc.), comprising one or more of the foregoing components of the fermentation culture.
  • the terms “buffer,” “buffering agent” and the like refer to a substance adapted for adjusting the acidity (as measured by pH) of a material or environment to which it is added and/or inhibiting (e.g., preventing, dampening, attenuating, etc.) a rapid change in the pH of the material or environment (e.g., when an acid or base is added).
  • the buffering agent can be a weak acid or a weak base used to maintain the pH of a solution near a chosen value after the addition of another acid or base.
  • the buffering agent can comprise an electrolyte or electrolyte mixture.
  • Exemplary buffering agents can include, without limitation, calcium carbonate, fumaric acid, glucono-delta-lactone, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, sodium bentonite, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, and combinations thereof.
  • the buffering agents can be naturally-occurring (e.g., mined and/or otherwise collected, etc.), synthetic, or a mixture thereof.
  • a sodium sesquicarbonate component can comprise naturally-occurring sodium sesquicarbonate, or a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, in certain embodiments.
  • the buffering agent can be in a substantially liquid (e.g., dissolved or otherwise disposed in a liquid) or in substantially solid and/or dry (e.g., particulate, granular, powdered, etc.) form.
  • the solid buffering agent can have a moisture content of less than about 20% by weight, less than about 19% by weight, less than about 15% by weight, less than about 10% by weight, less than about 5% by weight, less than about 3% by weight, less than about 2% by weight, or less than about 1% by weight.
  • the buffering agent can have a moisture content between about 0.25% and about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, between about 0.5% and about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, between about 1% and about 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, or between about 2% and about 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20%) by weight.
  • the solid buffering agent can be substantially dry.
  • the buffering agent can also be in particulate, granular, powdered, or other form in some embodiments. Exemplary animal feed components
  • feed refers to a product adapted for animal consumption.
  • the feed or feed component can comprise an edible food that includes one or more essential nutrients (e.g., vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fatty-acids, etc.) or other components necessary and/or sufficient for the growth and/or maintenance of live animals.
  • the feed or feed component is or comprises a complete, final, or finished feed product, as known in the art.
  • the feed or feed component is or comprises a pre-mix, grain, filler, or other components as known in the art.
  • the feed or feed component can also or alternatively comprise water, molasses, or other consumable liquid or fluid.
  • feed or feed component can be both edible and adapted to be consumed by the animal.
  • the feed can be known to be consumed by the animal.
  • animal and similar terms refer to a multicellular, eukaryotic organism, including vertebrates such as birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and fish, as well as invertebrates, including shellfish, such as mollusks, (e.g., squid, cuttlefish, octopus, etc.), crustaceans (e.g., crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, etc.), echinoderms (e.g. starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, etc.), worms, etc.
  • mollusks e.g., squid, cuttlefish, octopus, etc.
  • crustaceans e.g., crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, etc.
  • echinoderms e.g. starfish, sea urchins,
  • Illustrative animals include husbandry animals, cattle, (dairy) ruminants, domestic animals, farm animals, companion animals, pets, performance animals, etc. It is noted that humans are also animals, as understood by those skilled in the art. It will be appreciated, however, that in some embodiments, an animal feed is adapted for consumption by one or more non-human animals.
  • Certain embodiments can comprise a feed component adapted for consumption by a specific animal or animal type.
  • a feed component adapted for consumption by a specific animal or animal type.
  • some embodiments can comprise poultry feed (e.g., mash, pellets, crumbles, scratch, grain, etc.) as understood by those skilled in the art.
  • feed adapted for ruminants or ruminating mammals e.g., cattle (dairy, livestock, draft, etc.), goats, sheep, giraffes, yaks, deer, antelope, etc.), swine (e.g., pigs, hogs, boars, etc.), camelids (e.g., camels, alpacas, lamas, etc.), domestic house pets (e.g., cats, dogs, rabbits, etc.), rodents (e.g., hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, etc.), and so forth.
  • mammals e.g., cattle (dairy, livestock, draft, etc.), goats, sheep, giraffes, yaks, deer, antelope, etc.
  • swine e.g., pigs, hogs, boars, etc.
  • camelids e.g., camels, alpacas, lamas
  • the feed can be substantially dry.
  • the feed can have a moisture content of less than about 20% by weight, less than about 19% by weight, less than about 15% by weight, less than about 10% by weight, less than about 5% by weight, less than about 3% by weight, less than about 2% by weight, or less than about 1% by weight.
  • the feed can have a moisture content between about 0.25% and about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, between about 0.5% and about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, between about 1% and about 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, or between about 2% and about 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%), or 20%) by weight.
  • the feed can comprise a wet feed, having a moisture content greater than about 20% by weight.
  • embodiments of the present disclosure can include one or more additional (health supplementing) components and/or ingredients.
  • embodiments can include one or more vitamins (e.g., optionally selected, independently, from the group consisting of Vitamin A, Vitamin B complex (e.g., Vitamin Bl, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B4, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B7, Vitamin B8, Vitamin B9, Vitamin B12, Choline), Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and/or Vitamin K, etc.).
  • Vitamin A e.g., optionally selected, independently, from the group consisting of Vitamin A, Vitamin B complex (e.g., Vitamin Bl, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B4, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B7, Vitamin B8, Vitamin B9, Vitamin B12, Choline), Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and/or Vitamin K, etc.).
  • Vitamin B complex e.g., Vitamin Bl, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B4, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B7, Vitamin B8, Vitamin B9, Vitamin B12, Choline
  • An illustrative embodiment can include one or more minerals or trace minerals (or elements) (e.g., optionally selected, independently, from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, boron, cobalt, chloride, chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, zinc, nickel, vanadium, silicon, and/or tin, etc.). Certain embodiments can include, for example, one or more of copper, manganese, and/or boron.
  • Some embodiments can include one or more additional components selected from one or more: amino acids (e.g., essential and/or non-essential), health supplements (e.g., glucosamine, chondroitin, etc.), pharmaceuticals (e.g., chemical additive, medicated animal feed component, etc.), nutraceuticals, plants or plant parts (e.g., berries, leaves, stems, roots, shoots, seedling, cotyledon, etc.), plant products or extracts (e.g., seaweed extracts), herbs, phytonutrients, carotenoids, enzymes (e.g., amylase, xylanase, proteases, phytase, glucanase), probiotics, lignosulfonates, organic acids (e.g., humic acids), etc. Certain embodiments can be substantially and/or entirely devoid of probiotic and/or living microorganism of one or more variety.
