The invention provides composition and methods for improving hydration and water intake in an animal. In one embodiment, a hydration composition can comprise water and a hydration additive, where the hydration additive consists essentially of a sugar alcohol and a protein, where the sugar alcohol includes glycerol and the protein includes whey. Additionally, a method of improving hydration and water intake in an animal can comprise administering the hydration composition with water to the animal.

The invention is directed to tetrahydrocurcuminoid-metal complexes. The complexes can be included in compositions that further include additional nutraceutical antimicrobials, antioxidants, and immune boosters. The tetrahydrocurcuminoid-metal complexes can be administered to animals to increase animal health, reduce stress, reduce oxidative stress, maintain health, improve health, improve immunity, improve vaccination efficacy, increase feed conversion rate, decrease pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, or any combination thereof in an animal. The tetrahydrocurcuminoid-metal complexes of the invention exhibit enhanced bioavailability relative to the individual, non-complexed components.

The invention is directed to tetrahydrocurcuminoid-metal complexes. The complexes can be included in compositions that further include additional nutraceutical antimicrobials, antioxidants, and immune boosters. The tetrahydrocurcuminoid-metal complexes can be administered to animals to increase animal health, reduce stress, reduce oxidative stress, maintain health, improve health, improve immunity, improve vaccination efficacy, increase feed conversion rate, decrease pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, or any combination thereof in an animal. The tetrahydrocurcuminoid-metal complexes of the invention exhibit enhanced bioavailability relative to the individual, non-complexed components.

Method for enhancing the bioavailability of orally administered benzoic acid in an animal includes orally administering to the animal an animal feed which comprises benzoic acid prills having neither edges nor spikes, wherein the benzoic acid prills exhibit a rate and/or extent of in vitro dissolution of benzoic acid in a physiologically relevant dissolution fluid which is higher when compared to nonspherical benzoic acid flakes.

Method for enhancing the bioavailability of orally administered benzoic acid in an animal includes orally administering to the animal an animal feed which comprises benzoic acid prills having neither edges nor spikes, wherein the benzoic acid prills exhibit a rate and/or extent of in vitro dissolution of benzoic acid in a physiologically relevant dissolution fluid which is higher when compared to nonspherical benzoic acid flakes.

The present application relates to: an anticoccidial composition comprising violacein, a violacein derivative and/or a salt thereof; and a use thereof. A composition comprising violacein, according to one embodiment, has excellent effects of direct killing of protozoa that can induce coccidiosis, inhibiting the cell penetration of the protozoa and/or inhibiting the intracellular proliferation of the protozoa, and preventing, alleviating, and treating in vivo coccidiosis.

The present application relates to an anticoccidial composition comprising a stilbene-based compound, and a use thereof. A composition comprising a compound or a salt thereof, according to one embodiment, has excellent effects of direct killing of protozoa that can induce coccidiosis, inhibiting the cell penetration of the protozoa and/or inhibiting the intracellular proliferation of the protozoa, and preventing, alleviating, and treating in vivo coccidiosis.

The present application relates to an anticoccidial composition comprising a stilbene-based compound, and a use thereof. A composition comprising a compound or a salt thereof, according to one embodiment, has excellent effects of direct killing of protozoa that can induce coccidiosis, inhibiting the cell penetration of the protozoa and/or inhibiting the intracellular proliferation of the protozoa, and preventing, alleviating, and treating in vivo coccidiosis.

Provided is an application of a γ-quaternary ammonium butyrate compound having formula (I) or a racemate, a stereoisomer, a tautomer, a solvate, or a feed-acceptable salt thereof in preparing an animal feed additive, the compound being added to the daily feed of animals at a certain concentration ratio, and being capable of increasing the average daily weight gain of animals under the same food intake conditions, having no significant effect on the daily feed intake of the animals, and reducing the feed-to-meat ratio. The γ-quaternary ammonium butyrate compound can effectively increase the rate of daily weight gain of the animals and improve the growth performance of the animals, having no side effects on the animals, being stable and safe, and improving the production efficiency of the breeding industry whilst ensuring the health of the animals. ##STR00001##

Provided is an application of a γ-quaternary ammonium butyrate compound having formula (I) or a racemate, a stereoisomer, a tautomer, a solvate, or a feed-acceptable salt thereof in preparing an animal feed additive, the compound being added to the daily feed of animals at a certain concentration ratio, and being capable of increasing the average daily weight gain of animals under the same food intake conditions, having no significant effect on the daily feed intake of the animals, and reducing the feed-to-meat ratio. The γ-quaternary ammonium butyrate compound can effectively increase the rate of daily weight gain of the animals and improve the growth performance of the animals, having no side effects on the animals, being stable and safe, and improving the production efficiency of the breeding industry whilst ensuring the health of the animals. ##STR00001##