Method and compositions for preparing and delivering rumen protected lipids, other nutrients and medicaments

Abstract

This invention provides composite gels to, e:g., efficiently deliver unmodified amino acids, lipids, and/or feed supplements through the rumen of a ruminant animal. The invention also provides methods to make and use composite gels.

1 - 66 . (canceled)  
     
     
         67 . A composite gel comprising: 
 a continuous phase comprising: 
 from about 10 weight percent to about 50 weight percent total solids; the total solids comprising: from about 0 weight percent to about 20 weight percent supplemental constituents, from about 0 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of one or more sugars, and from about 10 weight percent to about 100 weight percent of one or more proteins; and,  
   a dispersed phase comprising: 
 from about 1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of the emulsion, one or more lipids, and from about 0 weight percent to about 75 weight percent of one or more supplemental constituents.  
   
     
     
         68 . The composite gel of  claim 67 , wherein the continuous phase further comprises from about 10 weight percent to about 95 weight percent water.  
     
     
         69 . The composite gel of  claim 67 , wherein the supplemental constituents are selected from the group consisting of: vitamins, polyunsaturated fats, nutrients, amino acids, proteins, minerals, bioactive materials, and pharmaceuticals.  
     
     
         70 . The composite gel of  claim 67 , wherein the one or more sugars are selected from the group consisting of: glucose, lactose, fructose, mannose, maltose, ribose, and galactose.  
     
     
         71 . The composite gel of  claim 67 , wherein the one or more proteins are selected from the group consisting of: a whey protein, a bovine blood plasma protein, gelatin, a peanut protein, a cereal protein, a fish protein, a soy protein, and a porcine blood protein.  
     
     
         72 . The composite gel of  claim 67 , wherein the one or more lipids are selected from the group consisting of: corn oil, poppy seed oil, fish oil, cotton seed oil, soybean oil, walnut oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, canola oil, linseed oil, whole or modified oil seed, whole or modified beans, grape seeds, cotton seeds, safflower seeds, algae, microorganisms, yeasts, and protozoa.  
     
     
         73 . The composite gel of  claim 67 , wherein the one or more lipids comprises about 25% or more of conjugated linolenic acid or conjugated linoleic acid.  
     
     
         74 . The composite gel of  claim 67 , further comprising: gums, starches or emulsifiers.  
     
     
         75 . A composite gel comprising: 
 from about 55 weight percent to about 60 weight percent water;    from about 10 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of a protein; and,    about 30% weight percent of an oil;    wherein the composite gel is not substantially aldehyde cross-linked.    
     
     
         76 . The composite gel of  claim 75 , wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of: a whey protein, a bovine blood plasma protein, gelatin, a peanut protein, a cereal protein, a fish protein, a soy protein, and a porcine blood protein.  
     
     
         77 . The composite gel of  claim 76 , wherein the whey protein is provided with other milk solids that are demineralized, delactosed or contain from about 0% to about 5% of a sugar.  
     
     
         78 . The composite gel of  claim 75 , wherein the oil comprises: linseed oil, soy oil, fish oil, or corn oil.  
     
     
         79 . A mixture comprising a composite gel and a ruminant feed; wherein the composite gel is not substantially aldehyde cross-linked.  
     
     
         80 . The mixture of  claim 79 , wherein the ruminant feed is selected from the group consisting of: hay, silage, cereal grain, cereal concentrate ingredients, alfalfa, feeding blocks, and particulate fodder.  
     
     
         81 . The mixture of  claim 79 , wherein the composite gel comprises supplements selected from the group consisting of: vitamins, polyunsaturated fats, nutrients, amino acids, proteins, minerals, bioactive materials, and pharmaceuticals.  
     
     
         82 . The mixture of  claim 79 , wherein the composite gel comprises lipids comprising about 25% or more of conjugated linoleic acid or conjugated linolenic acid.  
     
     
         83 . A method of preparing a composite gel, the method comprising: 
 preparing an emulsion from a filler composition and a matrix suspension in homogenizer at pressures ranging from about 5 MPa to about 75 MPa to produce lipid droplets ranging in size from about 0.1 μm to about 100 μm; and.,    heating the emulsion at a temperature ranging from about 80° C. to about 120° C. for from about 20 minutes to about 180 minutes, thereby producing the composite gel.    
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the filler composition comprises one or more lipids comprising from about 1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of the emulsion.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the matrix suspension comprises from about 10 weight percent to about 50 weight percent total solids.  
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the total solids comprise from about 10 weight percent to about 100 weight percent of one or more proteins.  
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 83 , further comprising blending the filler composition and matrix suspension in a high speed mixer.  
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the homogenizer pressures include a first homogenization stage at about 50 MPa and a second homogenization stage at about 5 MPa.  
     
     
         89 . A method of producing supplemented meat or milk, the method comprising; 
 preparing a composite gel comprising a supplemental constituent;    feeding the composite gel to a ruminant animal; and,    collecting meat or milk from the animal, thereby producing meat or milk supplemented with the supplemental constituent.    
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein preparing the composite gel comprises: 
 combining the supplemental constituent with a filler composition or a matrix suspension;    emulsifying the filler composition into the matrix suspension; and,    heating the emulsion to produce the composite gel.    
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the supplemental constituent is selected from the group comprising: vitamins, polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fatty acids, free fatty acids, esterified fatty acids, nutrients, amino acids, proteins, minerals, and bioactive materials.  
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the supplemental constituents comprise from about 0 weight percent to about 75 weight percent of a dispersed phase of the composite gel.  
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein said heating comprises conditions producing a composite gel without significant Maillard browning.  
     
     
         94 . The supplemented meat or milk of  claim 89 .  
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising processing the milk to prepare a dairy product containing the supplemental constituent.  
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein the dairy product comprises: a cheese, butter, or ice cream.  
     
     
         97 . Milk enriched for a polyunsaturated fatty acid, the milk being produced by the process of: 
 preparing a composite gel with the polyunsaturated fatty acid and without substantial amounts of aldehyde cross-linking;    feeding the composite gel to a ruminant animal; and,    collecting milk from the animal, wherein the milk comprises at least a 3-fold increase in an amount of the polyunsaturated fatty acid over milk from the same animal fed the same amount of the polyunsaturated fatty acid not in the form of a composite gel.    
     
     
         98 . The milk of  claim 97 , wherein the polyunsaturated fatty acid comprises linolenic acid (C18:3) or docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6).  
     
     
         99 . The milk of  claim 98 , wherein the composite gel comprises: soy oil, fish oil or linseed oil.  
     
     
         100 . The milk of  claim 98 , wherein the linolenic acid comprises about 3% or more of the total fatty acids in milkfat of the milk, or the docosahexaenoic acid comprises about 0.05% or more of the total fatty acids in milkfat of the milk.  
     
     
         101 . The milk of  claim 97 , wherein the ruminant animal is a cow, goat or sheep.  
     
     
         102 . The milk of  claim 97 , wherein the milk comprises at least a 5-fold increase in the amount of the polyunsaturated fatty acid.  
     
     
         103 . The milk of  claim 97 , wherein the composite gel does not comprise substantial amounts of lactose.  
     
     
         104 . A dairy product produced from the milk of  claim 97 .  
     
     
         105 . A dairy product of  claim 104 , selected from the group consisting of: a cheese, butter, and ice cream.  
     
     
         106 . Milk comprising milkfat comprising 0.05% or more of docosahexaenoic acid.  
     
     
         107 . A dairy product produced from the milk of  claim 106.