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 animal that has or is at risk of developing heat-induced stress a composition comprising glucan, silica, mineral clay, and mannan, wherein the animal is other than a cow or a fish.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animal is an avian, a non-ruminant mammal, or a ruminant mammal selected from the group consisting of sheep, goats, deer, bison, buffalo, or llama. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the animal is an avian, and the avian is a chicken, turkey, goose, duck, cornish game hen, quail, pheasant, guinea-fowl, ostrich, emu, swan, or pigeon. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein animal is a non-ruminant animal, and the non-ruminant mammal is a dog, cat, rabbit, horse, donkey, or pig. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the animal is a ruminant mammal selected from the group consisting of sheep, goats, deer, bison, buffalo, or llama. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises between 15% and 40% silica, between 50% and 81% mineral clay, between 1.0% and 5.0% β-glucans, and between 1% and 8.0% mannan. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , the composition is administered to the animal prior to the animal experiencing heat stress, while the animal is experiencing heat stress, and after the animal experiences heat stress. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered for an effective period of time to promote reduction of heat induced stress. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising administering the composition to the animal at set intervals for the effective period of time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the effective period of time is at least 1 day. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering the composition to the animal when a temperature humidity index is, or is expected to be, greater than 68. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 increasing an amount of the composition administered to the animal if the temperature humidity index is expected to increase; or   decreasing an amount of the composition administered to the animal if the temperature humidity index is expected to decrease.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering to the animal an amount of the composition effective to alter a heat stress indicator compared to an animal that has not been administered the composition. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the heat stress indicator is feed intake, water consumption, respiration rate, rectal temperature, milk yield, milk fat, milk protein, an immune biomarker, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 measuring the heat stress indicator; and   selecting an amount of the composition administered to the animal based at least in part on the measurement of the heat stress indicator.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 administering a first amount of the composition daily to the animal for a first period of time;   measuring the heat stress indicator; and   administering an adjusted amount of the composition daily to the animal for a subsequent period of time, wherein the adjusted amount is based at least in part on the measurement of the heat stress indicator.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein administering comprises mixing the composition with the animal's feed in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 100 kg per ton of feed, and providing the composition mixed with the feed to the animal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering to the animal a therapeutic process for alleviating heat stress, a therapeutic agent for treating heat stress, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the therapeutic process or therapeutic agent is provision of shade to the animal, use of a water sprinkler to externally administer water to the animal, use of a fan to provide air movement, addition of bypass fats to feed for the animal, meloxicam, a corticosteroid, a composition comprising one or more electrolytes, an alkalinizing agent, a direct-fed microbial, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 evaluating at least one heat stress indicator of individual animals in a group of animals;   determining whether one or more of the individual animals are experiencing heat stress; and   administering the composition to the one or more individual animals that are experiencing heat stress.