  • health supplements e.g., glucosamine,
  • Certain embodiments can include one or more surfactants, such as a binding and/or emulsifying agent (e.g., diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono and diglucerides, edible fats and oils, edible fat-forming fatty acids, ethoxylated mono and diglycerides, methyl glucoside coconut oil ester, mineral oil, mono and diglycerides of edible fats or oils or edible fat- forming acids, monosodium phosphate derivatives of mono and diglycerides of edible fats or oils or edible fat-forming fatty acids, polyoxyethylene glycol 400 (mono and dioleates), polysorbate 80, polysorbate 60 (polyoxy ethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate, propylene glycol, sodium stearoyl lactylate, sorbitan mono-stearate with or without polysorbate 60, Tween 80 (T-80), etc., or combination thereof.
  • a binding and/or emulsifying agent e.g.,
  • Some embodiments can include one or more stabilizing, anti-caking, and/or processing agents (e.g., carrageenan, gelatin gum, guar gum, lecithin, locust bean gum, stearic acid, sodiumcarboxy-methyl-cellulose, sodium silico- aluminate, tara gum, etc.), dust control agents (e.g., mineral oil, paraffin, etc., or a combination of two or more of the foregoing), preservatives (e.g., calcium propionate, sodium benzoate, etc.) and/or other beneficial animal feed ingredients, or combination thereof.
  • stabilizing, anti-caking, and/or processing agents e.g., carrageenan, gelatin gum, guar gum, lecithin, locust bean gum, stearic acid, sodiumcarboxy-methyl-cellulose, sodium silico- aluminate, tara gum, etc.
  • dust control agents e.g., mineral oil, paraffin, etc., or a combination of
  • Some embodiments can also include one or more diluting agents or diluents.
  • the one or more diluting agents or diluents can dilute one or more of the product or supplement components into the feed component of the mixture.
  • the one or more diluting agents or diluents can also or alternatively enhance uniform distribution of the product or supplement component(s) into the feed component of the mixture.
  • Exemplary diluting agents or diluents can include, without limitation, a vegetable or grain, an oil (e.g., corn, canola, olive, etc.), a pre-mix, a vitamin and/or mineral mix, an initial portion of the animal feed component, an earthen carrier, or any other suitable product or supplement component-diluting or distributing element.
  • the one or more diluting agents or diluents can comprise the buffering agent.
  • combination product refers to a composition, mixture, or other combination (e.g., reaction product) that includes at least a fermentation product and a carrier of the present disclosure.
  • the combination product can be, comprise, or include the fermentation product applied to the carrier, the fermentation product bound to the carrier (also termed the fermentation product-bound carrier), and/or the fermentation product bound to the carrier and mixed with one or more additional components, such as a buffering agent (also termed buffered combination product, buffered fermentation product-bound carrier, etc.) and/or additional ingredient (e.g., vitamin(s), mineral(s) or trace mineral(s), amino acid(s), health supplement(s), pharmaceutical(s), nutraceutical(s), plant(s) or plant part(s), plant product(s) or extract(s), herb(s), phytonutrient(s), carotenoid(s), enzyme(s), probiotic(s), lignosulfonate(s), organic acid(s), and/or any other suitable
  • a buffering agent also termed buffered combination product
  • the fermentation product can be bound to the carrier to form a combination product (or fermentation product-bound carrier).
  • the fermentation product can be physically and/or chemically bound to the carrier (e.g., by chemical reaction or means).
  • the fermentation product can be bound to the carrier by static electricity or by a force other than (general or macro) static electricity.
  • binding of the fermentation to the carrier can increase bioavailability of at least one of the metabolites (e.g., relative to being free in solution or extracted, purified, and/or isolated from solution or cell).
  • the fermentation product can be applied to the carrier, bound to the outer surface of the carrier, and/or bound to a portion of the carrier adjacent to or below the surface.
  • the liquid fermentation product can be (i) adsorbed to the surface of the carrier and/or (ii) absorbed below the surface of the carrier.
  • the liquid fermentation product can also be bound to the carrier by drying thereon and/or therein after being applied thereto.
  • the liquid fermentation product can be at least partially dry-bound to the carrier.
  • dry-bound and similar terms refers to the persistent and/or sustained physical association of two or more substances by physical and/or chemical forces established during a drying process.
  • the fermentation product can substantially or at least partially coat the carrier.
  • the fermentation product can be applied to the carrier (e.g., such that the liquid portion of the fermentation product does not dissolve the carrier and/or such that the applied portion of the fermentation product substantially or at least partially coat surrounds the carrier).
  • at least a portion of the fermentation product can be chemically bound to the carrier.
  • the fermentation product can be reacted with the carrier (e.g., such that a physical and/or chemical binding reaction occurs).
  • the reaction can be endothermic or exothermic.
  • the reaction can be facilitated and/or accelerated by one or more enzymes or other reaction components or parameters (e.g., heat, air (flow), mixing, etc.).
  • the enzyme or other component can be a metabolic reaction product, a fermentation culture component, and/or a separate component added prior to or during application of the fermentation product to the carrier.
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier can be in a solid form.
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier can have a moisture content of less than about 20% by weight, less than about 15% by weight, less than about 10% by weight, less than about 5% by weight, less than about 3% by weight, less than about 2% by weight, or less than about 1% by weight.
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier can have a moisture content between about 0.25% and about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, between about 0.5% and about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, between about 1% and about 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, or between about 2% and about 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight.
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier can be substantially dry.
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier can be in a substantially liquid (suspension, solution, colloid, gel, slurry, etc.) form.
  • the fermentation product can be bound to the carrier such that the fermentation product and/or one or more components thereof is maintained at a suitable pH or pH range, or in an environment having a suitable pH or pH range.
  • the carrier and/or the fermentation product-bound carrier can provide and/or have a pH between about 2 - 10, preferably between about 2 - 8, more preferably between about 2 - 6, still more preferably between about 2 - 5, still more preferably between about 2 - 4, still more preferably between about 2 - 3, still more preferably between about 3 - 10, still more preferably between about 3 - 8, still more preferably between about 3 - 6, still more preferably between about 3 - 5, still more preferably between about 3 - 4, still more preferably between about 4 - 10, still more preferably between about 4 - 8, still more preferably between about 4 - 6, still more preferably between about 4 - 6, still more preferably between about 4 - 5.
  • Some embodiments can include one or more methods and/or materials for maintaining the fermentation product and/or one or more components thereof, the fermentation product-bound carrier, and/or other product or composition described herein at the suitable pH or pH range, or in an environment having a suitable pH or pH range.
  • the fermentation product and/or one or more components thereof can be reacted with the carrier, adsorbed to the surface of the carrier, and/or absorbed below the surface of the carrier such that the fermentation product and/or one or more components thereof is maintained at the suitable pH or pH range, or in a (carrier) environment having the suitable pH or pH range.
  • the fermentation product and/or one or more components thereof can react (chemically) with the carrier and/or one or more components thereof to form a combination product having a suitable pH.
  • the carrier or reacted carrier and fermentation product
  • the carrier can provide and/or have the suitable pH or pH range, or an environment having the suitable pH or pH range.
