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 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.

Embodiments of a system and method for formulating an adjusted diet and/or a dietary supplement for a ruminant are disclosed. The adjusted diet and/or dietary supplement are formulated to mitigate an amino acid deficiency of the ruminant’s unaltered diet and provide the ruminant with an amino-acid balanced diet. Embodiments of a system and method of administering the adjusted diet and/or dietary supplement are also disclosed. In some embodiments, a computer system or other computing device can be used to implement part or all of the formulation methods and/or the diet administration methods.

Embodiments of a system and method for formulating an adjusted diet and/or a dietary supplement for a ruminant are disclosed. The adjusted diet and/or dietary supplement are formulated to mitigate an amino acid deficiency of the ruminant’s unaltered diet and provide the ruminant with an amino-acid balanced diet. Embodiments of a system and method of administering the adjusted diet and/or dietary supplement are also disclosed. In some embodiments, a computer system or other computing device can be used to implement part or all of the formulation methods and/or the diet administration methods.

Methods of analyzing a biological sample obtained from the canine subject for the presence of one or two copies one or two copies of minor allele T of SNP Affx-206229307; or one or two copies of minor allele A of SNP Affx-206560187; or one or two copies of minor allele T of SNP Affx-206229307 and one or two copies of minor allele A of SNP Affx-206560187 are disclosed. The methods are used in methods to identify a canine subject that has an increased likelihood or risk of hypothyroidism and in methods of treating a canine subject to reduce risk of hypothyroidism or to treat a canine subject that has hypothyroidism. The treatments comprise administering to the canine subject a low arginine diet and/or comprising an effective amount of a composition comprising a protein source, a carbohydrate source, a vegetable source, and a fruit source. Canine food compositions are disclosed.

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 size 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 size 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.

Bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3 in a companion animal can be improved by adjusting the diet of the animal to increase the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3 or adjusting the diet of the animal to decrease the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3.

Bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3 in a companion animal can be improved by adjusting the diet of the animal to increase the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3 or adjusting the diet of the animal to decrease the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3.