Animal food and method

Abstract

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for increasing the reproductive performance of breeding populations of swine. The swine feed compositions of the present invention are animal feed blends including marine animal products such as a fish oil or fish meal products. Methods include administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of the swine feed composition comprising marine animal products wherein the marine animal products contain omega-3 fatty acids or esters thereof that serve as a source of metabolites in the female swine, to improve reproductive performance of the female swine. The methods can also be used to increase the fertility of a male swine, and can be used to increase the reproductive performance of both male and female animals by feeding the swine feed composition to both the male and female swine.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of increasing the reproductive performance of a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products containing-omega-3 fatty acids or esters thereof that serve as a source of metabolites in the female swine to improve reproductive performance of the female swine.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the marine animal product is selected from the group consisting of a fish oil, a fish oil derived from a fish meal product, and a fish meal product or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the marine animal product comprises a fish oil from a North Atlantic cold water fish.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the fish oil comprises salmon oil.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the feed composition further comprises omega-6 fatty acids or esters thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the omega-6 fatty acids/esters to omega-3 fatty acids/esters ratio in the feed composition as a final mixture is from about 3:1 to about 20:1.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the omega-3 fatty acids comprise C 20  and C 22  omega-3 fatty acids.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 0.025% to about 1% by weight of salmon oil.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 0.025% to about 1% by weight of the fish oil.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 0.025% to about 2% by weight of salmon oil.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 0.025% to about 2% by weight of the fish oil.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 1% to about 10% by weight of the fish meal product.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the feed composition is administered daily to the female animal.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the feed composition is administered to the female swine beginning about 30 days before a first mating of the female swine during an estrus and continuing through a second mating of the female swine during the same estrus.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the feed composition is administered to the female swine beginning about 1 to about 4 days prior to parturition and continuing through the next breeding.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the feed composition is administered during lactation.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture further comprises an antioxidant.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the omega fatty acids in the fish oil are stabilized by prilling.  
     
     
         19 . A method of increasing the number of live births to a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products containing omega-3 fatty acids or esters thereof that serve as a source of metabolites in the female swine to increase the number of live births to the female swine.  
     
     
         20 . A method of increasing the total number of births to a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products containing omega-3 fatty acids or esters thereof that serve as a source of metabolites in the female swine to increase the total number of births to the female swine.  
     
     
         21 . A method of decreasing the interval from weaning to estrus for a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products containing omega-3 fatty acids or esters thereof that serve as a source of metabolites in the female swine to decrease the interval from weaning to estrus for a female swine.  
     
     
         22 . A method of decreasing the interval from weaning to remating for a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products containing omega-3 fatty acids or esters thereof that serve as a source of metabolites in the female swine to decrease the interval from weaning to remating for a female swine.  
     
     
         23 . A method of increasing the uniformity of birth weight of offspring of a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female animal a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products containing omega-3 fatty acids or esters thereof that serve as a source of metabolites in the female swine to increase the uniformity of birth weight of offspring of a female swine.  
     
     
         24 . A method of decreasing pre-weaning death loss of the offspring of a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products containing omega-3 fatty acids or esters thereof that serve as a source of metabolites in the female swine to decrease pre-weaning death loss of the offspring of the female swine.  
     
     
         25 . A method of increasing the farrowing rate of a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products containing omega-3 fatty acids or esters thereof that serve as a source of metabolites in the female swine to increase the farrowing rate of the female swine.  
     
     
         26 . A method of increasing the fertility of a male swine, comprising the step of administering to the male swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising an oil containing omega-3 fatty acids or esters thereof that serve as a source of metabolites in the male swine to increase fertility of the male swine.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the oil is a marine animal product.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the oil is salmon oil.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the oil is added to the feed composition in the form of fish meal.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of a fish oil, an oil derived from a fish meal product, an oil derived from a plant, and an oil derived from ground seed, or a combination/mixture thereof.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the increase in fertility of the male swine results from a decrease in the percentage of abnormal sperm.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the oil comprises C 20  and C 22  omega-3 fatty acids and esters thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 0.025% to about 1% by weight of salmon oil.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 0.025% to about 1% by weight of the fish oil.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 0.025% to about 2% by weight of salmon oil.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 0.025% to about 2% by weight of the fish oil.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 1% to about 10% of the fish meal.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the feed composition is administered daily to the male animal.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture further comprises an antioxidant.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the omega-3 fatty acids in the oil are stabilized by prilling.  
     
     
         41 . A method of increasing the reproductive performance of a breeding population of swine comprising the steps of: 
 administering to a female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products containing omega-3 fatty acids or esters thereof that serve as a source of metabolites in the female swine to improve reproductive performance of the female swine; and    administering to a male swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising an oil containing omega-3 fatty acids or esters thereof that serve as a source of metabolites in the male swine to increase fertility of the male swine.    
     
     
         42 . A swine feed composition comprising an animal feed blend and marine animal products.  
     
     
         43 . The swine feed composition of  claim 42  wherein the marine animal products comprise salmon oil.  
     
