Animal feed compositions of abscisic acid

Abstract

The invention relates to compositions comprising abscisic acid, and/or salts, and derivatives thereof, and methods of using the same for improving the health, growth, and feed efficiency of livestock and fish as well as the quantity of meat produced in livestock in particular.

1 . A method of increasing feed efficiency comprising administering to livestock or fish an effective amount of abscisic acid, and/or salts, and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the abscisic acid, and/or salts, and derivatives thereof is administered as a solid composition to the livestock or fish. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the effective amount of abscisic acid, and/or salts, and derivatives thereof is from about 1 gram per metric ton to about 2000 grams per metric ton of the solid composition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the effective amount of abscisic acid, and/or salts, and derivatives thereof is from about 5 gram per metric ton to about 500 grams per metric ton of the solid composition. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the abscisic acid, and/or salts, and derivatives thereof is administered as a liquid composition to the livestock or fish. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the effective amount of abscisic acid, and/or salts, and derivatives thereof is from 0.5 to about 50% by weight of the liquid composition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the abscisic acid, and/or salts, and derivatives thereof is administered as a drinking source to the livestock. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the effective amount of abscisic acid, and/or salts, and derivatives thereof is from about 1 to about 2000 parts per million of the drinking source. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the effective amount of abscisic acid, and/or salts, and derivatives thereof is from about 5 to about 500 parts per million of the drinking source. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the abscisic acid, and/or salts, and derivatives thereof is administered to livestock. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the livestock is poultry. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the poultry are selected from the group consisting of chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, and cornish hens. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the chickens are selected from the group consisting of broilers, layers, male breeding stock, and female breeding stock. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the chickens are broilers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the abscisic acid, and/or salts, and derivatives thereof is administered to fish. 
     
     
         16 . A method of increasing feed efficiency comprising administering a commercial diet comprising from about 2.5 to about 500 ppm abscisic acid, and/or salts, and derivatives thereof to chickens. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the commercial diet does not include an antibiotic. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the chickens are broilers.