The present disclosure provides processes for preparing an alpha-hydroxy ester by addition of a vinyl Grignard reagent to an oxalate ester and thiolation of the resulting double bond. Also provided are alpha-hydroxy esters and synthetic intermediates prepared according to processes disclosed herein and compositions comprising the alpha-hydroxy esters.

The present invention pertains to the use for preventing or treating intestinal infections caused by gram-positive bacteria in animals of an antibacterial compound selected from lactylate in accordance with formula 1,
R2—COO—[—CH(CH.sub.3)—COO].sub.n—R1  Formula 1
or a Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe(II), Zn, NH.sub.4, or Cu(II) salt thereof, a glycolylate of formula 2,
R2—COO—[—CH2—COO].sub.n—R1  Formula 2
or a Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe(II), Zn, NH.sub.4, or Cu(II) salt thereof, a lactate ester of formula 3,
HO—CH(CH.sub.3)—COO—R22  Formula 3
and/or a glycolic acid ester of formula 4,
HO—CH2—COO—R2  Formula 4
wherein R1 is selected from H, n stands for an integer with a value of 1-10, and R2 stands for a C1-C35 alkyl or alkenyl chain which may be branched or unbranched. The compound, which preferably is a lactylate or a Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe(II), Zn, NH.sub.4, or Cu(II) salt thereof, is particularly useful in the treatment or prevention of Clostridia. An animal nutrition composition and a method for preventing or treating infections are also claimed.

The present invention pertains to the use for preventing or treating intestinal infections caused by gram-positive bacteria in animals of an antibacterial compound selected from lactylate in accordance with formula 1,
R2—COO—[—CH(CH.sub.3)—COO].sub.n—R1  Formula 1
or a Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe(II), Zn, NH.sub.4, or Cu(II) salt thereof, a glycolylate of formula 2,
R2—COO—[—CH2—COO].sub.n—R1  Formula 2
or a Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe(II), Zn, NH.sub.4, or Cu(II) salt thereof, a lactate ester of formula 3,
HO—CH(CH.sub.3)—COO—R22  Formula 3
and/or a glycolic acid ester of formula 4,
HO—CH2—COO—R2  Formula 4
wherein R1 is selected from H, n stands for an integer with a value of 1-10, and R2 stands for a C1-C35 alkyl or alkenyl chain which may be branched or unbranched. The compound, which preferably is a lactylate or a Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe(II), Zn, NH.sub.4, or Cu(II) salt thereof, is particularly useful in the treatment or prevention of Clostridia. An animal nutrition composition and a method for preventing or treating infections are also claimed.

Methods for reducing the risk of viral infection in animals due to consumption of viral contaminated feed. The methods comprise administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a feed additive, wherein the feed additive comprises a mixture of organic acids. The methods can be used to reduce the risk of infection in animals whose feed may or may not be contaminated with certain viruses.

Methods for reducing the risk of viral infection in animals due to consumption of viral contaminated feed. The methods comprise administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a feed additive, wherein the feed additive comprises a mixture of organic acids. The methods can be used to reduce the risk of infection in animals whose feed may or may not be contaminated with certain viruses.

The present invention relates to the use of guanidinoacetic acid and a method of treating caudophagia in pigs.

The present invention relates to the use of guanidinoacetic acid and a method of treating caudophagia in pigs.

One of problems is to provide a feed composition having both immunostimulatory action and mold toxin adsorbing action. Another one of the problems is to provide a technique for minimizing decomposition of a feed composition made using yeast. Yet another one of the problems is to provide a method of inexpensively manufacturing the above-mentioned feed composition.

The feed composition is obtained by inclusion of nucleic acid having molecular weights ranging from 5,000 to 100,000, a yeast cell wall component/yeast cell wall components, and ligno sulfonic acid. A feed composition may be manufactured by supplying nucleic acid and a yeast cell wall component that are both derived from a raw material, yeast. To supply the nucleic acid and a yeast cell wall component/yeast cell wall components from the yeast, the yeast may be subjected to alkaline treatment to prepare the nucleic acid and enucleated yeast.

The present invention relates to a method for feeding poultry during breeding, keeping or fattening of poultry, in which guanidinoacetic acid or a salt thereof is administered as a feed additive.

The present invention relates to a method for feeding poultry during breeding, keeping or fattening of poultry, in which guanidinoacetic acid or a salt thereof is administered as a feed additive.