A particulate, urea-containing composition and use of an additive for producing a particulate, urea-containing composition and methods of producing a particulate, urea-containing composition.

The present invention relates to a composition for feeding a ruminant comprising i) a non-protein nitrogen compound, and ii) a coating surrounding the non-protein nitrogen compound, wherein said coating comprises one or more layers of a mixture of a saturated fat and a fatty acid, and said coating comprises from 60 wt.-%+/10% to 85 wt.-%+/10% of the saturated fat, e.g. hydrogenated fat, and from 15 wt.-%+/10% to 40 wt.-%+/10% of the fatty acid, each based on the total weight of the coating; a process for the preparation of said composition and its uses, e.g., for improving nitrogen utilization in a ruminant.

A novel method of reducing the melting point of a peptide-based biopolymer using a nitrogen-containing compound as a plasticizer is provided. The peptide-based biopolymer can be keratin or silk. The nitrogen-containing compound can be one or more amino acids or other nitrogen-containing compounds (except urea), all of which have a melting temperature above approximately 133 C., the decomposition temperature of urea. Pellets made using this novel process can be used as animal feed and soil amendments (fertilizer) to increase the adsorption of amino acids in the animal or in the soil, respectively.

A novel method of reducing the melting point of a peptide-based biopolymer using a nitrogen-containing compound as a plasticizer is provided. The peptide-based biopolymer can be keratin or silk. The nitrogen-containing compound can be one or more amino acids or other nitrogen-containing compounds (except urea), all of which have a melting temperature above approximately 133 C., the decomposition temperature of urea. Pellets made using this novel process can be used as animal feed and soil amendments (fertilizer) to increase the adsorption of amino acids in the animal or in the soil, respectively.

The subject invention provides compositions and methods for reducing deleterious atmospheric gas emissions produced in livestock animals' digestive systems and/or waste. In preferred embodiments, a composition comprising one or more beneficial microorganisms and/or one or more microbial growth by-products is contacted with the livestock animal's digestive system and/or waste in order to, for example, control methanogenic bacteria therein.

The subject invention provides compositions and methods for reducing deleterious atmospheric gas emissions produced in livestock animals' digestive systems and/or waste. In preferred embodiments, a composition comprising one or more beneficial microorganisms and/or one or more microbial growth by-products is contacted with the livestock animal's digestive system and/or waste in order to, for example, control methanogenic bacteria therein.

Disclosed are compositions comprising NPN compound coated with a bypass agent allowing ruminal bypass of the composition and a method for increasing fiber digestibility, a method for increasing feed intake, a method for increasing somatic growth, a method for increasing milk production, a method for reducing N excretion in a ruminant, a method for improving rumen pH stability in a ruminant, a method for preventing or reducing ammonia toxicity in the rumen. The compositions and methods of the invention are particularly suitable for ruminants that are held in harsh climates and/or at remote locations from a farm.

Disclosed are compositions comprising NPN compound coated with a bypass agent allowing ruminal bypass of the composition and a method for increasing fiber digestibility, a method for increasing feed intake, a method for increasing somatic growth, a method for increasing milk production, a method for reducing N excretion in a ruminant, a method for improving rumen pH stability in a ruminant, a method for preventing or reducing ammonia toxicity in the rumen. The compositions and methods of the invention are particularly suitable for ruminants that are held in harsh climates and/or at remote locations from a farm.

A method of reducing methane production in a ruminant animal, comprising administering a methane reducer to a ruminant animal by proportionally dosing the methane reducer into a drinking water supply for the ruminant animal at a dosing rate selected to deliver the methane reducer to the ruminant animal in an effective manner.

The invention relates to a homogeneous, solid, particulate, urea-based composition comprising elemental sulphur and a urease inhibitor of the type phosphoric triamide, wherein the urea-based composition comprising elemental sulphur is further characterized in that one or more of the following measures applies: a) it comprises 5 weight % or less, relative to the total weight of the composition, of one or more alkaline or alkaline-forming inorganic or organic compounds; or b) it comprises an anticaking and/or moisture-repellent coating. The composition according to the invention has improved properties for reducing ammonia loss by urease activity in the soil and is in particular suitable as a fertilizer. The invention further relates to a method for the manufacture of a homogeneous, solid, particulate urea-based composition comprising urea, elemental sulphur and a urease inhibitor of the type phosphoric triamide, in particular N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (nBTPT), as well as to a composition of kit of parts comprising: a) one or more alkaline or alkaline-forming inorganic or organic compounds; b) the urease inhibitor of the type phosphoric triamide in solid particulate or a liquid form, preferably wherein the urease inhibitor is N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (nBTPT); c) optionally, one or more anticaking and/or moisture-repellent compounds.