  • the addition of a buffering agent (e.g., as described herein) to the fermentation product-bound carrier can provide the suitable pH or pH range, or environment having the suitable pH or pH range.
  • the buffering agent and/or the fermentation product-bound carrier plus buffering agent combination i.e., buffered fermentation product-bound carrier
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier can be mixed and/or reacted with the buffering agent at a ratio of less than, up to, at least, and/or between approximately 1 :20, approximately 1 : 15, approximately 1 : 10, approximately 1 :9, approximately 1 :8, approximately 1 :7, approximately 1 :6, approximately 1 :5, approximately 1 :4, approximately 1 :3, approximately 1 :2, approximately 1 : 1, or approximately 1 :0.5, fermentation product- bound carrier to buffering agent, or vice versa.
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier and buffering agent can both be in substantially dry and/or solid form.
  • the buffered fermentation product-bound carrier can also be in a solid form.
  • the buffered fermentation product-bound carrier can have a moisture content of less than about 20% by weight, less than about 15% by weight, less than about 10% by weight, less than about 5% by weight, less than about 3% by weight, less than about 2% by weight, or less than about 1% by weight.
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier can have a moisture content between about 0.25% and about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, between about 0.5% and about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, between about 1% and about 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight, or between about 2% and about 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by weight.
  • the buffered fermentation product-bound carrier can be substantially dry.
  • one or more of the fermentation product-bound carrier and buffering agent can be in wet, fluid, and/or liquid form (e.g., suspension, solution, colloid, gel, slurry, etc.).
  • the addition of the fermentation product-bound carrier or buffered fermentation product-bound carrier to an animal feed component can provide the suitable pH or pH range, or environment having the suitable pH or pH range, for the animal feed, and vice versa.
  • the mixture of animal feed and fermentation product-bound carrier or buffered fermentation product-bound carrier can provide and/or have a pH between about 2 - 10, preferably between about 2 - 8, more preferably between about 2 - 6, still more preferably between about 2 - 5, still more preferably between about 2 - 4, still more preferably between about 2 - 3, still more preferably between about 3 - 10, still more preferably between about 3
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier or buffered fermentation product-bound carrier can be mixed (or reacted) with the animal feed component at any suitable ratio.
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier can be mixed with the animal feed component at a ratio of up to, at least, and/or between approximately 0.05 - 50 kg, approximately 0.1 - 25 kg, approximately 0.25 - 10 kg, approximately 0.25 - 8 kg, approximately 0.25 - 5 kg, approximately 0.25 - 4 kg, approximately 0.25 - 2 kg, approximately 0.25 - 1 kg, approximately 0.5 - 10 kg, approximately 0.5 - 8 kg, approximately 0.5 - 5 kg, approximately 0.5 - 4 kg, approximately 0.5 - 2 kg, approximately 0.5 - 1 kg, approximately 1 - 10 kg, approximately 1 - 8 kg, approximately 1 - 5 kg, approximately 1 - 4 kg, approximately 1 - 2 kg, approximately 1.5 - 10 kg, approximately 1.5 - 8 kg, approximately 1.5 - 5 kg, approximately 1.5 - 4
  • the fermentation product- bound carrier can be mixed with the animal feed component at a ratio of less than about 50 kg, less than about 25 kg, less than about 10 kg, less than about 5 kg, less than about 4 kg, less than about 3 kg, less than about 2 kg, less than about 1 kg, or less than about 0.5 kg of fermentation product-bound carrier per metric ton of the feed component, or any range therebetween.
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier can be mixed with the animal feed component at a ratio of greater than about 0.25 kg, greater than about 0.5 kg, greater than about 0.75 kg, greater than about 1 kg, greater than about 2 kg, greater than about 3 kg, greater than about 4 kg, greater than about 5 kg, greater than about 6 kg, greater than about 8 kg, greater than about 10 kg, greater than about 15 kg, or more of fermentation product-bound carrier per metric ton of the feed component, or any range therebetween.
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier can be mixed with the animal feed component at a ratio of about 100 g, 200 g, 250 g, 300 g, 400 g, 500 g, 750 g, 1000 g, 1500 g, 2000 g, 2500 g, 5000 g, or more of fermentation product-bound carrier per 1000 kg of feed or feed component, or any range therebetween, or ratio corresponding thereto.
  • the buffered fermentation product-bound carrier can be mixed with the animal feed component at a ratio of up to, at least, and/or between approximately 0.05 - 50 kg, approximately 0.1 - 25 kg, approximately 0.25 - 10 kg, approximately 0.25 - 8 kg, approximately 0.25 - 5 kg, approximately 0.25 - 4 kg, approximately 0.25 - 2 kg, approximately 0.25 - 1 kg, approximately 0.5 - 10 kg, approximately 0.5 - 8 kg, approximately 0.5 - 5 kg, approximately 0.5 - 4 kg, approximately 0.5 - 2 kg, approximately 0.5 - 1 kg, approximately 1 - 10 kg, approximately 1 - 8 kg, approximately 1 - 5 kg, approximately 1 - 4 kg, approximately 1 - 2 kg, approximately 1.5 - 10 kg, approximately 1.5 - 8 kg, approximately 1.5 - 5 kg, approximately 1.5 - 4 kg, approximately 1.5 - 2 kg, approximately 2 - 10 kg, approximately 2 - 8 kg, approximately 2 - 5 kg, approximately 2 - 4 kg, approximately 4 -
  • the buffered fermentation product-bound carrier can be mixed with the animal feed component at a ratio of less than about 50 kg, less than about 25 kg, less than about 10 kg, less than about 8 kg, less than about 5 kg, less than about 5 kg, less than about 4 kg, less than about 3 kg, less than about 2 kg, less than about 1 kg, or less than about 0.5 kg of buffered fermentation product-bound carrier per metric ton of the feed component, or any range therebetween.
  • the buffered fermentation product-bound carrier can be mixed with the animal feed component at a ratio of greater than about 0.25 kg, greater than about 0.5 kg, greater than about 0.75 kg, greater than about 1 kg, greater than about 2 kg, greater than about 3 kg, greater than about 4 kg, greater than about 5 kg, greater than about 6 kg, greater than about 8 kg, greater than about 10 kg, greater than about 15 kg, or more of buffered fermentation product-bound carrier per metric ton of the feed component, or any range therebetween.
  • the buffered fermentation product-bound carrier can be mixed with the animal feed component at a ratio of about 100 g, 200 g, 250 g, 300 g, 400 g, 500 g, 750 g, 1000 g, 2500 g, 2000 g, 2500 g, 5000 g, or more of buffered fermentation product-bound carrier per 1000 kg of feed component, or any range therebetween, or ratio corresponding thereto.
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier or buffered fermentation product-bound carrier can be mixed with the animal feed component at any suitable ratio.
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier or buffered fermentation product-bound carrier can be packaged (e.g., with or without an animal feed component as described herein).
