The present invention relates to animal feed compositions comprising polypeptides having muramidase activity and polypeptides having xylanase activity and uses thereof.

Proteolytic enzyme variants that exhibit improved thermal stability relative to the wild type protease Bacillus licheniformis PWD-1 protease kerA are provided. The protease variants are derived by the mutation of at least one amino acid residue of the mature Bacillus licheniformis PWD-1 protease kerA. The variant proteases are useful as animal feed additives to improve the digestibility and/or the nutritional value of the animal feed.

The present invention relates to a conjugate salt of N,N-dimethylglycine with metal and organic acid, and a preparation method and use thereof. The conjugate salt of N,N-dimethylglycine with metal and organic acid has a following structural formula: [(CH.sub.3).sub.2NCH.sub.2COO].sub.nM.[Organic acid], wherein, n is 1 or 2; M is selected from an alkali metal ion or a divalent metal ion; the organic acid is selected from an organic polyacid, a C.sub.2-C.sub.18 linear fatty acid or an aromatic acid. The conjugate salt of N,N-dimethylglycine with metal and organic acid is a conjugate acid salt formed by introducing another organic acid with a hydrophobic group into the salt of N,N-dimethylglycine and a metal ion, so as to modify the hygroscopicity of N,N-dimethylglycine by decreasing the affinity of the salt toward water molecules in the air, or decreasing the affinity or attraction of molecular aggregates formed through crystalline behavior of the salt toward water molecules in the air.

Metallic oxides nanoparticles are stably adsorbed on silicate clay (such as nanosilicate platelets, NSPs) to form the metallic oxide/silicate clay nano-composite. The metallic oxides nanoparticles may be ZnO, CuO, Fe.sub.3O.sub.4, MgO or CaO. Optionally, silver nanoparticles are also adsorbed on the silicate clay for applications. Different from polymer dispersants, the silicate clay has high surface area and charge density so that the metallic oxides are not wrapped and thus perform better bactericidal efficacies.

The present invention relates animal feed or animal feed additives comprising one or more polypeptides having lysozyme activity. The invention also relates to polypeptides having lysozyme activity, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

The disclosure provides a microcapsule including: a core material, an inner membrane, and an outer membrane. The core material includes choline chloride and a carrier. The inner membrane includes at least one vegetable fat having a melting point higher than or equal to 60 C. The outer membrane includes rice bran wax, zinc oxide powders, and a film forming material. The film forming material is glucose phthalate, polyethylene glycol, or sodium alginate. The rice bran wax accounts for 5-10 wt. % of the microcapsule. The mass ratio of the rice bran wax to the zinc oxide powders to the film forming material is 1-5:0.1-1:0.1-1.

The present invention relates to methods of releasing galactose from legumes using polypeptides having alpha-galactosidase activity. The invention also relates to polypeptides having alpha-galactosidase activity, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of 5 producing the polypeptides. The invention also relates to compositions comprising the polypeptides of the invention and the use of the polypeptides in animal feed.

A method of making a supplement for a pet. The method mixes an aqueous protein solution with supplements. Once the supplements have been mixed into the aqueous protein solution, a fat constituent is introduced and mixed into the solution. The solution is then cooled and stored. After a predetermined period of time, the mixture is reheated and a thickening agent is introduced into the mixture.

A method of enhancing the growth of an animal, as well as treating or preventing antimicrobial infections is provided. The method includes causing the animal to ingest or absorb an effective amount of one or more Fe III complex compounds, including but not limited to Fe III complexes comprising ligands bound to the iron center such as amino acids or -hydroxy acids. The compounds are also useful for inhibiting, reducing, or preventing biofilm formation or buildup on a surface; the treatment of, inhibition of growth of, and inhibition of colonization by, bacteria, both in biological and non-biological environments; disinfecting surfaces, potentiating the effects of antibiotics and other anti-microbial agents, and increasing the sensitivity of bacteria and other microorganisms, to anti-microbial agents are also provided.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe feed compositions that can be administered to improve health and immunity in subjects. The feed compositions can comprise one or more mineral compounds, one or more essential oils, one or more emulsifiers, one or more fibers, one or more yeast extracts and/or one or more additional components. The feed compositions can be provided in solid or liquid forms, among others, and administered to subjects, such as animals, to improve their health, immunity, or both.