Animal feed composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to an animal feed composition that comprises free indole acetic acid (free IAA) or a derivative thereof. The invention also relates to a method for enhancing animal growth by feeding the animal with a composition according to the invention. The invention also relates to the use of free IAA or a derivative thereof in a method of therapy of animals in need of a growth-promoting treatment, such as immunocompromised animals, animals with a growth deficit or slow growing animals. The invention also relates to the use of free IAA or a derivative thereof for the preparation of a therapeutical composition for increasing the growth rate and/or the feed conversion rate and/or the immunity of animals in need of such a treatment, in particular immunocompromised or slow growing animals. A composition according to the invention may preferably be in the form of a food or feed supplement.

1 . An animal feed composition comprising more than 240 microgram of free IAA or a derivative thereof per kilogram, wherein said derivative is selected from the group consisting of 4-hydroxy-IAA, 4-methoxy-IAA, 5-hydroxy-IAA, 5-methoxy-IAA, 6-hydroxy-IAA, 6-methoxy-IAA, 7-hydroxy-IAA, 7-methoxy-IAA and a compound that can be converted into free IAA in one or more steps.  
   
   
       2 . A feed composition according to  claim 1  comprising up to 40 g of free IAA or a derivative thereof per kilogram.  
   
   
       3 . A feed composition according to  claim 1  comprising between 100 and 1000 mg of free IAA or a derivative thereof per kilogram.  
   
   
       4 . A feed composition according to  claim 1  additionally comprising an enzyme capable of converting the derivative into free IAA.  
   
   
       5 . A feed composition according to  claim 4  comprising an aromatic ring wherein the aromatic ring is substituted on one or more of the 4, 5, 6 and 7 position with methyl, amino, nitro, fluoride, chloride, bromide or iodide.  
   
   
       6 . A feed composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the feed composition is in the form of at least one of pellets, meal, grains, extruded or expanded grains, tablets, powder and bolus forms.  
   
   
       7 . A method for at least one of increasing the growth rate and improving at least one of the feed efficiency, the feed conversion rate and the immunity of a non-human animal, the method comprising administering to said animal an effective amount of a composition according to claims  1 .  
   
   
       8 . A method, comprising: 
 using free IAA or a derivative thereof, wherein said derivative is selected from the group consisting of 4-hydroxy-IAA, 4-methoxy-IAA, 5-hydroxy-IAA, 5-methoxy-IAA, 6-hydroxy-IAA, 6-methoxy-IAA, 7-hydroxy-IAA, 7-methoxy-IAA and a compound that can be converted into free IAA for the preparation of a therapeutical composition for stimulating the immune system in non-human animals in need of such a treatment.    
   
   
       9 . A method, comprising: 
 using of a composition according to  claim 1  for the preparation of a therapeutical composition for at least one of stimulating growth and stimulating the immune system in animals in need of such a treatment.    
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the free IAA or a derivative thereof is capable of increasing the serum level of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1).  
   
   
       11 . A method according to claims  10 , wherein the animal has a lowered level of IGF-1.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to claims  8 , wherein the animals have at least one of a growth deficit and a weakened immune system.  
   
   
       13 . Method for the preparation of an animal feed composition, said method comprising: 
 admixing a composition according to claims  1  with at least one or feed substance or ingredient in order to obtain an animal feed composition according to claims  1 .    
   
   
       14 . Method for the preparation of an animal feed composition, said method comprising: 
 supplementing an animal feed with free IAA or a derivative thereof in order to obtain an animal feed composition according to claims  1 .    
   
   
       15 . Method for raising non-human animals comprising: 
 mixing an effective dose of free IAA or a derivative thereof with a feed material in order to obtain a feed composition according to  claim 1 , suitable for a particular animal species; and feeding said species with the feed material.    
   
   
       16 . A feed composition according to  claim 2  comprising between 100 and 1000 mg of free IAA or a derivative thereof per kilogram.  
   
   
       17 . A feed composition according to  claim 2  additionally comprising an enzyme capable of converting the derivative into free IAA.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the free IAA or a derivative thereof is capable of increasing the serum level of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1).