  • the packaging can reduce, inhibit, and/or (substantially) prevent substantial absorption or loss of moisture (e.g., outside a suitable range, as described herein) by the packaged product. It will be appreciated that a moisture content above a certain threshold can increase the risk or occurrence of one or more undesirable effects.
  • a moisture content of greater than about 20% by weight, greater than about 15% by weight, greater than about 10% by weight, or greater than about 5% by weight can permit, enhance, improve, and/or augment microbial growth on or in (or contamination of) the packaged product, reduce the stability of the packaged product or one or more components thereof, etc.
  • a moisture content below a certain threshold can increase the risk or occurrence of one or more other undesirable effects.
  • a moisture content of less than about 0.25% by weight, less than about 0.5% by weight, less than about 0.75% by weight, less than about 1% by weight, less than about 1.5% by weight, less than about 2% by weight, less than about 3% by weight, less than about 4% by weight, or less than about 5% by weight can reduce the effectiveness of the packaged product or one or more components thereof (e.g., in enhancing one or more health indicators in an administered animal or animal population), enhance, improve, and/or augment the decomposition of the packaged product or one or more components thereof, etc.
  • the combination product can comprise the liquid fermentation product combined and/or mixed with a liquid carrier.
  • the liquid fermentation product can be combined and/or mixed with water (e.g., an animal's water supply) to form a combination product.
  • the liquid fermentation product can be dissolved, suspended, dispersed, or otherwise disposed in the liquid carrier.
  • combining and/or mixing a liquid fermentation product with a liquid carrier such that the liquid fermentation product becomes dissolved, suspended, dispersed, or otherwise disposed in the liquid carrier comprises applying the fermentation product to the carrier such that the fermentation product binds to the carrier.
  • the pH of the liquid composition / combination product can be adjusted, as necessary, by a buffering agent, as described herein. Additional ingredient(s), as described above, can also be added to (e.g., dissolved, suspended, dispersed, or otherwise disposed in) the liquid carrier.
  • Some embodiments of the present disclosure can include methods of manufacturing an animal feed supplement and/or a supplemented animal feed.
  • An illustrative method can optionally include producing a microbial fermentation product (e.g., as known in the art and/or described herein).
  • the method of producing a microbial fermentation product can include culturing one or more live and/or viable microorganisms (or microbial species or strains or lines thereof) under anaerobic (and optionally aerobic) conditions (e.g., in a fermentation medium, etc., as known in the art and/or described herein) and/or such that the microorganisms produce at least one fermentation metabolite.
  • Some embodiments can also include (intentionally) killing and/or inactivated (e.g., by lysing, such as by sonication, vigorous mixing, or blending, heat inactivation, pH inactivation or killing, and so forth) such that the fermentation product is substantially devoid of the live and/or viable microorganisms (e.g., substantially devoid of one or more or any living microorganisms).
  • the fermentation product can, however, include one or more (e.g., substantially all) cellular and/or structural components of the microorganisms.
  • the fermentation product can also include at least one fermentation metabolite and/or the fermentation culture medium (or component(s) thereof).
  • Some embodiments include mixing (or reacting) one or more vitamins and/or minerals with the fermentation product.
  • one or more of the vitamins and/or minerals can be bound or chelated to at least one of the metabolites of the fermentation product (e.g., such that the bioavailability of the at least one of the metabolites is increased thereby).
  • Illustrative methods can also include forming a combination product by at least applying the fermentation product to a carrier.
  • the fermentation product in substantially liquid form
  • the carrier can be or comprise a solid and/or substantial dry carrier, such as an earthen carrier, as described herein, optionally comprising one or more phyllosilicates.
  • the carrier can also or alternatively be or comprise a liquid carrier, such as water or a water source or supply, as described herein.
  • the fermentation product can be applied to or combined or mixed with the carrier, such that fermentation product becomes dispersed within or throughout the carrier.
  • the fermentation product can be applied to the carrier at a ratio of up to, at least, and/or between approximately 1 : 1 by weight, approximately 1 : 1.5 by weight, approximately 1 :2 by weight, approximately 1 :2.5 by weight, approximately 1 :3 by weight, approximately 1 :3.5 by weight, approximately 1 :4 by weight, approximately 1 :5 by weight, approximately 1 :6 by weight, approximately 1 :7 by weight, approximately 1 :8 by weight, approximately 1 :9 by weight, or approximately 1 : 10 by weight, fermentation product to carrier, or vice versa.
  • At least a portion of the fermentation product can physically and/or chemically react or mix with and/or bind to the carrier.
  • at least a portion of the fermentation product can be adsorbed to a surface of the carrier and/or absorbed below the surface of the carrier.
  • At least one embodiment can include mixing the carrier and/or fermentation product-bound carrier (e.g., before, after, and/or while applying the fermentation product to the carrier).
  • the carrier and/or fermentation product-bound carrier can be mixed in any suitable container or on any suitable surface.
  • the carrier can be mixed by rotation (e.g., in a drum or barrel), by shaking (e.g., on or in a tray or receptacle), by stirring (e.g., on or in a tray or receptacle), and so forth.
  • the carrier can be mixed at any suitable speed. Regardless of the specific type of mixing, container, surface, etc., mixing can be measured in terms of revolutions, rotations, and/or reciprocations per minute (rpm).
  • the carrier can be mixed at a speed of between about 1-500 rpm, between about 5- 300 rpm, between about 10-200 rpm, between about 15-100 rpm, between about 20-60 rpm, between about 30-50 rpm, or any range therebetween.
  • suitable mixing speed can ensure that the carrier, fermentation product-bound carrier, and/or other combination product is appropriately and/or optimally processed.
  • a mixing speed above a certain threshold can reduce the size and/or uniformity of product particles below an appropriate and/or optimal level.
  • a mixing speed below a certain threshold can inhibit sufficient or successful application or coating of the fermentation product around or about the carrier and/or can lead to clumping of the product, causing the size and/or uniformity of product particles to be inappropriate and/or suboptimal.
  • the effects of improper mixing can include reduced stability and/or activity of the product.
  • Certain embodiments can include applying air or a flow of air.
  • the air or flow of air can be applied (i) while mixing the carrier and/or fermentation product-bound carrier (e.g., before, after, and/or while applying the fermentation product to the carrier), (ii) over a specific, predetermined, or defined period of time (e.g., between about 6 - 120 hours, between about 12 - 96 hours, between about 12 - 120 hours, between about 48 - 60 hours, etc.) and/or (iii) until the fermentation product-bound carrier achieves a suitable moisture content, as described herein.
  • a specific, predetermined, or defined period of time e.g., between about 6 - 120 hours, between about 12 - 96 hours, between about 12 - 120 hours, between about 48 - 60 hours, etc.
