Feed additive composition for ruminants containing acidic or neutral amin acid, and method for production thereof

Abstract

A feed additive composition includes a protective agent, lecithin, an acidic or neutral amino acid, and water. A method of producing a feed additive composition includes preparing a molten mixture of a protective agent, lecithin, and an acidic or neutral amino acid, and immersing the molten mixture in water or an aqueous liquid to obtain a solidified mixture. Feed additives may be obtained by such method. The protective agent may include a hydrogenated vegetable oil or hydrogenated animal oil having a melting point of higher than 50° C. and lower than 90° C.

1 . A feed additive composition, comprising:
 at least one protective agent;   lecithin;   an acidic or neutral amino acid; and   water;   wherein the at least one protective agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting hydrogenated vegetable oils and hydrogenated animal oils having melting points of higher than 50° C. and lower than 90° C.   
     
     
         2 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated soybean oil, hydrogenated rapeseed oil, hydrogenated groundnut oil, hydrogenated olive oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, and hydrogenated palm oil. 
     
     
         3 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 1 , comprising lecithin in an amount of from 1 to 2% by weight. 
     
     
         4 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the acidic or neutral amino acid comprises at least one of glutamic acid and salts thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the acidic or neutral amino acid comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, methionine, glutamine, tryptophan, threonine, and salts thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the acidic or neutral amino acid has an average particle size of 100 μm or less. 
     
     
         7 . A method of producing a feed additive composition, comprising:
 preparing a molten mixture of at least one protective agent, lecithin, and an acidic or neutral amino acid; and   immersing the molten mixture in water or an aqueous liquid to obtain a solidified mixture;   wherein the at least one protective agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting hydrogenated vegetable oils and hydrogenated animal oils having melting points of higher than 50° C. and lower than 90° C.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 preparing the molten mixture comprises preparing the molten mixture by heating and melting with an extruder; and   immersing the molten mixture comprises placing the molten mixture in a multi-hole shooter having comprising a vessel bottom including a plurality of holes, and allowing the molten mixture to fall through the plurality of holes into water or the aqueous liquid.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a distance from the vessel bottom to the surface of the water or the aqueous liquid is from 5 to 50 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising heat-treating the solidified mixture. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one protective agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated soybean oil, hydrogenated rapeseed oil, hydrogenated groundnut oil, hydrogenated olive oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, and hydrogenated palm oil. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein lecithin is employed in an amount sufficient to yield from 1 to 2% by weight. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the acidic or neutral amino acid comprises at least one of glutamic acid and salts thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the acidic or neutral amino acid comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, methionine, glutamine, tryptophan, threonine, and salts thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the acidic or neutral amino acid has an average particle size of 100 μm or less. 
     
     
         16 . A feed additive composition, obtained by a method, comprising:
 preparing a molten mixture of at least one protective agent, lecithin, and an acidic or neutral amino acid; and   immersing the molten mixture in water or an aqueous liquid to obtain a solidified mixture;   wherein the at least one protective agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting hydrogenated vegetable oils and hydrogenated animal oils having melting points of higher than 50° C. and lower than 90° C.   
     
     
         17 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 preparing the molten mixture comprises preparing the molten mixture by heating and melting with an extruder; and   immersing the molten mixture comprises placing the molten mixture in a multi-hole shooter having comprising a vessel bottom including a plurality of holes, and allowing the molten mixture to fall through the plurality of holes into water or the aqueous liquid.   
     
     
         18 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 17 , wherein a distance from the vessel bottom to the surface of the water or the aqueous liquid is from 5 to 50 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises heat-treating the solidified mixture. 
     
     
         20 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one protective agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated soybean oil, hydrogenated rapeseed oil, hydrogenated groundnut oil, hydrogenated olive oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, and hydrogenated palm oil. 
     
     
         21 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 16 , wherein lecithin is employed in an amount sufficient to yield from 1 to 2% by weight. 
     
     
         22 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the acidic or neutral amino acid comprises at least one of glutamic acid and salts thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the acidic or neutral amino acid comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of isoleucine, methionine, glutamine, tryptophan, threonine, and salts thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The feed additive composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the acidic or neutral amino acid has an average particle size of 100 μm or less. 
     
     
         25 . A process for raising a ruminant, comprising feeding a ruminant the feed additive composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         26 . A process for making meat, comprising:
 feeding a ruminant the feed additive composition according to  claim 1 ; and   harvesting meat from said ruminant.   
     
     
         27 . A process for making milk, comprising:
 feeding a ruminant the feed additive composition according to  claim 1 ; and   harvesting milk from said ruminant.   
     
     
         28 . A process for making a dairy product, comprising:
 feeding a ruminant the feed additive composition according to  claim 1 ;   harvesting milk from said ruminant; and   converting said milk into said dairy product.   
     
     
         29 . A process for making wool, comprising:
 feeding a ruminant the feed additive composition according to  claim 1 ; and   harvesting wool from said ruminant.   
     
     
         30 . A process for making leather, comprising:
 feeding a ruminant the feed additive composition according to  claim 1 ;   harvesting skin from said ruminant; and   converting said skin into said leather.