The present invention relates to a carrier for facilitating the oral ingestion of at least one active substance by animals, characterized in that it comprises: at least one bead comprising said at least one active substance, a gelled appetizing matrix surrounding said at least one bead, the pH of said matrix being less than 4,
wherein the Aw (residual water) of said matrix and of said at least one bead is identical and from 0.4 to 0.9. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing such a carrier, and also to the uses thereof. The present invention also relates to a non-therapeutic method for feeding animals, in particular dogs and cats, by means of this carrier.

Bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3 in a companion animal can be improved by adjusting the diet of the animal to increase the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3 or adjusting the diet of the animal to decrease the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3.

Bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3 in a companion animal can be improved by adjusting the diet of the animal to increase the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3 or adjusting the diet of the animal to decrease the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3.

A premix is disclosed. The premix includes a nitrate compound and salts thereof in the amount of greater than about 50% by weight of the premix. The premix also includes vitamins and trace minerals. The premix is formulated for use in at least one of a gestation or lactation phase of an animal and in an amount of less than about five percent by weight (5.0 wt %) inclusion per metric ton of the premix. A supplement for an animal feed for feeding during at least one of an animal's gestation phase and/or lactation phase is also disclosed. A method for feeding an animal is also disclosed.

The present disclosure relate to feed ingredients and formulated feed, methods for their manufacture, and uses thereof in nutritional applications such as in aquaculture, terrestrial animal feed, and human nutrition. The feed ingredient compositions comprise lysed microbial cells with a small aspect ratio and triglyceride oil.

The present disclosure relate to feed ingredients and formulated feed, methods for their manufacture, and uses thereof in nutritional applications such as in aquaculture, terrestrial animal feed, and human nutrition. The feed ingredient compositions comprise lysed microbial cells with a small aspect ratio and triglyceride oil.

Described herein are pet food compositions comprising a Camellia extract obtained from the tissue of a tea which is greater than about 40% oxidized; and a fiber component, wherein the Camellia extract and the fiber component are present in an amount effective to provide, after about 24 hours post-ingestion, a fecal hydrogen sulfide concentration of less than 450 mg/L, and a colonic lumen pH of less than 5.0. Methods of making and using these pet food compositions are also described.

Described herein are pet food compositions comprising a Camellia extract obtained from the tissue of a tea which is greater than about 40% oxidized; and a fiber component, wherein the Camellia extract and the fiber component are present in an amount effective to provide, after about 24 hours post-ingestion, a fecal hydrogen sulfide concentration of less than 450 mg/L, and a colonic lumen pH of less than 5.0. Methods of making and using these pet food compositions are also described.

The present invention relates to animal feed or animal feed additives comprising polypeptides having protease activity and uses thereof. Specifically, the proteases are serine S1 proteases from Janibacter, Terracoccus and Knoellia, all belonging to the family Intrasporangiaceae of the suborder Micrococcineae. The proteases have a high activity at a broad pH-range (pH 3-7) and are thus highly active during the entire passage through the digestive tract. It also relates to the methods for producing the proteases and for using the proteases to improve animal performance and the nutritional value of animal feed.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides refusal-based methods of establishing a cat or dog food preference, which can include methods of selecting a preferred cat or dog food among multiple foods as well as methods of determining palatability. The methods can include presenting a cat or dog with one or more small samples of a test food and observing for refusal behavior, which can include refusing to eat a food sample. Higher numbers of instances of refusal of a particular food can be correlated with lower palatability.