  • the air flow can be applied at a rate of greater than or equal to about 25 m 3 / minute, up to about 200 m 3 / minute, between about 25 m 3 / minute and about 200 m 3 / minute, between about 40 m 3 / minute and about 150 m 3 / minute, between about 50 m 3 / minute and about 100 m 3 / minute, or between about 60 m 3 / minute and about 75 m 3 / minute, in certain embodiments.
  • the air or air flow can be applied at a rate of about 68 m 3 / minute.
  • suitable temperature can ensure that the mixture dries to a suitable moisture content in a suitable amount of time, thereby reducing, inhibiting, and/or substantially preventing and/or avoiding product caking or clumping, microbial contamination and/or growth, etc.
  • the method includes maintaining the carrier, mixed fermentation product and carrier, and/or fermentation product-bound carrier at a suitable reaction temperature (e.g., below about 60 °C, below about 58 °C, below about 56 °C, below about 55 °C, below about 52 °C, below about 50 °C, below about 48 °C, below about 45 °C, below about 42 °C, below about 40 °C, below about 39 °C, below about 38 °C, below about 37 °C, below about 35 °C, below about 32 °C, below about 30 °C, below about 25 °C, below about 20 °C, etc.
  • a suitable reaction temperature e.g., below about 60 °C, below about 58 °C, below about 56 °C, below about 55 °C, below about 52 °C, below about 50 °C, below about 48 °C, below about 45 °C, below about 42 °C, below about 40 °C, below about 39 °C, below
  • suitable reaction temperature can ensure that the reaction occurs at an optimal speed / rate, the reaction product is dried (at a suitable rate) to a suitable moisture content, etc.
  • the method can include maintaining the reaction product and/or fermentation product-bound carrier at a suitable maintenance and/or storage temperature (e.g., below about 42 °C, below about 40 °C, below about 39 °C, below about 38 °C, below about 37 °C, below about 35 °C, below about 32 °C, below about 30 °C, below about 28 °C, below about 25 °C, below about 20 °C, below about 15 °C, or below about 10 °C, below about 5 °C, below about 2 °C, etc.
  • a suitable maintenance and/or storage temperature e.g., below about 42 °C, below about 40 °C, below about 39 °C, below about 38 °C, below about 37 °C, below about 35 °C, below about 32 °C, below about 30 °C, below about 28 °C, below about 25 °C, below about 20 °C, below about 15 °C, or below about 10 °C, below about 5 °
  • a suitable maintenance temperature can improve, enhance, and/or maintain the stability, longevity, and/or composition (i.e., avoiding, reducing, and/or inhibiting decomposition) of the reaction product and/or fermentation product-bound carrier.
  • the aforementioned parameters can cause and/or enhance binding of the fermentation product to the carrier.
  • the parameters can cause and/or enhance adsorption of the fermentation product to the surface of the carrier, absorption of the fermentation product below the surface of the carrier, and/or drying of the fermentation product on or in the carrier.
  • the fermentation product can be or become dry-bound to the carrier in some embodiments.
  • the method can also include maintaining the fermentation product-bound carrier at a suitable reaction pH between about 2 - 10, preferably between about 2 - 8, more preferably between about 2 - 6, still more preferably between about 2 - 5, still more preferably between about 2 - 4, still more preferably between about 2
  • the suitable pH can ensure and/or enhance the chemical reaction.
  • the method can also include maintaining the fermentation product-bound carrier at a suitable maintenance pH between about 2 - 10, preferably between about 2 - 8, more preferably between about 2 - 6, still more preferably between about 2 - 5, still more preferably between about 2 - 4, still more preferably between about 2 - 3, still more preferably between about 3
  • the suitable maintenance pH can improve, enhance, and/or maintain the stability, longevity, and/or composition (i.e., avoiding, reducing, and/or inhibiting decomposition) of the reaction product and/or fermentation product-bound carrier.
  • the suitable maintenance pH can inhibit microbial contamination and/or growth on or in the product (e.g., especially at lower pH).
  • the reaction can have a pH lowering effect (e.g., on the carrier and/or mixture of carrier and fermentation product).
  • Some embodiments include mixing (e.g., as described above or otherwise mixing) one or more vitamins and/or minerals with the fermentation product-bound carrier (or fermentation product-applied carrier).
  • one or more of the vitamins and/or minerals can be bound or chelated to at least one of the metabolites of the fermentation product (e.g., such that the bioavailability of the at least one of the metabolites is increased thereby).
  • Vitamins and/or minerals can also enhance the nutritional value of the product.
  • Embodiments can also include mixing (e.g., as described above or otherwise mixing) the fermentation product-bound carrier with one or more additional components (e.g., one or more humic acids, plant extracts, such as a seaweed extract, lignosulfonate, etc.), as described herein.
  • additional components e.g., one or more humic acids, plant extracts, such as a seaweed extract, lignosulfonate, etc.
  • Some embodiments include mixing (e.g., as described above or otherwise mixing) the fermentation product-bound carrier with an animal feed component (e.g., to form a nutrient enhanced or supplemented animal feed product).
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier can be mixed with the animal feed component at any suitable ratio (e.g., as described herein). It will be appreciated that the mixture can comprise a consistent, heterogeneous mixture of fermentation product-bound carrier and animal feed component.
  • suitable ratio of fermentation product-bound carrier to feed component can ensure proper nutritional supplementation and/or nutrient delivery to the administered animals. For instance, if too little of the fermentation product-bound carrier is added, the animal may not receive adequate nutrition. However, if too much of the fermentation product-bound carrier is added, the performance of the product may be reduced and/or the health benefits to the animal(s) may be reduced.
  • Some embodiments include mixing (e.g., as described above or otherwise mixing) the fermentation product-bound carrier with a buffering agent to form a buffered combination product.
  • the buffering agent can be mixed with the fermentation product-bound carrier at any suitable ratio (e.g. up to, at least, and/or between approximately 1 :20, approximately 1 : 15, approximately 1 : 10, approximately 1 :9, approximately 1 :8, approximately 1 :7, approximately 1 :6, approximately 1 :5, approximately 1 :4, approximately 1 :3, approximately 1 :2, approximately 1 : 1, or approximately 1 :0.5, fermentation product-bound carrier to buffering agent).
  • suitable ratio of fermentation product-bound carrier to buffering agent can ensure optimal performance, activity, stability, and/or longevity of the product.
  • suitable ratio of fermentation product-bound carrier to buffering agent can ensure proper nutritional supplementation and/or nutrient delivery to the administered animals.
  • Some embodiments include mixing (e.g., as described above or otherwise mixing) the fermentation product, combination product, or buffered combination product with a feed component to form a supplemented feed composition.
