Composition and method for promoting reduction of heat stress in animals

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method for promoting reduction of heat stress in animals, as well as a composition for use in the disclosed method. The composition comprises a glucan, silica, mineral clay, mannan, and optionally an endoglucanohydrolase, and may be administered to an animal that is susceptible to or suffers from heat stress.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising administering to an aquatic animal a composition that consists essentially of silica, mineral clay, glucan, mannan and endoglucanohydrolase. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition consists essentially of between 15% and 40% silica, between 50% and 81% mineral clay, between 1.0% and 5.0% β-glucans, between 0.05% and 3.0% β-1,3 (4)-endoglucanohydrolase and between 1% and 8.0% mannan. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the composition consists of between 15% and 40% silica, between 50% and 81% mineral clay, between 1.0% and 5.0% β-glucans, between 0.05% and 3.0% β-1,3 (4)-endoglucanohydrolase and between 1% and 8.0% mannan. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aquatic animal is a fish. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the fish is a salmon or a trout. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aquatic animal is immunosuppressed prior to administration of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is incorporated into the aquatic animal's feed in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 100 kg per ton of feed, and the composition incorporated into the feed is provided to the aquatic animal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering the composition in an amount from 1 mg/kg body weight per day to 20 g/kg body weight per day. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered to the aquatic animal prior to the aquatic animal experiencing a stress event, while the aquatic animal is experiencing a stress event, and/or after the aquatic animal experiences a stress event.