Treatment of enteric stress from heat and infection in humans and animals by supplementation with zinc and butyric acid

Abstract

A method of improving intestinal integrity and reducing the effects of heat stress, enteric disease challenges and other intestinal stress conditions in humans and animals by feeding an efficacious amount of a salt of zinc and butyric acid.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of improving intestinal integrity and reducing the effects of heat stress, enteric disease challenges and other intestinal stress conditions in humans and animals, comprising feeding an efficacious amount of a salt of zinc and butyric acid salt. 
     
     
         2 . A method of improving feed intake, feed conversion and weight gain during heat stress or enteric disease challenge in humans and animals, comprising feeding an efficacious amount of zinc and butyric acid salt. 
     
     
         3 . The method of either  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein said zinc and butyric acid salt is fed between 50 ppm and 10,000 ppm, but most optimally between 300 and 3000 ppm. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said BPZ is encapsulated to control the release of said zinc and butyric acid salt during passage through the digestive system of the human or animal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the encapsulated from of said zinc and butyric acid salt consists of at least 20% zinc and butyric acid salt to 60% zinc and butyric acid salt, and optimally at 35% to 45% zinc and butyric acid salt. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the rate of release characteristics of the salt of zinc and butyric acid salt is controlled by additional excipients, selected from the group consisting of salts, ionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, such as glycerol, polyethylene glycol derivatives, simple or complex sugar molecules such as glucose, dextran, and inulin added as modifiers to hydrogenated vegetable fat used in the encapsulation. 
     
     
         7 . A method of shortening the recovery period after a heat stress and/or disease challenge comprising feeding an efficacious amount of a salt of zinc and butyric acid salt before or during the stress condition. 
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said animal is selected from swine, poultry and horses.