  • the fermentation product, combination product, or buffered combination product can be mixed with a feed component at a ratio of at least, up to, between, and/or about 1 : 100, 1 : 150: 1 :200, 1 :250, 1 :300, 1 :350, 1 :400, 1 :450, 1 :500, 1 :600, 1 :700, 1 :750, 1 :800, 1 :900, 1 : 1000, 1 : 1250, 1 : 1500, 1 : 1750, 1 :2000, 1 :2500, 1 :3000, 1 :3500, 1 :4000, 1 :4500, 1 :5000, etc., by weight or by volume (fermentation product, combination product, or buffered combination product-to-feed component).
  • completed formulations of certain embodiments of the present disclosure can include a fermentation product-bound carrier or a buffered fermentation product-bound carrier (with or without an animal feed component and/or one or more additional components), as described herein.
  • the completed formulation(s) can be sized (e.g., milled, crushed, grinded, and/or screened) to obtain a substantially uniform particle size (e.g., on average, between about 20 - 297 ⁇ (or approximately 625 - 50 mesh), preferably about 74 ⁇ (or approximately 200 mesh) +/- 20%, 15%, 10%, 8%, or 5%).
  • the formulations can optionally be manufactured in granule, powder, pellet, bolus, tablet, or other suitable form.
  • the completed formulation can be packaged (e.g., so as to reduce, inhibit and/or substantially prevent loss (e.g., yield reduction), contamination (e.g., with live and/or viable microorganisms, fungus, parasite, etc.), and/or substantial absorption or loss of moisture by the packaged product.
  • the method can also include packaging the composition, such as by vacuum or other sealing in an air-tight container.
  • Figure 1 depicts a diagrammatic flow chart illustrating a method of manufacturing and optionally administering an animal feed supplement according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated, however, that portions of the illustrated method can comprise separate embodiments of the present disclosure (e.g., methods of manufacturing a composition, producing a nutrient enhanced animal feed product, enhancing the health of an animal, etc.).
  • an embodiment of the present disclosure can include a step 10 of providing a liquid fermentation product as described herein.
  • the fermentation product can be in a solid or non-liquid form.
  • Some embodiments can include an optional step 12a of adding one or more additional ingredients, such as vitamin(s), mineral(s) or trace mineral(s), amino acid(s), health supplement(s), pharmaceutical(s), nutraceutical(s), plant(s) or plant part(s), plant product(s) or extract(s), herb(s), phytonutrient(s), carotenoid(s), enzyme(s), probiotic(s), lignosulfonate(s), organic acid(s), etc., to the liquid fermentation product.
  • additional ingredients can also or alternatively be added to the medium before, during, and/or after one or more growth phases of the fermentation culture.
  • Certain embodiments can be substantially and/or entirely devoid of probiotic and/or living microorganism of one or more variety.
  • Certain embodiments can include a step 14 of applying the fermentation product to a dry carrier as described herein to form a first product (e.g., a fermentation product-applied carrier).
  • the applying step 14 can include one or more of spraying, pouring, dripping, etc. the fermentation product onto the carrier, binding or dry-binding the fermentation product to the carrier, reacting the fermentation product with the carrier, and/or drying the fermentation product on or in the carrier.
  • the applying step 14 can also or alternatively include drying the combination product, fermentation product-applied carrier, or fermentation product-bound carrier and/or any other process step described herein and/or known in the art.
  • Some embodiments can include an optional step 12b of adding one or more additional ingredients to the fermentation product-applied carrier.
  • the liquid fermentation product can be applied to a dry carrier to form a fermentation product-bound carrier.
  • the carrier can be or comprise a liquid or non-dry carrier, such as water.
  • the liquid fermentation product can be applied to the liquid carrier, such as by mixing, stirring, etc.
  • the fermentation product can also be in solid or non-liquid form and applied to a dry or liquid carrier in certain embodiments.
  • a non-liquid fermentation product can be dissolved, suspended, or otherwise applied to a liquid carrier, or mixed, combined, or otherwise applied to a solid carrier without necessarily departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
  • At least one embodiment can include a step 16 of mixing the fermentation product- bound carrier with at least one buffering agent, as described herein, to form a second product (e.g., a buffered fermentation product-bound carrier). Some embodiments can include an optional step 12c of adding one or more additional ingredients, as described above, to the buffered fermentation product-bound carrier. One or more embodiments can also include a step 18 of mixing the buffered fermentation product-bound carrier with an animal feed product to form a third product (e.g., a (buffered) supplemented animal feed product. Some embodiments can include an optional step 12d of adding one or more additional ingredients, as described above, to the (buffered) supplemented animal feed product. In addition, some of such embodiments can include a step 20 of administering the (buffered) supplemented animal feed product to one or more animals.
  • a second product e.g., a buffered fermentation product-bound carrier
  • Some embodiments can include an optional step 12c of adding one or more additional ingredients,
  • certain embodiments can include a step 22 of mixing the fermentation product-bound carrier with an animal feed product (without a buffering agent) to form a fourth product (e.g., a (un-buffered) supplemented animal feed product).
  • a fourth product e.g., a (un-buffered) supplemented animal feed product.
  • Some embodiments can include an optional step 12e of adding one or more additional ingredients, as described above, to the (un-buffered) supplemented animal feed product.
  • some embodiments can include a step 24 of administering the (un- buffered) supplemented animal feed product to one or more animals.
  • Alternative embodiments can include a step 26 of administering the fermentation product-bound carrier to one or more animals or a step 28 of administering the buffered fermentation product-bound carrier to one or more animals.
  • the fermentation product-bound carrier, buffering agent, and feed component can each be in substantially dry and/or solid form (e.g., having moisture content(s) as described herein), in certain embodiments.
  • Such substantially dry and/or solid compositions can be ideal and/or uniquely suited for various types of animal feeds. For instance, certain animals may prefer substantially dry and/or solid feeds.
  • feed compositions e.g., feed supplements, supplemented feeds, etc.
  • feed supplements may be easier, faster, more economical, and/or safer (for animals and/or users) to handle, store, move, mix, distribute, test, and/or eat in a substantially dry and/or solid form.
  • substantially dry and/or solid compositions can provide a significant advantage over substantially wet and/or liquid compositions, in some situations, application, or embodiments. For instance, mixing a liquid fermentation product with a powdered buffering agent can be messy, expensive, and time-consuming, etc.
  • the liquid fermentation product and dry buffering agent can be incompatible (for direct mixing).
  • the liquid fermentation product can have a low pH (e.g., less than or equal to about 5, 4, 3, or 2, in some embodiments), while the dry buffering agent (such as carbonate-based buffering agent) can have a higher pH (e.g., greater than or equal to about 8, 9, 10, or 11, for instance, about 8.4 (sodium bicarbonate), about 9.8 (sodium sesquicarbonate), or about 11.4 (sodium carbonate)).
  • the application of an acidic liquid fermentation product to a basic, dry, carbonate-based buffering agent to, or vice versa, at a suitable ratio may cause a violent reaction.
  • such mixing can induce the rapid formation of carbon dioxide and/or result in the loss of the carbonate buffering agent.
