The present invention relates to a composition in powder form comprising probiotic bacteria and at least one iron source selected from ferrous citrate, ferric citrate, ferrous sulphate monohydrate and mixtures thereof. Ferrous citrate, ferric citrate, ferrous sulphate monohydrate and mixtures thereof advantageously do not cause significant inhibition or reduction in the viability of the bacteria and thus these iron sources are advantageously used to fortify a composition in powder form comprising probiotic bacteria.

A grain crop may have an increased amount of nicotianamine (NA). The increased NA may correlate with an increased bioavailability of iron in the grain and any product, such as ground flour, resulting from processing of the grain. The increase of NA may be achieved through the expression of the OsNAS2 gene. Further, a grain flour produced from a transformed grain plant may have an increased amount of NA, and thus an increased amount of bio-available iron, as compared to a grain flour produced from a non-transformed grain plant of the same species. The grain flour produced from the transformed grain plant (“biofortified flour”) may be used in food production for feed to animals or humans. Such a feed including the biofortified flour may improve the gut health and/or the feed efficiency of the eater as compared to the gut health for an eater of non-biofortified flour.

Disclosed are embodiments of nanoparticle compositions, methods and systems for disinfecting animals and food products along the whole food provision chain. In one embodiment, a composition includes nonionic metal nanoparticles. The composition may be a spray, an oil, a solution or other appropriate composition for ingestion or application to food products. The silver nanoparticles maintain a stead MIC and do not exhibit microbial resistance as do conventional colloidal silver and silver nanoparticles made by chemical synthesis.

The present invention relates to a mineral dietary supplement for ruminants comprising an organic-inorganic complex based on urea, and various clays for improving the animal's performance by the effect of delaying the release of urea in the rumen. The clays comprise at least one fibrous clay and a nonfibrous clay, preferably attapulgite and montmorillonite.

The present invention relates to a mineral dietary supplement for ruminants comprising an organic-inorganic complex based on urea, and various clays for improving the animal's performance by the effect of delaying the release of urea in the rumen. The clays comprise at least one fibrous clay and a nonfibrous clay, preferably attapulgite and montmorillonite.

Mycotoxin-deactivating aptamers, especially DNA aptamers, bind to mycotoxins in feed and feed ingredients resulting in the reduction or elimination of toxic and carcinogenic effects of mycotoxins. The invention also discloses a composition comprising a mycotoxin-deactivating aptamer, a binding agent, a biotransforming agent and an antioxidant for detoxifying mycotoxins in feeds. In addition, the invention teaches the methods of preparing the mycotoxin-deactivating aptamer-based composition and also the methods of using it as a feed additive. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the mycotoxin-deactivator/s alone, or in a composition comprising the aptamers and other mycotoxin-detoxifying agents, in feeds and feed ingredients for detoxifying the major mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, fumonisins and ochratoxin A.

The invention relates to a method for producing, amongst other things, amino-acid and/or hydroxycarboxylic-acid metal chelates, a solvent-free mixture of at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal carbonate or oxalate, and the solid organic acid is subjected to intensive mechanical stress. According to the invention, this is done in that the reaction partners are introduced in particle form into a fluid stream of a fluid-bed countercurrent mill operating without grinding elements, wherein mechanical activation of at least one of the reaction partners is effected by collision processes within a reaction chamber formed in a region of the fluid stream, and a solid body reaction to form the metal chelate is triggered. The novel method operates very energy-efficiently and with a high specific yield. It leads to a product having compact particles in the small, single-digit micrometer range having a comparatively narrow particle sizc distribution and a large surface. The product is homogenous and very pure. Thermal loading or decomposition of the organic chelate ligands, in particular of the amino acids, is likewise avoided, as are contaminants from milling and grinding element abrasion.

The invention relates to a method for producing, amongst other things, amino-acid and/or hydroxycarboxylic-acid metal chelates, a solvent-free mixture of at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal carbonate or oxalate, and the solid organic acid is subjected to intensive mechanical stress. According to the invention, this is done in that the reaction partners are introduced in particle form into a fluid stream of a fluid-bed countercurrent mill operating without grinding elements, wherein mechanical activation of at least one of the reaction partners is effected by collision processes within a reaction chamber formed in a region of the fluid stream, and a solid body reaction to form the metal chelate is triggered. The novel method operates very energy-efficiently and with a high specific yield. It leads to a product having compact particles in the small, single-digit micrometer range having a comparatively narrow particle sizc distribution and a large surface. The product is homogenous and very pure. Thermal loading or decomposition of the organic chelate ligands, in particular of the amino acids, is likewise avoided, as are contaminants from milling and grinding element abrasion.

Disclosed provides a compound nutrient capable of repairing damaged intestinal tract of piglets and application thereof. The compound nutrient comprises the following components in weight percentage: organic acid 30-50%, amino acid 20-30%, enzyme preparation 8-15%, Bacillus subtilis 5-15%, mineral element 4-6%, glucose 5-20%. The enzyme preparation includes amylase, lipase and protease, and the weight ratio of amylase, lipase and protease is 1-2:1:1-2. The compound nutrient can repair the intestinal health of piglets with diarrhea, reduce the rate of diarrhea, and improve the growth performance.

A method of increasing apparent total tract digestibility and retention of calcium and phosphorus in a pig is provided. The method includes administering to the pig an effective amount of a vitamin D composition comprising at least one vitamin D compound. Related compositions are also provided.