Guanidino Acetic Acid Used as an Animal Food Additive

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of guanidinoacetic acid and/or salts thereof as feed additive, in predominantly vegetarian diets, in particular use being made of salts with hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid and phosphoric acid. The use proceeds especially in individual doses from 0.01 to 100 g/kg of feed in the form of powders, granules, pastilles or capsules, the feed additive also being able to be used in combination with other physiologically active materials of value. The claimed use which is suitable especially for breeding and growing livestock, has recourse to a compound which is in particular stable in aqueous solution, can be converted to creatine under physiological conditions, and, in contrast to other guanidine derivatives, is completely available to physiological sectors of use.

1 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . A method comprising increasing growth performance, muscle meat gain, meat quality or reproduction performance in an animal by administering a sufficient amount of feed additive as a part of a predominantly vegetarian diet to improve feed uptake in the animal, wherein the feed additive comprises guanidinoacetic acid or a salt thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the feed additive is administered to animals in an aquaculture as partial or total replacement of fish meal or a antimicrobial performance enhancer.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the animal is a salmon or a shrimp.  
   
   
       13 . A method comprising administering a therapeutic composition comprising guanidinoacetic acid or a salt thereof for breeding and growing livestock to strengthen the immune system and to improve the reproduction performance of the livestock, wherein the therapeutic composition is provided in predominantly vegetarian diets, as partial or total replacement for fish meal, meat meal, an anabolic agent, an antimicrobial performance enhancer or a growth hormone.  
   
   
       14 . A method comprising administering a sufficient amount of a composition comprising guanidinoacetic acid or a salt thereof to breeding and growing livestock to prevent or mitigate a consequence of heat stress.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein mortality as a consequence of elevated ambient temperatures is reduced.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the animal is poultry or a pig.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the salt is a hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid or phosphoric acid salt.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the animal is poultry or a pig.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the salt is a hydrochloric acid.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the animal is poultry or a pig.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the salt is a hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid or phosphoric acid salt.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the guanidinoacetic acid or salt thereof is provided as an individual dose of from 0.01 to 100 g/kg of the composition.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the does is 1.0 to 5.0 g/kg of the composition.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the guanidinoacetic acid or salt thereof is provided as an individual dose of from 0.01 to 100 g/kg of the composition.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the does is 1.0 to 5.0 g/kg of the composition.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the guanidinoacetic acid or salt thereof is provided as an individual dose of from 0.01 to 100 g/kg of the composition.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the does is 1.0 to 5.0 g/kg of the composition.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the composition is in the form of a powder, a granule, a pastille, a capsule, a pellet, a conglomerate or a gel product.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the composition is in the form of a powder, a granule, a pastille, a capsule, a pellet, a conglomerate or a gel product.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the composition is in the form of a powder, a granule, a pastille, a capsule, a pellet, a conglomerate or a gel product.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the composition further comprises a carbohydrate, a fat, an amino acid, a protein, a vitamin, a mineral or a trace element, or a physiologically active methyl group donor.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the composition further comprises a carbohydrate, a fat, an amino acid, a protein, a vitamin, a mineral or a trace element, or a physiologically active methyl group donor.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprises a carbohydrate, a fat, an amino acid, a protein, a vitamin, a mineral or a trace element, or a physiologically active methyl group donor.