  • some embodiments can provide or produce a dry, buffered fermentation product in dry form without requiring that the liquid fermentation culture be dried out (via filtering, evaporation, dehydrating, vacuum, heat, air, etc.).
  • the dry, buffered fermentation product can be made without substantial loss of the buffering agent or molecular component thereof and without mixing, reacting, and/or combining a complete, liquid microbial fermentation suspension culture, as described herein, with a dry buffering agent.
  • the dry, buffered fermentation product can be made without substantial loss of the one or more component of the fermentation culture.
  • liquid medium of the culture include soluble or other components thereof, need not be removed in order to combine the fermentation product with the buffering agent.
  • embodiments of the present disclosure enable the use of a complete fermentation suspension culture in the production of animal feed supplements and supplemented animal feeds.
  • the fermentation product can comprise a liquid suspension comprising the substantially unpurified resultant of microbial anaerobic metabolism, including (i) substantially all of the (soluble and/or fermentation) metabolites produced by the fermentation culture, (ii) the liquid fermentation medium in which the fermentation culture was grown (e.g., remaining after a fermentation process), and (iii) whole-cell lysate, including all of the microbial cellular and/or structural components of the microorganisms grown in the fermentation culture, rather than a partial purification or isolate of certain fermentation culture metabolites or microorganisms.
  • Spraying and/or dry-binding the liquid fermentation product (e.g., as a crude, raw, whole and/or complete fermentation culture) to the substantially dry and/or solid carrier can provide (substantially all of the) components of a whole and/or substantially complete microbial fermentation culture in a substantially dry and/or solid form (e.g., without dehydrating and/or otherwise drying the whole suspension culture).
  • certain embodiments of the present disclosure can be administered to the animal(s) through the animal's water supply (e.g., disposed in a trough, bowl, pond, puddle, dispenser, etc.) and/or through a substantially wet or at least partially liquid animal food feed product.
  • the dry fermentation product-bound carrier can be at least partially dissolved in the water supply (e.g., such that consumption (drinking) of the water constitutes administration of an effective amount of the animal feed supplement to the animal).
  • the fermentation product, carrier, fermentation product-applied carrier can be in liquid form and/or can be introduced into the animal's water supply.
  • the buffering agent and/or additional component(s) can also be administered through the animal's water supply, the at least partially liquid animal feed product, etc.
  • some embodiments of the present disclosure can include a microbial fermentation product that is substantially devoid of live and/or viable microorganisms. Thus, certain embodiments of the present disclosure do not provide a significant source of live and/or viable microorganisms.
  • certain embodiments of the present disclosure introduce components adapted to support, increase, and/or maintain a healthy and/or desirable population of beneficial gut flora in the subject animal, and/or control, reduce, and/or maintain an acceptable and/or suitable population of non-pathogenic, pathogenic, and/or potentially pathogenic gut flora in the subject animal.
  • embodiments of the present disclosure can enhance, support, aid, boost, bolster, augment, and/or assist the health and/or well-being of an animal when an effective amount thereof is administered to the animal.
  • some embodiments can include enhancing, supporting, aiding, boosting, bolstering, augmenting, and/or assisting the health of an animal by administering an effective amount of an animal feed supplement composition of the present disclosure to the animal so as to improve one or more of the aforementioned health indicators of the animal or animal population.
  • administering can comprise feeding the feed supplement composition to the animal such that the animal ingests the effective amount of the animal feed supplement composition.
  • the feed supplement composition can be mixed with a feed component that the animal is known to eat.
  • the animal feed supplement composition e.g., fermentation product- applied carrier or buffered fermentation product-applied carrier, with or without additional ingredient(s)
  • the animal feed supplement composition can be administered directly to the animal (e.g., without mixing the product into the animal's feed or water).
  • the animal feed supplement composition can be processed into a pellet or tablet and/or fed directly to the animal. Pelleted embodiments may require a suitable amount of heat, pressure, moisture, or other parameter, but have been found to deliver similar beneficial results when administered to animals (see below).
  • the one or more health indicators can include gut lesion count, gut bacteria count and/or plate count, animal weight and/or body mass, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, mortality, metabolism and/or metabolic rate, digestion, nitrogen retention, milk production (in mammals), milk quality (as measured by milk fat and/or protein content, etc.), overall health and appearance, and so forth.
  • the method can comprise enhancing weight gain, reducing feed consumption and/or improving feed conversion ratios (especially under biotic and abiotic stress conditions), reducing mortality (and/or mortality rates in a population), reducing incidence of gut lesions, reducing counts, plate counts, and/or other incidents of bacteria (e.g., E.coli, Salmonella, etc.), improving nitrogen retention, increasing milk production in mammals, improving milk quality (increased fat and/or protein content, etc.) in mammals, improving metabolizable energy levels, improving digestion, improving overall health and appearance, and so forth.
  • Such health indicators can be measured in an individual animal and/or in a population (e.g., as an average).
  • Broiler chickens were obtained from a single source and randomly assigned to the treatments outlined below. The birds were fed commercial feed formulated to meet minimum nutrient requirements of a typical commercial broiler chicken diet using the NRC Nutrient Requirements for Poultry in a mash form for starters (0-21 days), growers (22-42 days), and finishers (43-49 days), with or without one of the feed supplement additives.
  • fermentation product-bound carrier composition (“combo") - added to the feed at a final ratio of about 1 :4000 ("combo (1)” - or about 250 grams of additive per 1000 kg feed), about 1 :2000 (“combo (2)” - or about 500 grams of additive per 1000 kg feed), or about 1 : 1000 (“combo (3)” - or about 1000 grams of additive per 1000 kg feed) by weight (the fermentation product being mixed / reacted with the carrier at a ratio of about 1 : 1 by weight); (ii) buffering agent (“buffer”) - added to the feed at a final ratio of about 1 :250 - or about 4 kg buffering agent per 1000 kg feed, or (iii) fermentation product- bound carrier with buffering agent (“combo+buffer”) - with the buffering agent and fermentation product-bound carrier added to the feed, respectively, at the final ratios described above (such that the fermentation product-bound carrier is combined with the buffering agent at a ratio of about 1 : 16 (about 250 grams
  • the additives were added to each ration of finished feed by premixing an appropriate, pre-determined amount of the additive in a small plastic bag with the addition of about 100 grams of corn oil (e.g., to enhance uniform distribution of the additive) and about 454 grams of feed (e.g., to dilute the additive into an initial portion of feed and enhance uniform distribution of the additive in the feed).
  • the initial dilution (or premix) was then mixed with the remainder of the full ration until thorough distribution of the additive in the feed was achieved. All diets and fresh well water were offered ad libitum.
  • Each floor pen study included 10 replicates per treatment, 56 birds per replicate, mixed-sex (50% male and 50% female) broilers, for a total of 560 birds per treatment.