     
         44 . The swine feed composition of  claim 43  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 0.025% to about 1% by weight of salmon oil.  
     
     
         45 . The swine feed composition of  claim 43  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 0.025% to about 2% by weight of salmon oil.  
     
     
         46 . The swine feed composition of  claim 43  wherein the salmon oil comprises omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and esters thereof.  
     
     
         47 . The swine feed composition of  claim 46  wherein the ratio of omega-6 fatty acids/esters to omega-3 fatty acids/esters in the feed composition as a final mixture is from about 3:1 to about 20:1.  
     
     
         48 . The swine feed composition of  claim 43  wherein the salmon oil comprises C 20  and C 22  omega-3 fatty acids and esters thereof.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the omega-3 fatty acids in the salmon oil are stabilized by prilling.  
     
     
         50 . A swine feed composition comprising an animal feed blend and marine animal products from which are derived omega-3 fatty acids selected from the group consisting of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaneoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         51 . A swine feed composition comprising marine animal products that serve as a source of omega-3 fatty acids in the animal.  
     
     
         52 . A swine feed composition comprising fish oil, a fish oil derived from fish meal, or fish meal products, or a mixture thereof that serve as a source of omega-3 fatty acids in the animal.  
     
     
         53 . The swine feed composition of  claim 52  wherein the omega-3 fatty acids are stabilized by prilling.  
     
     
         54 . The swine feed composition of  claim 52  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 0.025% to about 1% by weight of the fish oil.  
     
     
         55 . The swine feed composition of  claim 52  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 0.025% to about 2% by weight of the fish oil.  
     
     
         56 . The swine feed composition of  claim 52  wherein the feed composition as a final mixture comprises about 1% to about 10% by weight of the fish meal products.  
     
     
         57 . A swine feed composition comprising a plant oil excluding flaxseed oil.  
     
     
         58 . A swine feed composition comprising a plant oil derived from ground seed excluding flaxseed oil derived from ground seed.  
     
     
         59 . A swine feed composition comprising a fish oil from a North Atlantic cold water fish that serves as a source of omega-3 fatty acids in the animal.  
     
     
         60 . A method of increasing the reproductive performance of a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products from which are derived omega-3 fatty acids selected from the group consisting of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaneoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid or a mixture thereof wherein the composition is administered for a time sufficient to increase the reproductive performance of the female swine.  
     
     
         61 . A method of increasing the number of live births to a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products from which are derived omega-3 fatty acids selected from the group consisting of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaneoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid or a mixture thereof wherein the composition is administered for a time sufficient to increase the number of live births to the female swine.  
     
     
         62 . A method of increasing the number of total births to a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products from which are derived omega-3 fatty acids selected from the group consisting of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaneoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid or a mixture thereof wherein the composition is administered for a time sufficient to increase the number of total births to the female swine.  
     
     
         63 . A method of decreasing the interval from weaning to estrus for a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products from which are derived omega-3 fatty acids selected from the group consisting of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaneoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid or a mixture thereof wherein the composition is administered for a time sufficient to decrease the interval from weaning to estrus for the female swine.  
     
     
         64 . A method of decreasing the interval from weaning to remating for a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products from which are derived omega-3 fatty acids selected from the group consisting of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaneoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid or a mixture thereof wherein the composition is administered for a time sufficient to decrease the interval from weaning to remating for the female swine.  
     
     
         65 . A method of increasing the uniformity of birth weight of offspring of a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products from which are derived omega-3 fatty acids selected from the group consisting of eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaneoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid or a mixture thereof wherein the composition is administered for a time sufficient to increase the uniformity of birth weight of offspring of the female swine.  
     
     
         66 . A method of decreasing pre-weaning death loss of the offspring of a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products from which are derived omega-3 fatty acids selected from the group consisting of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaneoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid or a mixture thereof wherein the composition is administered for a time sufficient to decrease the pre-weaning death loss of the offspring of the female swine.  
     
     
         67 . A method of increasing the farrowing rate of a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products from which are derived omega-3 fatty acids selected from the group consisting of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaneoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid or a mixture thereof wherein the composition is administered for a time sufficient to increase the farrowing rate of the female swine.  
     
     
         68 . A method of increasing the fertility of a male swine, comprising the step of administering to the male swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising an oil from which is derived omega-3 fatty acids selected from the group consisting of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaneoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid or a mixture thereof wherein the composition is administered for a time sufficient to increase the fertility of the male swine.  
     
     
         69 . A method of increasing the reproductive performance of a breeding population of swine comprising the steps of: 
 ad,omostering to a female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising a biologically effective amount of an oil from which is derived omega-3 fatty acids selected from the group consisting of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaneoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid or a mixture thereof wherein the composition is administered for a time sufficient to increase the fertility of the male swine.    
     
     
         70 . A method of increasing the reproductive performance of a female swine, comprising the step of administering to the female swine a biologically effective amount of a feed composition comprising marine animal products containing omega-3 fatty acids or estera thereof.