Systems and methods provide sugar alcohol to heat stressed ruminants to improve performance. During periods of high temperature or humidity, heat stressed ruminants may exhibit decreased dry matter intake, and in response, an effective amount of sugar alcohol such as sorbitol may be provided in the ruminant diet to cause performance to increase, which may include increased milk yield, improved feed efficiency or both compared to heat stressed dairy cattle without sugar alcohol in the diet.

Methods of treating neonatal and young non-human animals suffering from diarrhea, and/or symptoms thereof, by administering to an animal in need thereof a proanthocyanidin polymer composition isolated from a Croton spp. or a Calophyllum spp. are provided. In particular, the neonatal and young animals include calves, young equines and young camels, which frequently suffer from diarrhea of various etiologies, and the administered proanthocyanidin polymer composition is isolated from Croton lechleri. Further provided are methods of improving weight gain and/or reducing mortality in neonatal non-human animals by administration of the proanthocyanidin polymer composition. The composition, either enteric or non-enteric, can be in aqueous soluble form and orally administered to the affected neonatal and young animals. The invention also provides prebiotic compositions of botanical extracts of Croton spp. or of Calophyllum spp. useful to promote a beneficial intestinal microbiota.

The invention provides a delayed release dosage form and a bolus configured for administration to an animal, wherein the dosage form and the bolus is configured to release a hydrophobic substance to the animal over a period of time. Preferably the hydrophobic substance is a haloform. Also provided is the use of the delayed release dosage form or bolus of the invention to reduce methane production in a ruminant animal. Also provided is the method of manufacturing a bolus of the invention.

The invention provides a dosage form and a bolus configured for administration to an animal, wherein said dosage form and said bolus is configured to release a methane inhibitor to the animal over a period of time. Preferably the methane inhibitor is a haloform. Also provided is the use of the bolus of the invention to reduce methane production in a ruminant animal. Also provided is the method of manufacturing a bolus of the invention.

The subject of the invention is a veterinary product or a nutrition product intended in particular for the prevention and treatment of hypocalcaemia in ruminant animals. The product is in the form of a bolus comprising calcium chloride and an effervescent mixture. Advantageously, the bolus enables a high bioavailability of the calcium and does not cause lesions on the digestive tract of the animal.

Provided are methods of treating diarrhea, particularly malabsorption diarrhea, in neonatal, young and adult non-human animals, in which the diarrhea results from infection of the animals by Salmonella spp., such as Salmonella typhimurium, with a therapeutically effective amount of a proanthocyanidin polymer from Croton lechleri, in either enteric or non-enteric form.

The invention relates to an intraruminal sustained release capsule which is capable of delivering a sustained release dose of a first medicament to an animal, as well as either or both of a dump dose of a second medicament or mineral, and an exit dose of a third medicament or mineral. The capsule can have a dissolvable overcap molded from plasticized starch enabling a dump dose of medicament to be held between the overcap and one end of the capsule. A piston within the body of the capsule can be modified to enable it to accommodate an exit dose of medicament within its hollow interior which is aligned with an aperture at the end of the capsule which enables release of the medicaments to the rumen. After insertion of the capsule in the animal the overcap (if present) dissolves and separates from the capsule to release the dump dose of medicament. The sustained release medicament is then dispensed via the apertured end, followed by the release of the exit dose of medicament (if present).

The invention provides a delayed release dosage form and a bolus configured for administration to an animal, wherein said dosage form and said bolus is configured to release a hydrophobic substance to the animal over a period of time. Preferably the hydrophobic substance is a haloform. Also provided is the use of the delayed release dosage form or bolus of the invention to reduce methane production in a ruminant animal. Also provided is the method of manufacturing a bolus of the invention.

Provided herein are consumable compositions for methane reduction in ruminants comprising a haloalkane and a medium chain triglyceride (MCT). The use of MCT in the consumable compositions has been found to enhance the anti-methanogenic effect of the consumable compositions in ruminants. Also provided herein are methods of preparing the consumable composition and methods of administering the consumable compositions to ruminants.

Disclosed are bolus compositions for ruminants comprising potassium phosphate dibasic and water configured to rapidly dissolve in the rumen for use in the prevention or treatment of hypokalemia and hypophosphatemia. These conditions occur in ruminants at around the time of calving or during periods when ruminants do not eat (anorexia). The bolus compositions may comprise a coating that is compatible with a ruminant digestive tract. Additionally, the bolus compositions may comprise a wick which may be used during the manufacturing process to facilitate the bulk handling and transfer of the bolus compositions.