This disclosure provides a highly concentrated protein composition and the processes of making the same. The compositions are shelf-stable, easy to use and have excellent nutritional values as compared to other protein products. The compositions may be prepared from animal sources, such as chickens or turkeys.

The disclosure relates to methods, systems and compositions for use in the harvesting of nectar from plants or their portions. More specifically, the disclosure relates to systems, compositions and methods for semi-continuously harvesting nectar from plants or their portions having extrafloral nectaries (EFN) with augmented nectar production.

The disclosure relates to methods, systems and compositions for use in the harvesting of nectar from plants or their portions. More specifically, the disclosure relates to systems, compositions and methods for semi-continuously harvesting nectar from plants or their portions having extrafloral nectaries (EFN) with augmented nectar production.

An apparatus and method for profit maximization and risk mitigation that uses nutrition modeling of animals, including poultry and marine animals, is a critical component of the respective enterprise optimization and managed environment pollution control. The optimization accuracy depends on the description of utilization efficiency of nutrients in a population of animals. Utilization efficiency of nutrients for meat production in a population is preferably based on at least three component parts of nutrient utilization, namely maintenance, linear gain, and non-linear gain, instead of one only. Efficiencies for maintenance and linear gain are fixed value(s), but nutrient efficiency is a result of intra-population variation and efficiency of linear gain, and affect profit. Similar processing is performed to obtain optimal crop growth and profit. Finally, one or both of the animal-growth optimization and the crop-growth optimization are combined with a profit-maximization and risk-mitigation processor to provide information for a decision maker.

Embodiments of a composition comprising three or four Bacillus species selected from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus coagulans are disclosed. The composition may further comprise, or be used in combination with, feed and/or feed supplements, including feed supplements comprising Yucca, Quillaja, silica, mineral clay, glucan, mannans, or combinations thereof. Also disclosed is a method of administering the composition and/or combination to animals, such as poultry.

The disclosure relates to methods, systems and compositions for use in the harvesting of nectar from plants or their portions. More specifically, the disclosure relates to systems, compositions and methods for semi-continuously harvesting nectar from plants or their portions having extrafloral nectaries (EFN) with augmented nectar production.

The disclosure relates to methods, systems and compositions for use in the harvesting of nectar from plants or their portions. More specifically, the disclosure relates to systems, compositions and methods for semi-continuously harvesting nectar from plants or their portions having extrafloral nectaries (EFN) with augmented nectar production.

The present invention relates to a microorganism belonging to the group of lactic acid bacteria characterized in that it is capable of specifically binding to Streptococcus mutans, wherein the specific binding is (i) resistant to heat treatment; and/or (ii) resistant to protease treatment; and/or (iii) calcium-dependent; and/or (iv) formed within a pH range between 4.5 and 8.5; and/or (v) formed in the presence of saliva. Preferably, the specific binding can be assayed as follows: (a) growing said microorganism to stationary phase; (b) mixing said microorganism with Streptococcus mutans which has been grown to stationary phase; (c) incubating the mixture obtained in step (b) under conditions allowing the formation of aggregates of said microorganism and Streptococcus mutans and (d) detecting aggregates by the occurrence of a pellet. Another aspect of the present invention is an analog or fragment of said microorganism which is thermally inactivated or lyophilized, wherein said analog or fragment retains the capability of specifically binding to Streptococcus mutans. In addition, the present invention encompasses compositions and additives for food, feed or drinks comprising the microorganism belonging to the group of lactic acid bacteria which specifically bind to Streptococcus mutans or an analog or fragment thereof. Moreover, uses of said microorganism or said analog or fragment thereof for the preparation of an anticariogenic or pharmaceutical composition or anticariogenic food or feedstuff as well as methods for producing said compositions or food or feedstuff are provided by the present invention.

The present invention relates to a microorganism belonging to the group of lactic acid bacteria characterized in that it is capable of specifically binding to Streptococcus mutans, wherein the specific binding is (i) resistant to heat treatment; and/or (ii) resistant to protease treatment; and/or (iii) calcium-dependent; and/or (iv) formed within a pH range between 4.5 and 8.5; and/or (v) formed in the presence of saliva. Preferably, the specific binding can be assayed as follows: (a) growing said microorganism to stationary phase; (b) mixing said microorganism with Streptococcus mutans which has been grown to stationary phase; (c) incubating the mixture obtained in step (b) under conditions allowing the formation of aggregates of said microorganism and Streptococcus mutans and (d) detecting aggregates by the occurrence of a pellet. Another aspect of the present invention is an analog or fragment of said microorganism which is thermally inactivated or lyophilized, wherein said analog or fragment retains the capability of specifically binding to Streptococcus mutans. In addition, the present invention encompasses compositions and additives for food, feed or drinks comprising the microorganism belonging to the group of lactic acid bacteria which specifically bind to Streptococcus mutans or an analog or fragment thereof. Moreover, uses of said microorganism or said analog or fragment thereof for the preparation of an anticariogenic or pharmaceutical composition or anticariogenic food or feedstuff as well as methods for producing said compositions or food or feedstuff are provided by the present invention.

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.