Feed additive composition for ruminants and method of producing the same

Abstract

A food additive composition for ruminants of the dispersion type and a method of continuously producing the same. This food additive composition for ruminants, which contains 40% by weight or more but less than 65% by weight of a basic amino acid and has rumen bypass properties, is formulated into granules in an arbitrary shape which are scarcely classified when added to a silage or another feed. Thus, attempts have been made to develop a method of producing granules by which the milk yield of a lactation cow can be increased. Namely, it is intended to provide a food additive composition for ruminants which contains at least one protecting agent selected from among a hardened vegetable oil and a hardened animal oil having a melting point higher than 50° C. but lower than 90° C., 0.05 to 6% by weight of lecithin, water and 40% by weight or more but less than 65% by weight of a basic amino acid. It is also intended to provide a method of producing a food additive composition for ruminants characterized by comprising solidifying a molten mixture, which comprises at least one protecting agent selected from among a hardened vegetable oil and a hardened animal oil having a melting point higher than 50° C. but lower than 90° C., lecithin and a basic amino acid, by dipping in water.

1 . A feed additive composition, comprising:
 at least one protective agent selected from a hardened vegetable oil and a hardened animal oil having a melting point higher than 50° C. and lower than 90° C.;   0.05 to 6% by weight of lecithin;   40% to 65% by weight of at least one basic amino acid; and   water.   
   
   
       2 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises water in an amount of 0.01 to 6% by weight. 
   
   
       3 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises water in an amount of 2 to 6% by weight. 
   
   
       4 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of L-lysine, a salt of L-lysine, L-arginine, a salt of L-arginine, L-ornithine, a salt of L-ornithine, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the difference in redness (Δt) is 3 to 6 when granules of said feed additive composition are immersed in a 75% aqueous solution of ethanol containing 0.1% of Food Colorant No. 102, at 40° C. for 45 minutes. 
   
   
       6 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the average particle size of said basic amino acid is 100 μm or less. 
   
   
       7 . A method of producing a feed additive composition, comprising:
 (i) preparing a molten mixture formed from at least one protective agent selected from a hardened vegetable oil and a hardened animal oil having a melting point higher than 50° C. and lower than 90° C., lecithin and at least one basic amino acid; and   (ii) obtaining a solidified mixture by immersing said molten mixture into water.   
   
   
       8 . The method of producing a feed additive composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said preparing a molten mixture comprises preparing a molten mixture through heating and melting using an extruder, and said obtaining a solidified mixture comprises obtaining a solidified mixture by allowing said molten mixture which is retained in a multi-hole shooter having a plurality of holes at the vessel bottom to fall through said plurality of holes to be immersed into an aqueous liquid. 
   
   
       9 . The method of producing a feed additive composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the distance from said multi-hole shooter to said aqueous liquid is 5 cm or more and less than 150 cm. 
   
   
       10 . The method of producing a feed additive composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said molten mixture comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of L-lysine, a salt of L-lysine, L-arginine, a salt of L-arginine, L-orhithine, a salt of L-ornithine, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The method of producing a feed additive composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the average particle size of said basic amino acid is 100 μm or less. 
   
   
       12 . The method of producing a feed additive composition according to  claim 7 , further comprising heat treating said solidified mixture. 
   
   
       13 . A process for raising a ruminant, comprising:
 feeding a ruminant a feed additive composition according to  claim 1 .   
   
   
       14 . A process for making meat, comprising:
 feeding a ruminant a feed additive composition according to  claim 1 ; and   harvesting meat from said ruminant.   
   
   
       15 . A process for making milk, comprising:
 feeding a ruminant a feed additive composition according to  claim 1 ; and   harvesting milk from said ruminant.   
   
   
       16 . A process for making a dairy product, comprising:
 feeding a ruminant a feed additive composition according to  claim 1 ;   harvesting milk from said ruminant; and   converting said milk into said dairy product.   
   
   
       17 . A process for making wool, comprising:
 feeding a ruminant a feed additive composition according to  claim 1 ; and   harvesting wool from said ruminant.   
   
   
       18 . A process for making leather, comprising:
 feeding a ruminant a feed additive composition according to  claim 1 ;   harvesting skin from said ruminant; and   converting said skin into said leather.