  • Other ratios, amounts, combinations, etc. were tested without being reported in the present disclosure. Accordingly, other ratios, amounts, combinations, etc. are also contemplated herein.
  • results were obtained from feed studies conducted under mild biotic stress and normal grow-out conditions with moderate environmental temperature conditions or under abiotic high heat stress. Two different mild biotic stress conditions were tested. A first condition included Eimeria acervulina and Escherichia coli contamination of the litter conditions to induce contamination of the chicken intestinal system (21 day trial). A second condition included Clostridium perfringens (Necrotic Enteritis-causing bacteria) contamination of the litter conditions to induce contamination of the chicken intestinal system (21 day trial).
  • Temperature regime for the heat stress conditions was as follows: 85-90°F (about 29-32°C) for days 0-7, 100°F (about 37-38°C) for days 8-14, and 105°F (about 40- 41°C) for days 15-49.
  • Measured health indicators included gut lesion score / formation, Escherichia coli gut count, incidence of Salmonella infection, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and death / mortality.
  • Testing for Escherichia coli was performed on ten birds per replicate (or 100 birds per treatment) using USDA/FSIS MLG 3.02, section 3.7 procedure and are presented as (loglO) bacterial plate count. Salmonella incidence was tested following USDA/FSIS MLG 4.03 procedure and are present as number of birds with measurable bacterial infection.
  • Weight gain was measured as the difference between bird weight at day 0 and day 21 for the entire flock of each treatment (or 560 birds), and is presented as the average increase (in pounds) for each treatment.
  • Feed conversion ratios were calculated and presented as the treatment average ratio of ration weight (over the 21 day treatment) to the bird weight (at the end of each treatment) for the entire flock of each treatment (or 560 birds).
  • Mortality was measured as the raw number of deaths (by the end of day 21 and day 49 of the treatment) for the entire flock (or 560 birds per treatment) under abiotic (severe heat) stress conditions and is expressed as the number of deaths per 100 birds.
  • control finished feed alone
  • control+buffer buffering agent at a ratio of about 4 kg buffering agent per 1000 kg of finished feed
  • Statistical significance of the results is indicated by a letter (or letter combination) indicator following each data number. Numbers within a row that that do not share at least one letter indicator have a statistically significant difference. In other words, the difference between any two numbers in the same row is statistically significant; (P ⁇ 0.05) as determined by Least Significant Difference, if the two numbers do not have at least one letter indicator in common.
  • embodiments of the present disclosure can be added to the animal's food and/or water supply.
  • Each additive was dissolved in a suitable amount of water and mixed with the water supplied to each group.
  • Beneficial results were similarly observed in the supplemented water group.
  • Another group was administered the various additives in both the water supply and feed, as described above. Further beneficial results were observed in the supplemented water and feed group.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure are also useful for supplying nutrition and/or enhancing the health of other animals, as described herein.
  • other varieties of chicken and/or birds received similar and/or additional health benefits from consuming compositions of the present disclosure.
  • mammals and other animals of the varieties described herein received similar and/or additional health benefits from consuming compositions of the present disclosure.
  • compositions of the present disclosure While human animals were not treated with compositions of the present disclosure, it is anticipated that humans would receive similar and/or additional health benefits from consuming compositions of the present disclosure.
  • embodiments of the present disclosure are substantially devoid of live and/or viable microorganisms (e.g., from the fermentation product or culture). Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure can be safe for consumption by all human and non-human animals.
  • composition i.e., the microbial fermentation product-bound carrier
  • fungal e.g., mold
  • the basal starter and grower mash broiler diets were manufactured using commercial blending equipment and stored by independent research facility in a bulk form.
  • the basal feeds were divided in half with one-half being stored and used as a control and the other half treated with the composition at a rate of 1 kg of the composition per 1000 kg of feed.
  • embodiments of this disclosure can possesses and/or exhibits antifungal and/or fungal growth-inhibiting activity when mixed with animal feed, on which fungus normally grows.
  • antifungal e.g., microbial fermentation product-bound carrier
  • antifungal activity e.g., antifungal effect
  • similar terms refers to (1) protection against contamination (e.g., inoculation, infection, etc.) with or by one or more fungi (e.g., fungal resistance activity), and/or (2) inhibition (e.g., reduction, attenuation, prevention, etc.) of fungal growth (e.g., fungistatic activity), and/or (3) killing of fungi (e.g., fungicidal activity).
  • inventions of this disclosure provide a significant advantage in the art, as animal feed spoiling results in large economic loss to feed manufactures of all types.
  • the protection against and/or inhibition of fungal contamination and/or growth by embodiments of this disclosure can (help or contribute to) increase animal weight gain and/or feed conversion ratios, decrease mortality, etc.
  • embodiments of the present disclosure provide a unique and previously unknown beneficial product and treatment method for enhancing the health and wellness of animals, while reducing or inhibiting loss of animal feed to fungal growth.
  • embodiments of this disclosure can exhibit other antimicrobial activity, such as antibacterial (e.g., protection against and/or inhibition of bacterial contamination and/or growth), antiviral (e.g., protection against and/or inhibition of viral contamination and/or growth), and so forth.
  • antibacterial e.g., protection against and/or inhibition of bacterial contamination and/or growth
  • antiviral e.g., protection against and/or inhibition of viral contamination and/or growth
  • any steps recited in any method or process described herein and/or recited in the claims can be executed in any suitable order and are not necessarily limited to the order described and/or recited, unless otherwise stated (explicitly or implicitly). Such steps can, however, also be required to be performed in a specific order or any suitable order in certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne des compositions antifongiques pour la nutrition animale comprenant un support et un produit de fermentation appliqué sur le support. Des produits de fermentation liquides sont appliqués de manière fluidique sur des supports secs, tels que des phyllosilicates ou d'autres constituants de la terre, tout en mélangeant et appliquant un flux d'air, dans des conditions appropriées de température et de pH, afin de lier le produit de fermentation au support et sécher le produit de réaction à une teneur en humidité appropriée. Les produits de fermentation peuvent être mélangés avec des supports liquides, tels que de l'eau. Les produits de fermentation comprennent des constituants d'une culture de fermentation microbienne, par exemple un milieu liquide, des constituants cellulaires microbiens, et des métabolites de fermentation produits par des micro-organismes. Certaines compositions comprennent un agent tampon de pH et/ou d'autres constituants afin d'augmenter encore les effets bénéfiques de la composition, tels qu'une prise de poids et une conversion des aliments accrues, des lésions intestinales réduites, un nombre réduit de bactéries intestinales nocives et une baisse de la mortalité. Les compositions peuvent être mélangées à des aliments pour animaux ou administrées autrement. Ces compositions peuvent inhiber la prolifération fongique sur les aliments pour animaux.
PCT/US2018/015546 2015-10-27 2018-01-26 Compositions pour la nutrition animale et procédés associés Ceased WO2018140790A1 (fr)

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